By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
The Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts will play for their early-season playoff lives on Sunday.
Both teams desperately need a win, with the Bills (2-4) and Colts (1-5) lagging behind in the AFC playoff picture. A win would go a long way for both.
But within that playoff scenario, there will be plenty of other scenarios playing out. With that, here are five Bills storylines to follow against the Colts on Sunday:
The obvious
It’s the most important position in football and maybe even sports. Now the Bills will have a guy that was on the beach with his family two weeks ago calling the shots and slinging the pigskin. Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott announced on Wednesday that Derek Anderson will start in place of the injured Josh Allen (elbow) against the Colts. Nathan Peterman’s pick-six, game-sealing interception during a 20-13 loss to the Houston Texans last week likely forced his hand.
But the one-time Pro Bowler a decade ago (2008) has the jury out. Nobody knows what the Bills will get from him. His 2008 season is unlikely, but he’s also shown an ability to be a steady playerin his career. Is two weeks on an NFL roster enough to shake off the rust for a guy who’s had four starts in the past seven years? Only one way to find out…
Luck’s record pace
Indy quarterback Andrew Luck has had nothing short of a rollercoaster career the past few seasons. Due to a shoulder injury, he missed the entire 2017 season. In 2015, he was limited to seven games, too. His shoulder injury even brought him to Europe for treatment. Now he’s back.
And Indianapolis head coach Frank Reich isn’t afraid to call on him. So far this season, Luck has 288 pass attempts, 1,792 passing yards and 16 touchdowns in six games. In all those categories, he’s on pace for career-highs. Yeah, he’s back. However, Luck, with eight interceptions, is also on pace for a career-high in that category, too.
Worth noting: How will wide receiver T.Y. Hilton’s return to the lineup do for Luck?
Anderson trickle-down?
Everyone is eager to see what Anderson has. But really what’s important to consider is any effect he’ll have on the lifeless offense around him. Allen has held onto the ball far too long, leading to bad passes, interceptions, short runs and sacks. Peterman, well, he has some nice touch on his passes … unless they’re going toward the sideline.
So what can Anderson do for those around him? Will he make the offensive line look better? Will he give Kelvin Benjamin, Zay Jones, and Charles Clay a chance to make plays? Will he provide enough of a passing game to make opponents back off of LeSean McCoy and the running game? Really a lot of storylines in this single storyline.
Offensive line meshing?
An underlying thing being pushed beneath the QB headlines is Buffalo’s offensive line. The unit is far from the Eric Wood and Richie Incognito unit from the past few years, but things are trending a little better. After leading the league in sacks allowed by four a few weeks ago, a huge gap, the Bills have now allowed the third-most sacks in the NFL with 24. Cleveland (26) and Houston (25), who the Bills’ defensive line manhandled last week, have since jumped over Buffalo.
Sure, that number can be affected by a lesser number of dropbacks, but Buffalo only really limited their passing game intentionally against the Titans when Allen had 19 passes, last week the Bills attempted 29 passes and only gave up two sacks. On top of that, McCoy is finding some room – finally – in the run game. He’s averaged 4.1 yards per carry over the past two weeks. Not good, but better.
Force mistakes, don’t make them
Here’s a defense/special teams combo that’ll make fantasy football proud. The Bills have to win the turnover battle against the Colts. The Colts have the second-most interceptions throw (8) and the third-most giveaways overall (13) in the NFL this season. That kind of gets the blood pumping when your secondary has Tre’Davious White, Micah Hyde, and Jordan Poyer, no? The Bills defensive line is also facing the offensive line that’s allowed the fifth-most QB hits (41). That combo is nice.
On the flip, the Bills can’t turn the ball over. Aside from Peterman who’s not going to play, barring injury, the Bills did a good job not making mistakes on offense last week. The past two weeks, it’s been Buffalo’s special teams making the critical mistakes – be it muffed punts, blocked plays, giving up big gains. It’s been ugly for Danny Crossman’s unit.