Buffalo Bills vs Indianapolis Colts: First round playoff preview, predictions

Buffalo Bills vs. Indianapolis Colts: Running Back Matchup

While Buffalo has the clear edge in the quarterback matchup, the Colts will challenge the Bills in the ground game.

Citing Rivers’ struggles to push the ball down the field, Indianapolis has endeared themselves to the run game, behind a breakout season from rookie Jonathan Taylor and timely implementation of change-of-pace ‘back Nyheim Hines.

All of this production has come sans feature back Marlon Mack, who went down with an Achilles injury in Week 1. As far as statistics go, the Colts outpace the Bills in both total yards and yards per game on the ground, but make no mistake about it. The Bills haven’t given up on the ground game.

The combination of rookie Zack Moss and Devin Singletary has looked dynamic at times this year, with Singletary providing the juice while Moss provides the oomph. Both teams have ‘backs that can turn up on any given day. The difference will be made on the defensive end.

The Colts are the owners of the second-best run defense in the league, with a fearless group of linebackers that are unafraid to wreak havoc in the box. The Bills, on the other hand, have struggled to defend the run this season. Eight of 16 opponents have managed to gain 100 yards or more on the ground against the Bills.

This all becomes more of an issue of weather comes into play. If there’s a repeat of the Snow Bowl (or anything close to it), look out for the Colts to find their footing a little quicker than the Bills.