The New England Patriots are in an unfamiliar situation as they prepare to face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
The Patriots are playing the Bills for the second time this month, which is uncommon, and they’re looking to avoid a regular-season divisional sweep for the first time since 2000.
The Bills shut out New England at Gillette Stadium in Week 4 when Brady was in the last week of his four-game suspension. The Patriots came out flat with Jacoby Brissett under center nursing a bandaged thumb.
The results should be different this week, but the Buffalo faithful will be rowdy. Here’s how New England can avoid a loss in a hostile environment.
CONTINUE TO OVERCOME RED-ZONE ISSUES
The Patriots’ red-zone defense has made strides over the past two weeks, but they’re still ranked 21st in the NFL, allowing touchdowns on 61.1 percent of opponents’ trips inside the red zone. The Bills rank fourth, scoring a touchdown 72.2 percent of the time they enter the red zone, and they rank first in home red-zone scoring percentage, getting into the end zone on 85.7 percent of red-zone trips.
The Bills likely will be without LeSean McCoy, which will help New England, but running back Mike Gillisslee has been no slouch, averaging 6.2 yards per carry with two touchdowns this season. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor also has two rushing touchdowns.
The Patriots were down to just two defensive tackles last week while rookies Woodrow Hamilton (shoulder) and Vincent Valentine (back) were out with injuries. That forced defensive end Jabaal Sheard inside, where he rotated with Malcom Brown and Alan Branch. Getting back Hamilton and Valentine, both of whom are questionable after being limited all week in practice, would be big.
TEST THE BILLS’ DEFENSE DEEP
It’s risky to throw deep on Buffalo’s defense, but it can be done. The Bills are allowing a 48.2 percent completion percentage on deep passes this season, as opposing teams have been testing them frequently. They’ve allowed three touchdowns on deep balls while recording four interceptions.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has been excellent throwing deep this season, completing 76.9 percent of deep passes for 376 yards with two touchdowns without an interception. Brady hasn’t thrown an interception all season, and if he continues to pick his spots on deep passes, that shouldn’t change.
BRING DOWN TYROD TAYLOR
It’s atypical to send the house against a scrambling quarterback, but the Patriots managed eight sacks the last time they traveled to Buffalo in Week 2 last season.
The Bills rank 30th this season in sack percentage, allowing Taylor to be brought down on 8.02 percent of drop backs. They’re also allowing 2.4 sacks per game.
New England’s pass rush, on the other hand, only is recording 1.6 sacks per game, and it brings the quarterback down on just 3.9 percent of drop backs.
If the Patriots can’t pressure Taylor in this game, then it’s officially time to start panicking about the pass rush. They must send linebackers Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins after Taylor on A-gap blitzes while keeping the QB contained on the edges with Sheard, Chris Long and Rob Ninkovich.
Thumbnail photo via Kevin Hoffman/USA TODAY Sports Images
