The Patriots are playing arguably their biggest game in three years on SNF. It will take a great team effort to win the game. The Patriots will need to play cleaner than they have and they will need to take care of the ball.
Here are some ways they could attack the Bills in this game.
Offense
1. Heavy emphasis on the running game: The Bills rank 31st in the NFL against the run and maybe without defensive tackle Ed Oliver inside. The Patriots will attack this front on the ground with a variety of runs, both inside, off-tackle and outside. Expect a heavy dose of Rhamondre Stevenson, Trey’veon Henderson and Antonio Gibson. The entire running game should be available to them. Inside and outside. Here are some ways the Patriots could attack the Bills on the ground.
Diagram 1: Outside Zone: Allows the Patriots to attack Greg Rousseau and Joey Bosa and forces them to have to get off blocks consistently.
Diagram 2: Inside Zone: Allows the Patriots to get a double team at the point of attack and get on Buffalo’s undersized linebackers inside. Force them to play downhill instead of spilling over the top.
Diagram 3: Toss: Once you have established the inside running game, the defense starts to kick inside. When they do, you start running off tackle and outside. Toss is a great way to do it.
Misdirection: The Patriots have run a lot of jet sweep the past two weeks. They need to keep it going but I would also add counter and reverse action as well to hold their ends and keep them guessing.
Diagrams 4 & 5: Jet sweep and slice reverse
Quick passing game: The Buffalo pass rush is good and they have the advantage against the Patriots offensive line. Help them by getting the ball out quick. Don’t allow Drake Maye to have to sit there and make multiple reads.
Diagram 6: The quick passing game either it is three or five step is a great way to get the ball out quick against an elite pass rush like Buffalo’s.
Go empty: I would spread the Bills out and run some empty. Why not? It would be another way to get the ball out of Maye’s hands quick. It is an easy way to diagnose what the defense is doing and attack it.
Diagram 7: Empty
Compress formations: Create space for your receivers by compressing formations and forcing their defense to play off and have to cover in space. Compressed formations have been good for the Patriots lately.
Defense
Sugar Rush Allen: The Patriots edge rushers have to be disciplined in their rush lanes. They cannot get too far up the field and get out of position. They have to slow play things when coming up the field.
Play mostly man coverage: The Patriots have the secondary to match up with this Buffalo skill group. The best way to do it is to play man or match coverage. Allow the front seven to focus on containing Allen and slowing down Cook. Man coverage is risky because of Allen’s escapability but it is still the smart play against this Bills offense.
Play more Under and 30 fronts: The Patriots will need to play more under fronts and even some 30 fronts in order to slow down Cook and the Bills running game. Getting extra hats in the box, taking proper angles in pursuit and getting into the right run fits will be key.
Diagram 8: Under front vs. 11 personnel
Bring double dagger pressure: I would bring edge pressure against Allen and look to hem him in the pocket. Blitzing him inside can be dangerous because he is so good at resetting the pocket and taking off vertically. He has a tendency of holding the ball. Double daggers off the edge and slot corner pressure from the boundary could affect him.
Bring zone pressure: Along with playing a heavy dose of man and getting into that Under Front, the Patriots also need to bring some zone pressure out of those looks. Run blitz and look to bait Allen into a bad throw with some zone pressure.
Diagram 9: Zone pressure out of an Under Front