BuffaLowDown’s DJ Eberle breaks down the Buffalo Bills’ Week 15 matchup against the Detroit Lions, including the three keys to the game.
After letting last week’s tilt against the New York Jets slip out of their grasps, the Buffalo Bills have an opportunity to get the ship pointed in the right direction as they head into the final three weeks.
Sunday’s matchup against the Detroit Lions is a winnable one.
Matthew Stafford has been a shell of himself this season and the Lions are decimated with injuries while the Bills are doing pretty good in that department. At least in what is a Week 15 tilt.
Each week during the regular season this column will provide the three ways the Bills can secure a victory. So, without further ado, here are the “Three Keys to Victory” for the matchup against the Lions.
Take away Theo Riddick
With Kerryon Johnson sidelined again, it’s fair to expect Theo Riddick to continue to receive a larger workload.
That could be a problem for the Bills.
While LeGarrette Blount has been ineffective this year, and the Bills have been doing a pretty good job stopping the run of late, but Riddick could create problems. Especially in the passing game.
With Milano out for the season, Julian Stanford could see a lot of Riddick in the passing game. Tremaine Edmunds could also play a factor.
Whoever draws the responsibility of Riddick needs to shut him down. Tre’Davious White should be able to handle Kenny Golladay and with Golden Tate and Marvin Jones out of the picture, there aren’t many other receiving threats that scare you.
Let Josh Allen take over
Josh Allen is the reason the Bills have been in their last handful of games.
With no running game, a offensive line full of holes and a wide receiving corps lacking talent, Allen has had to do a lot of the heavy lifting, whether it be with long shots down field or 100 yards rushing.
At the end of the day, these next three games are part of Allen’s development. Brian Daboll needs to continue to trot out an offense that lets Allen thrive.
Allen isn’t going to throw for 300 yards this season. He doesn’t have the offensive line to give him the protection to throw passes and even if he gets the chance, there’s a possibility no wide receivers will be open and if they are they could drop the pass.
For now, Daboll shouldn’t be afraid to continue to let Allen run the ball, as long as Allen is smart.
Quarterback draws and run-pass options can work in this league. Just ask the Philadelphia Eagles.
Play sound special teams football
The special teams have to be better.
Aside from Stephen Hauschka’s missed field goal, which I’m giving him a pass for because it was shortly after he injured his back, there are no excuses for the special teams effort that the Bills portrayed in their Week 14 loss to the Jets.
The Bills lost the game because of their special teams play alone.
Not only did they have a field goal blocked in the second quarter, but the kickoff cover unit gave up a pair of 50-plus-yard returns.
It needs to be fixed moving forward.
Prediction: Bills 24, Lions 21
The Bills get back on track.
Despite hiring Matt Patricia as their new head coach, the Lions’ defense hasn’t performed up to expectations this season.
The difference will be the number of injuries each team is playing with. The Lions have a lot of talent out and that will be the difference.
Allen could be in line for his best game yet.