Alright, I’m going to inflate my ego a little bit. Last week, one of my predictions was that the Buffalo Bills’ run game would find success against the Cowboys… and it sure did.
RB James Cook had a career day, totaling 221 scrimmage yards with a receiving touchdown and a rushing touchdown. The Bills ran the ball at will, which is something that they don’t do very often. In the past, they would shy away from it. But, for a game tarnished by light rain and a case of the drops, it was the appropriate plan. Even if interim OC Joe Brady didn’t originally envision it going into the game.
That was Brady’s mindset from quarter to quarter. It was working so well, and the Cowboys weren’t doing a thing to stop them. This is exactly what the Buffalo Bills have been looking for. These days, fans around the league expect their offensive coordinator to be a play-caller, but the Bills needed a game-planner. They needed someone who can either change their strategy on the fly or stick to what’s working. It’s clear that Joe Brady has that ability, which is totally refreshing. Remember last week, when we were so concerned that Cook was being taken out of the game for no reason? Well, sometimes there is a reason, and we now know that the Bills know his presence will benefit them. From here on out, we need to trust what Brady is doing.
Every game is a challenge, and this week is no different, despite the fact that the Bills will be playing a team that is obviously inferior to them. However, we’ve learned throughout this season that a win isn’t always certain. Besides, Buffalo lost to the Jets, the Patriots, and the Broncos already. I do have to say, though, this Bills team is looking different right now, more locked in. They usually play urgently in the month of December.
In the same breath, we’ve seen crazier things happen, so I’d like to warn everyone not to take the Los Angeles Chargers lightly. Coming off of a 42-point defeat and the firing of their head coach and general manager, the Bolts may be charged up enough to pull off an upset. What would that look like? I’m not sure, but I could tell you what the Bills would have to do to fly home with a win.
Matchups to Watch
Buffalo Bills OL vs. LA Chargers DL
The Buffalo Bills offensive line had a fabulous day against the Dallas Cowboys. They allowed only one sack and moved mountains to allow James Cook to run through the meadows unscathed. That was against an aggressive Cowboys defensive line, which is very impressive. Now, they will face a Chargers defensive line that is 10th in the league in sack rate (7.87%) and 18th in the league in rushing yards per game (113.9 yards/game). Instead of OLB Micah Parsons, it will be OLB Khalil Mack — a University of Buffalo product — on the other side of the line. Mack is tied for third in the league with 15.0 sacks, and has five forced fumbles. It will be imperative that the Bills try to take him out of the play like they did with Parsons.
It certainly helps, though, that Chargers OLB Joey Bosa will not play against the Bills despite opening his 21-day practice window. The Chargers also waived starting DT Sebastian Joseph-Day Friday afternoon.
Bills Defense vs. Chargers Offense
After facing QBs Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott, the Buffalo Bills go up against Chargers backup Easton Stick, who makes his second NFL start tonight. Their franchise QB Justin Herbert is out for the rest of the season with a finger injury. They will be missing their top two receivers, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. LA is also down to their third string center, Brendan Jaimes. This likely means that the Chargers offense is going to throw the kitchen sink at the Bills. They are going to run trick plays. The defense must capitalize off of the inexperience on that side of the ball, but they should also anticipate RB Austin Ekeler to shoulder the workload for the evening. Particularly by running screens and attempting to get him out in space, considering the state of their offensive line.
The Bills seem to be getting close to healthy on defense, with DE AJ Epenesa being listed as questionable after three-straight limited practices, and DT DaQuan Jones opening up his 21-day practice window. Unfortunately, DT Jordan Phillips went on injured reserve after suffering a wrist injury in Week 15, and having subsequent surgery. S Micah Hyde will not play for a second straight week due to his chronic neck injury. Once again, the Bills have to lean on their defensive depth.
Prediction: Josh Allen will prosper
In the pouring rain, one would imagine that it’d be difficult to throw the football. QB Josh Allen attempted only 15 passes in Week 15 vs the Cowboys. Of course, there were two other factors that led to such a result. The Buffalo Bills ran the ball 47 times with J. Allen on the field, and the Cowboys were littering the green in coverage.
This week, it may be a different story. Josh Allen will be operating indoors for the first time this season, so there will be a greater opportunity to pass the football. Additionally, the Chargers defense ranks 30th in the league in passing yards allowed average (261.4 passing yards per game). They also allow 10.8 yards per completion, ranking 28th in the league. Needless to say, the run game that the Bills displayed last Sunday night should force the Chargers to think twice. When was the last time the Bills had a respectable run game? Certainly it will work in Josh Allen’s favor if the Chargers decide to stack the box, thinking that the Bills will run the ball. Thank you, Joe Brady!
Conclusion
Great, the Bills finally beat the Cowboys in a meaningful game. What’s next? Well, they certainly shouldn’t take their foot off of the gas, even against an opponent that is supposedly inferior to them. The Chargers are not the team that everyone thought they would be heading into the 2023 regular season. They fell short of expectations even when Justin Herbert was healthy. Now he is out, along with a handful of their other starters and they have different coaches calling the shots.
Is this a trap game? Do I even dare bring that up? Prior to Josh McDaniels’ firing as Raiders head coach, interim head coaches had a 15-12 record in their first starts. Las Vegas beat the Giants by more than three scores after Antonio Pierce took over in November 2023, making that record 16-12. The Buffalo Bills are hoping to not fall victim to the “poaching hangover” experienced by the Chargers. Maybe if Ken Dorsey was still the offensive coordinator, I would be worried. But, the Bills have an interim coach of their own to change the narrative.
There are three weeks left, meaning that the playoff implications are greater than ever. Buffalo is practically forced to win out in order to keep their postseason hopes alive, but it is easier said than done. Even though they got through some of their toughest opponents in the last two weeks, they have not crossed the finish line yet. Next week, I will release my next edition of Jenna’s Outlook, when the Bills host the New England Patriots in their penultimate game of the regular season!
Featured Image Credit: CBS4 Indianapolis
