Heading into Week 15, the Buffalo Bills are leaning heavily on a ground game that’s become one of the most dominant in the NFL - and that’s saying something when you’ve got Josh Allen under center. Despite having one of the league’s most electric quarterbacks, Buffalo has committed to the run in a big way, ranking second in the league in rushing attempts. And it’s not just about volume - this rushing attack is producing at an elite clip, leading the NFL in yards per carry (5.1) and total rushing yards (2,051).
So, when the Bills take on the New England Patriots this weekend, the battle in the trenches could define the game. If New England wants to slow down Buffalo’s offense, it starts with plugging the run lanes.
That’s easier said than done, especially for a Patriots defensive front that’s been dealing with some attrition. Christian Barmore continues to be a disruptive force up the middle, but the unit will once again be without Milton Williams, who remains sidelined. His absence has created opportunities - and challenges - for the rest of the defensive tackle group.
Khyiris Tonga, who missed last week’s game against the Giants with a chest injury, looks like he’s trending in the right direction. He was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice and could be back in the fold Sunday. But even with Tonga returning, the Patriots will need more than just him and Barmore to counter the Bills’ deep and efficient rushing attack led by James Cook.
Head coach Mike Vrabel made it clear: this is going to be an all-hands-on-deck game for the defensive line.
“Cory’s continued to improve and play a lot of football for us, and Eric’s taking the opportunities on Thursdays that we’ve had in those competitive practices to get better,” Vrabel said. “We’ll need everybody up front.
The ability to stop the run is huge this week. That’s just a large part of what they do.
They have a lot of confidence in it. Not the only thing they do - they do a lot of things well - but they’re going to run it until you stop them, and then they’ll build everything else off of it.”
That means players like Cory Durden, Eric Gregory, and Joshua Farmer will be critical to the Patriots’ game plan. None of them started the season as household names, but all three have earned their way into meaningful snaps - and now, meaningful roles.
Durden and Gregory were both late-summer pickups, added just before the season kicked off. Durden joined the practice squad on August 28, Gregory was claimed off waivers the next day, and by Week 1, both had cracked the 53-man roster. Since then, with Williams landing on injured reserve after Week 11 due to an ankle injury, their roles have only grown.
Durden has emerged as the team’s No. 3 defensive tackle and earned his first career start last week against the Giants. Gregory, an undrafted rookie, has played 54 snaps over the last three games - his first NFL action.
Farmer, a fourth-round pick this year, rejoined the rotation in Week 13 after two straight weeks as a healthy scratch. He made his presence felt against Buffalo earlier this season, recovering a fumble, and looks poised to remain in the mix moving forward.
For Tonga, watching the younger guys step up has been a point of pride.
“Always happy for them,” he said. “Proud of them.
Just taking advantage of the opportunities - that’s really what the league is. I think they understand that, and everyone does.
Coach harps on it every week: prepare as a starter, whoever you are, because you never know. They definitely have done a good job.”
That mindset will be tested again on Sunday. The Bills are going to run the ball - and then run it again. If the Patriots want to keep their postseason hopes alive and make a statement in the division, it’ll start with whether this reshuffled defensive line can rise to the occasion.