Fansided

Five reasons Buffalo Bills will make the playoffs

By Parker Hurley

Oct 16, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan looks over the field before a game against the San Francisco 49ers at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan looks over the field before a game against the San Francisco 49ers at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Nov 20, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) sacked by Buffalo Bills defensive end Adolphus Washington (92) during the first quarter at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) sacked by Buffalo Bills defensive end Adolphus Washington (92) during the first quarter at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Run Defense

The Bills defense has had plenty of ups and downs this season, but, like Watkins, is getting healthy at the right time. The two biggest reasons for Bills fans to be optimistic about their defensive front is the promise of Marcel Dareus and first round draft pick Shaq Lawson. Unfortunately, both missed the start of the season for different reasons, but both have come back and could lead to a strong December finish.

Lawson made a return in a limited role four weeks ago against the Dolphins. It was the ultimate low point for the Bills run defense, as the Dolphins ran for 256 yards. The next week, Lawson played a much bigger role, and the run defense responded in a big way. LeGarrette Blount, who is having  a sensational year, ran the ball 18 times for 43 yards on the Bills. As a team, the Patriots ran the ball 22 times for 72 yards.

The next week,Dareus returned on the road to face the Seattle Seahawks, and Seattle ran the ball 12 times for just 33 yards. Then, last week, with both fully installed into the defense, they made a great stand against the Cincinnati Bengals. They held lead back Jeremy Hill to 62 yards on 16 carries and held the team to only 93 yards on 27 carries.

With Stephon Gilmore and Ronald Darby in the secondary, the defense had a decent threat to stop the pass. If the run defense is coming together at the right time this is a huge development. The defense could be much more rounded, and ready to win games by running the ball and stopping the run.

Home/Buffalo Bills