Buffalo Bills: 5 keys to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9

3.) Stop Joe Mixon and the run

Joe Mixon ran all over the Bills in their last meeting (20 carries for 105 yards and a score) in which he averaged just under 5 yards a carry. That was when the Bills’ defensive line was at more health than they are now. While the unit has cleaned up the run stop the last two games, they still have given up over 100 rushing yards on the ground in five of their eight games. Mixon is coming off his best game of the season last week with a 16 carry game for 87 yards and a touchdown, averaging just under 6 yards a carry.

Buffalo’s defense already has a major task at stopping the Bengals’ passing game, and when an offense has a terrific passing game to go with a dominant running back who can catch passes out of the backfield, it makes it difficult for a defense. Sean McDermott and the defense will have the not so pleasant task of having to find a way to limit Mixon, in addition to stopping Joe Burrow.