The Patriots will have their hands full in Buffalo today. Coaching will have to close the talent gap today if the Patriots want to win. 

Here are some things the Patriots coaching staff can do to find their team a chance at a win today. 

Offense 

1. Throw on early downs: The Patriots have to be aggressive in this game. They need to come out slinging. Buffalo’s secondary has been shredded the past two weeks and while the Patriots do not posses the same skill group as the Rams and Lions, there are still match ups they can exploit, especially in the middle of the field.

2. Run off-tackle: Let’s give their ends and outside linebackers a workout. The Patriots are 6th in the NFL when it comes to running the ball outside. One back power, toss, crack toss, outside zone and zone toss are all on the run menu this week. Buffalo is 8th in the NFL in outside rushing efficiency so it will not be easy but the Patriots will need to be patient when it comes to running the ball today.

3. Motion in and out of stack alignments: It is important to create space for the receivers today so look for the Patriots to long and short motion into stack alignments. The Patriots must find a way to create room for their receivers to get open and make plays after the catch. Various types of motion will be the way to do it against a Buffalo defense that likes to sit in a two high shell as much as possible. 

4. Run more empty: Buffalo is not very exotic on defense. They rely on their base pass rush to get home. The Patriots can use more empty formations to open up the box and create space for the receivers, tight ends and running backs in the passing game. 

Defense

1. Sugar rush Allen: The Patriots have to sugar rush Josh Allen on the outside. The defensive ends and edge players cannot get up the field and lose their lane integrity. If Allen gets a lane, he will put the ball down and take off. They have to keep Allen on their inside hip at all times.

2. Play nickel and spy Allen: Like most of the league, the Bills are a heavy 11 personnel team. The Patriots can match up be playing nickel and using either an undersized linebacker or safety inside to spy Allen. I would play a lot of three safety and play one of those safeties in the box to match up with Allen once he takes off. 

3. Play quarters: I would play a lot of quarters today. The reason? You can fit nine in the box against James Cook and the run game and it allows the Patriots keep Buffalo’s receivers and Allen in front of them if he breaks contain. I would also expect a fair amount of mixed coverage and Cover 3 variations. Man coverage should be limited. 

4. Plug fronts and post snap rotation in the secondary: The Patriots have to move a lot today. It is not necessarily designed to confuse Allen but rather to plug gaps and limit his ability to find running lanes. Allen is still a gun slinger as a passer. He could gift the Patriots a couple of turnovers if the Patriots hit their rotations right in the secondary.