The Buffalo Bills play host to the New England Patriots on Sunday, as well as a halftime wedding. In what is sure to be a raucous atmosphere, each team will look to remain undefeated, as the winner will move to 4-0 for September. Sole possession of first place in the AFC East is on the line, as well.
For the Bills, they’ll look to beat New England for only the fourth time since 2001, the year quarterback Tom Brady entered the starting lineup in place of Drew Bledsoe. If they’re going to accomplish that feat, they’ll need stellar performances from their top players.
Here are our five Bills to watch this weekend against the Patriots.
QB Josh Allen
While the second-year starter has shown marked improvement in his overall play this year, his decision-making remains suspect at times. To put it bluntly, if Allen throws a hero-ball interception or two on Sunday, the Bills are doomed. That’s not to say that he needs to play conservatively. Changing his method of play would arguably make him less effective, as the best part of his game (extending plays and making something out of nothing) is often the same as the worst part of his game (extending plays and forcing things when nothing is there). There’s a fine line between the two reads on his play, and it ultimately comes down to results: If the play works, we’re fine with it, but if it doesn’t, we don’t like it.
If Allen can play within the game plan, finding his open receivers and beating New England's tight man coverage on the outside, the Bills have a great shot at not only making this a game, but coming out with a victory on Sunday. However, if Allen tries to do too much rather than doing enough, then the Bills are in for a long afternoon.
RB Frank Gore
Part of ensuring that Allen will have openings in the passing game will be establishing the threat of a running game. Enter Gore, who clearly has been Buffalo’s top back in terms of workload through the season’s first three weeks. With Devin Singletary’s status once again murky thanks to a hamstring injury, Gore will see the lion’s share of carries, with T.J. Yeldon serving as a change of pace. Given Yeldon’s lack of production against a sub-par Cincinnati Bengals defense last week, it’s fair to assume that Gore will be an even more important factor this week. He isn’t flashy, but he’s still an effective runner and receiver, so Buffalo will need to make sure Gore has opportunities to keep Allen in manageable down-and-distance scenarios throughout the afternoon.
TE Dawson Knox
Whether you want to call him the Jugger-Knox (hat-tip to @CTWpod) or Rambo, the fact remains that the rookie tight end looks to be earning an expanded role in the offense. Knox is very quietly tied for third on the team in targets through three weeks, and while he only has ten total targets, four of them came last week. He made three catches for 67 yards and one touchdown (his first since high school!), including a bruising 49-yard catch-and-run that set up Frank Gore’s game-winning touchdown plunge. With master schemer Bill Belichick sure to shut down John Brown and Cole Beasley, Buffalo’s other options become even more important. Expect Knox to play a huge role in the game on Sunday.
OL Cody Ford
I almost listed him as a right guard, since that’s where he’ll probably play if starter Jon Feliciano can’t go due to the neck injury he suffered last week. Ford has had a rough time in the early going this year, as he’s had trouble with speed at tackle and with power at guard. The second-round pick has a ton of talent and a ton of potential, but if he continues to perform poorly, the team may be wise to move him to the bench for the time being. Ty Nsekhe has been far better at right tackle, and Feliciano has been a revelation at guard. Ford may be the future, but he isn’t the best option at the present. If he has the chance to go this weekend, he needs to step up his game.
LB Tremaine Edmunds
Much has been made about the young linebacker’s play recently, and I won’t pretend that I’ve focused solely on him enough in the first three games to weigh in on that debate. Here’s what I do know: the Patriots love to hit receivers, tight ends, and running backs on shallow crossing routes over the middle. They love to run picks to open up the middle of the field. They love to run play-action to stress the middle of the defense. While it won’t be Edmunds alone who is tasked with stopping some combination of Julian Edelman, Rex Burkhead, James White, and Ryan Izzo, he’ll be a huge part of the plan to do so. Edmunds must be disciplined in his reads, quick in his reactions, and aggressive in his tackling in order to make an impact this week. He’ll be tested early and often.