Keys to victory – Syndication Server

4 keys to a Commanders’ Week 15 win over the Saints

Here are four keys to a Commanders’ win on Sunday vs. Saints.

The Washington Commanders are right in the middle of a playoff race, which was impossible to imagine one year ago at this time. The Commanders were on their way to eight consecutive losses to end a 4-13 season.

Times have changed.

Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels leads a record-setting offense, while the Washington defense is improving each week. On Sunday, the Commanders will add a critical component to their defense when Marshon Lattimore makes his debut. Washington traded for Lattimore at the NFL trade deadline last month, and he has been sidelined with a hamstring injury.

The Commanders enter Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints a half-game ahead of the Los Angeles Rams for the NFC’s No. 7 playoff seed. The Rams are red-hot, and Washington can’t afford to slip up against an injury-ravaged Saints squad.

What must the Commanders do to beat New Orleans? Here are four keys to victory.

Make Jake Haener’s life miserable

New Orleans Saints quarterback Jake Haener (3). Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Jake Haener has appeared in several games for the Saints, but he will make his first NFL start on Sunday against the Commanders. The second-year quarterback leads an injury-depleted offense that has lost the likes of Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Taysom Hill.

Washington’s defensive strategy is simple: Get after Haener early and often. New Orleans’ top receiver is Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who it added in October. MVS is averaging 24 yards per reception and has four touchdowns since coming to the Saints, so expect him to see plenty of Lattimore. Ultimately, the goal is to keep the pressure on the Saints’ young quarterback.

Shut down Alvin Kamara

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41). Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Kamara missed practice twice this week due to illness. He was on the field Friday and is good to go for Sunday. Kamara remains one of the NFL’s best running backs. He’s a true do-it-all back, as he can gash you in the run game or make big plays in the passing game. Expect Commanders’ defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. to load the box to slow Kamara while applying more pressure on Haener to make plays.

Run the ball

Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders hands the ball off to Brian Robinson Jr.. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Two weeks ago, Washington focused on its running game with Daniels, Brian Robinson Jr., and Chris Rodriguez Jr. The result was 267 rushing yards and 42 points. While the opponent was Tennessee, it’s easy to forget the Titans had the NFL’s No. 2 defense entering that game.

The Commanders should be able to run the ball against New Orleans. That’s not to say offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury shouldn’t pass the ball, but the goal coming into the game is to demoralize the New Orleans defense. You can do that by running the ball.

Spread the ball around

Dyami Brown #2 of the Washington Commanders is pursued after his reception by Jaylon Johnson #1. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Before Noah Brown’s injury, Dyami Brown had become more involved in the offense in recent weeks. That’s a good sign, as Noah Brown was second among Washington wide receivers in receptions, yards, and targets before being sidelined for likely the remainder of the season. The object of the game is to win, of course, so you must do everything possible to achieve that win. But along the way, Kingsbury and Daniels should work to find out which receiver will step up opposite Terry McLaurin.

Brown has thrived with the ball in his hands this season. He’s also an excellent deep ball receiver. The Commanders should focus on getting him, Luke McCaffrey, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Ben Sinnott the ball against New Orleans. Washington has Philadelphia in Week 16. When the Eagles played the Commanders last month, no receiver outside McLaurin stepped up. To overcome Philly next week, Washington must find him some help. This week is a perfect time to start.

Key question for the Lions against the Colts

One key question for the Lions against the Colts in Week

Who will win the battle in the head-to-head of two weakened units?

The Colts offensive line will be out three starters:

LT Bernhard Raimann will miss his second straight game
C Ryan Kelly will miss his third straight game
RG Will Fries will miss his seventh straight game
RT Braden Smith will start but was limited in practice this week due to a foot injury

The Lions front-seven is missing these players from the start of the season:

DE Aidan Hutchinson
DE Marcus Davenport
LB Alex Anzalone
LB Derrick Barnes
LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
DE/DT John Cominsky
DT Kyle Peko

At the LB position, the Lions will rely heavily on former 1st-rounder, 2nd-year player Jack Campbell and 3rd-year player Malcolm Rodriguez. Both played ≥ 90% of snaps last game when Alex Anzalone fractured his forearm. Keeping those two healthy may be crucial until Anzalone returns in about six weeks.

