Philadelphia Eagles rushing attack key to victory against Buffalo Bills
The Philadelphia Eagles week eight match-up with the Buffalo Bills is set to be more of a fight than a football game. This one will be decided in the trenches.
One thing that Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson has stressed throughout the 2019 season is the importance of their running game. After being criticized early on for a perceived lack of usage for players like Jordan Howard and Miles Sanders, Pederson has made sure to utilize heavier doses of both ever since.
The results have been up and down, but the tandem has shown signs of greatness. Philly will need a major bounce-back effort from their backfield to claim victory in Buffalo versus the Bills.
ESPN’s Field Yates put Howard’s production in Philly into perspective:
Leaders in percentage of carries gaining at least 10 yards (minimum 50 carries):
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 19, 2019
1. Matt Breida: 15.4%
2. Jordan Howard: 15.2%
3. Ronald Jones: 14.3%
4. Ezekiel Elliott: 14.2
5. Nick Chubb: 13.2%
6. Leonard Fournette: 13.0%
The Bills are one of the best defensive units in the NFL through seven weeks. They rank out as the league’s third-best defense, and they specialize in stopping opposing teams’ passing games. New Era Field has a certifiable no-fly zone so far this season for opposing offenses, with Buffalo allowing less than a touchdown pass per game, and holding opponents to just over 200 yards of total offense regularly. They just haven’t faired quite as well in stopping teams on the ground.
Buffalo ranks sixteenth in the league in rushing touchdowns per game, allowing at least one score per contest. They also rank tenth in rushing yards per game, allowing over ninety yards on the ground to opposing offenses. The Eagles have shown the ability to get both Howard and Sanders going during a game, and they’ll find openings for both if they devote themselves to a run-first attack on Sunday afternoon.
The #Eagles continue to find ways to get Miles Sanders the ball vertically downfield. 2nd time in 4 games they've hit this gem of a concept, this time from a YY formation! Love this play #FlyEaglesFly (CC: @BenFennell_NFL @JCohen_NFL @geoffschwartz) pic.twitter.com/PejVFU3DlE
— Fran Duffy (@EaglesXOs) October 14, 2019
A run-first approach will also open up the play-action game for Carson Wentz on passing downs. Think of this strategy like it’s going to help a team walking into a game that’s going to feel like a heavyweight boxing match.
Next. This Eagles team sorely misses Frank Reich. dark
Howard’s job will be to deliver a few body shots to weaken the opponent. Sanders’ presence in the passing attack represents the left hook that staggers them. That will allow Wentz’s play-action game to serve as the uppercut that puts them on the canvas. If Philadelphia can win the battle up-front and stabilize its run game, they’ll put themselves in a position to secure a critical victory on Sunday.