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A lesson from the Bills to the Broncos

For a few seconds at the very beginning of the first quarter, the Broncos showed the Bills that they would try to stand up to them. They have been missing since.

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The Bills easily won 31-7 in the first round of the playoffs and will therefore continue their season next week by receiving a visit from the Ravens. The Broncos came to Buffalo to learn. And they learned…

First, they learned that, despite the emergence of a promising rookie quarterback in Bo Nix, they have not yet arrived in the league of serious contenders. It will come, but definitely not at the moment.

Young Nix gave the Bills a little scare on the Broncos’ first offensive sequence by joining his receiver Troy Franklin in the end zone for a superb 43-yard touchdown. Many then believed in a possible surprise.

Still, it was the end of the offensive highlights in this matchup that saw the Bills cling to a slim 10-7 lead at the half only to blow out.

Steamroller

After this initial touchdown from the Broncos, the Bills quietly put the steamroller into motion, with two field goals from Tyler Bass and a rushing touchdown from James Cook.

The first really powerful blow came on a fourth down and a yard to go in the Broncos zone.

Josh Allen danced and faced pressure to take the time to spot his running back Ty Johnson in the end zone. After the two-point convert, it was 21-7.

Allen added another touchdown pass, when he connected with Curtis Samuel, who zigzagged toward the end zone for 55 yards.

If Allen therefore took out his superhero cape by choosing his moments, it was above all the Bills’ ground game which made the history of the match with gains of 213 yards. The Broncos, a team that is nevertheless physical and which was third in the league against the run, were beaten in the face without the slightest mercy.

We told you a few weeks ago, you never know where the threat is going to come from, and it was eight different receivers who picked up Allen’s offerings.

The Bills doubled the Broncos’ production in first downs (26 to 13) and yards (471 to 224). They had the lead throughout the show, holding the ball for 41:43. The Broncos settled for an 18:17 cameo.

Five of the Bills’ seven offensive drives managed to eat up at least five minutes each time. Nothing like this to prevent the Broncos from establishing any rhythm.

The defense stands up

Most satisfying for the Bills is that their defense, often criticized this season, completely dominated the Broncos’ offense. Besides the long play of 43 yards conceded at the start of the game, the Broncos only gained 4.4 yards per play.

Bo Nix’s 144 passing yards were his second-lowest total this season. His 13 completed passes were also his second lowest total. For a quarterback who was literally on fire down the stretch of the season, it’s a learning the hard way, even if he will bounce back.

Make way for the Ravens!

It’s hard not to salivate at the thought of next week’s second-round matchup between the Bills and Ravens. It will be a confrontation between the two quarterbacks Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, who are competing for the title of most valuable player of the season.

Eight times this season, including this victory against the Broncos, the Bills have crushed their opponents by margins of 10 points or more, an NFL high.

Only once were they beaten by more than a touchdown. By the Ravens, obviously.

It’s going to be brewing in Buffalo!

In the other American Conference match, the Texans, defeaters of the Chargers, will travel to Kansas City for a meeting with the Chiefs.

THE 3 STARS OF THE MATCH

James Cook


Photo AFP

Bills running back James Cook set the tone with 23 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown. The Bills, in years past, often drifted too early in their offensive game plan, and their patient approach clearly paid off against the Broncos.

Josh Allen


Photo AFP

Even though Allen has already had more spectacular games statistically, he still finished with 272 air yards and two touchdown passes, in addition to 46 yards on the ground. It has become so routine that we no longer even pay attention to it, which is not normal.

Terrel Bernard


Photo AFP

Linebacker Terrel Bernard was all over the field on defense. He led his team with six tackles, including one for a loss. In pass coverage, the tandem he forms with Matt Milano allows the Bills to limit the damage.

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