Buffalo Bills: Madden Sim Week 3 Preview: Bills at Rams

The Buffalo Bills (1-1) head up to Los Angeles to take on the Los Angeles Rams (1-1) in week 3 of the Buffalo Fanatics Madden Sim. After a heartbreaking loss to the New England Patriots last week, the Bills are looking to get back over .500 on Sunday. Here are five key’s to Sunday’s game.

Force the Rams to run the ball

Jared Goff had a very good game in the loss to the Eagles last week. He threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns on a good Philadelphia defense. However, the Rams could only gain just 64 rushing yards. Starting running back Devonta Freeman averaged 3.0 yards per carry last week. The key to shutting down the Rams offense is forcing them to run the ball with Freeman and backup running back Darrell Henderson.

Get Devin Singletary involved

Devin Singletary had a much better game in week 2 against the Patriots. He rushed for 109 yards and three touchdowns which was key for the Bills offense. The Bills should look to utilize Singletary in the passing game too. Last week, Eagles backup running back Ty Montgomery had four receptions for 40 yards out of the backfield. Singletary is a more dynamic player than Montgomery, and presents much more of a mismatch for a weak Rams linebacker core.

Stefon Diggs needs to bounce back

In week 1, Stefon Diggs was unstoppable. He destroyed the Jets defense down the field and looked like everything Buffalo could have hoped for and then some. However, against the Patriots Diggs was very quiet as Stephon Gilmore got the best of him, holding him to four catches for 69 yards. This week he’ll get matched up against another top tier cornerback in Jalen Ramsey. Diggs needs to have a much better game and show that he can beat No. 1 cornerbacks, and few are better than Ramsey.

Milano/Edmunds vs. Freeman in coverage

The Bills have two incredibly athletic linebackers in Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds. They’ll need to bring their “A game” against the Rams on Sunday. Although Devonta Freeman struggled running the ball last week, he was a weapon in the pass game. He finished with six catches for 121 yards against the Eagles. Both Milano and Edmunds will have to shut down Freeman in the passing game or else the Bills could have a long day defensively.

Get off the field on third down

The Bills defense was terrible on third down last week in New England. They allowed the Patriots to convert on 8/12 third downs. One of the things the Rams were very good at last week was converting third downs, as they converted on nine third downs. The Bills defense has to get off the field on third downs on Sunday and get the ball back to Josh Allen and the offense.

It should be an exciting game on Sunday between two teams who are desperate for a win. A physical Bills teams may be too much for the Rams to handle following a tough loss.

Prediction: Bills: 31 Rams: 27

Mitch Broder is a contributor for The Buffalo Fanatics. To contact him, email him at mitchell.broder@gmail.com or on Twitter @mitchell_broder