The Buffalo Bills won 13 games this season, secured the second-seed in the AFC, and are set to host the Denver Broncos. The Bills had a very successful regular season, breaking all sorts of records, while Josh Allen also broke many records.
The Bills are looking to do more damage in the postseason and want to get over the hump which is the Kansas City Chiefs. However, they still have some work to do against the Broncos.
The Broncos are no cakewalk, as their rookie quarterback Bo Nix has looked like a competent NFL quarterback in his first season. He also has a reliable veteran target in Cortland Sutton and a top tier defense. During the postseason, besides Allen, some other Bills players will have to step up and become a threat to other teams down the stretch.
Who has to step up for the Bills?
LT Dion Dawkins
Dion Dawkins is one of the two Bills players selected for the Pro Bowl this year, and he will need to play one of his best games in this matchup. The Broncos are very good at getting to the quarterback, as they lead the league in sacks with 63, nine more than the next team in the Baltimore Ravens.
Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has always had a good reputation and knows how to pressure the quarterback. Edge rushers Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper have 24 sacks combined, and Dawkins will be blocking them for most of the game.
Dawkins is playing at an All-Pro level this year, and he's facing a serious challenge with these edge rushers, so he must bring his A-game. If Dawkins and the entire offensive line blocks well, the Bills will score on offense without question and increase their likelihood of winning.
WR Khalil Shakir
One factor that fans often forget is how often the Bills' wide receivers struggle to get open in man-on-man coverage. Bills' wide receivers are near the bottom of the league in separation created, which forces Allen to make tighter throws or extend plays (which should strengthen his MVP case).
The matchup with Amari Cooper and Pat Surtain II isn't the most favorable matchup. Surtain II is arguably the best corner in the NFL and is guarding an older good, not great receiver.
Other matchups Allen should look at are Dalton Kincaid against a safety or linebacker, or Keon Coleman against Riley Moss. However, the main matchup should be Khalil Shakir against Ja'Quan McMillian. Shakir is Allen's favorite target, and for good reason.
He is one of the better slot receivers in the NFL and can beat man coverage against most slot corners. McMillian is a middle-of-the-road slot corner and is one of the weaker positions on that talented defense. If the Bills can make Shakir a threat in this game, that will open up some other targets and get the offense in a groove.
DE Greg Rousseau
The Broncos' offensive line has been the unsung heroes of the Broncos' success, as they've been one of the best groups in the NFL. The Bills need to disrupt that success and put pressure on Nix, and the best man to do that is Greg Rousseau.
Rousseau's stats haven't been great on paper, but he's been getting to the quarterback more than many other defenders. Rousseau is top ten in pressures and recorded eight sacks on the season, and is going up against one of the best left tackles in football in Garrett Bolles.
Bolles only allowed two sacks on the year and has been a staple to Bo Nix's development. Rousseau needs to generate pressure in this game, as Nix tends to make costly mistakes under pressure.
If the Bills pull out the win, it will be a hard-fought win, and they will need to continue to do that down the stretch if they want to make a run in the postseason.