As the Buffalo Bills prepare to host the Denver Broncos for Super Wild Card Weekend, there is a lot of work to be done. Film must be reviewed, gameplans must be assembled, and players will have to prepare for the biggest game of the season so far. Their opponents feature a rookie quarterback with some great athleticism, but the real threat is on the other side of the ball. Denver fields a prolific defense, with terrifying sack production and the necessary coverage to keep that ball in the quarterbacks hands. A few players on the Buffalo Bills will need to step up in order to advance in the NFL playoffs.
OT Dion Dawkins
The Denver Broncos have 63 sacks this season, setting a franchise record, and acheiving the 14th most sacks of any season by any team in NFL history. They beat out the Baltimore Ravens, the second-place team this year by 9 sacks. Dion Dawkins must be effective protecting Josh Allen's blind side. Denver has proven they can generate pressure from either side of the line, but Josh is an exemplary escape artist. The only pressure he won't see coming, and evade, is from outside the left tackle. Dawkins was named to the Pro Bowl this season, and will have to act like it on Sunday.
WR Amari Cooper
There are worries about his availability on Sunday, due to a family matter, but Amari Cooper is currently expected to play. The lone 'Man Coverage Beater' on the Buffalo Bills roster, Cooper lines up against arguably the best man coverage defense in the NFL this season. He's made his voice heard in limited play time, beating multiple close defenders for great catches in critical moments. He'll need to do it again for the Bills to break this game open. Likely finding All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II on most matchups, Cooper will need to prove his worth to top the Broncos. This is why Buffalo traded for him midseason.
TE Dalton Kincaid
It's been a somewhat quiet year for Dalton Kincaid, considering the expectations fans had of him before the season stared. Sitting with 44 catches for 448 yards and two touchdowns, it wasn't the sophomore stunner that many prophesized. Still, he's been valuable. In multiple situations this year, Buffalo has needed a quick outlet in the short area who can outrun a linebacker and outmuscle a corner. Considering the sticky coverage and pressure rate the Broncos set, it would be remiss of the Bills not to utilize Dalton Kincaid as a quick-hitter.
RB Ty Johnson
Running a 3-4 defense, the Broncos are loaded with creative blitz packages, which they run on 29.5% of snaps- 7th most in the league. Whilst Josh Allen may be the NFL's best escape artist, he needs time to improvise, and the Bills will ask a lot of Ty Johnson in this area. Their best pass-blocking RB, and favoured choice for passing downs, Johnson will communicate with Allen on 'alert' calls and find the right rusher to block. His effectiveness in this area is why he made the roster in the first place, and he's excelled at it all season. For at least one more game, he'll have to do it again.