chevss454
Data-driven decision-making is science and art.
Doesn't look like anyone else wants to start this thread so...
Lose and we're pretty much out of AFC East contention. Win and we're still in a precarious situation.
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The Bills started their 2020 campaign hot. Led by the aforementioned Josh Allen, who looked like a serious MVP candidate over the first month of the season, Buffalo won its first four games. From Week 5’s blowout loss against the Titans, however, the team has struggled a bit: it was defeated by Kansas City before beating the Jets without scoring a touchdown. 5-2 is still 5-2, but the Bills have not been a dominant team for most of the season as evidenced by their -4 scoring differential on the season.
Buffalo’s offense has played some impressive football this season, mainly because of quarterback Josh Allen’s growth and connection with his newest weapon: Stefon Diggs is leading the Bills with 48 receptions for 603 yards and three touchdowns. He is far from the only talented player on the offense, though, with the other starter-level receivers as well as the team’s running back group also contributing on a regular basis. The main question for Buffalo will be at tight end: Dawson Knox tested positive for Covid-19 last week, and could miss Sunday’s contest against the Patriots.
Buffalo’s defense is ranked 18th in scoring (25.4/game), 21st in DVOA (5.9%), 25th in EPA (0.123), and dead last in success rate (50.9%), but the unit still features some very talented players across the board. Led by the young trio of Ed Oliver, Tremaine Edmunds and Tre’Davious White, the unit has big play ability written all over it. It has yet to put it all together this season, but the unit is certainly capable of leading the Bills to victory if need be.
2. Which Josh Allen will show up? Josh Allen was off to a terrific start this year: over the first four games, he completed 71 percent of his passes for 1,326 yards, 12 touchdowns and only one interception. Since the, however, his numbers have gone down as he has been successful on only 63.1 percent of his throws for 692 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. Which Allen will the Patriots see on Sunday, the better passer of earlier during the season or the quarterback willing to trust his legs rather than his reads? That could very well determine the defense’s success against him.
3. Will New England’s offense get back on track? There is not denying it, the Patriots offense looked like one of the worst in football the last two weeks. Cam Newton and his receivers were out of sync, with the running game being unable to provide a consistent relief as defenses honed in on it. Going against a talented but inconsistent defense, will this week be a turn for the better? New England certainly has to hope so.
Lose and we're pretty much out of AFC East contention. Win and we're still in a precarious situation.
===================================================
The Bills started their 2020 campaign hot. Led by the aforementioned Josh Allen, who looked like a serious MVP candidate over the first month of the season, Buffalo won its first four games. From Week 5’s blowout loss against the Titans, however, the team has struggled a bit: it was defeated by Kansas City before beating the Jets without scoring a touchdown. 5-2 is still 5-2, but the Bills have not been a dominant team for most of the season as evidenced by their -4 scoring differential on the season.
Buffalo’s offense has played some impressive football this season, mainly because of quarterback Josh Allen’s growth and connection with his newest weapon: Stefon Diggs is leading the Bills with 48 receptions for 603 yards and three touchdowns. He is far from the only talented player on the offense, though, with the other starter-level receivers as well as the team’s running back group also contributing on a regular basis. The main question for Buffalo will be at tight end: Dawson Knox tested positive for Covid-19 last week, and could miss Sunday’s contest against the Patriots.
Buffalo’s defense is ranked 18th in scoring (25.4/game), 21st in DVOA (5.9%), 25th in EPA (0.123), and dead last in success rate (50.9%), but the unit still features some very talented players across the board. Led by the young trio of Ed Oliver, Tremaine Edmunds and Tre’Davious White, the unit has big play ability written all over it. It has yet to put it all together this season, but the unit is certainly capable of leading the Bills to victory if need be.
Three things to watch
1. Is a new era in the AFC East upon us? With Tom Brady having left the Patriots in free agency, the Bills have never had a better chance at seizing the division for the first time since 1995. New England won’t relinquish the crown without a fight, of course, which is why Sunday could ring in the dawn of a new era — or, alternatively, prove that Bill Belichick and company are still a force to be reckoned with in the AFC East.2. Which Josh Allen will show up? Josh Allen was off to a terrific start this year: over the first four games, he completed 71 percent of his passes for 1,326 yards, 12 touchdowns and only one interception. Since the, however, his numbers have gone down as he has been successful on only 63.1 percent of his throws for 692 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. Which Allen will the Patriots see on Sunday, the better passer of earlier during the season or the quarterback willing to trust his legs rather than his reads? That could very well determine the defense’s success against him.
3. Will New England’s offense get back on track? There is not denying it, the Patriots offense looked like one of the worst in football the last two weeks. Cam Newton and his receivers were out of sync, with the running game being unable to provide a consistent relief as defenses honed in on it. Going against a talented but inconsistent defense, will this week be a turn for the better? New England certainly has to hope so.
Patriots opponent preview: Buffalo Bills
All you need to know about this week’s opponent.
www.patspulpit.com