Charlotte, North Carolina (WGR550) - The Buffalo Bills will look to bounce back from losing two straight games when they face the Carolina Panthers Sunday in Charlotte. In order to get back in the Win column and improve to 5-2, here are my three keys to the game, plus notes and stats:
KEYS
Stop the Panthers run game
The Bills have had trouble stopping the tun this season. They’re allowing the most yards per play on the ground (5.75) and over 156 yards per game, third-most in the NFL. Carolina has an excellent run game, averaging over 140 yards per contest, which is third-best in the NFL, and an 8th most 4.72 yards per run. Panthers running back Rico Dowdle has the third-most rushing yards (551) and third-best average per carry (5.62) in the entire NFL. The Bills absolutely have to slow down the Panthers rushing attack and force them into long-yardage situations and to throw the ball.
Have quicker answers on offense
The Bills offense has been slowed down quite a bit the last couple of games. Some of it has been their own undoing with penalties and turnovers, but it’s also been a grind for the offense to find answers against creative pressures defensive have been bringing, and pass-catchers getting open to make things easier and more efficient. The Panthers aren’t a heavy blitzing team, but they’re only allowing 203 passing yards per game and already have six interceptions. Bills quarterback Josh Allen may have to be patient and take what’s given to him. That means running backs out of the backfield and staying on schedule to create shorter third downs to allow more options to keep the Panthers’ defense off-balance.
Eliminate the unforced errors
Over the past two games combined, the Bills have committed a total of nineteen penalties and turned the ball over five times. They have had huge plays taken away by their own penalties committed, and given opponents shorter fields to score and hurt their own chances at putting points on the board. On a per game basis, Buffalo is the fourteenth-most penalized team in the NFL, while Carolina is tied for the fourth-least penalized team. The Bills have to clean both of those areas up and not give Carolina any free chances or extra opportunities.
NOTES AND STATS