With QB Anthony Richardson posing a powerful, fast rushing threat, can the Lions contain him without Anzalone, their fastest LB? The Lions secondary, which includes two excellent safeties (Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph), may be called on to fill the speed void.

At the DE position, the Lions added Za’Darius Smith in a trade two weeks ago and he played 77% of snaps last game. Josh Paschal starts at the other DE spot and played 88% of snaps. Rotating in will be James Houston and Levi Onwuzurike.

At DT, the Lions rely on Alim McNeill (83% snaps last game) and DJ Reader (58% snaps). Pat O’Connor and 6th-round rookie Mekhi Wingo will rotate in.

Pressuring the passer has been a concern for the Lions since the loss of Hutchinson. Can the Lions defensive line win against the Colts offensive line and get quick pressures on the 2nd-year QB who is still finding his bearings?

Commanders vs. Cowboys: 4 keys to a Week 12 victory

Here are four keys to a Commanders’ Week 12 victory over the Cowboys.

The Washington Commanders (7-4) host the Dallas Cowboys (3-7) in an NFC East showdown Sunday from Northwest Stadium. It’s the first meeting of two of the 2024 season for the longtime rivals.

These teams are in far different places than they were one year ago. Last season, Washington and Dallas first met on Thanksgiving Day, and the Cowboys defeated the Commanders so badly that former head coach Ron Rivera fired multiple coaches the following day in a 45-10 win.

Dallas players, including quarterback Dak Prescott, were eating turkey legs on the sideline during the game, something Washington fans still haven’t forgotten. Multiple former Cowboys, including their defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn, are now with Washington. Quinn is the Commanders’ head coach, and they are in the middle of the NFC playoff race while the Cowboys have lost five straight games.

What does Washington need to do to win on Sunday? Here are four keys to victory for Week 12.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) hands the ball to Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (8). Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Run the ball

Dallas is 31st against the run. Meanwhile, the Commanders are sixth in rushing offense. As a whole, Washington’s offense hasn’t been as sharp in recent weeks, so what’s the best way to get going? Giving the Cowboys’ front seven a heavy dose of Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler.

It’s also a good way for offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury to get quarterback Jayden Daniels more involved in the run game again. For the past few weeks, he’s been a non-factor as a runner while dealing with a rib injury.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88). Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Eliminate CeeDee Lamb

Easier said than done, right? Lamb is one of the NFL’s best wide receivers and has enjoyed success against the Commanders. Washington is ranked No. 5 in pass defense. While some of that is deceptive because opposing teams have successfully run the ball against the Commanders, Joe Whitt’s defense has been much better against the pass than some realize.

Washington must commit to limiting Lamb to defend Dallas, especially without Prescott. Fortunately, Quinn and Whitt know Lamb well. Rookie cornerback Mike Sainristil was phenomenal in defending both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith against the Eagles last week. The Commanders should give Sainristil the Lamb assignment with some help over the top.

Washington Commanders defensive end Montez Sweat (90) hits Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10). Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Pressure Cooper Rush

Anytime you have a backup quarterback, the goal should be to make them as uncomfortable as possible. Rush is a good backup who has had success in the NFL. Rush passed for only 45 yards against the Eagles two weeks ago, and while he passed for over 300 yards against the Texans last week, much of that was when the game was already decided. Part of Houston’s defensive plan was pressuring Rush. The Texans sacked him five times.

This is another instance of where Quinn and Whitt know Dallas’ personnel. They practiced against Rush for three years and know his strengths and weaknesses.

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11). Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Neutralize Micah Parsons

Parsons missed four games and promptly picked up two sacks in his return two weeks ago. Dallas is struggling and will be looking for any type of advantage. Parsons can make game-changing plays. A sack or forced fumble could quickly give the Cowboys some momentum and allow them to hang around.

Rookie left tackle Brandon Coleman struggled the last two games. Kingsbury and his staff also want to avoid any hits to Daniels in the pocket. Whether committing to extra help blocking Parsons or using the quick passing game to minimize Parsons’ impact, the Commanders need to account for him on every snap.

