Going into Monday night, the defense for the Buffalo Bills currently has the sixth-ranked defense in terms of giving up yards. Through four games, they are letting opponents gain 372 total yards offense, which includes over 256 yards through the air. The Jim Leonhard-led defense has not been what was advertised in the summer.
Now granted, anything can change as we know that the NFL is a true week-to-week business. However, the Los Angeles Rams' offense ranks as tehe second-best overall offense with averaging 417 yards per game. The only team that is higher than them is the Chicago Bears (429 yards).
Buffalo's defense allowed Drake Maye and the New England Patriots to gain over 400 yards of offense in Week 4, and they did not have the weapons that the Rams have in Davante Adams and Puka Nacua. Long story short, the Bills are in deep trouble in primetime. However, if the Bills can get 4 specific players on defense to step up when it matters the most, then the Bills will be in a much better position defensively.
4 defensive players that must have breakout performances to help Bills win vs. Rams
S C.J. Gardner-Johnson
The secondary for the Bills is in for a rough matchup against the Rams' high-powered passing offense. This is where someone like C.J. Gardner-Johnson is going to have to shadow really well over the receivers and provide a lot of support to the corners on the outside.
He should be looking to establish the tone of this game. If he can step up for this secondary, it's going to help the unit.
LB Terrel Bernard
There's no denying it; Terrel Bernard has not looked great at all for the defense this season. Is it the new scheme? Is it just bad matchups? Either way, Bernard has been a major liability this season. If he wants to silence doubters out there, this is the game to do it. With the problems that the Rams' offense presents, Bernard has a chance to start turning things around for the better.
OLB Bradley Chubb
When the Bills brought in Bradley Chubb in free agency, he was viewed as the team's closer in those crucial moments. However, Greg Rousseau has been the Bills' best defender overall. While that is great to see, fans are looking for more production from Chubb.
If Chubb is able to match Rousseau's production at the same time on Monday night, Matthew Stafford won't stand a chance in the pocket.
DT Deone Walker
Outside of Greg Rousseau, Deone Walker has been absolutely phenomenal in the middle of the defensive line. He creates great interior pressure and he is constantly collapsing the middle of the pocket. If Walker can find his rhythm early on in the interior, Stafford is going to have no choice other than get the ball out of his hands super quick which could lead to plenty of mistakes.
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