The Buffalo Bills killed two birds with one stone, picking up the franchise’s first road playoff win since 1993, as well as Josh Allen’s first career road playoff win, trouncing the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-24 and snapping their eight game winning streak.
Now, they move on to the Divisional Round against the Denver Broncos for a rematch of last year’s wildcard matchup, which Buffalo won 31-7.
Buffalo faces another opponent with a terrific run defense for the second straight week. On film, it appears they have found a few schemes to counter the challenge.
Buffalo’s weak run defense will also need answers should opposing offenses attack them on the ground.
Bills’ Wild Card Film Review:
Using Specific Formations to Their Advantage
In their wildcard battle with Jacksonville, Buffalo sprinkled run-pass option plays with Allen going out of shotgun.
The key is that they went trips left (two receivers and one tight end lined outside) to see a lighter box. Jacksonville’s defense presented five in the box and Allen decided to hand the ball off to rushing champion James Cook.
Cook takes advantage of the light box, picking up seven rushing yards. Notice the left tackle, Dion Dawkins, taking a terrific angle to keep the edge defender out of the play and leave the “B gap” — hole between the guard and tackle — open for Cook to blast through.
Buffalo’s Defensive Disguises
Buffalo’s top pass defense — which gave up 156.9 passing yards per game in the regular season — held Trevor Lawrence to 18-of-30 passing for 207 yards, three passing touchdowns and two interceptions.
It was their pre-snap disguises that put questions in Lawrence’s brain pre- and post-snap.
You’re going to see the motion on the right side and Bills slot cornerback Taron Johnson casually travels with the motion. That usually indicates man coverage but Buffalo primarily plays zone coverage.
Even with that indication, Lawrence did not have the correct answer of where the blitz was coming from. Quarterbacks are primarily (along with the center) responsible to set up the pass protection.
It leads to Buffalo winning the rep because on the left side, Matt Milano gets a favorable matchup — pass rushing against the running back. Christian Benford flies in off a corner blitz unblocked and gets his paws up to deflect the pass at the line of scrimmage. That’s exactly the matchups that Buffalo wanted and what Jacksonville did not want.
Divisional Round Film Review:
Will They Trust Their Rushing Attack?
Last week, Buffalo faced the NFL’s top rushing defense — Jacksonville, who allowed 85.6 rushing yards per game in the regular season. Buffalo handed the ball off to Cook 15 times for 46 yards.
This week, they are facing the second-best rushing defense; Denver’s run defense surrendered 91.1 yards per game.
The key for Buffalo will be their trust in their scheme in the run game in yet another strength-on-strength matchup in the trenches.
From last year’s Wild Card battle, Buffalo used a healthy dose of 21 personnel (two running backs and one tight end) to lead their run attack. This season, they ran the eighth most plays out of 21 personnel, recording an EPA of 7.12 (fifth best).
On this play, Buffalo finds success with the pulling guard, David Edwards (#76), out in front to block the middle linebacker and the fullback, Reggie Gilliam, blocking the weakside linebacker. Cook bounces it outside and picks up a gain of 15+ yards.
Buffalo must win the physical battle up front in 21 personnel to keep the ball in Cook’s hands.
Can Buffalo’s Defensive Techniques Be Sound Against the Run?
Buffalo’s run defense surrendered 136 rushing yards per game, fifth worst in the regular season.
This is a rushing defense that is boom or bust. They will either give up chunk rushing plays or record a tackle for loss.
Here’s another play from last year’s Wild Card matchup:
Gregory Rousseau is the player highlighted on this rep. He’s in a wide-nine technique which means he’s lined up on the outside shoulder of the right tackle. The disadvantage to this technique is that Rousseau is vulnerable to an outside run that comes his way.
Despite the disadvantage, Rousseau’s technique is a nice swipe to disengage with the right tackle and from there, he chases down the ball carrier for a tackle for loss.
If the Bills’ run defense can come up with just a few plays like these on early downs and use great techniques, they can limit the potential damage in that area.
One Last Nugget
Matt Prater drilled a then-record 64-yard field goal back in 2013 as a member of the Denver Broncos.
Now, the 41-year-old, while nursing an injury, returns to a stadium that he’s familiar with kicking in, having played six seasons for the Broncos.
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