The Colts will host the Buffalo Bills this week after their worst offensive performance of the season. The Bills are perennial Super Bowl contenders and come into this matchup on a 4-game win streak. Like the Colts, they are beginning to get into the meat of their schedule. Let’s dive into this week’s keys to victory
Jonathan Taylor Needs A Big Day
Taylor is coming off his worst performance last week in Minnesota. While the Colts lose Center Ryan Kelly for the next four weeks, they will be playing one of the lesser run defenses in the league. If Buffalo has one weakness on their team it has been their ability to stop the run. They are 26th in yards allowed and have allowed 4.8 yards per carry. The Bills have beefed up their defensive line with the addition of Quinton Jefferson and Jordan Phillips. While they may not be fully up to speed yet, the addition of them could help as early as this week.
With the loss of Ryan Kelly comes the return of LT Bernhard Raimann to the offensive line. Raimann will return to the lineup after missing last week with a concussion. The offensive line has been good this year, but the injuries are starting to take their toll. Look for rookie iOL Tanor Bortolini to start in place of Ryan Kelly and be a lead blocker for the interior run game that Jonathan Taylor thrives on.
Offensive Improvement
The Colts are coming off their worst offensive performance of the season with poor returns on both the ground and air. This starts with the offensive line being able to exploit this weak run defense and with this coaching staff. For the first time in his tenure, Shane Steichen has begun to take some heat for the offensive gameplan. To the point, where this fanbase is beginning to question his ability to lead this team.
Despite all the injuries and rotations this Bills team has seen this season, they have been stout. The Bills defense has not allowed more than 28 points in any game this season and allowed only 10 points in 5/9 weeks. This is a big week for this offense and how they clean up and install a better scheme that can get them the opportunity for points will be something to watch. Remember last week, the Colts did not get into the red zone once and they will need to score points in bunches to keep up with the Bills offense.
Keep Josh Allen Guessing
I have used this quote before, and I will use it again. You cannot stop Josh Allen; you can only hope to contain him. If you want any chance of winning this game, that is the least that you must do. The plan that Brian Flores put forth on the Colts last week should be the blueprint for Josh Allen. They forced Joe Flacco into difficult throws with a blanket or sticky coverage while under duress.
Flores installed complex blitz packages against this Colts offense last week. The Colts will need to do that to Josh Allen. While Gus Bradley is not known to blitz much, he has this season, and we are slowly starting to see the dividends growing in this defense as they have become far more aggressive. If you can get Josh Allen to commit a turnover (or 2) in this game, then the Colts have a real chance of winning.
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