The New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills rivalry became a lot more interesting within the past eight months.
New Bills head coach Rex Ryan certainly has spiced things up in this AFC East feud, and now Buffalo fans are trying to break the Guinness World Record for outdoor stadium noise.
The Patriots started the season out right with a dominant win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now the Bills have a chance to prove they’re a serious threat in the AFC East as the Super Bowl XLIX champs come to town.
Here’s what we’re watching in the Week 2 divisional showdown:
Can The Bills Shut Down Rob Gronkowski?
Bills head coach Rex Ryan jokingly (?) said the Bills will double or triple cover Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski in this game. Gronkowski is quarterback Tom Brady’s top weapon by far, and limiting him will be imperative if the Bills hope to beat the Patriots. It’s impossible to shut down Gronkowski through an entire game, however, and he’ll find a way to get open even if the Bills put 11 defenders on him.
Double-covering — let alone triple-covering — Gronkowski will only open up the field for other Patriots targets. Third-down back Dion Lewis and No. 2 tight end Scott Chandler will have big games if the Bills’ linebackers and safeties are focusing too heavily on Gronkowski.
Will Malcolm Butler Shadow Sammy Watkins?
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick made the surprising decision to have cornerback Malcolm Butler shadow Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown in Week 1. Butler had some trouble against Brown, who might currently hold the honor for NFL’s best receiver, allowing over 100 yards, including two deep completions.
Bills wideout Percy Harvin looked like quarterback Tyrod Taylor’s No. 1 target in Week 1, catching five passes for 79 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown, but Watkins is Buffalo’s “X” receiver. Butler likely will have more success against Watkins, while No. 2 cornerback Tarell Brown might be better suited to track Harvin.
The Patriots also could lean heavily on zone coverage to try to confuse Taylor. Butler is more comfortable in man coverage, however.
Seeing how the Patriots’ pass defense — including their pass rush — fares against the Bills is a good test. If they struggle to defend Taylor, then it could be a long season.
Can The Patriots Run Defense Improve?
The Patriots made running back DeAngelo Williams look young again in Week 1, but much of the Steelers’ success on the ground can be chalked up to New England’s game plan. The Patriots played rookie defensive end Geneo Grissom at three-technique defensive tackle or five-technique defensive end in the base defense, and the 252-pounder was understandably pushed around. If the Patriots were serious about defending the run, a bigger body would have been in that role.
While the Patriots only used one of Malcom Brown, Alan Branch and Sealver Siliga at a time in Week 1, expect to see multiple 300-pounders on the field at once against the Bills.
Will The Patriots’ Rookie Offensive Linemen Keep Tom Brady Upright?
Veteran prospective starting offensive lineman Ryan Wendell already has been ruled out against the Bills because of an illness, so it appears the Patriots will be rotating their interior offensive line for the second straight week. Undrafted rookie David Andrews will start at center, while Josh Kline and rookies Shaq Mason and Tre’ Jackson will likely play guard.
Andrews has an extremely difficult matchup against Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams, two big bodies who can clog the middle of the line against the run and get pressure on the quarterback up the middle.
Andrews has been impressive in pass protection, but he could have a tough time against Dareus and Williams in the run game. Expect him to have a lot of help from his guards.
How Will The Patriots Split Running Back Reps?
LeGarrette Blount is returning from his one-game suspension, but it remains to be seen how heavily he’ll be involved in the offensive game plan. Dion Lewis started and received most of the running back reps in Week 1, but he only was competing for snaps with Brandon Bolden and James White. Travaris Cadet was inactive last week after being listed as questionable. He’s probable this week and could make his Patriots debut, further crowding the backfield.
I expect Blount and Lewis to split snaps this week, while Cadet could be mixed in intermittently. Blount will likely get most early-down and short-yardage handoffs, but don’t be surprised if Lewis remains heavily involved in the running game. Lewis has really impressed the coaching staff in short time.
Thumbnail photo via Derick E. Hingle/USA TODAY Sports Images
