Five Buffalo Bills to watch against the Denver Broncos

The Buffalo Bills have a chance to clinch the AFC East Division title with a win on Saturday against the Denver Broncos. That’s it. That’s the whole scenario. Win the game, win the division. After what seemed like a lifetime (and for some Bills fans, it literally has been) of convoluted scenarios that we knew were unlikely to happen, this one is nice.

Win the game, win the division. That’s what’s at stake on Saturday. Sure, they could still back their way into the divisional title with a Miami Dolphins loss, but do we really want to rely on the New England Patriots for help? Sitting at 10-3 against a five-win Denver squad that, while better than its record would indicate on paper, is what its record says it is, the Bills should come home from Empower Field at Mile High Stadium with their first divisional title in 25 years.

Which players are going to ensure that happens? Aside from the obvious (I liked leaving Josh Allen out last week, so I’m doing it again), here’s our list.

RB Devin Singletary

Last week it was Zack Moss in the spotlight, and this week it’s the Motor at the back of the line. To say that Singletary’s 2020 season has been disappointing would probably make it obvious that you’re a fantasy football player, and perhaps you’ve rostered Singletary in hopes that he’d have a breakout campaign. Instead, Singletary’s usage has been maddening, and his production has been middling, as he has appeared on less than half of Buffalo’s offensive snaps in five of the last six games. Singletary is averaging 4.3 yards per rush and 7.2 yards per reception, so he’s been good when he’s had the ball. The issue has been a positive one overall for Buffalo’s offense, as Josh Allen and the passing attack has been so efficient that the running game has become a background concern. I’d like to see that change this week against a Denver squad that enters the game 27th against the run.

WR Cole Beasley

Last week it was Stefon Diggs running rampant through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ secondary, and this week, I think it will be Beasley taking quick throws and turning them into long gains. Denver has some solid pass rushers, but they’ll be without top corner A.J. Bouye, who was suspended for PED use. The team also placed Duke Dawson and Kevin Toliver on injured reserve, so they’re going to be in a bind against Buffalo’s spread formations. Beasley could see some prime matchups against linebackers or safeties in zone. Advantage Bills.

DE Mario Addison

Our own Doctor K mentioned Addison’s disappearing act over the last few weeks in the Slack channel...and when I checked it out, he has gone full-on Houdini in recent weeks. Over Buffalo’s last four games, Addison has played on 179 defensive snaps. He has one tackle and pass breakup in those four games. That’s it. After a strong but unspectacular start to the campaign, Addison has not provided much impact of late in the way of statistics. Perhaps he’s been drawing some extra attention from opposing offenses, but I’ll be watching him a bit more closely this week.

CB Tre’Davious White

Denver quarterback Drew Lock was asked about White this week. Most players give over-the-top compliments about opponents in order to avoid any accidental bulletin-board material. Surprisingly, Lock answered confidently by saying that White is “an extremely talented corner, but it’s not going to be something that scares you off a throw or scares you off a matchup.” We’re talking about a Buffalo team that obviously took umbrage with Steelers wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster dancing on the logo at midfield last week, so I imagine this is one that White has noted right away. I think Tre might be a little extra motivated to intercept a pass this week.

S Jordan Poyer

Denver has a fast, exciting corps of young receivers, so the Bills’ deep safeties will need to be sound in their help in order to limit big plays. Buffalo does this about as well as any team in the league, but Poyer will be a big part of shutting down that aspect of Denver’s offense this week. The Bills have used him a little less in the blitzing game of late, opting to use corners instead when they bring pressure from the secondary. I wonder if this is the week where they revert to their old tendency and send Poyer on a safety blitz where he can jar the football loose from Lock.