Opponent Profile: Buffalo Bills Are Coming Off A Loss, But Still Dangerous
By Danny Cox
Coming face-to-face with the New England Patriots is a frightening situation for any team in the NFL, but there isn't a team in the league that's going to back down. One thing that the Pats have to be aware of is that the Bills aren't going to give up, and will not show fear to anyone team they face on the field.
If Bill Belichick and the Pats decide to take the Bills lightly, it could end up turning into trouble, and fast.
Buffalo Bills Season Record: 4-3
The Buffalo Bills may be coming off of a loss to the Miami Dolphins, and they may have started the season 0-2, but in between, they had a four-game winning streak. This is a good Bills team that simply needed to find their groove and place in the 2016 season, which has already been turned around for them. What once seemed like a lost season has turned into something promising, and could end up with a spot in the playoffs.
Bills On Offense
The Bills have a nice mix of passing and rushing on their offense, making it hard for opposing defenses to focus on just one attack. One thing that the Patriots will have to watch all this week is the status of running back LeSean McCoy. The dangerous back suffered a hamstring injury last week and no one expected him to play on Sunday, but he was on the field against the Miami Dolphins.
Once the game got going, though, he carried a mere eight times and wasn't seen very often, and that was due to his hamstring. He knew it didn't feel right and the Bills didn't want to risk injuring him further, so they sat him for the majority of the game. If he gets adequate rest this week, he may be ready for the Patriots game, and that could spell trouble.
Bills On Defense
Buffalo has a great pass rush that Tom Brady is going to have to pay attention to at all times during the game. Zach Brown and Lorenzo Alexander know how to get after opposing quarterbacks in a hurry, and if it's not them, then it is another talented linebacker in Jerry Hughes. The Patriots offensive line is in for a long day and a lot of work on Sunday.
Players to Watch: QB Tyrod Taylor and LB Lorenzo Alexander
Tyrod Taylor has become the true leader of this Bills team and he is currently playing extremely well in a season where they are showing a good possibility of landing in the playoffs. Taylor already has 1,297 yards passing this season to go with nine touchdowns and a mere two interceptions.
The thing that makes him so dangerous is that he's a double-threat who can tuck the ball away and take off at any given point. He has 271 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, too, which means the Patriots need to always have a defensive spy on him.
The Bills have a lot of talented players on defense, but veteran linebacker Lorenzo Alexander is having the season of a lifetime and is showing no signs of slowing down. Before this season, Alexander's highest single-season sack total was 2.5 back in 2012, but he has already obliterated that with nine sacks in seven games this season.
Outlook
The Bills have a lot more going for them this season than they have had in many years, and they could be true contenders for a Wild Card spot in the playoffs this year. Had they taken out the Miami Dolphins, they would have gone on to face the Patriots with a five-game win streak. Even with that loss, the Bills are going to come out fighting, and New England needs to stay focused throughout the entire game.