We’re onto Las Vegas. Let’s get into the 5 keys to the game for the Bills as they take on the Raiders on Sunday at 1 PM. Check out our podcast preview here.
5. Defensive Takeaways
The returning defensive backs in Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Tre White, and Taron Johnson need to show up versus the Raiders on Sunday. These star-studded players are always consistent in the back end with pass break-ups, however, we need to see some takeaways on the back end.
The defense needs to come up with some turnovers for our offense to come back and score seven. The core group of DBs have been together for over five years now and have the chemistry that we all love, now it’s just the execution.
4. Targets other than Stefon Diggs
As much as Josh Allen loves giving the ball to Stefon Diggs, we must see the other playmakers get involved. The Bills drafted TE Dalton Kincaid for a reason so let’s see him work. The newly voted captain in Gabe Davis, is this the year he really takes that big step and looks for that extension contract from the Bills?
We also saw flashes last week of how good James Cook looks in this offense when he has the ball in his hands. All of the off-season signings in Harty, Sherfield, and Harris and how they will fit into this offense we need to see in this game. If the Bills really love the 12 personnel setup with Cook, Kincaid, and Knox what does that successfully look like?
3. Run Defense
Once again, we have another season with glimpses of a struggling run defense. Last week, Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook really took control of the game for the Jets. The Bills struggled with tackling and stopping the run even when the Jets were being so one-dimensional. The Bills are up against Josh Jacobs this weekend and need to find some way to prevent him from taking control of the game.
2. The Offensive Line
Last week, once again we saw a struggling Spencer Brown on the right side, however, on the bright side the rookie OCyrus Torrence was pretty consistent on the right side even though he was challenged with the crazy Jets defensive line. With Max Crosby on the other side this weekend, can the Bills offensive line give Josh Allen enough time to see the field and read his options before he makes a throw. The offensive line also needs to limit the penalties and not make the situation worse for the offense. The line also needs to help James Cook in the run game, we saw how good he can be so let him cook.
1. Josh Allen
4 turnovers by the franchise guy is not a good look in week one.
Josh Allen has not fallen off by any means, but everyone needs to see the greatness from Josh Allen lead us to our first win of the season. We should look for no turnovers or make better choices. Josh Allen loves the long and so do we, but not every play.
When it’s there, execute and when it’s not make the best choice on the field. The growth and knowledge of the game is what we are looking for from Allen, not the skill, we obviously know what he is capable of.