Buffalo Bills vs Indianapolis Colts: First round playoff preview, predictions
Buffalo Bills vs. Indianapolis Colts: Defensive Matchup
So the Colts can stuff the run, but how are they through the air?
In short, there’s quite the drop-off. The Colts rank in the bottom half of the league in terms of passing yards conceded per game, as Indy lacks a true shutdown corner.
As for the Bills, they have the opposite issue. Pass defense is a strength, while, as previously mentioned, stopping the run is a weakness.
The quarterback of the Colts defense is undoubtedly Darius Leonard. Unrelated to another Leonard that we’ve talked about at length on this site, Darius is the prototypical modern-day linebacker: strong enough to handle the run game while fast enough to keep up with opposing tight ends and slot receivers.
The Bills are led on defense by Tre’Davious White. One of the very few true shutdown corners in the league, White should shadow either veteran receiver T.Y. Hilton or upstart rookie Michael Pittman Jr. Hilton got off to a slow start this season but has rounded into his usual top tier form. Pittman Jr. has been an underrated gem for Indy in his first year out of USC, catching 40 balls for 503 yards this season.
Either way, White should have them handled. If ever he gets worried, he knows he’s got a true vet on his opposite side. His most noteworthy moment of the season might be being on the business end of a Derrick Henry stiff arm, but Josh Norman has provided solid play and a veteran presence this season. Having played in a Super Bowl, he also brings playoff experience to a team that has minimal postseason reps.
Extras and game prediction
Much will be made of the Bills’ inexperience in the postseason, but is this really going to feel like the playoffs?
There might be a few more empty seats than normal, but the weather is doing its part. The forecast calls for -1 C temps and 13 km/h winds.
This is also the fourth straight playoff appearance in which the Bills will play an opponent from the AFC South. The last time they faced some non-AFC South competition was in 1998, a 24-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
The ground game will be important, but Josh Allen and the Bills are determined. They won’t let the home fans down.
Our prediction 33-16 Bills.
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Keep it locked here if the Bills advance for more previews, analysis of the Bills postseason run.