The Bills walked out of Sunday with a 36-10 win over the Ravens, but the tape still gives them plenty to clean up before Monday night’s trip to Minnesota.
That matchup with the Vikings comes under the bright lights of a national Monday Night audience, and Buffalo will need more than just Baltimore’s injury chaos to get through it. Lamar Jackson was knocked out after one play with a thumb injury, Tyler Huntley exited in the second quarter with turf toe, and emergency quarterback Joe Fagnano was left to handle the rest against a Bills pass rush that got increasingly aggressive. Buffalo took advantage and earned its first blowout win of the season, but the next test looks very different.
One area that has to sharpen up is the pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The Bills’ defense looked strong against Baltimore, but that performance came against a quarterback situation that unraveled fast.
The numbers still matter, too: Buffalo sits 30th in the league against the pass, allowing 254.7 yards per game. That means the Bills need to prove last week wasn’t a one-off, especially with either Kyler Murray or Carson Wentz potentially under center.
They’ll also have to be ready to answer Minnesota’s heavy blitzing with some pressure of their own.
The run defense has held up well, and it gets another big assignment here. Buffalo ranks 10th against the run and just held Derrick Henry to 53 rushing yards on 11 carries and 1 touchdown.
Even so, Aaron Jones or Jordan Mason will be looking to break through for 100 yards, something no back has done against the Bills at home this season. Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard will need to keep mixing in zone looks, disguising man coverage, and making sure the tackling stays sharp.
Buffalo also has to clean up the giveaways. The 36-10 final looked comfortable, but the Bills turned it over twice early, and that kind of sloppiness can be costly against a defense built to attack.
Minnesota’s blitz-heavy approach is designed to force mistakes and put quarterbacks under stress. Josh Allen has usually handled that kind of pressure well, thanks to his rushing ability and the way Buffalo’s offensive line can open lanes when the blitz comes.
Then there’s the biggest individual challenge of all: Justin Jefferson. The Bills’ pass defense, which ranks 30th, has to deal with one of the league’s premier wideouts.
The 2022 overtime game between these teams is the one that marked Jefferson’s rise to superstar status in the NFL, and Buffalo knows exactly what kind of threat he brings. The Bills did a nice job last week holding Zay Flowers without a catch, but Jefferson is a different level of problem.
The formula has to be the same in spirit: tight man coverage, physical at the line, and no cheap penalties. Davison Igbinosun will be on the spot if Buffalo chooses to keep him attached to Jefferson.
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The Bills added some familiar AFC East experience to their secondary this week, signing cornerback Kader Kohou to the practice squad ahead of their Week 9 matchup with the Vikings. Kohou arrives with a background that should make the transition easier, having spent three seasons with Miami and also time with Kansas City before his recent release.
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The historical backdrop is part of what makes this one worth watching, because these elite-versus-elite showdowns have not come around often and they have not always gone the same way. The offense has had a slight edge over time, but the results have been close enough to suggest there is no easy script here, which only adds to the intrigue for a Bills team trying to prove its ceiling against Minnesota. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Face A Keon Coleman Decision That Could Split Fans
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That is where the conversation gets interesting, because ESPNs Dan Graziano floated the idea that Coleman could become part of a deal to bring in defensive help. No trade has been reported, but the mere possibility is enough to spark debate in Buffalo, where fans are already trying to figure out whether a productive young receiver is a core piece or a movable asset. [Read more 🡒]