Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals: Three Keys to the Game

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:32 p.m. ET

foxsports

Sep 15, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) drops to pass under pressure by Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes (55) during the second half at New Era Field. The Jets beat the Bills 37-31. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals Week 3 matchup kicks off on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Buffalo.

I know. It’s a bleak time for Buffalo Bills fans right now.

Everyone’s left scratching their head after watching the New York Jets’ offense destroy a good secondary. Anthony Lynn has replaced Greg Roman as offensive coordinator. Sammy Watkins may or may not play Sunday. Tyrod Taylor can’t play quarterback. Oh, and the Arizona Cardinals are in town.

Yeesh.

However, I am here to give you a ray of sunshine in this dark, dark time. While many are already counting out the Bills, I’m here to tell everyone to slow their role. Yes, there’s still a chance!

Want your voice heard? Join the BuffaLowDown team!

If the Bills can win one of the two next games, with next week being a road matchup with the undefeated New England Patriots, beat the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers they’re back at .500 and right back in the swing of things. It can be done.

But before we look ahead, we’re taking a look at this week’s matchup.

Each week during the regular season, this column will provide the three ways the Bills can secure a victory. So, without further ado, here’s the Three Keys to the Game for the matchup against the Cardinals, which kicks off Sunday at 1 p.m. from New Era Field.

Sep 15, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins (14) is tackled by New York Jets free safety Marcus Gilchrist (21) and strong safety Calvin Pryor (25) during the first half at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Get the Ball in the Hands of Playmakers

The one thing that’s supposed to come from the change in offensive coordinator is that the ball is going to find the hands of the Bills’ playmakers more often.

Facing a stout Cardinals defense, that must happen if the Bills want any shot at winning.

LeSean McCoy has always been criticized for bouncing plays to the outside. Well, he recently said he wants to get the ball inside the tackles more. This was something Lynn addressed on Thursday.

“You know, we’re going to attack the defense wherever we feel the weaknesses are. If it’s on the perimeter, it’s on the perimeter,” Lynn said. “If it’s between the tackles, yeah, we’re going to take whatever they give us so LeSean is going to run whatever we call.”

Another highlight of Lynn’s first meeting with the media as offensive coordinator was getting the ball to Sammy Watkins more frequently. This is a must.

“That’s been a focus, but it’s also been a focus with Sammy to get on the practice field,” Lynn said. “You know, he’s injured so be cautious with his injury and rest him and just get him to the game, but yeah, I mean he’s an elite receiver in this league and we want to get the ball in his hands.”

The more Watkins gets the ball the more opposing defenses will spread out and the rest of the offense will open up.

The Bills had success taking the top off of the Jets’ defense last week, if they can do that to the Cardinals they’ll be in good shape. Watkins is one of Buffalo’s best vertical threats.

If Watkins doesn’t play Sunday, which is very possible, the Bills will need Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin and Charles Clay to step up. Woods, Goodwin and Clay are all more than capable but they have to rise to the occasion.

Sep 15, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes (55) tackles New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) during the first half at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Get After the Quarterback

Buffalo was wreaking havoc in the Jets’ backfield early in the game last Thursday and New York couldn’t do anything. Then it all stopped, and the Jets went off.

Jerry Hughes has turned into one of the best pass rushers in the league, and he needs to be utilized as one.

Sssh. Don’t tell anyone because nobody is talking about him right now.

The Cardinals are down guards Evan Mathis and the rest of the offensive line is average at best, aside center A.Q. Shipley. Tackles Jared Veldheer and D.J. Humphries grade outside of the top 29 while guard Mike Iupati ranks 29th, according to Pro Football Focus. Shipley ranks 12th.

Even without Marcell Dareus the advantage is in the Bills’ favor.

If the Cardinals can give Carson Palmer a clean pocket, the veteran quarterback will scrape up the Bills secondary again and Buffalo will be in for another long day. This was something defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman touched on Thursday.

“Oh yeah. I mean, when he’s comfortable and things are right, and he hits that back foot and he hitches up one step and there’s no pressure around him, he can carve you up,” Thurman said. “I mean he’s really a good quarterback, he throws the ball well, he can make all the throws, has a group of excellent receivers. So yeah we have our hands full on Sunday.”

While Ryan believed rushing the passer against the Jets wasn’t the best idea, it’s the way he’s most likely going to have to go against Arizona. This offense is way too good for the Bills to sit back like they did against the Jets.

The Bills can send an extra rusher or two and still be in good positioning on the back end.

Sep 15, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills linebacker Zach Brown (53) tackles New York Jets running back Matt Forte (22) as he runs the ball during the second half at New Era Field. The Jets beat the Bills 37 to 31. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Stop the Run

If there’s one positive with the Buffalo Bills right now, is that their run defense is in the upper half of the league. Heading into Sunday they rank 14th.

Facing David Johnson is no easy task. The second-year running back ranks second in the NFL in rushing yards heading into Sunday’s meeting.

The Bills are going to need their middle linebackers to step up to the occasion Sunday because without them, Buffalo will be in trouble.

Preston Brown leads the league in tackles while Zach Brown is the top middle/inside linebacker in run stops. Brown’s ability to stop the run was a stat that Pro Football Focus highlighted in its 32 PFF Stats To Know For NFL Week 3.

Brown was a free-agent addition this past offseason from the Titans on a relatively cheap contract, and the deal is certainly paying off. The Bills have been dominant against the run, holding Jets RB Matt Forte to 3.3 yards per carry last week, and Ravens RB Terrance West to 2.7 yards per carry the week before. This week, the Bills are facing David Johnson, the NFL’s best running back through two weeks. The Bills will need to be able to at least slow down Johnson in order to emerge victorious on Sunday.

If the Bills can bottle up the run and get after Carson Palmer, than they might have a shot.

Prediction: Bills 31, Cardinals 30

This is a bold prediction, but Rex Ryan’s back is up against the wall, and knowing Rex, this is the type of game his team would win.

Everybody is counting the Bills out, they’re ranked 30th in ESPN’s latest power rankings and just watch, they might just pull off the upset.