While they seem to be stalling in recent weeks, the Bills must react this Thursday.
Kick-off on the night of Thursday to Friday at 2:15 a.m.
Buffalo Bills (4-3) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3)
Right now, there are few teams as unreadable as Buffalo. While they lost in the first game of the season, the Bills then had three consecutive successes. Three convincing victories with 41 points scored on average who had reassured. Above all, they had mastered the Dolphins, then in great form, rather easily (48-20). We therefore thought that the three-time AFC East champion had returned to cruising speed and that the rest would only be a walk in the park.
Except that the Bills fell back into their mistakes. Two defeats in the last three matches and a visual impression which is not at all reassuring. So what is the true value of this team? Is it a simple slump like many teams can experience or a deeper problem that could make the rest of the season sluggish for Josh Allen and his partners? So many questions whose answers are not clear. This Thursday, Buffalo welcomes a tough Tampa Bay team. A Thursday Night Football which could/should provide us with clarification.
Josh Allen, first link
When we talk about Buffalo, we necessarily turn first to Josh Allen. The quarterback, cornerstone of this attack, seems borrowed in recent weeks. The Patriots defense made the game very difficult last Sunday and the Buccaneers could do the same. The Floridians are indeed banking on their defense to stay in the match. Tampa Bay is one of the teams that concedes the fewest points per game (17.3, 6th in the league). Above all, she is a master in the art of flying balloons (13, 4th in NFL).
Bad news for Buffalo which tends to be clumsy with the ball. Since the start of the season, Buffalo has suffered 11 turnovers, including 9 are to the credit of Josh Allen (7 interceptions and 2 fumbles). The franchise’s comeback will require a reaction from its quarterback from the start of the match. Because if the pitcher has been pretty good in the second periods in the last three games (43/59, 488 yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT and 2 fumbles)he is in much more difficulty during the first thirty minutes (30/52, 302 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTS). The start of the game will be important.
A depopulated defense
On the other side of the ball, the Bills normally have the advantage. Like what the Buccaneers are doing, Buffalo only concedes very few points (16.9, 5th in the league) and causes a lot of ball losses (14, 2nd in NFL). Problem for Sean McDermott, injuries are starting to pile up and weigh on the squad. Tre’Davious White, Matt Milano, DaQuan Jones… so many players who would do this team good and who are on the injured list. Not to mention Ed Oliver, absent against the Patriots who is uncertain for this Thursday.
Faced with this wave of injuries, Tampa Bay wants to take advantage of it. Baker Mayfield’s teammates should take inspiration from what the Patriots did last week. To do this, they will have to improve on the ground. The Bucs have one of the worst ground games in the league (77.8 yards/game, 29th) and become too predictable. In Buffalo, they have the opportunity to put pressure on the Falcons in the NFC South, but will have to come out with a full game. By leaving Highmark Stadium with a success, they would in any case plunge the Bills right into crisis.