3 keys to a Bills victory vs. the Colts in Week 10

The Buffalo Bills will play the Indianapolis Colts on the road at Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 10.

The Bills (7-2) are looking to build on a four-game win streak, the latest being a nail-biter against the Miami Dolphins. The Colts (4-5) are on a two-game losing streak, dropping close games to the Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings.

Buffalo is favored by four points in this one but recent history suggests otherwise. The team hasn’t won in Indianapolis since 1999 when Doug Flutie was under center. They have lost in their last six tries.

When the Bills try to end that streak on Sunday, they’ll be going against a very competitive ball club. All nine of the Colts’ games this year have been decided by one score or less.

The Bills will need to execute their game plan to pick up their eighth win of the year.

With that, here are three keys to a Bills win in Week 10:

Limit big runs from Jonathan Taylor

Many are now doubting the Bills’ ability to stop the run after they were gashed by Dolphins runners De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert. But, even though both averaged over five yards per carry in the game, the Buffalo didn’t allow them to have big runs.

After allowing a run of 20 yards in four of their first six games this year, the Bills haven’t allowed one in their last three games.

Enter Jonathan Taylor. In his one career game vs. the Bills in 2021, he ran for 185 yards and five touchdowns in a Colts blowout win.

After Taylor had a rough outing last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, you know he is looking to get back on track. He will most likely get chunks of yards at times, but if the Bills can make sure none slip away for big gains, it will help their chances on the road.

A balanced attack

The best teams in the NFL are labeled that way because they can attack you in different ways. The Bills are no exception. They have leaned into a balanced approach under offensive coordinator Joe Brady and they have reaped the benefits.

It is no longer quarterback Josh Allen dropping back and trying to create something for the majority of the time. According to FTN Fantasy, the Bills rank seventh in the NFL in rushing DVOA while ranking third in passing. They are elite in both categories.

The Colts’ defense, on the other hand, is lacking in both categories. They rank 28th in passing DVOA and 17th in rushing. The Bills will have opportunities on offense, but tipping your hand and neglecting either the pass or run would make things more difficult than necessary.

Stay close to Josh Downs

Joe Flacco loves to throw it to slot receiver Josh Downs. In he four games with Flacco under center, here are Downs’ numbers per game:

9.75 targets
7.5 catches
69.25 receiving yards
0.5 touchdowns

In a run-heavy offense for Indy, Downs has been the most targeted wide receiver on a per-game basis, and he has the most receiving yards per game. He also adds an average of 5.0 yards after the catch, per Fantasy Pros.

It would be a big boost if the Bills’ defense could hold Downs to minimal gains after the catch.

He likes to sit underneath in the holes of defenses, with an average depth of target of 6.6 yards. He’ll be a focal point of the Bills coverage in Week 10, and he draws a tough matchup with Taron Johnson in the slot.

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3 keys to a Bills victory vs. the Seahawks in Week 8

The Buffalo Bills will play the Seattle Seahawks on the road in Week 8 at Lumen Field.

The Bills (5-2) are looking to build on a dominant second half in last week’s blowout win over the Tennessee Titans. The Seahawks (4-3) are coming off of a blowout win of their own as they beat the Atlanta Falcons by 20.

It’s a close matchup between two good football teams and Las Vegas agrees. The Bills are favored by a field goal on the road. They’ll need to execute their game plan to gain their sixth win of the year.

Here are three keys to a Bills win in Week 8:

Balanced offensive attack

The Bills’ passing game finally got on track during the second half of last week’s win. Allen had his first 300-yard passing game since Week 18 of last year. But, Seattle has been giving up chunks on the ground.

They allow 146 rushing yards per game, which ranks fourth-worst in the NFL. This is the type of defense that you must keep guessing and the Bills should get their stable of running backs going.

Control the line of scrimmage on offense

Perhaps the best matchup to watch will be the Bills’ offensive line against Seattle’s defensive line. The Bills’ O-line ranks seventh in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus, but they will have their hands full.

The Seahawks have talent and depth across the line. They rank 13th in the NFL per PFF. Last week they sacked Kirk Cousins three times and hit him nine times as he threw two interceptions. They are capable of getting after the quarterback and making a difference. If the Bills minimize what the Seahawks can do up front, then it will open up a lot for the offense.

