PLAYER NOTES
–QB Josh Allen, per ESPN, has been off target on 22.9 percent of his pass attempts, taking away throwaways and spikes. Part of the problem is he is the second-most pressured QB in the NFL, taking into account sacks, hits and hurries. His figure is 38.9 percent of his dropbacks.
–RB Keith Ford rushed for 46 yards in his NFL debut, the seventh-highest for a Bills debut in team history, and the most by a Bills rookie in his debut since Marshawn Lynch set the team record with 90 in 2007.
–WR Robert Foster leads the NFL with an average of 24.6 yards per catch, and he had a career-best 108-yard game last week against the Lions.
–WR Isaiah McKenzie set career highs with six receptions and 53 yards last week against the Lions.
–RB Marcus Murphy suffered a dislocated elbow against Detroit and he was placed on the injured reserve list.
–WR Victor Bolden was signed off the 49ers practice squad and added to the Bills’ 53-man roster to take the spot of Murphy.
–RB LeSean McCoy sat out the Lions game with a hamstring injury and his status this week will likely be questionable.
–RB Chris Ivory missed the Lions game and he was limited in practice.
–FS Jordan Poyer set a new career high with 11 tackles against Detroit which was also a season-high for the Bills, and it was the eighth time he’s had double-digit tackles in a game.
–CB Ryan Lewis is still in concussion protocol and did not practice Wednesday.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: RB Keith Ford. Early in the third quarter of Buffalo’s victory over Detroit, the rookie undrafted free agent was the last remaining healthy running back available for the Bills. But with LeSean McCoy and Chris Ivory inactive, and Marcus Murphy sidelined, Ford carried the load and finished with 14 carries for 46 yards. Ford had been on the Bills practice squad all year and was just activated the Wednesday before the game. The 220-pounder does not have great speed, but he’s capable of taking the ball between the tackles and churning for yardage which, given the state of the Bills offensive line, is the style of the runner the Bills need.
GAME PLAN: The Bills’ running game has been terrible all season, no matter who has carried the ball. This week, it’s still uncertain who will be available as LeSean McCoy, Chris Ivory and Marcus Murphy are all battling injuries. Keith Ford is the lone wolf, so it stands to reason the Bills may opt to throw it all day against a Patriots defense that has not been very good against the pass. However, the Patriots are also vulnerable on the ground thanks to weakness up the middle, having just allowed 142 yards to Pittsburgh’s Jaylen Samuels. If the Bills can have balance, they may be able to move against New England.
On defense, the Bills have to protect against the short pass because it has become the mode of operation for Tom Brady. He just completed his longest pass of the season last week, a 63-yard touchdown to Chris Hogan. He has spent most of the year dumping off to running back James White, or finding pesky Julian Edelman on crossing routes. Tight end Rob Gronkowski has been slowed all season by a worn-down body, but he has traditionally killed the Bills so they will have to devote constant attention to him. Look for cornerback Tre’Davious White to match up as often as he can with wide receiver Josh Gordon.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Bills LBs vs. Patriots RB James White. White has become Tom Brady’s security blanket as he leads the team with 81 receptions and he’s second with 699 receiving yards. White does an excellent job finding space in the flats and short zones and then running after the catch. The Bills don’t have their best coverage linebacker, injured Matt Milano, so players like Tremaine Edmunds and Lorenzo Alexander, and maybe even Corey Thompson, will have to pick up the slack because the short passing game is how New England is moving the ball this season.
–Bills QB Josh Allen vs. Patriots secondary. This will be an interesting test for the rookie QB as he goes against a Bill Belichick scheme for the first time. He missed the first game back in October with an elbow injury. The Lions provided a nice blueprint of how to effectively use a spy to limit Allen’s running and he had a season-low 16 yards on nine attempts. Look for Belichick to employ something similar, and then to double WR Robert Foster whenever he can. That’s what Belichick has always done, take away the No. 1 offensive option, so Allen will have to have a response.
