By Clint Brooks / Billswire.usatoday.com
After breaking out last season, the Buffalo Bills’ defense has been off to a treacherous start in 2018. Through two games, they’ve allowed the most points (78), touchdowns (10) and points-per-game (39) in the NFL. The disappointing start on the defensive side of the ball has mightily contributed to the Bills’ 0-2 record.
Buffalo will be traveling to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3. The Vikings’ offense is as good they come, placing fifth in both total yards (411.5 yards-per-game) and passing yards (319.5 yards-per-game), and they’ll present a multitude of matchup problems against the Bills’ defense.
Here are three keys for how Buffalo’s defense can slow down the Vikings’ dangerous and versatile offense.
Avoid single high looks
Minnesota owns arguably the best wide receiver duo in the entire NFL via Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. In order to shut this tremendous duo down, or at least limit their production, the Bills will have to disguise their coverage to confuse quarterback Kirk Cousins. Otherwise, with the secondary incredibly depleted after Vontae Davis’ retirement, the Vikings’ offense has a distinct advantage on the outside.
Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott loves to run various forms of single high looks, especially cover-3. Outside of Tre’Davious White, there’s not another cornerback on the roster that can keep up in single coverage with Diggs or Thielen. Therefore, McDermott and his staff should prioritize calling two-high safety looks and supplying help over the top versus the deep ball.
Cousins has the IQ and the arm talent to get the ball to his weapons, so it’ll be imperative for Buffalo to call the appropriate coverage’s to minimize the Vikings’ opportunities in the passing game.
Make Minnesota’s offense one-dimensional
The key to shutting down a great offense is to eliminate an aspect of their game plan. For the Bills, that would be taking away Minnesota’s running game.
Buffalo cannot afford the Vikings to establish a presence on the ground. Minnesota sports a very talented and versatile backfield. Although Dalvin Cook’s status for Sunday is unknown, backup running back Latavius Murray has shown in the past he’s more than capable of being a dependable three down back in starter time.
If the Vikings establish a running game early on, it will force more defenders to patrol the box, which will open up play action opportunities for Cousins and Minnesota’s offense. The Bills cannot allow them to achieve balance and unpredictability.
Force Turnovers
Along with making the Vikings’ offense one-dimensional, it will also be important for Buffalo to throw Minnesota off-rhythm and force them into uncomfortable situations.
It will be the utmost importance for the Bills to stay one step ahead of Minnesota’s offense. In order to maintain that, Buffalo will have to apply pressure and set up lengthy down and distances. From there, the Bills will be given favorable looks while putting Minnesota at a serious disadvantage.
Ultimately, if the Bills want a chance to seriously upset the Vikings, Buffalo will have to turn the ball over to not only shut down Minnesota from scoring points, but to set up their own offense for great field position.
The Bills’ usual takeaway-heavy defense has only forced one turnover through two games. It’s safe to say if Buffalo wants to leave U.S. Bank Stadium with a win, they’ll have to rediscover their roots and become opportunistic on defense, as they were in 2017.