Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills face off in yet another big AFC matchup this week, taking on the Cincinnati Bengals in their second straight battle against an AFC North opponent. The Bills dispatched the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, overcoming a poor offensive showing in the first half on the way to a 26-7 victory.
While last week’s game had great playoff leverage, this week’s contest shows no let-up in that regard. The Bills can keep pace with their AFC foes with a win, and they can all but guarantee that the Bengals will be out of the playoffs at the same time. With a loss, though, Buffalo runs the risk of falling out of the playoff picture entirely.
The Bills are dealing with injuries — again — at some key positions, so they’ll need to do what they’ve done all year and come up big with reserves at key positions. Buffalo will likely need practice-squad call-ups to contribute on Sunday if they want to earn their ninth victory on the season.
Here are five Bills to watch this week against the Bengals.
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RB James Cook III
Josh Allen is obviously important, as he needs to find space in the passing game against a Cincinnati defense that has allowed more yards through the air than any team in the league this season. However, the Bengals’ run defense has allowed more rushing yards than any team other than the New York Giants this year, and given their strength on offense with quarterback Joe Burrow returning, it would benefit Buffalo to have long, sustained drives this week.
If the Bills allow Cook to, well, cook, then it will keep Cincy’s offense off the field. Any time the Bills don’t have to guard wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins (the latter of whom is moving through concussion protocol) it’s better for Buffalo. It will also be better for my overall heart health. The Bengals obviously know that the Bills want to establish the run, but if they sell out to stop it, then that should open things up through the air for Allen.
Making sure that Cook has a good start to this one will set the exact tone Buffalo wants to set. I don’t expect 30 reps of duo or weak zone, but a steady diet of No. 4 is likely to be on the menu come Sunday.
WR Khalil Shakir
I don’t know if tight end Dalton Kincaid will play, but I’m quite confident that wide receiver Joshua Palmer will be out once again. Someone has to make plays in the passing game, and that someone has to be Shakir.
Will the Bengals try to take him away via double-teams? Potentially. Will the Bills look to counter blitz packages by having Allen throw quick-screens to Shakir in the slot? Indubitably. Should offensive coordinator Joe Brady use Shakir on some other, more creative routes this week that might allow Buffalo’s top passing-game target to operate in the intermediate and deep areas of the...
