Keys to the Game: Buffalo Bills vs. Washington Commanders

Matt Milano, Buffalo Bills LB, Sam Howell, Washington Commanders QB

The Wandering Buffalo | Keys to the Game: Buffalo Bills vs. Washington Commanders

The Buffalo Bills had a very rough start to the season against the Jets and had a great bounce-back game against the Raiders. I think in the game against the Raiders, the Bills looked much more like the team we expected to see when the season started. Up next on the schedule are the Washington Commanders. Before the season started, I would chalk this up as an easy W, but Washington is off to a hot 2-0 start under the leadership of Sam Howell. Here are some of my keys to victory:

Another Strong Performance from the Offensive Line

The Bills' offensive line had a very solid day against the Raiders. Max Crosby is one of the better pass rushers in the league, and between Spencer Brown and some of the help he was given, Crosby was a non-factor all day. This week, the Bills line will face a different kind of challenge. The Raiders defensive line does not have much outside of Crosby right now, with Chandler Jones still not with the team. The Commanders, on the other hand, have talent all across the defensive front. Chase Young, Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen, and Montez Sweat make for a formidable front four. Stacking another good performance against a line that is solid all the way across the front will do a lot to build momentum for the group.

Confuse Sam Howell

Sam Howell has had a nice start to the season, leading the Commanders to a 2-0 record. Granted, these games came against the Cardinals and the Broncos, but a 2-0 start for a young QB is impressive either way. One of the things the Bills defense has done so well under McDermott is force young QBs into bad games with lots of mistakes. Using the pass rush we’ve seen through the first two weeks of the season, mixed with the savvy veterans on the back end, the defense should be able to create plenty of negative plays from the Commanders.

Keep Offense on Schedule

The Bills offense was really humming on Sunday against the Raiders. This is the type of performance I’m expecting from the Bills more often than not. Josh Allen didn’t have the sexiest numbers, but that's not always how you win games. He took profits all game and made the occasional off-script ridiculous play. Josh is, first and foremost, an excellent QB, and his running and off-script ability is the bonus that makes him truly special. Staying within himself and within the offense is how this offense will remain successful. Adding a consistently reliable run game will allow them to use play action with even better results and allow the team to set up the deep shots rather than just taking the shots. While it’s super fun to watch Josh go out and throw 400 yards and 4 touchdowns, having a more modest stat line and controlling the game is even better.

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Justin Goddard
CO-FOUNDER - CONTENT CREATOR