The Buffalo Bills will welcome the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday hoping to ride some recent defensive momentum to victory. Without a doubt, the matchup comes at an important time for the Bills, as they get set to face yet another stout AFC competitor. Alaina Getzenberg, the ESPN reporter that covers the team, emphasizes the importance of the Bills’ defense making a stand. Given their offensive struggles earlier this season, this challenge takes on further importance.
For Head Coach Sean McDermott, that has meant stressing the need for consistent performance on every snap. “I don’t think we can afford to be inconsistent. Not now,” he stated. Second, the Bills have actually taken significant steps forward in their overall run defense. They’ll have to continue that momentum when they face the perennial tough Bengals team led by superstar quarterback Joe Burrow.
Even with these improvements, the Bills still have significant issues. Worst in the league in rushing touchdowns. They’re tied for the fewest rushing TDs on the season. Further, they’re letting up a frightful 2.4 yards after contact per rushing attempt. McDermott emphasized the need to contain the run game: “Right now, it’s just make sure we get the defense under wrap enough with the run game, take that away and start making teams more one dimensional.”
The biggest loss for the Bills is linebacker Shaq Thompson, who McDermott called week to week. The coach expressed hope that Thompson’s absence would be short-lived, stating, “Credit to the players during the week with the staff of working on it over and over and over again.” He is familiar with Thompson, having previously coached him during two stops with the Carolina Panthers. His experience has made him the cornerstone of the defensive scheme.
Al Holcomb, the Bills’ linebackers coach, has a long history of working with Thompson. He’ll need to do his best to keep his team fired up during the period Thompson is out. The Bills’ defense must contend with Cincinnati’s passing game. The Bills are currently atop the NFL in defense, showing the fewest passing yards per game against them. They’ve only allowed their opponents to a stunning average of 163.2 yards.
Indeed, as the Bills get ready for the Bengals, they’re more interested in shaking things up and adapting their defensive scheme. I’ll say it again, not that you can ever be [confident], don’t get me wrong, but our backs are against the wall. That’s just the way it is, and that’s our attitude,” McDermott concluded, speaking to the precariousness of their position.
Looking forward, the Bills will be presented with an even tougher test a week from now when they host their division rivals, the New England Patriots. This next stretch of games will be very telling for Buffalo as they look to secure their playoff positioning.
Linebacker Dorian Williams, one of the anchors of this defense, talked about how crucial it is to go through these moments for future growth. “I think it helps me in the long term, for sure,” he remarked about facing tough opponents like Burrow and the Bengals.
With only a few days until kickoff, the anticipation is mounting as both teams get ready for what promises to be a high-stakes battle with major implications. It’s important for the Bills to lean into their defensive advantages. Beyond that, they’ll need to counter their vulnerabilities to secure a win at home against Cincinnati.
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