The way many fans and national media are reacting to the Bills mini-slump, and the 31-23 win at Ford Field in Detroit over the Cleveland Browns, you’d think everything is falling apart heading into the Thanksgiving Day meeting with the Lions back in Detroit.
The 7-3 Bills are 8 ½ point favorites over the 4-6 Lions, who are coming off an impressive 31-18 win at the NY Giants.
But the Bills still have by far the biggest scoring differential in the NFL, and are 7-3 after a very tough opening 10 games. Their losses were close ones to winning teams, and they’ve beaten three AFC division leaders, including the Chiefs in KC.
The offense, even with Josh Allen’s uncharacteristic turnover binge, is still one of the NFL’s best. It’s the injury-riddled D that has fallen off after a strong start, but there’s no reason to think some players like Greg Rousseau and Tremaine Edmunds, and yes, even Tre White, will return sooner than later.
Bills HC Sean McDermott and GM Brandon Beane are detail freaks, and one reason they decided to return to Buffalo after the Browns win when they could have just stayed in Detroit and avoid the hassle.
But they felt it was more important to get the players home to get resettled with their families dealing with the big blizzard, before returning to Ford Field. The Bills went so far as to request the visitor’s lockerrooms and sidelines despite being the home team against the Browns, in order for there to be a more familiar feeling.
Although Jared Goff and the Lions are among NFL leaders offensively, 7th overall and 8th in ppg at 25.0, they’re also dead last on defense.
So feel free to turn Josh loose and rack up some points, right?
Not at all. The blueprint used to whip the Browns won’t change. The Bills will use plenty of Devin Singletary and more James Cook, and Allen will hopefully not be forced to run it more himself, while also focusing on being careful in the red zone. Yes, this may mean more field goals, but Tyler Bass is money, especially in domes. He was 6-6 against the Browns, a direct result of not forcing anything in the red zone, and it may happen again. Wonder what Bass thinks about domes?
In some respects, the Bills shorthanded D did a remarkable job against the Browns, as they held Nick Chubb to a personal worst 19 yards on 14 carries, or 1.4 yards per attempt.
The 300 plus yards from Jacoby Brissett is a concern. Focused on Chubb, the Bills man coverage gave up some big plays in the air, but they also stuffed a couple goal line qb sneaks and another 4th down play. Goff and the Lions will certainly try to exploit the Bills secondary.
The Bills have everything they want just ahead in this next 7 game stretch. They must take care of business against the Lions, and then, they play at New England a week from Thursday, and then host the Jets and Dolphins.
The sky isn’t falling. Allen is fine. The D will hopefully have Rousseau, Edmunds, Epenesa and even White back soon.
Allen likes playing on Thanksgiving, and he’ll like this one too.
Bills win 33-17.
EdK
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