The running game matchup will tell the story in this contest
The Bills defense is the best in the NFL. They rank second in passing yards and first in rushing yards given up. However, the Bills may be missing interior defensive line stud, Star Lotulelei, who was placed on the COVID-19 list. Additionally, Tremaine Edmunds is listed as questionable, and Matt Milano has been limited practice all week with a shoulder injury. Many key components of the Bills’ defense are banged up, which makes the run game matchup that much more intriguing.
Jonathan Taylor is in process of having a breakout season. He ranks second in rush yards per game, third in yards per rush, and first in 10 or more yard runs. Contrarily, the Bills have only allowed two 100 yard rushers all season, and one of them was Derrick Henry.
What’s scary about the running game matchup is not the actual running of the ball but it’s the effect that an elite rusher can have on defense. When teams are focused and selling out to stop the run, it creates gaps behind the linebackers on play-actions. The Tennessee Titans ran a ton of play-action in the second half against the Bills and scored on three straight possession to win the game. If the Bills can force Indy to become one-dimensional, the Colts could be playing right into the Bills’ hands.
Both teams need this game to accomplish everything they want to achieve this season. Although this game is not a divisional matchup, with the Colts at 5-5 and the Bills with three conference losses, this game is monumental to both teams in reaching their goals in 2021 and accompanies an abundance of playoff ramifications.