NFL Bills vs. Raiders: 7 storylines to watch for heading into Week 2
Here are seven Buffalo Bills storylines to watch for during the lead up to the team’s Week 2 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders:
A needed bounce back
The Bills were stunned by the New York Jets in Week 1 to the tune of a 22-16 overtime final.
Last Wednesday if you thought about Buffalo losing down in New York, you’d have thought Aaron Rodgers led the Jets to victory.
Nope. He was injured. Zach Wilson took over. The Bills then had an embarrassing mistake-filled game.
More than a bounce back is needed against the Raiders.
Rushing attack woes
The Raiders didn’t ride their All-Pro running back Josh Jacobs to victory last week over the Denver Broncos. However, after holding out all offseason Jacobs is back and has to be licking his chops seeing how poorly the Bills defense handled Breece Hall last week. At all levels of the defense there were mistakes.
Jacobs had a career-high 1,653 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 2022.
Josh, stop, but really this time
Josh Allen needs to stop turning the ball over. That’s it. That’s the storyline. He’s going to be asked about it all this week after his four giveaways in New York.
Dealing with Davante
Tre’Davious White had a bit of a tough game against the Jets’ No. 1 receiver Garrett Wilson. His yardage was held down, but Wilson still had an incredible touchdown against White.
Davante Adams is an even larger test. The entire Bills secondary is going to be asked about stopping him.
More tough trench warfare
While Allen’s interceptions were the biggest problem, his protection was second. The Jets simply sport a top-notch defensive line… but so do the Raiders. It’s a front led by Maxx Crosby.
Dion Dawkins fared well against New York but Spencer Brown has to be better. Both tackles will likely face Crosby.
Someone help Stef
Sure, Stefon Diggs is used to carrying the load for the Bills offense. That’s what he likes and that’s what he did against the Jets with 10 catches, 102 yards and a touchdown.
But goodness… someone needs to help him. Even Sean McDermott admitted that.
Home opener
Regardless of a worrisome Week 1, it’s the home opener in western New York on Sunday. A bad day to be the Raiders. It’s a local holiday in Buffalo and they’re going to know it by the way Bills Mafia is ramped up.
