Must-win might be too strong of an adjective to describe the New England Patriots’ matchup with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. But the Patriots already have lost to the Bills this season, and they can essentially lock up another AFC East title with a win.
So it’s time for the Patriots to pull out their bag of tricks, finally start showing their hand (and other mixed metaphors) and go all-in to win a game this season.
The Patriots mostly have played conservatively on offense and defense this season. They’ve only fully utilized their two-tight end set, featuring Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett, when they’ve needed it. Against the Steelers, they only rushed three pass rushers in over half of Pittsburgh’s passing snaps with the goal being to force mistakes and prevent big plays, both of which could have blown the game open.
It’s been a winning formula for the Patriots as the schedule largely has broken their way. Week 7’s matchup with the Steelers was supposed to be one of their biggest challenges until Ben Roethlisberger was ruled out with an injury.
The Patriots certainly aren’t taking the Bills lightly, despite the circumstances of their loss, when New England was forced to play Jacoby Brissett at quarterback with a bandaged thumb that immediately needed surgery when the week concluded. So, if Bill Belichick really wants to prove this is a difficult matchup, despite Tom Brady being back under center, it’s time to show the full potential of the offense (minus Dion Lewis) and finally start to send some pressure after the opposing quarterback.
If the Patriots get out to an early lead using that two-tight end set, they can start pinning back their ears to send pressure after Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor since Buffalo will be forced to throw.
When put in a similar circumstance in Week 2 last season, the Patriots sacked Taylor eight times on the way to a 40-32 win. One wouldn’t expect the Patriots’ pass rush to break out against a scrambling quarterback, but that could be the case again this season.
It’s still unclear if the Patriots even have a pass rush to send after the quarterback. They have just 11 sacks in seven games and haven’t done much to put pressure on the opposing quarterback since Brady was back despite having Jabaal Sheard, Rob Ninkovich, Chris Long, Trey Flowers, Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins, Shea McClellin and Barkevious Mingo at their disposal.
Because of Taylor’s ability to scramble, the Patriots might need to manufacture pressure by having their defensive ends contain on the edges with Hightower and/or Collins coming up the middle. Something tells me the Patriots will be able to generate pressure when they need it, but it remains to be seen. This is the week to prove it.
It’s entirely possible we get a better sense of the Patriots’ overall potential after this week’s game. The Patriots are entering a hostile environment against a team that already beat them. Now’s the time to start getting slightly more creative.
Thumbnail photo via Kevin Hoffman/USA TODAY Sports Images
