Bills vs. Colts: 3 key matchups in Wild Card
The Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts. Win or go home.
While the stakes are high, this outing is still the same between the Bills (13-3) and Colts (11-5). It’ll be the games within the game that make all the difference.
With that, here are three key matchups to watch in Saturday’s Wild Card matchup as Buffalo hosts Indianapolis:
WR John Brown vs. CB TJ Carrie
Bills wide receiver John Brown. Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Bills wide receiver John Brown has missed time this season due to a variety of reasons. Some injuries plus the COVID-19 list. But Brown returned to the lineup last week with a bang, scoring on a perfectly placed pass by quarterback Josh Allen. Assuming Stefon Diggs (oblique) gets back in the line, the Colts' Rock Ya-Sin will not. He's out with a concussion, so TJ Carrie will step up into his role. Carrie, Indy's backup cornerback, has also battled injury recently, so the Bills should look to Brown often.
OL Mitch Morse vs. DT DeForest Buckner
Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
You think Jordan Poyer was a big Pro Bowl snub? DeForest Buckner was probably even bigger. He's made the game before with the 49ers and after giving up a first-round pick for him like the Bills did for Stefon Diggs, the deal is working out for the Colts. Buckner, in the middle of the D-line, has a massive 9.5 this year and 10 tackles for loss. Pro Football Focus grades him the fourth-best defensive tackle in the NFL this year as well. Center Mitch Morse might not have Buckner right on top of him every play, but either him or one of the Bills' guards, Ike Boettger and Jon Feliciano will. Morse has to help those two out.
LB Tremaine Edmunds vs. RB Jonathan Taylor
Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Colts have the NFL's leading rusher among rookies, Jonathan Taylor, in their lineup. A superb offensive line, the seventh-best in the NFL this year per Pro Football Focus, paves the way for him as well. With all that considered, it won't just be up to linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to shut him down. But Edmunds is a sideline-to-sideline linebacker and on his best days, and when he's playing like that, he does just that... Shuts opposing rushers down. If he does that, it could be cake walk for Buffalo.
