By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
The Buffalo Bills are looking to make it back-to-back wins over the NFC North on Sunday when they’ll face the Green Bay Packers.
On the historic field that is Lambeau Field, there’s always plenty of storylines of the past worth uncovering. But heading into Sunday’s meeting, there’s plenty of new storylines that will unfold.
With that, here’s five storylines to watch when the Bills visit the Packers on Sunday:
Last six or first six?
Through three games this season, the Bills have played a grand total of 12 quarters of football. On defense, the two halves couldn’t be more polar opposites. After allowing 75 points in the first six quarters of the season, the Bills have held opponents to nine points in the last six. In the red zone specifically, the Bills allowed touchdowns the first 10 times opponents made it there.
Things have looked like the front office envisioned them. An improved pass rush helping out a tight secondary. But the Vikings are one test, the Packers are a whole different level.
The injury report is always something worth monitoring. It’s a little different animal this week with Aaron Rodgers’ name appearing on it. Arguably one of the best quarterback ever, Rodgers has multiple lower-body injuries hampering him. One leg has had a nagging knee injury, his left one. When he throws and plants his front foot, it just looks awkward now. Same when he scrambles. On his right leg, he had a bit of a hamstring situation last week, but Rodgers said that’s all good.
We’ll really see how good things are if the Bills can get an intense pass rush on him like they did on Kirk Cousins last week.
Allen back-to-back
Speaking of good quarterbacks, that’s the way you can describe Josh Allen, too. The difference between Allen and Rodgers is about 11 seasons though. Rodgers is a proven commodity. Allen has to prove last Sunday’s efforts in an upset of the Vikings wasn’t just a flash in the pan.
In total, Allen had three scores (2 rush), and was 15-for-22 passing for 196 passing yards. He could’ve done more, but only had four pass attempts in the second half in the Vikings route. Allen has a long way to go before he’s considered a proven starter, let alone on Rodgers’ level, but stringing together back-to-back good games on the road will be a great confidence booster for the Bills organization, fans and Allen himself.
Dropped passes
The Bills’ wide receiver group is strapped for talent. That’s been proven in the past few weeks. Top-target Kelvin Benjamin hasn’t preformed well this season at all. In three games he has six catches and 58 yards. Last week he only had three catches on five targets. Those two misses? Clear drops, including one on the goal line. It wasn’t a new thing for Benjamin this year, either. The drops have followed him.
However, Benjamin hasn’t been alone. Zay Jones hasn’t had drops, but he hasn’t made much of an impact either and he’s played slightly more snaps than Benjamin this season and the two are the clear-cut top two. Someone eventually has to standout in this wide receiver group at some point, right?
Will Shady make an impact
This season things simply haven’t got off the ground for 30-year-old running back LeSean McCoy in 2018. His off the field stuff? Well… that’s for another day. In two games this season on the field, McCoy has 61 yards total. He’s only had 21 total touches as well. In Buffalo’s first two games, the team has had to give up on the run after going down on the scoreboard early. Not to mention McCoy is dealing with a rib injury.
So now that the defense, at least to start Sunday’s game, the Packers will have to respect Allen off the bat following his strong game against the Vikings. It’s time for McCoy, who says he’s playing against the Packers, to perform.