Bills (6-4) at Saints (5-5)
Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET, Caesars Superdome, New Orleans
TV: NBC
Tipico Sportsbook line: Bills by 4 1⁄2
Bills’ keys to victory: It’s vital that Buffalo put pressure on Saints QB Trevor Siemian, who threw two poorly timed interceptions in a Week 11 loss to the Eagles. That’s
easier said than done without a top-tier pass rusher, but DE Mario Addison should have a favorable matchup with rookie Saints LT Landon Young if the starter can’t go. New Orleans has been without All-Pro LT Terron Armstead for a few weeks. On the other side of the ball, the Bills need to keep attacking the seams with TE Dawson Knox, who could threaten S Malcolm Jenkins in the same way as some other big pass-catchers have in recent weeks.
Saints’ keys to victory: The Saints need to play to their strengths, which means sticking to an aggressive running game with RB Mark Ingram II. They have got to stop taking the ball out of his hands early and let him get into rhythm, especially if RB Alvin Kamara (knee) is still unavailable. On defense, it’s critical that the Saints frustrate QB Josh Allen when he tries to make magic happen on broken plays; they can’t let him run free like Eagles QB Jalen Hurts did last week.
Matchup to watch: Bills WR Stefon Diggs vs. Saints CB Marshon Lattimore. The corner usually plays his best football against his toughest challengers.
Who wins? The Bills had no answer for Colts RB Jonathan Taylor in Week 11, and Ingram could run over them too, especially if some starters return to the New Orleans offensive line. But the Saints’ offense is too mistake-prone right now to make it that easy.
Saints, 24-21