What To Watch For: Protecting Brady Once Again A Concern Against Buffalo's Pass Rush
BOSTON (CBS) -- It's not often that first place is on the line for a mid-October meeting between the Patriots and Bills, yet that's the unusual scenario this weekend as Tom Brady and Co. head west for their second AFC East matchup of the season.
The Patriots are coming off a dominant 43-17 win over the Bengals, a victory that for at least one night made it seem as though the team had righted the ship. That positive feeling will disappear quickly, though, if the team isn't able to put forth a similar performance in Buffalo.
Meanwhile, the Bills are fresh off a gift-wrapped win in Detroit last week, a victory that was aided by three missed field goals by now-former Detroit kicker Alex Henery. Nevertheless, they don't ask how, they just ask how many, and with 30 percent of the season gone, the Bills have the same number of wins as the Patriots.
With Sunday's game being the first of the Terry Pegula ownership era, and with the Bills standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Patriots, it's safe to expect the "Bills Mafia" crew to be loud and rowdy for this one. Here's what to watch for when the game kicks off Sunday afternoon.
What To Do With Watkins?
Even though Bill Belichick wasn't willing to admit that he finally utilized Darrelle Revis in man-to-man coverage last Sunday night, it was obvious that Revis was employed differently while being tasked with shutting down A.J. Green. And though Revis didn't shut out Green, he did limit him to just two catches for 19 yards before forcing a huge turnover before halftime. It was Revis' biggest assignment of the young season, and he aced it.
A week later, will Revis be employed similarly to lock down Sammy Watkins, the rookie receiver who leads the Bills in receiving yards (284) and touchdowns (2)? Watkins has been targeted 44 times, which is 11 more than the next-closest receivers. And last week, in Kyle Orton's debut with Buffalo, Watkins was targeted a season-high 12 times. Clearly, the veteran QB likes the rookie, and last week's seven-reception, 87-yard performance may be the start of a highly effective QB-WR duo.
So what does the Patriots' defense have in store for Watkins this week? Will it be Revis in man coverage, or will his services be better utilized on Robert Woods? Can Alfonzo Dennard, after a tough showing while matched up against Cincinnati's Mohamed Sanu, step up? Will Brandon Browner get involved? The answers will go a long way in determining the effectiveness of the Orton-led Buffalo offense.
Hey, speaking of which ...
Kyle Orton? Really?
Just last year, the Bills spent the No. 13 overall pick on E.J. Manuel. When a franchise dedicates a top-15 pick, the fan base rightfully expects that player to become a franchise quarterback ... yet the Bills have already given up on Manuel, at least for this year.
And their solution is ... Kyle Orton.
What?
Prior to last Sunday, Orton had attempted just 158 passes since losing his job to Tim Tebow in Denver. Yet the Bills, desperate for stability, decided to pin the hopes of their season on Orton, who (again) lost his job to Tim Tebow. His job as a quarterback, that is. To Tim Tebow.
In those three years as a part-timer for Kansas City and Dallas, Orton threw four touchdowns and four interceptions, and he stayed true to form in his Bills debut, throwing for one TD and one INT.
But Orton did come away with a victory, after hitting Watkins for a 20-yard gain to set up the game-winning field goal in the final seconds.
Certainly, the Patriots -- who boast the No. 3 pass defense in the NFL and are tied for the league lead with a plus-6 turnover ratio -- can't let Kyle Orton pick them apart. Right?
The Buffalo Boy
Rob Gronkowski turned in a 100-yard performance last Sunday, his first time hitting the century mark in his post-ACL tear career. He's looked like the same old Gronk for much of the season, and he's going to want to keep it going this weekend as he heads home to play in front of family and friends.
He's had some success playing in Orchard Park in his career, too:
2012: 5 catches, 104 yards, 1 TD in a 52-28 win
2011: 7 catches, 109 yards, 2 TDs in a 34-31 loss
2010: 4 catches, 54 yards, 2 TDs in a 34-3 win
Total: 16 catches, 267 yards, 5 TDs in three games
Gronkowski was extra fired up to help Tom Brady "look like Tom Brady" again, and he'll be equally as pumped to play in his hometown this week.
Another O-Line
The Patriots have gone into their five games this year with five different offensive line combinations. Heading into game No. 6, they're set up for yet another combination.
That's because Bryan Stork, the rookie out of Florida State whose insertion at center helped solidify the interior of the line, suffered a head injury, which caused him to miss Friday's practice. When the injury report was released on Friday afternoon, Stork was listed as questionable, officially for having a concussion. It's highly unlikely he'll be playing this Sunday.
On the plus side for the Patriots, Ryan Wendell is healthy, and he was the team's best lineman last week against the Bengals. Both he and Dan Connolly have the ability to play center.
On the down side, without Stork, that means that either Jordan Devey or Marcus Cannon (or Josh Kline) is going to have to fill in at guard, and they've had a difficult time there this season.
With big Marcell Dareus (5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass defensed, 19 tackles), Mario Williams (3.5 sacks) and Jerry Hughes (3 sacks, 1 forced fumble) on the Buffalo line, the Patriots' interior linemen are sure to have their hands full. And as we saw earlier this season, when the offensive line isn't protecting Brady, the Patriots aren't competing.
Read more from Michael Hurley by clicking here, or find him on Twitter @michaelFhurley.
MORE PATRIOTS COVERAGE FROM CBS BOSTON