For weeks, a black-and-white photograph hung taped in Mac Jones’ locker.
It confirmed him strolling away from a joyous Bills group, retreating towards his sideline. Two numbers have been scribbled in purple ink on the left aspect of the 14-by-8-inch photograph.
“47 – 17”
The image and the rating served as a reminder. How the Bills completely dominated the Patriots within the Wild Card spherical of the playoffs final season, unleashing the best offensive efficiency seen in NFL postseason historical past. Jones hardly stood an opportunity, significantly after he threw an interception on his opening drive and the group punted on the finish of his subsequent two possessions.
Now, the Pats should return to Buffalo to, in all chance, save their playoff hopes. The Patriots can clinch the AFC’s third and last Wild Card spot with a win, in any other case they’ll want three different groups to lose over the weekend. Instead of relying on their downfall, right here’s how Jones and Co. can avenge final yr’s loss and lengthen their season.
1. Prioritize yards after catch
By most metrics, Buffalo’s protection ranks among the many league’s finest.
The Bills are stout in opposition to the run, and stingy in opposition to the move. A veteran group, they aren’t fooled by a lot. There is one measure, nevertheless, that casts Buffalo as not simply below-average, however because the NFL’s worst in a single specific space: tackling.
The Bills’ are the NFL’s worst tackling group, per Pro Football Focus, and have missed 76 tackles this season, a bottom-10 mark, in line with Pro Football Reference. To exploit this, the Pats ought to prioritize performs that power the Bills to sort out in house. Feed Rhamondre Stevenson and Kendrick Bourne.
Yes, which will imply extra of the dreaded screens, but in addition jet sweeps, shallow crosses and pick-route mixtures. Anything to get your playmakers free in house the place they will generate yards on their very own.
2. Target the safeties
The Bills as soon as boasted the NFL’s finest security duo.
Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer have been the gold customary of interchangeable components tying collectively a secondary. Now, Hyde is out with a neck harm, and Poyer missed apply this week with a knee harm.
Even if Poyer performs Sunday, search for the Pats to focus on their safeties in both man-to-man protection or with misdirection. Without Hyde and Damar Hamlin, Buffalo might be right down to a third-string security subsequent to Poyer. After the Bills declared themselves match to play after Hamlin’s incident Monday evening, don’t count on the Patriots to carry again.
They’ll be concentrating on Buffalo’s weaknesses, simply because the Bills will assault theirs, and for as soon as, meaning the deep finish of the Buffalo secondary.
3. Play keep-away
You know the cliché.
The Patriots’ finest protection in opposition to Josh Allen and the Bills? offense. More particularly, a good time of possession.
The Patriots should shorten the sport with lengthy drives, which can restrict Allen’s possessions. Allen and Buffalo extensive receiver Stefon Diggs would be the two finest gamers on the sphere Sunday. The much less the Patriots see of them, the higher.
To maintain lengthy drives, count on a gradual mixture of RPOs, misdirection runs and brief passes. Such an strategy also needs to assist offset the Bills’ move rush, which generated a 39.5% stress fee in opposition to the Patriots of their final sport on Dec. 1.
Avoid a repeat of historical past Sunday, and make a few of your individual.
Source: www.bostonherald.com