Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here are 3 keys for the #Bills to follow if they want to beat the #Buccaneers in their Week 8 matchup:
The Buffalo Bills face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8 at Highmark Stadium.
If Buffalo (4-3) is going to leave the field against the Buccaneers (3-3) with a win, they’ll have to keep their focus on these things.
Here are three keys to the Bills pulling out a victory against the Buccaneers on Thursday:
NFL Next Gen Stats: #Bills’ pass-rush defense sorely missing Matt Milano:
The Buffalo Bills have been hit with the injury bug hard during the past couple weeks of the 2023 NFL season. The defensive side of the ball has seen key injuries across several starting positions.
Earlier this month, former All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White was placed on injured reserve and four days later, starting linebacker Matt Milano and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones joined White on the IR list.
Of the trio, Milano’s loss being felt the most according to NFL Next Gen Stats. According to the football analytics out, Buffalo’s pass rush is lacking without the linebacker.
Since Milano’s knee injury in Week 5, the Bills defense has been unable to defend the middle of the park. Not only has Buffalo stopped generating turnovers, but they are providing offenses ample time to find their open receivers to score touchdowns and performing at a league-worst rate:
The Bills pass defense has struggled to defend the middle of the field without Matt Milano, who suffered a knee injury in Week 5.
Their success rate allowed on passes to the middle third is 22.4% higher with Milano off the field this season.#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/P0hf75qc3c
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 23, 2023
Bills head coach Sean McDermott has his work cut out for him after taking over the defensive coordinator duties this season.
Rookie linebacker Dorian Williams is being given an opportunity to fill Milano’s shoes but it has not gone well. In two of three games, he’s been pulled for Tyrel Dodson.
If the first-year pro gets another shot, the is hope that Williams can make the jump up to a high-caliber level on Thursday against a strong, newly revamped Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3) offensive line.
He’ll have his work cut out for him.
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Elam could be called upon again by the #Bills:
An NFL season takes it toll on players, and heading into Week 6 of the 2023 season there have been significant injuries on the defensive side for the Buffalo Bills.
Last week, starting cornerback Tre’Davious White was placed on injured reserve following the Bills’ Week 4 win against the Miami Dolphins. Then Christian Benford (shoulder) did not play against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Elam was the next man up on the depth chart.
Elam had a difficult time on Sunday against the Jaguars, with a couple missed tackles in the run game and panicking when losing his designed marker in the passing game. Elam was benched by Bills head coach Sean McDermott.
“You’re expected to play and perform well, regardless of whether you’ve played or been active or inactive the week before, and guys have done that over the years,” McDermott said following the 25-20 loss.
It wasn’t all bad plays for Elam, and the Bills pass rush and blitz struggled to make a significant impact on Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence’s timing. However, Elam is looking to improve and have a better outing this Sunday against the New York Giants if his number is called upon again.
The cornerback said, “[I] really just wanna go out there and prove myself.”
For more from Elam, see the attached News 10 clip below:
Caught up with Kaiir Elam earlier and he said he wants to make the most of potential opportunities with injuries to #Bills' secondary.
"Really just wanna go out there and prove myself."#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/cAMR4gHVfa
— Jackson Roberts (@JrobertsTV_) October 11, 2023
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#Bills vs. #Giants: 8 things to watch for during Week 6’s matchup:
The Buffalo Bills (3-2) continue their regular season journey at home against the New York Giants (1-4) in Week 6.
Once the battle arrives, there will be a few particular things to keep in mind.
Here are eight things to watch for during Sunday’s Bills-Giants matchup:
The New York Giants and Buffalo Bills square off on Sunday night in Week 6, so here are five things fans should know.
The New York Giants (1-4) shuffle off to Western New York to face the Buffalo Bills (3-2) at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park for yet another nationally televised game this Sunday night.
This will be the Giants’ fourth prime-time game in the first six weeks of the 2023 regular season. They have been outscored, 94-15, in prime time so far.
Here are five more things to know before Sunday night’s game.
5 takeaways from the #Bills’ 25-20 loss vs. the #Jaguars:
Here are five takeaways from the Buffalo Bills’ 25-20 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5:
#Bills place Tre’Davious White on injured reserve:
The Buffalo Bills made the move which will finally end Tre’Davious White’s 2023 season.
The team has announced that White was placed on the injured reserve list which ends his year:
Bills roster moves ⬇️
– Activated LB Von Miller from Reserve/PUP
– Placed CB Tre’Davious White on Injured Reserve
– CB Ja’Marcus Ingram and DT Kendal Vickers have been elevated from the practice squad for Sunday’s game vs Jacksonville
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) October 7, 2023
In Week 4 against the Miami Dolphins, White sustained an Achilles injury. It was originally announced that White was being evaluated for an ankle injury, but being carted off made it clear it was a much more serious injury than that.
White’s Achilles injury comes after he already had another season-ending injury in 2021. White previously tore his ACL which kept him out an entire year.
It remains to be seen how long White’s road to recovery will be.
Moving White onto IR also opens up a roster space which the Bills (3-1) used to activate pass rusher Von Miller to their 53-man roster. Miller is now slated to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2) on Sunday. Kickoff is slated for 9:30 a.m.
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#Bills vs. #Jaguars: 7 things to watch for during Week 5’s matchup:
The Buffalo Bills continue their regular season journey across the pond in London against Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5.
Once the battle arrives, there will be a few particular things to keep in mind.
Here are seven things to watch for during Sunday’s Bills-Jaguars matchup:
#Bills vs. #Jaguars: 6 storylines to watch for heading into Week 5:
Here are six Buffalo Bills (3-1) storylines to watch for during the lead up to the team’s Week 5 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2):
Five post-Tre White injury thoughts on the #Bills:
The Buffalo Bills jumped to first place in the AFC East, but at a cost.
Against the Miami Dolphins (3-1) in Week 4, the Bills (3-1) lost cornerback Tre’Davious White. Turns out he has a season-ending Achilles injury.
A tough blow. The Bills will have to move forward without White.
Following the injury, here are five Bills thoughts, takeaways, and observations after the update:
