Buffalo looks to keep its winning-ways moving forwardas Denver comes to town.
By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
The Bills will look to keep their winning-ways moving forward in Week 12 as Buffalo hosts the Denver Broncos at New Era Field.
While entering the game at a better 7-3 record, the 3-7 Broncos will present plenty of challenges to the Bills.
With that, here are five storylines to watch unfold during the Bills’ meeting with the Broncos:
Is the run defense actually back?
The Bills run defense has been more than suspect this season. Allowing 106.3 yards per game on the ground, Buffalo’s run defense is the 18th best group of run defenders in the NFL. Last week against the Dolphins, the Bills actually got the job done, though.
Starting running back Kalen Ballage had a score, but he only mustered up nine yards on nine carries. But you can’t bring that money to the bank. Buffalo’s offense got the job done and forced the Dolphins offense to abandon the rushing attack early. Plus, it’s the Dolphins. Despite entering Week 11 on a two-game winning streak, that’s not a good team. Shutting down the Broncos’ attack with Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman is going to be a much more difficult task.
Can the pass rush continue?
Despite attempting to pump some capital into their pass rush, the Bills haven’t gotten the improvement the front office would have liked in recent years.
Jordan Phillips has a been a promising player this year, but aside from that, pass rushers Jerry Hughes and Trent Murphy leave a lot to to be desired and Ed Oliver is certainly having some rookie struggles. Shaq Lawson even say more playing time than Murphy last week. But all that considered, the pass rush looked good in Week 11.
Linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano shared a sack and adding full ones themselves were Star Lotulelei, Oliver, Phillips, Lawson, Hughes, and Corey Liuget. For our mathematicians out there, that’s seven total sacks.
On the year, that brought the Bills to 29 total sacks. It got them further away from the middle of the pack in sack totals, but again, this was against the Dolphins. The Broncos offensive line is a bit banged up heading into Week 12, but they’re much more talented since the Dolphins’ bar isn’t very high.
Can Josh Allen keep momentum vs. top defense?
More of the same here but noteworthy. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen had a heck of a game last week which was highlighted by four total touchdowns, including three in the air. He cemented his chemistry with John Brown, who had two scores in the game. His 20 total touchdowns in the third-most of any quarterback in the AFC.
But again, the Dolphins. The Broncos defense is much, much better. And, they’re hot.
After five weeks, Denver ranked as the 15th best defense in the NFL. Now they’re up to the fourth-best unit, allowing only 310.8 yards per game. The Bills have the third-best defense overall and third-best secondary. Denver’s secondary is the fifth-best (210.3) so far this season. Allen needs to prove it against a top-10 defense because he simply hasn’t this season.
Pass rusher Von Miller and a strong secondary with Chris Harris Jr., Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson lead this defense. Simmons and Jackson are the No. 2 and No. 6 ranked safeties in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. Miller currently has five sacks this season.
Can secondary tighten things up?
Huh? That Bills secondary needs to “tighten things up”? Well, yes.
Last week was not the best outing for them. Tre’Davious White has shadowed top-targets in recent weeks and in Week 11, Dolphins wideout DeVante Parker had seven catches for 135 yards against the Bills. On top of that, Levi Wallace’s struggles also continued. Eventually, he and Kevin Johnson saw a split in playing time. That’s something to monitor.
Johnson played better, but will Wallace get the start? According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson was Buffalo’s top-overall defender last week after he replaced Wallace. Along with Parker, Allen Hurns had a solid four catches for 53 yards for Miami last week.
Against a Brandon Allen-led offense in the Broncos, this should be a good bounce-back game for Buffalo’s defensive backfield, but they do have a massive test against wide receiver Courtland Sutton this week.
Will Cody Ford survive?
A bit dramatic, but true.
The Bills will be without Ty Nsekhe against the Broncos as Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott tabbed the vet as a “week-to-week” player with his injured ankle. That means plenty of rookie Cody Ford at right tackle.
That could be a nightmare against Von Miller for the Bills. Expect him to be moved around their defense and lined up against the much more suspect Fore.
So far this season, Dion Dawkins is Buffalo’s best blocker per Pro Football Focus grading at a 71.9 overall. Nsekhe actually isn’t far behind at 67.3. Ford is very far behind at 53.7 overall, by far Buffalo’s lowest-graded offensive lineman this season.
And again, Von Miller.