4 biggest x-factors for the Buffalo Bills in Week 13 against the Patriots

Dane Jackson

The Buffalo Bills will be entering this pivotal game without their top defensive player in cornerback Tre’Davious White, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against the New Orleans Saints. It remains to be seen how much the absence of White is going to impact this defense and will likely be turning to inexperienced cornerback Dane Jackson.

Jackson was a seventh round pick last year by the Buffalo Bills out of the University of Pittsburgh. He would end up starting two games as a rookie and appearing in five games total. He would finish the season with one interception, one fumble recovery, and five passes defended.

He entered training camp competing with Levi Wallace for the starting cornerback job opposite White but it would end up being Wallace who won that battle. Dane Jackson now has a chance to show he can be a starting cornerback with him expected to be the starter the remainder of the season.

The New England Patriots are not a high-volume passing offense but what they do well is connect on those big plays with their wide receivers. Their top three wide receivers (Nelson Agholor, Jakobi Meyers, and Kendrick Bourne) have combined for 24 big plays (receptions over 20 yards). If Dane Jackson can help eliminate those big plays, the Buffalo Bills secondary should be successful against this Patriots passing attack.