Last Sunday, the Buffalo Bills beat the Los Angeles Chargers 24-16 despite turning the ball over five times. Normally, that many turnovers cost a team the game, but the Bills overcame them, with their defense once again making key stops at critical moments during the game.
However, the New England Patriots always play the Bills tough, ending Buffalo's five-year streak of five straight AFC East titles last season. With that being said, the Bills need to address their turnover issues to win back the AFC East Division title from the Patriots this season.
Let's take a look at how the Bills can clean up their turnover problems before facing the New England Patriots.
Where Bills need to make adjustments before Week 4
Focus on carrying ball tight in play
Carrying the ball like it was an undone seatbelt on a Six Flags roller coaster was painful to watch, especially for RB James Cook. The reigning NFL rushing champ coughed up the pigskin on the first drive, leading to the Chargers' first touchdown. Cook has a history of fumbling, but up until this game, he's been so sure-handed with the ball, tight in his chest.
It was a whole new meaning of "Put the ball down," but in the end, the Bills found a way to win the game while carrying the rock very loosely. Cook has to remember that he might not be able to fumble like that again if he wants to beat their desperate AFC East rivals, the New England Patriots, or it may spell disaster.
Cook will need to set his sights on ball security. His main focus will be keeping the ball high and close to his chest while in heavy traffic. He will work on DLs coming at him and reaching from all angles to strip the ball away for a turnover.
Add security drills in practice
Not only did Cook fumble last week, but TE Dalton Kincaid wasn't off the hook either, as he tried to turn a first-down catch into a touchdown. Cornerback Tarheeb Still, however, stripped the ball from behind, forcing Kincaid to fumble and costing the Bills an opportunity to take their first lead of the game.
This week in practice, the Bills must focus on having Kincaid practice holding the ball tighter while simulating an opposing defender punching it from behind or stripping it in double coverage to help strengthen ball protection downfield.
Preparing for New England's defense
Although QB Josh Allen threw two interceptions, you could tell that the Chargers defense was ready for whatever he was going to throw at them. The Chargers' defense mixed up fronts to confuse the Bills' protection by running a nine-wide gap, famously used by DC Jim Schwartz, which kept Allen in the pocket.
\The Patriots also like to disguise different coverages by shifting their safeties pre-snap and running zone coverage.
Allen will need to get back to being fundamentally sound and disciplined through his progressions and may have to rely more on receiver/tight end/running back pre-snap motion to counter the Pats' defense motioning their safeties into zone coverage before the snap.
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