The Patriots host the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium this afternoon. Buffalo has owned the Patriots in recent years, going 6-1 against them since 2020.
If the Patriots want to turn things around in this rivalry, they are going to need to be aggressive today, on both sides of the ball.
Here three offensive and defensive keys.
Offense
1. Use more 12 and 13 personnel and run inside: I think the Patriots need to run the ball inside in this game. Attack A gap and B gap. With middle linebacker Matt Milano out, the Bills are vulnerable inside. Use more 12 and 13 personnel, get in the I-Formation or use a move tight end and lead block on their inside linebackers.
2. Utilize halfback screens: The Patriots need to use more halfback screens today to slow down Buffalo’s edge rushers. The Bills have speed and length coming off the edge. Perimeter screens might be an iffy proposition. Use more H-screens to both sides on unpredictable downs to slow down this Buffalo pass rush.
3. Gadgets: Desperate times call for desperate measures. Open up the playbook and start using more gadgets, especially in plus territory. The Patriots offense has lacked creativity at times this season. It is time to go to the back of the playbook and pull some stuff out.
Defense
1. Spy Allen: Use either Adrian Phillips or another strong safety and spy Allen on certain downs or distance. The Bills are not afraid to run him. The Patriots must get creative with their fronts and account for him. Do not allow him to hurt you, especially on designed called runs.
2. Bracket Diggs: Worked last week against Adams so do it again. Diggs has killed the Patriots in recent years. Double him with the corner and hash safety if he is the X and double him with the nickel or dime and hash safety if he is in the slot. Heck, I might even triple him sometimes depending on alignment. Make someone else beat you.
3. Bring overload blitzes: If I were the Patriots. I would move around a bunch today and bring dagger pressure off the edge. The key is to confuse Allen but also keep him in the pocket. Bring single daggers and two man daggers off the weakside in certain situations. The Patriots need to make him uncomfortable by confusing him and hitting him as much as possible. Remember. Allen will force the ball to his receivers under pressure.