The Buffalo Bills (0-2) are still looking for their first win of the 2018 NFL season after a pair of disappointing losses to open up the season.
The road to that first win doesn’t get any easier Sunday, as the Bills travel to Minneapolis for a showdown with the reigning NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings (1-0-1).
Our latest edition of the Buffalo Rumblings Podcast has you covered with everything you need to know to get ready for the game between the Bills and the Vikings. Each week during the regular season, our podcast will feature an in-depth interview with a blogger from the opposing team’s website. This week, co-host John Boccacino was joined by Eric Thompson from the Daily Norseman to dissect this match up of teams heading in opposite directions.
Boccacino and co-host Anthony Marino also gave their keys to the game, which had Buffalo opening up as a 16.5 point underdog vs. Minnesota.
Hear what our podcast duo had to say about these topics and more.
Boccacino and Thompson discussed the perception that Minnesota Vikings fans have of the Bills rebuilding efforts, including their thoughts on the starting debut of rookie quarterback Josh Allen, and the pressure the Vikings feel in a Super Bowl-or-bust season.
The two addressed what went wrong for the Vikings in Week 2’s 29-all tie in overtime vs. the Green Bay Packers — where after Minnesota kicker Daniel Carlson missed three field goals, the Vikings went out and inked reliable Dan Bailey to take over the kicking duties — and what led the offense to explode for 22 fourth-quarter points.
The two discussed how the Vikings offense matches up with the Bills defense, what Buffalo can do to slow down Minnesota’s dynamic wide receiver tandem of Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs (a combined 21 catches for 259 yards and three touchdowns in Week 2!), and what Buffalo needs to do to pull off the upset.
One area where Minnesota appears vulnerable is the offensive line. If Buffalo’s pass rush — led by Jerry Hughes, Trent Murphy, Lorenzo Alexander, and a hopefully healthy Shaq Lawson — can get good penetration against the o-line, it will go far in the Bills efforts to slow down Kirk Cousins and the high-flying Minnesota offense.
A HUGE area of concern for Bills fans is Allen, who is making his first road start in a hostile atmosphere. Traditionally, rookie quarterbacks have struggled against a Mike Zimmer-coached squad.
Boccacino and Thompson also offered up their predictions for the game, and while both feel Buffalo will continue to make improvements over its first two games, neither expert sees the Bills pulling off the upset.
Podcast co-host Anthony Marino also gives his thoughts as the Bills look to shock the football world with a win over the reigning NFC North champions.
Check out our Buffalo Rumblings podcast for answers to these questions and more!
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