Play sound coverage

The Seahawks love to air it out on offense. They have the most passing yards in the league and they’ve attempted the most passes, too. Quarterback Geno Smith has attempted the most passes of 10-plus yards downfield among all QBs. The Bills will be tested in coverage.

Safeties Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin have a lot on their plate. If they can make a few plays on the ball and limit the deep passing, then it will bode well for the Bills in this one. What makes things difficult for the Bills is that linebacker Terrel Bernard won’t be there in the middle of the field.

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3 keys to a Bills victory vs. the Titans in Week 7

The Buffalo Bills will host the Tennessee Titans at Highmark Stadium in Week 7.

The Bills (4-2) are coming off a crucial divisional win over the New York Jets in Week 6 and lead the AFC East. The Titans (1-4) stand toward the bottom of the AFC under first-year head coach Brian Callahan.

The Bills have an enticing new weapon on offense after trading for Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns. Even before Cooper’s arrival, the Bills rank third in the NFL in offensive DVOA through six weeks.

On the other hand, the Titans have been a disaster on offense. They are turning the ball over and they have struggled to pass consistently. The Titans do, however, boast the league’s top defense in yards allowed per game.

The Bills are favored by 9.5 points on Sunday but every week is a challenge in the NFL. They’ll need to execute the game plan to gain their fifth win of the year.

Here are three keys to a Bills win in Week 7:

Win the turnover battle

When it comes to turning the ball over in 2024, the Bills and the Titans are at opposite ends of the spectrum. The Bills are ranked second in the NFL with a turnover differential of +8, while the Titans are ranked second-to-last with a turnover differential of -7. Will Levis leads the NFL in interceptions with seven. On the flip side, Buffalo’s Josh Allen has not thrown one.

The Bills need to do what they have been for much of the season, and that is win the turnover battle. The Bills are favored by nearly double digits in this one, but a couple of turnovers could shift the momentum quickly.

Get the receivers involved

It’s not just newcomer Amari Cooper that has to get going in the Bills offense, it’s many of the other wide receivers who are still new to Allen. Among the WRs, only Khalil Shakir had played a game with Allen before the year. And it has shown through six weeks. Shakir has been the only consistent receiver (when healthy). He leads the Bills in receiving while ranking just 55th in the NFL in receiving yards.

The Titans have a stingy defense, but they haven’t seen an offense like the Bills’ this year, especially on the road. If the Bills can get Cooper going, it should open up opportunities for others. Perhaps Cooper is the missing ingredient that will have everybody eating again.

Limit the run

It’s no secret that the Titans’ passing game has struggled this year, but one constant for them has been the play of running back Tony Pollard. He’s coming off games of 88 and 93 rushing yards, respectively. He’s averaging over four yards per carry and is 18th in the NFL in rushing yards despite already having a bye week. The team will be without RB Tyjae Spears due to injury, so it should be the Pollard show.

If the Bills can limit the Titans’ ground game, it should force Levis into uncomfortable third-and-longs. The idea of playing against a young QB who is turnover prone should have Bobby Babich’s defense foaming at the mouth.

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3 keys to a Bills victory vs. the Ravens in Week 4

The Buffalo Bills will go on the road to play the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4. The team will look to stay perfect on the year on “Sunday Night Football.”

The Bills (3-0) collide with a struggling Ravens (1-2) team that is hoping to avoid falling in a 1-3 hole to start the year.

The Bills will have their hands full with last year’s AFC No. 1 seed. To come away with a win on the road in Week 4, they will have to key in on a few specific areas.

They will need great execution in all phases of the game, but these factors could weigh heavily on the outcome of the star-studded primetime matchup.

Here are three keys to the Bills pulling out a victory against the Ravens:

Efficient passing

Much like last week’s matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Bills and quarterback Josh Allen should be able to take advantage of the Ravens’ pass defense.

The Ravens are allowing the most passing yards per game in the NFL by a large margin (291.7). And, their run defense is the complete opposite. They are allowing the lowest rushing yards per game in the league by a large margin (50.0). Passing the ball seems logical on paper.

