Plays that shaped the game: Bills offense adjusted against Panthers speed rushers
The Buffalo Bills’ offensive performance Sunday against Carolina has to be viewed through the perspective of its big offensive line disadvantage.
The Bills had to contend with Carolina’s best strength – its two elite speed rushers – with a shuffled offensive line thanks to the loss of left tackle Dion Dawkins, who tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday.
kAm#6>2:?:?8i 2E %6I2?D[ GD] qC@?4@D[ 2E #2:56CD]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mf] q:==D g\ek^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm(66< `di q62E !2?E96CD b`\`c]k^Am
kAm#6>2:?:?8i 2E !2EC:@ED[ GD] u2=4@?D[ GD] y6ED]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mx? 4@?E6?E:@?k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mg] q2=E:>@C6 g\ek^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm(66< `di {@DE E@ !24<6CD b`\b_]k^Am
kAm#6>2:?:?8i 2E q6?82=D[ GD] #2>D[ GD] $E66=6CD]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mh] !:EED3FC89 f\e\`k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm(66< `di q62E %:E2?D `h\`c]k^Am
kAm#6>2:?:?8i 2E r9:67D[ GD] qC@H?D[ 2E #2G6?D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m`_] {2D '682D f\fk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm(66< `di q62E qC@H?D `e\`c]k^Am
kAm#6>2:?:?8i GD] qC@?4@D[ 2E r@=ED[ GD] r92C86CD]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m``] |:2>: f\fk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm(66< `di q62E y6ED b`\ack^Am
kAm#6>2:?:?8i 2E $2:?ED[ 2E %:E2?D[ !2EC:@EDkDEC@?8m k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m`a] r=6G6=2?5 f\fk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm(66< `di =@DE E@ #2:56CD `e\`ck^Am
kAm#6>2:?:?8i 2E !24<6CD[ 2E $E66=6CD[ GD] q6?82=D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m`b] s6?G6C f\fk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm(66< `di {@DE E@ q6?82=D `d\`_]k^Am
kAm#6>2:?:?8i 2E #2:56CD[ 2E r92C86CD[ GD] r9:67D]k^Am
Jason Wolf: Can Bills win rematch with Patriots, run the table to repeat as AFC East champs?
Bring on the New England Patriots.
The Buffalo Bills can repeat as AFC East champions and ensure at least one home playoff game by winning their final three games of the regular season, beginning with a rematch against the Evil Empire on the day after Christmas in Foxborough.
Watch now: Bills coach Sean McDermott: 'We know who's up next'
It didn't take long for the attention to shift from a victory against the Carolina Panthers to next Sunday's showdown against the first-place New England Patriots.
In video posted by the Buffalo Bills of Sean McDermott's postgame speech to the team, he says, "We know who's up next. It's all about us. ... Nothing needs to be said, we know what we need to do."
Observations: Gabriel Davis shows why calls for more playing time were justified in Bills' big win
Gabriel Davis gave Bills fans what they came to see Sunday.
With No. 2 wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders out because of a knee injury, Davis stepped into the starting lineup against the Carolina Panthers and came through in a big way during a 31-14 win at Highmark Stadium.
Festive fanhood: Bills fans show creativity with Josh Allen holiday décor
Many Christmas trees in Western New York feature the traditional Star of Bethlehem or another tree topper dear to a given household. Some of those tree toppers – and entire tree themes – have been devoted to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
The Buffalo Bills are converting 60.6% of their trips into touchdowns. But the Patriots rank No. 2 in the NFL in red zone defense, holding foes to 46% success. Buffalo managed to convert only 1 of 4 red-zone trips in losing to the Patriots 14-10 on Dec. 6.
Can the Bills keep it going against a physical Patriots defense on Sunday? The New England defense stuffed first-down runs in the first meeting, holding the Bills to 28 yards on 12 carries.
