PERSONNEL NEWS

Strategy And Personnel

The Sports Xchange

December 20, 2018 at 1:01 pm.

PLAYER NOTES

–S Duron Harmon: Harmon had two interceptions against the Steelers last week. Harmon will need to be aware of where Josh Allen is at all times. Allen is a mobile QB and the Patriots safeties must get to the line of scrimmage quickly in order to prevent him from having big gains on the ground.

–T Marcus Cannon: Cannon struggled against Steelers OLB T.J. Watt last week. Cannon will need to rebound this week when he faces Bills DE Trent Murphy.

–DE Adrian Clayborn: Clayborn needs to get some pressure to help improve the Patriots pass rush.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: LB Kyle Van Noy continues to improve. Van Noy does not have great athleticism, but he has become a smart player who can time his blitzes effectively. Van Noy has become more instinctive as his knowledge of the defense has improved.

GAME PLAN: Offensively, the strategy is throw the ball and expose the weakness at the Bills’ second corner position. Tom Brady also must prevent the Bills safeties from making big plays given that they are opportunistic. The Patriots should think about going no-huddle with five wide receivers to limit the pass rush and get quick completions to Julian Edelman and Josh Gordon over the middle.

Defensively, the big concern is the running ability of quarterback Josh Allen who has two 100-yard rushing performances in the last two weeks. If LeSean McCoy plays, he still is likely the Bills’ best weapon. Receiver Zay Jones is respectable and Robert Foster has played well the past few weeks.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH

–Patriots LT Trent Brown vs. Bills DE Jerry Hughes. Hughes is a good pass rusher who has 6.0 sacks this season and Brown must protect Brady’s blind side.

–Bills RT Jordan Mills vs. Patriots DE Trey Flowers. Flowers should be able to have a good day against the Bills right tackle. It will be a good opportunity for Flowers to rebound after a poor performance against the Steelers.

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