The Bills and offensive coordinator Joe Brady will look to take advantage of a vulnerable Ravens secondary. Through three weeks, the Ravens have already allowed four opposing receivers to surpass 90 yards. Sloppy game conditions may be a factor in slowing down the Bills’ air attack.

Stopping the run

It’s no secret that the Ravens like to run the football. They are currently second in the league in rushing, averaging over 200 yards on the ground per game.

At age 30, Derrick Henry is impressively averaging five yards per carry. He has already run for 281 yards through three games and he’s scored four times. And, QB Lamar Jackson has already had games of 87 and 122 rushing yards. Sean McDermott and Bobby Babich will have to be prepared for the run early and often.

So far this year, the Bills’ defense has been middle-of-the-pack at stopping the run. They give up 118 yards per game (16th in the NFL).

Pass protect

Bills quarterback Josh Allen looks for an open receiver during first half action at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Sept. 23, 2024.

The Bills’ offensive line has gotten a ton of praise this week. They were ranked third in Pro Football Focus’ offensive line rankings ahead of Week 4. On Sunday night, they are going to have their hands full.

Like the Bills’ offensive line, the Ravens defensive line ranked third in PFF’s defensive line rankings. It will truly be strength on strength in the trenches when the Bills have the ball.

The Ravens’ team has 10 sacks on the year, which is good for 10th in the league. The player to watch out for on the edge is Odafe Oweh, who posted a 29% pass-rush win rate in Week 3 according to PFF.

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Bucs vs. Lions: Three keys to victory in the Divisional Round

The Detroit Lions are a tough opponent, but the Bucs could come out on top with these keys to success.

The Buccaneers second playoff game is another rematch, this time with the Detroit Lions. These teams last played in Week 6 in which the Bucs were stymied offensively, losing 20-6. Since then, both teams have grown to a degree that a duplication of their first encounter is unlikely.

One that that has not changed is that the Lions remain an offensive juggernaut. They are top-ten in nearly every conceivable metric: points, total yards, yards per play, EPA per play and success rate. While the Bucs are much improved on offense, ranking 10th in EPA per play since Week 8, all indications point to a steep uphill battle to match the Lions’ offense.

While the Lions’ pass defense makes them vulnerable, the Bucs’ main goal will be to eliminate self-inflicted wounds, namely drops and plays doomed for failure, otherwise known in Tampa Bay as “running the ball.” The offensive game plan and execution will have to be perfect, while on defense, a wing, a prayer and a few good blitzes are all the Bucs can ask for.

Here are the Bucs’ three keys to victory over the Lions in the divisional round of the playoffs:

Bucs vs. Eagles: Three keys to victory in Wild Card weekend

Here’s how the Bucs can survive and advance past the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday:

The Buccaneers and Eagles enter their wild card matchup on Monday with a little bit of recent history to settle. Tampa Bay all but crushed Philadelphia in almost the exact same circumstances in 2021, where the NFC South champions bested a rising but still green Jalen Hurts in the wild card. The Eagles got a bit of revenge in Week 3 earlier this year, running roughshod over the Bucs in an 11-25 blowout.

Circumstances have changed since the first month of the season. The Bucs offense has shown signs of potency while the Eagles barely looked like a playoff team over the last several weeks. It is unlikely Philadelphia can rely on their Week 3 gameplan if they want to advance past the Bucs in the playoffs.

Here are the Bucs’ three keys to victory over the Eagles in their Wild Card game on Monday:

Bucs vs. Panthers: Three keys to victory in Week 18

Here are three keys the Bucs can follow to ensure an NFC South divisional title.

The Buccaneers are one win away from taking the NFC South division title and a trip to the playoffs. All that stands in their way is the Carolina Panthers with the worst record in the league.

While no victory in the NFL is assured, the Panthers are facing long odds to beat the Bucs on Sunday. Carolina has just two wins on the season and in the past two months, the Panthers have scored more than 20 points just once.

The Bucs on the other hand have scored fewer than 20 points just twice in the past two months. One of those games came last week in an embarrassing loss to the New Orleans Saints. Tampa Bay came out flat against a Saints team playing for its season and paid the price. It is a mistake the Bucs cannot afford to make this week.

Here are the Bucs’ keys to victory over the Panthers in the regular season finale: