The Buffalo Bills have one more game before they head to their Week 7 bye, but they still have to face an up-and-coming Las Vegas Raiders team that currently sits at 3-2. With the uncertainty of D.J. Moore and Ed Oliver playing due to previous injuries, the team will have to decide who will fill in their spots.
The Raiders boast a talented front seven, led by edge rusher Maxx Crosby and linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker, ready to pressure Josh Allen and stop James Cook in the run game.
They also have a familiar face in nickel corner, Taron Johnson, who will look to lock down his former Bills teammate Khalil Shakir.
Let's take a look at four key matchups that could determine the outcome of Sunday's game.
4 pivotal matchups Bills must win vs. Las Vegas Raiders
1.) Maxx Crosby vs. Josh Allen's mobility
While defensive end Maxx Crosby has pressured the quarterback 36 times in the first five games of the season, 20 of those pressures were at home in Allegiant Stadium. Josh Allen, however, is tied for the league lead with 21 passes of 20+ yards and has rushed for 239 yards, after going for over 100 against the Rams in Week 5.
Crosby has to prevent Allen from moving outside the pocket and running with his legs, or the initial pressure will fail due to a missed tackle or a blown assignment on the play.
2.) Raiders offensive line vs. Greg Rousseau
The Bills' leading pass rusher, Greg Rousseau, has 43 total pressures and six sacks, which ties him for the best mark in the NFL. His size and arm length should scare the Raiders, as his long arms helped block a potential game-winning field goal by the Rams in overtime.
Both defensive linemen Kolton Miller and DJ Glaze must contain the 6-foot-6, 266-pound athlete from ordering drives through constant communication.
3.) Taron Johnson vs. Khalil Shakir
Slot corner Taron Johnson knows all the Bills players from his eight years spent in Buffalo before being dealt to Las Vegas. One of those former teammates he knows and will be facing off against is wide receiver Khalil Shakir.
The 6-foot, 190-pound slot receiver leads the Bills' receiving room with 18 catches for 256 yards and can create big gains out of short passes for yards after the catch. For Johnson, he knows that tackling is of the utmost importance, especially the initial one, or Shakir will use his quickness to capitalize on coverage breakdowns.
4.) Raiders linebackers vs. Bills running game
The Bills average 158 rushing yards a game. Cook has 532 yards and five touchdowns, which is third among NFL running backs. Both Dean and Walker must be able to restrict Cook's long runs and keep Allen from running, as, once again, the Bills rely on their ground game as a major weapon for their offense.
If either team wants to leave Sunday's contest with a win, they must win four key matchups and successfully execute their game plan to the best of their abilities. As for the Bills, they must stick to their bread and butter, running the ball and stopping the run, if they want to enter their bye week at 5-1.
Add us as a preferred source on Google