Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills will take on the Denver Broncos in an AFC Wild Card matchup on Sunday and look to advance to the Divisional Round for the fifth straight season.
In order to do that, here are my three keys to the game, plus notes and stats:
1.) Contain Broncos pass rush
The Broncos finished the regular season with the most sacks in the NFL (63), and the highest sack per attempt rate (10.4%). Four players had at least seven sacks. Conversely, the Bills gave up the fewest sacks in the NFL (14) and had the lowest rate of sacks per pass attempt against them (2.69%).
Whichever of these units - the Broncos defense or Bills offense - can maintain their rate of success - will go a long way in determining who wins.
2.) Don’t lose the game on special teams
The Bills special teams have had some rough moments this season, from kick returns against to personnel issues. The Broncos have the No. 1 punt returner in the NFL, Marvin Mims, who averages 15.7 yards per return. The Bills had the fourth rank returner, Brandon Codrington, who averages 11.4 yards. But he's questionable to play with a hamstring injury. These two teams are ranked first and second in average starting field position, in large part due to those players.
Bills kicker Tyler Bass has had his struggles this year, finishing 24-for-29 on field goal attempts and missing five extra points, as well. Denver kicker Will Lutz is 31-of-34 on field goals, only missing one inside 50-yards, and has been perfect on PATs.
The Broncos will look for an advantage in special teams and the Bills need to make sure they don’t get it.
3.) Everybody really has to eat
The Bills offensive mantra this year has been “Everybody Eats.” That really needs to be true in this game. Denver cornerback Patrick Surtain II is arguably the best in the NFL. He will look to shut down whoever he is matched up on on any given play. Since the Bills don’t rely on one top-heavy pass catching target, that could be a benefit to them. But they have to utilize everyone in order for it to be an advantage.
One of the ways they can do that is to use their running backs in the passing game, an area the Broncos have struggled to cover this season.
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