How Mac and the offense can pave way to an upset
The Patriots might be headed into their Wild Card round matchup with the Bills not having the advantage at quarterback, but that doesn’t mean rookie Mac Jones can’t lead an effective offense and carry out a game plan to upset the favored Bills in Round 3.
He doesn’t necessarily have to beat Josh Allen in a passing contest. Jones just has to play a clean game within the context of the Patriots offense.
“It’s a new week. It’s a new day. We just have to try and stick to what we know and understand what they have over there,” Jones said Wednesday. “We have the utmost respect for them. I think the other times are the other times and this is a new opportunity for both teams.”
The Bills finished the regular season with the top-rated defense, and were at the forefront of most of the important statistical categories, finishing first in fewest passing yards allowed (163 per game), fewest TD passes (12), and opponent passer rating (65.3).
“They don’t have a lot of issues or anything like that. They’re pretty good all around. Really good all around,” said Jones. “They have experience, so that’s one thing. They played a lot of snaps together as a group, not only this year against us and all that, but as a whole.
“Like I said, it’s going to take 60 minutes and they have a great coach over there, too. They understand what they need to do. We just have to go out there and do what we need to do.”
Here’s how Jones and the Patriots offense can upset the Bills:
1. Go no-huddle
Yes, the Patriots have played the Bills twice already, and yes, they have a pretty good handle on the offense, and what offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels likes to call for his rookie quarterback.
So it’s time to throw in a bit of a wrinkle.
Why not have Jones run the no-huddle right from the start.
It makes sense from a number of different angles. First, the Pats can’t afford to get behind. They need to start fast.
Plus, Jones has done a good job in the hurry-up late in games. So why not flip the script? Get the Bills off-balance, and get Jones in a rhythm right away.
It’s not outside of the box where McDaniels is concerned.
“We’re hard at work right now trying to put together the best plan we can, and hopefully we have a good week of practice and preparation so we can go out there and play fast and aggressive on Saturday night,” he said during the week.
2. Win in the trenches
For the offense to have a chance to put points up on the board against the Bills elite defense, the offensive line has to dominate in the trenches, much like they did in the first game. The boys up front need to be physical, punish the Bills defensive line and trigger their ground game.
In other words, Bully Ball has to be alive and well in Buffalo.
“We’re going to need to do a good job in the running game of denying penetration and trying to keep the line of scrimmage clean, so we can get the backs into the defense,” said McDaniels.
It’s been no secret all year, the run game is the lifeblood of the offense. Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson and Brandon Bolden need their friends up front to pave the way.
3. Avoid long down and distances
The Bills are especially daunting and challenging for offenses, and quarterbacks in particular, by disguising their intentions on throwing downs.
Last week against the Jets, the Bills run-blitzed early on almost every first down. Former Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia was at that game, and said Zach Wilson had no chance after that in long-yardage situations. If the Patriots always have to throw on second and third down, Jones will similarly be cooked.
That was one of the major factors in the second game, won by the Bills.
“Not unlike Bill (Belichick), Sean McDermott and Leslie Frazier are going to disguise and take things away from you,” Scarnecchia told the Herald Thursday, “then all of a sudden you’re back there pumping your arm, and by that point, the posse’s already coming over the hill ready for the slaughter.”