Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills travel to Jacksonville on Sunday to take on the Jaguars in the AFC Wild Card Round. With the win, the Bills will advance to the AFC Divisional Round for the sixth-straight year.
In order to do that, here are my three keys too there game, plus notes and stats:
1.) Take care of the football
The Jaguars come into this game with the second-most takeaways in the NFL with 31, including an impressive 22 interceptions. They've lost the turnover battle only twice this entire season, but still won both those games.
The Bills have lost the turnover battle six times this season, and are 1-5 in those contests. However, they are 8-0 when they have more takeaways than giveaways in a game.
Taking care of the ball will be a huge emphasis, and needs to be done in this one. If the Bills can do that and take the ball away from Jacksonville once or twice, it could go a long way towards a win.
2.) Don't let Jaguars become two-dimensional
The Jaguars only rank 20th in the NFL in rushing yards per-game (115.1) and 27th with only 4.0 yards per-carry. But the Bills defense has been far too leaky this season, giving up 136.2 yards per-game and 5.14 yards per-play on the ground, the fourth- and third-most in the NFL, respectively.
If Jacksonville can get their run game going, it will make it much easier for their passing game as well, because it will keep the Bills defense off-balance and open up play-action passes.
The Bills, as always, will look to shut the run down first, forcing the Jaguars to become a one-dimensional passing offense. If they can do that, it will give them more opportunities for sacks, turnovers, and big plays.
3.) Get tight ends and running backs involved
The Jaguars rank 21st in the NFL in passing yards per-game given up (218.1). But a lot of that damage has been done by opposing tight ends and running backs.
According to Pro Football Reference, Jacksonville has given up 104 catches for 1,004 yards to tight ends this season, which both rank in the top-10 most in the NFL. They've also allowed 82 catches to running backs, eighth-most in the league.
Bills tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, as well as running backs James Cook and Ty Johnson (he is questionable to play) can be really important pieces to the passing game for the Buffalo offense in this one.
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