Two massive concerns for the Bills in Week 15 against the Lions

The Buffalo Bills will look to bounce back this week as they take on the Detroit Lions. Maybe the toughest team they’ve faced all season, the Lions still haven’t lost a game since Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So, what do the Bills have to do to make sure they give Detroit their second loss? Well, it’s not as easy as it sounds. In fact, there may be more concerns than confidence heading into this one. 

With injuries across the board, not to mention parts of the defense breaking down late in games, Buffalo will have a tough time against a Lions team that seems to have everything going for them. So, what are some of the concerns that Bills fans need to be worried about?

The secondary

What has been the strongest area of this defense is falling apart as we get to the last stretch of the season. Safeties Damar Hamlin, Taylor Rapp, and cornerback Rasul Douglas were all added to the injury report this week with injuries suffered in Week 14. Buffalo has had a healthy amount of production from all three players this season, and Buffalo is going to need all three of them playing going into a matchup as difficult as this one. If one or more can’t go, the Bills will feel the loss. Cole Bishop and Cam Lewis are the only backup safeties on the roster, along with new addition (and old friend) Micah Hyde, veteran Kareem Jackson, and Lewis Cine on the practice squad. 

At cornerback, there’s a lot of questions behind Douglas if he can’t go. Ja’Marcus Ingram is likely the next man up, but how much do we see former first-round pick Kaiir Elam? Elam is falling down the depth chart, and Buffalo has barely put him out on the field on defense. This may be the Ja’Marcus Ingram and Christian Benford show as Buffalo faces Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, who've combined for 1,573 yards and 13 touchdowns between the two.

The run game

This may sound like a broken record, as every Bills fan would like to see James Cook and Co. run the ball effectively. Buffalo may have to control the clock in this game and keep Detroit’s dominant offense off of the field. The Lions have the fifth-ranked rushing defense, according to Fox Sports’ rankings, and it’ll be an issue that offensive coordinator Joe Brady and the coaching staff need to gameplan around. Buffalo may try to throw it 37 times as they did last week, but the offense has always been at its best with an efficient run game.

Buffalo’s top three running backs have rushed for 1,210 yards this season, and they’ve seen decent production behind James Cook. Whoever they look to this week, one thing is for certain. The Bills need to control the ground game and win the time of possession. 

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