The New England Patriots didn’t give the Atlanta Falcons a full blueprint to beating the Buffalo Bills last night on Sunday Night Football when the Patriots got a 23-20 win and handed the Bills their first loss of the season.
However, earlier today The Morning Shift did talk about how New England did do one thing that they think the Falcons can replicate next Monday night to have some success against Josh Allen, James Cook, and the Bills’ offense.
“It was very clear to me that New England was just trying to keep Josh Allen in the pocket. The way they were rushing the quarterback it was almost like they didn’t even believe they could sack him if they blitzed up the middle or tried to run these stunt games they were like nah we’re just gonna basically try to press his offensive lineman back in his lap and if we can’t get there we’re just gonna wait for him to rollout. I thought that worked out for them pretty well as a gameplan.”
“Josh Allen is good from the pocket, don't get it twisted, but he might be better on the run, and he’s definitely better when he’s running with the football outside of the pocket.” Mike said
Mike finishes his thought by saying that the Falcons making the Bills’ offense a “conventional offense” will be the best way to slow them down.
“I think if you can force them into being a “conventional offense” that’s where you stand the best chance defensively, and I think that that’s probably the route they will take.”
Led by Josh Allen and James Cook the Bills are currently second in rushing yards per game in the NFL averaging 154.4. Out of those 154.4 yards Allen and Cook account for 132.4 of them. The reigning NFL MVP is currently second in quarterback rushing yards per game averaging 42.4, and the Bills’ newly extended running back in Cook is currently third in the NFL in rushing averaging 90 yards per game.
If the Falcons want to have a chance to beat the Bills a week from tonight it starts and ends with stopping Josh Allen and James Cook in the running game. If Atlanta’s 16th ranked rush defense can have success stopping Cook from having a big game on the ground, keep Josh Allen in the pocket, and make this Buffalo offense as Mike said more “conventional” the Falcons will have a good shot at handing the Bills their second loss of the season.