The Buffalo Bills (5-4) is back in another primtime slot this week on Monday night with a matchup against the Denver Broncos (3-5). The Bills are coming off a poor offensive performance once again last week, and for the first time in a long time, are currently not in the playoff picture. The Broncos on the other hand have won the last two weeks against th Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs.
Both teams are still within a distance of making a run towards the playoffs, but they will have to crawl their way through the rest of the AFC teams that are above them. While the Bills are in second place by half a game over the New York Jets, the Broncos are at the bottom of the AFC West, half a game behind the Las Vegas Raiders. Denver is currently 1-2 in the division and 1-4 against AFC teams through nine weeks this season.
As the Bills start to prepare for the Broncos' arrival on Monday night, they will need to think of a way to change up their gameplan that has not worked for almost a month because the Broncos are a team that can simplify the complicated things, and complicate the simple things.
Here are three things to keep in mind about the Buffalo Bills Week 10 opponent.
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3.) Jaleel McLaughlin is more dangerous than Javonte Williams
To Javonte Williams’ credit, he is still in the recovery process from his torn ACL that he suffered last year, however it opened the door this year for running back Jaleel McLaughlin. Williams has missed one game this season, but leads the team in carries (90) and has rushed for 357 yards but still has to get a rushing touchdown.
McLaughlin has only had 38 carries but has managed to rush for 268 yards (4 runs for 20+ yards) and one touchdown. McLaughlin is averaging more yards per carry (7.1 to 4) and has more receiving touchdowns (2) than Williams.
McLaughlin could be an x-factor for the Broncos’ offense and could do some damage on an injured Buffalo defense. It seems like the Bills allow the not-so-big name offensive players to make the big plays this season and if they can get going, it opens up the doors for other notable weapons on the offense to get into a great position. McLaughlin will be a player to game plan for this week.
2.) The Denver passing offense has not passed for over 200 yards in four weeks
The Bills are currently trying to fix a secondary that has been hit with injuries and lack of production from their current cornerbacks. As they prepare for quarterback Russell Wilson and the weapons room that has Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy, an important note to make is that the passing game is not lethal and that the Broncos are more of a play it safe team. They can do the quick passes to help move the chains, and against a zone defense that Bills like to play can be dangerous.
The last four weeks, the Broncos’ offense has not passed for more than 196 yards in a game, and only passed for 95 yards in their first game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Buffalo may need to change up schematically this week and not allow small plays turn into big plays. The Denver offense is up and down this year to the point no one knows what kind of team they will be each week. The Bills’ defense will need to tighten up and keep the pressure on for all four quarters.
1.) Russell Wilson is getting sacked on average 3 times a game
This is one of, if not the most important factor heading into this game for the Bills’ defense. The Broncos’ offensive line has given up atleast a sack in every single one of their games. In the first four weeks of the season, Wilson was sacked 11 times. In their last four games, Wilson has been sacked 15 times, making it 26 total sacks on Wilson. Last week against the Chiefs, despite winning 24-9, Wilson was brought down 6 times.
The Bills have only not sacked the quarterback in one game this year (Week 2 vs. Raiders), but have been a wrecking crew this year overall when it comes to getting the quarterback. They come into this game with 29 sacks on the year (averaging 3 sacks a game). The last couple of games that the Bills have played, they have allowed the opposing offense to stay in the game or get ahead.
Going up against Wilson who has not looked liked Seattle Russell Wilson since arriving to Denver, the Bills cannot afford getting outplayed by this Denver offense. Get to Wilson, bring him down, and allow the offense to get on the board early and often.