By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
The Bills are now in win or go home mode heading into the 2019 playoffs. That journey will begin on Saturday in Houston against the Texans.
While the Bills have had a successful season to this point, some players will certainly need to step it up if the Bills are going to win their first playoff game in over two decades.
Here are seven players who need to step up for the Bills in the playoffs:
RT Cody Ford
The status of offensive lineman Ty Nsekhe is up in the air this week. He injured his ankle again in Week 17 against the Jets. He’s practiced in a limited capacity this week, but regardless, Cody Ford will see playing time and Nsekhe likely won’t be 100 percent, at least.
No longer a rookie, Ford cannot afford to be the weak link of Buffalo’s offensive line. That’ll involve a very tough matchup as defensive end JJ Watt is going to return to the lineup this week for the Texans. Watt was once thought to be done for the season with a pec injury, but remarkably will return to face the Bills. How close to full health he’ll be will be a question mark, but he’s still a former three-time Defensive Player of the Year. He can end a gameplan before it ever gets going.
CB Tre’Davious White
As mentioned, some players on the Bills who’ve had a great season will still need to step it up. That means Tre’Davious White.
His first season as a Pro Bowler has been an excellent one. White didn’t allow a single touchdown this season, and continuing that will be a tough ask this week. White will likely follow receiver DeAndre Hopkins around the field. He’s one of the NFL’s best receivers and in only 15 games, he surpassed 100 catches (104) and 1,000-yards receiving (1,165). Last time out, it was about a draw between these two. White held Hopkins to only 63 yards on five catches, but he did score in the game, too.
Typically opponents will target the other side of the field with White out there, but in this case, that won’t happen.
CB Taron Johnson
According to Texans coach Bill O’Brien, receiver Will Fuller is currently “day-to-day” and trending in the right direction. Team reporter Drew Dougherty predicts that Fuller will play against the Bills when it was once believed a groin injury will keep him out.
If Fuller is able to go, it’s a big edge for the Texans. While he’s oft-injured, he gives Houston’s offense and quarterback Deshaun Watson a dynamic, speedy weapon. Fuller stretches the field while makes himself a big-play threat, but it also opens up things around him. Fuller also plays out of the slot most of the time, which will bring Taron Johnson into the fold. Johnson has had an up-and-down season at times for the Bills. He failed to record an interception this season, but did add two more passes defended from his rookie year, five in total. His toughest test thus far might be Fuller, but Julian Edelman from the Patriots is up there, too. Johnson struggled against Edelman a few weeks ago.
DE Trent Murphy
While perhaps just against the Jets, Trent Murphy carrying over him momentum from Week 17 would go a long way for the Bills. He had his first multiple-sack game (2) during his tenure with the Bills.
The Texans have had problems keeping Deshaun Watson upright in recent seasons. Across from Murphy, Jerry Hughes will draw left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Per Pro Football Focus, Tunsil grades out as a 75.8 overall grade this season, a solid year. The rest of the Texans line, including right tackle Chris Clark, has struggled this season.
The Bills’ best bet to slow down the passing attack of the Texans might be with pressure on Watson as much as possible. In addition, Murphy and the Bills’ defensive line have to keep running back Carlos Hyde at bay as well. He eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark this year.
WR Cole Beasley
Typically the Bills have had either Cole Beasley or John Brown step up in the passing game for them. From week-to-week, one of the two seems to jump near 100-yards receiving. This week could be Beasley’s week for a strong outing.
The Texans don’t sport a great secondary, but they do have an improved one with some new faces. Of all their secondary members, Beasley has the best matchup against Vernon Hargreaves, who clocks in at a brutal 47.4 overall grade this year from PFF. Speaking of analytics, Football Outsides reported this week that the Texans defense allowed a league-worst 83 percent completion rate against “short middle passes,” 10.8 yards per catch. Those routes have slot receiver all over it and the Bills could look to continuing this trend for the Texans with Beasley, as he heads back to his home state of Texas.
RB Devin Singletary
While the Bills’ passing attack could be a key to beating the Texans, so could Devin Singletary. Like Ford, Singletary is no longer a rookie and the Bills shouldn’t be afraid to give the young gun his fair share of touches. Like the Bills, the Texans are good in close games. This season they went 8-3 in one-score games. With Singletary, the Bills can eat up some time of possession stats to give the Texans less chances at winning. Or in a perfect world, at least.
And of course, the Texans run defense isn’t exactly great, either. They rank as the No. 25 team against the ground attack this season, allowing 121.1 yards per game. Their pass defense is even worse as the league’s fourth-worst, for what it’s worth.
QB Josh Allen
And the most important for last, quarterback Josh Allen. The second-year pro is playing in his first win-or-go-home game of his career. So far under pressure, Allen’s led the Bills to some successes on primetime football. In addition, he’s also led them to five game-winning drives this year. Allen and Deshaun Watson tied for the league-lead there. If it comes down to crunch time, can Allen produce under the toughest of circumstances?
While game-winning drives are important and it could come down to such a scenario, getting on the board early might be the key for Allen and the Bills. However, the Bills haven’t scored a touchdown in the first quarter since facing the Redskins in Week 9. Might be good as time as ever to change that.