MNF pregame thread: Pats @ Buffalo

[Ivan]

Bills are catching a fortunate break with the game not only being at home but being at night. Fans are gonna be absolutely insane from a days worth of debauchery that would make Caligula proud.

All the better. Facing playoff caliber games is exactly what they will need to be ready for the playoffs. The more tests they have the better. This is just the start of something, and the more challenges they overcome the more ready they will always be when it really matters.

 

[ausbacker]

Take away Diggs, double Knox, force the Bills to beat you with Sanders & Beasley. Our D appears to match up extremely well against Buffalo's O.

 

[jah]

JJ Taylor was placed on the COVID list today but our big backs look fine. Hopefully he infected no teammates. Here's another concern:



Byard was all over our skill players.

Well...the good news is his coverage might have been so poor that it counted as social distancing.

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

 

[VectorPrime]

JJ Taylor was placed on the COVID list today but our big backs look fine. Hopefully he infected no teammates. Here's another concern:



Byard was all over our skill players.

Outdoor transmission is really low so unless they spent some intimate time together in the showers after the game they’ll be fine.

 

[SVN]

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Outdoor transmission is really low so unless they spent some intimate time together in the showers after the game they’ll be fine.

When it is colder transmission goes up, even outdoors. But I agree, I doubt they got it. I read somewhere JJ Taylor tested positive today.

 

[ashley]

Getting everyone ready for Tuesday:

 

[chief1]

Take away Diggs, double Knox, force the Bills to beat you with Sanders & Beasley. Our D appears to match up extremely well against Buffalo's O.

I think the 2 keys are
1) win the turnover battle ( Duh right?) I say this because buffalo is a top 3 team at plus 9 right behind Pats at plus 10. Over simplistic I know but... it may very well come down to this
2) Keep Josh Allen in the pocket. Not only is he really good at throwing on the move, but he is also a very dangerous runner who is second on the team in rushing yards. I know how frustrating it is to watch a QB have what seems like forever to look find an open receiver, but I think this is one of those games

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I think the 2 keys are
1) win the turnover battle ( Duh right?) I say this because buffalo is a top 3 team at plus 9 right behind Pats at plus 10. Over simplistic I know but... it may very well come down to this
2) Keep Josh Allen in the pocket. Not only is he really good at throwing on the move, but he is also a very dangerous runner who is second on the team in rushing yards. I know how frustrating it is to watch a QB have what seems like forever to look find an open receiver, but I think this is one of those games

The biggest matchup certainly looks like how well we contain Allen. The bills have been feast or famine all year and i dont think theyve won any games this year without scoring a bunch of points. If we make it a grind it out kind of game or keep them around the 20 pt mark i feel our chances are really good.

 

[ausbacker]

I think the 2 keys are
1) win the turnover battle ( Duh right?) I say this because buffalo is a top 3 team at plus 9 right behind Pats at plus 10. Over simplistic I know but... it may very well come down to this
2) Keep Josh Allen in the pocket. Not only is he really good at throwing on the move, but he is also a very dangerous runner who is second on the team in rushing yards. I know how frustrating it is to watch a QB have what seems like forever to look find an open receiver, but I think this is one of those games

Allen can be baited into making poor decisions so let's hope this continues.

 

[sb1]

Singletary killed us in the first Bills game last year. 6 YPC. Gotta limit his running and Allen's on 3rd down.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

Not that I'm superstitious or anything but Ashley should start the game day threads, I think shes undefeated.

 

[ashley]

Not that I'm superstitious or anything but Ashley should start the game day threads, I think shes undefeated.

Are you talking about the GDT or pre game threads? @sb1 has been doing well with the pre game threads recently ....keep it rolling!!! lol

 

[sb1]

Are you talking about the GDT or pre game threads? @sb1 has been doing well with the pre game threads recently ....keep it rolling!!! lol

If you're undefeated then I'm glad to share the pre game threads! lol

 

[Sicilian]

Allen can be baited into making poor decisions so let's hope this continues.

1) Stop the run (which SHOULD be easier than it was against Tennessee). Keep them in obvious passing situations.

2) Get pressure with Barmore and the interior guys, while Judon and the outside guys play a contained rush (which Judon is good enough to still turn into some pressures as well).

3) Flood the zones with DBs, and make Allen go on long, 10-15 play drives to score touchdowns.

So long as your offense is doing moderately well, Allen will feel the pressure to keep up. He won't be taking the short passes and check downs all game. He'll force something into those crowded zones and you'll get a chance for some turnovers. But it all starts with #1. If they're getting good chunks on the ground on 1st or 2nd down, it just opens up too much of the playbook for a QB that can attack in a large variety of ways.

 

[PP2]

1) Stop the run (which SHOULD be easier than it was against Tennessee). Keep them in obvious passing situations.

2) Get pressure with Barmore and the interior guys, while Judon and the outside guys play a contained rush (which Judon is good enough to still turn into some pressures as well).

3) Flood the zones with DBs, and make Allen go on long, 10-15 play drives to score touchdowns.

So long as your offense is doing moderately well, Allen will feel the pressure to keep up. He won't be taking the short passes and check downs all game. He'll force something into those crowded zones and you'll get a chance for some turnovers. But it all starts with #1. If they're getting good chunks on the ground on 1st or 2nd down, it just opens up too much of the playbook for a QB that can attack in a large variety of ways.

Regarding #2, we don't want the interior guys to get too much pressure- we just want them to contain the pocket and stop Allen from escaping. I expect a "poor" day from Barmore and the other interior linemen, stats-wise.

And we'll be forcing Allen to take the checkdowns and dink and dunk. He'll eventually lose his patience and want to gun it out. That's the bad thing about having a cannon for an arm, you're tempted to use it rather than take what the D is giving you.

 

[Vatahala]

I'm curious on how the Pats will practice this week with a extra day to prepare. Does the fact they have a bye next also factor in to how tough the practices are.

 

[FCB02062]

Belichick is going to want to keep Allen in the pocket, as he always does with mobile quarterbacks. This also means, in all likelihood, very little man to man defense, especially on third downs. This is where Diggs, Beasely and Knox could feast. Pats absolutely need to get pressure with 4 guys. Let us all hope that Judon does not become overzealous and "get behind" Allen to often because that's a recipe for a 10 yard scramble. GO PATS

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Belichick is going to want to keep Allen in the pocket, as he always does with mobile quarterbacks. This also means, in all likelihood, very little man to man defense, especially on third downs. This is where Diggs, Beasely and Knox could feast. Pats absolutely need to get pressure with 4 guys. Let us all hope that Judon does not become overzealous and "get behind" Allen to often because that's a recipe for a 10 yard scramble. GO PATS

Getting behind the QB too often is the major flaw in Winovich's rush. He needs to fix this or he's gone as run D is not a strength.
Hmmmm Maybe use Wino as a QB spy vs Buffalo? Don't start out that way but if Allen breaks contain a few times, try it.