One Bills' Player Key To Unlocking Buffalo Offense Vs. Broncos In Divisional Round

James Cook and nan Buffalo Bills’ moving crippled struggled to find a spark against nan top-ranked unreserved defense successful nan league, nan Jacksonville Jaguars, this past week.

Buffalo managed conscionable 79 yards rushing connected 26 attempts, amounting to only 3 yards per transportation against nan Jaguars successful nan Wild Card Round, arsenic Jacksonville stifled James Cook, nan NFL’s starring rusher.

While Cook will erstwhile again look 1 of nan league’s champion teams successful stopping nan tally this week successful nan Denver Broncos, history has proven that nan Bills’ moving backmost whitethorn person an opportunity to rebound from a lackluster effort successful nan opening shape of nan postseason.

And whether he tin bounce backmost is nan cardinal to unlocking nan afloat efficacy of nan Buffalo offense.

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Last year

While nan 2 teams aren’t wholly nan aforesaid from a play ago, location are respective carryovers from each side’s 2024 squad. And during last year’s postseason matchup betwixt nan Bills and Broncos, Cook rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown connected 23 attempts, amounting to 5.2 yards per carry.

The Bills vanished pinch 210 full yards connected nan crushed during nan blowout win, pummeling Denver into submission pinch 44 rushing attempts. Josh Allen went for 46 yards connected 8 carries, while RB Ty Johnson besides had a productive crippled pinch 44 yards connected 9 carries. It should beryllium noted that Johnson has yet to practice this week and whitethorn not play successful nan crippled against nan Broncos connected Saturday.

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This year

With each that said, nan Broncos made moves to amended their capacity against opposing rushing attacks compared to a season ago. Offseason additions, safety Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who is expected to return from wounded against nan Bills, person some helped solidify Denver’s guidance against teams that triumph successful nan trenches, for illustration Buffalo.

The Broncos are arsenic stout arsenic they travel against nan run, limiting opponents to nether 90 yards rushing successful six of their past 9 games of nan regular season. One of nan top strengths of Denver’s run-stuffing portion has been its inclination to limit opponents’ yards earlier interaction (YBCo). According to Next Gen Stats, Denver allowed conscionable 0.87 YBCo per effort to its opponents, which was nan second-lowest complaint successful nan NFL during nan regular season.

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That could spell problem for Cook and the Bills’ violative line, arsenic 1 of nan top strengths of nan Bills’ moving crippled has been allowing its moving backs to get retired successful abstraction and create. The Bills’ O-line has paved nan measurement for nan team’s shot carriers to grounds 1.77 YBCo, which is third-best successful nan league.

Saturday’s matchup will beryllium a awesome illustration of spot connected strength. And Cook and nan Bills’ crushed onslaught must get going early to thief group nan shape for different large time from nan discourtesy arsenic a whole.

Otherwise, Buffalo could let Denver to bent around, which whitethorn beryllium fatal. Broncos backmost Bo Nix has recorded a league-high 7 game-winning drives this play and will beryllium waiting to bargain this 1 from nan Bills if fixed nan opportunity. 

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