Through the first two weeks of the season, the Buffalo Bills have leaned on a balanced offense that includes a solid defense, an emerging run game, and a quick, short-passing attack designed to spread the ball around. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady’s “everybody eats” strategy has been effective, resulting in one of the NFL’s most efficient offenses and a 2-0 start to the season.
However, Monday Night Football against the Jacksonville Jaguars might offer a different story for Josh Allen, as he seems poised to launch more deep shots downfield.
Josh Allen Ready to Air It Out on Monday Night Football
The Jaguars employ a man-heavy defensive scheme and are missing key pieces in their secondary, creating a prime opportunity for Allen to test the defense with big-play attempts. Joe DeRosa of Cover 1 anticipates that the Bills will exploit this weakness with play-action shots and deep passes to take advantage of one-on-one matchups.
“With the Jaguars missing key pieces in their secondary, I expect Buffalo to attack early with play action and downfield throws,” DeRosa noted. “This could easily result in Josh Allen’s highest Average Depth of Target (ADoT) of the season. The challenge will be ensuring the Bills’ pass protection holds up against a dangerous Jaguars pass rush.”
Allen has also acknowledged the challenge that Jacksonville’s front seven presents. He specifically pointed out the strength of the Jaguars’ edge rushers, adding that the team will need to focus on neutralizing this pressure to find success downfield.
“You know, their front seven – they get after it,” Allen said earlier this week. “They’ve got a couple of supreme edge rushers, and the last few times we’ve faced them, they’ve given us trouble. They play hard, and they don’t quit, so it’s going to be a battle.”
While Jacksonville’s defense might not be among the elite, their front seven remains capable of wreaking havoc. Last season, Josh Allen (Jaguars linebacker) and Travon Walker combined for 27.5 sacks. This will likely be the toughest test Buffalo’s offensive line has faced so far this year.
Injuries in the Jaguars’ Secondary Could Open Up Opportunities
If the Bills’ offensive line can withstand the pressure, there should be plenty of opportunities for Allen to exploit a banged-up Jaguars secondary. Top cornerback Tyson Campbell is on injured reserve, and Darnell Savage was ruled out on Sunday with a quadriceps injury, leaving Jacksonville’s secondary vulnerable.
Even before the Savage injury, the Jaguars’ defense was allowing the 11th-most passing yards per game and ranked in the top 10 for the highest EPA per pass play. With these added injuries, the situation could open the door for Josh Allen to uncork his deep ball and take advantage of big-play threats like tight end Dalton Kincaid, wide receivers Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir, and Mack Hollins.
This matchup has the potential to showcase Allen’s aerial prowess, something that hasn’t been fully unleashed through the first two games of the season. The game could set the stage for the Bills’ offense to deliver explosive plays and put the Jaguars’ depleted secondary under significant pressure.
