Charlotte, N.C. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills will look to bounce back from losing two-straight games before their bye week when they face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.
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:
1.) Stop the Panthers' run game
The Bills have had trouble stopping the run 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 eighth-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 to throw the ball.
2.) 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 defenses 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.
3.) Eliminate the unforced errors
Over the past two games combined, the Bills have committed a total of 19 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 14th-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.
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