The Buffalo Bills dominated the Baltimore Ravens at home, 36-10. It was a strange game, to say the least, as star quarterback Lamar Jackson left the game after one play with a thumb injury.
Then, backup quarterback Tyler Huntley left the game in the second quarter with turf toe. Third-string emergency quarterback Joe Fagnano then took over and struggled, especially against a more aggressive Bills pass rush.
With the Bills likely having an easier time without Jackson, the team finally recorded its first blowout win of the season.
However, facing the Minnesota Vikings in front of a national Monday Night audience, the team still has areas to improve and needs to keep working on them in practice before heading to U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota.
Adjustments Bills must fix before facing Vikings
1.) Provide more stress on quarterbacks
While the Bills' pass defense may have played its best game against the Baltimore Ravens, keep in mind that both Ravens quarterbacks left with significant injuries, forcing an undrafted rookie third-stringer to be thrown to the wolves with no starting reps in practice.
Stats are also stats, as they are 30th in the league in pass defense, giving up 254.7 yards per game. Next week, they will have to back up their strong performance, whether it's Kyler Murray or Carson Wentz under center.
The Bills must be ready to bring the blitz as a counterpunch to Minnesota's heavy blitzing against Josh Allen and the offense.
2.) Mix in run and zone coverage schemes
The Bills' 10th-ranked run defense will get another chance to hold a running back to under 100 yards rushing this season. The Bills may have passed their biggest test so far last week when they held Derrick Henry to just 53 rushing yards on 11 carries and 1 touchdown.
However, whether it's Aaron Jones or Jordan Mason, one of them will look to run for 100 yards against this run defense at home, which they haven't allowed this season. Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard must keep working on disguising man coverage and tackling to keep this run defense near the top half of the league.
3.) Elimate turnovers
In this game, the Bills won 36-10, but it wasn't a work of art, as they still turned the ball over twice early. The turnover issues will need to be cleaned up, as Minnesota's heavy blitz defense capitalizes on forcing turnovers and wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks.
Luckily, Allen has historically been efficient against the blitz thanks to his rushing ability and the versatility of the Bills' stout offensive line, which opens up running lanes left open against the blitz.
4.) Secure ball coverage against superstar wideouts
The Bills' 30th-ranked pass defense faces a tough assignment as it tries to slow down Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson. If our memory serves right, the 2022 showdown in which the Vikings defeated the Bills in overtime marked Jefferson's rise to superstar status in the NFL.
While the Bills' pass coverage held Zay Flowers to no catches last week, Flowers isn't at Jefferson's level. However, play him the same way you did with Flowers: tight on-the-ball man coverage, and have Davison Igbinosun stay with him without risking a pass interference or holding penalty.
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