AFC Wild Card
(7) Indianapolis Colts at (2) Buffalo Bills
Colts: I ripped them last week on the radio after their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the first half of that game, they were dominant and stuck to their identity. Once the second half came around, they got cute and tried putting the game in the hands of Philip Rivers and it got them nowhere. Against Jacksonville in their season finale, they got back to their identity which is power football. Running the football and controlling the line of scrimmage. I don’t need Philip to take games over because he’s capable of turning the ball over. What’s drawn my attention with the Colts has been their defense. It’s been one of the best in the league. I was high on them especially with a veteran quarterback coming to the team. Now, they’re the seventh seed in January. They’ll be in East Orchard on Saturday.
Bills: Talk about ending a regular season with some authority. That’s exactly what I took away from their finale against the Miami Dolphins in week 17. They were still playing for something and they ended up with the second seed in a new format with the playoffs this year. It’s been a magical year for the Buffalo Bills. The first thing I’ve noticed is the maturation of Josh Allen. He’s a great football player, but he’s also a great leader. He sets the example and his teammates follow his lead. As a team, they’ve been outstanding. My biggest takeaway from watching them has been how they’ve been as a team after “Hail Murray” in Arizona. Since then, they haven’t lost a single game and they’ve regrouped along with remaining focused. Sean McDermott has done a phenomenal job. They host a playoff game for the first time since 1995 on Saturday.
Colts X-Factor: DeForest Buckner– You acquire guys with his caliber for games like this. I still remember when he missed a game and the Colts defense looked lost. He’s that one piece that brings everything together. As I always say, every defense has its “glue guy”, that’s what DeForest is to the Colts stingy defense.
Bills X-Factor: John Brown– With Cole Beasley out, I expect John to be that guy that Josh will target over the middle of the football field. John does his most damage from the slot to either go over the middle or up the field. He’s that one receiver that stretches the football field from a vertical standpoint.
Final Thoughts: This is the first playoff game in Orchard Park since 1995. It’s been a long time coming. I can finally say postseason football is back for the Bills. This matchup is a collision course. You have the speed of the Bills offense against the stingy Colts defense. For the Colts to have a shot, run the football! Control the clock. Dominate with ball control! Also, keep Josh in the pocket. He can move with his feet when possible. Buffalo’s defensive line will have a battle against this Colts offensive line. Hitting Rivers early on is key.
Prediction: Bills 31 Colts 24
