It’s new week for the Buffalo Bills and they will look to turn the page after a bad loss against the Houston Texans. It’s been an up-and-down season as of late for the Bills. After their 4-0 start, they have gone 3-4 and at this point, should just be hoping that they get into the playoffs.
Part of the reason why they are in their current situation is because their defense has not perfomed at a high level. Outside of playing against Justin Fields and Andy Dalton, this defense has not been impressive whatsoever.
Now last week against Houston, it wasn’t their fault as to why Buffalo lost. Yet they still proved that they cannot stop the run. That factor alone makes them pretenders rather than contenders in a wide open AFC.
Going into the last game of November before December, the Bills must find anyway, and I mean anyway, to boost this defense because right now, they are extremely untrustful going into the playoffs if they make it at all.
This coming week, the Bills are on the road where they will take the Pittsburgh Steelers and there are three players on the defense for Buffalo that have to create some sort of impact to help the Bills win this game.
Defensive players who must create impact for Bills in Week 13
DE Joey Bosa
After getting off to a strong start this season, Bosa has slowly cooled off and in his last two games, he hasn’t been great on the stat sheet. He has just one total tackle and no sacks. While he has generated a bit of a pass rush, it hasn’t been anything super impactful.
He hasn’t forced a fumble since Week 4 and hasn’t had a sack since Week 9. Bosa needs to step up his production against Pittsburgh in passing situations.
LB Shaq Thompson
It’s extremely unlikely that Terrel Bernard plays this coming week after suffering an elbow injury against the Texans. Sean McDermott said it is a possibility that Bernard could land on the IR, per Sal Capaccio so if Bernard is going to be out, that’s where Shaq Thompson is going to have to step up with Matt Milano.
You could make the argument that Dorian Williams could replace Bernard, but Thompson has been the better linebacker for the Bills. Thompson will have the chance to help this defense both against the pass and the run. He brings physicality and has a good eye for where the ball is going.
DE Greg Rousseau
I get that Rousseau is more of a run-defender off the edge, where he thrives. However, he should be able to generate a pass rush as well and that just hasn’t happened this season. He has only 3 sacks on the year, with only two of them being solo that hasn’t happened since Week 8 against Carolina.
Much like Bosa, Rousseau has to find a way to pressure whoever is under center for Pittsburgh, whether it’s Aaron Rodgers or Mason Rudolph.