Bills at Vikings Depth Chart Preview
Sept 21, 2018 16:10:04 GMT -6
Reignman, Funkytown, and 1 more like this
Post by Danchat on Sept 21, 2018 16:10:04 GMT -6
The Vikings are taking on a team that has a decent chance to be the worst in the NFL and are favored by 16.5 points. They'll need to focus and make sure they don't overlook the Bills because they face the Rams only 4 days later. Here's what the Bills are looking like.
Injury Reports
The Vikings have a surprising amount of injured players, and somehow Rashod Hill (whose ankle injury looked worse than it actually was) isn't even on the report, so he's good to go. We'll be seeing Stephen Weatherly get his first career start at DE and hopefully a combo of Murray and Boone at HB.
So about the Bills... the problem is that their offense is simply terrible. Last season, everything went through LeSean McCoy, but I'm not sure he'll play due to injured ribs, which is likely to slow him down even if he does play. Everything will be up to the rookie Josh Allen, of whom I thought as a 2nd round prospect who needed time on the bench. This test against the Vikings defense on the road will prove to be a massive challenge.
However, the offense's shortcomings come from everywhere else. Even if Allen turns out to be a good QB, his WRs either simply don't care anymore (Benjamin), had a horrendous rookie season (Zay Jones), or are undrafted rookies (Foster and McCloud). Charles Clay is a good blocker, but he's not going to tear the secondary apart as a receiver. The offensive line has one good starter at the most important position, but their RT spot is downright awful. There's nothing good to say about the interior either. Running the ball should prove futile.
The defense is solid, but it's missing the components that powered it to the playoffs in a weak AFC conference in 2017. #2 CB E. J. Gaines left in free agency, leaving a hole that was supposed to be filled by Vontae Davis... who retired at halftime in last week's game!! The Bills have nothing at CB outside of the incredibly impressive sophomore Tre'Davious White. The safeties were both great last season, but I'll guess they won't be quite as good this year.
Finally, the front seven... it's mediocre now. With every-down LB Preston Brown out of the picture (which may be a good thing), Tremaine Edmunds fell to the Bills (who traded up for him). Edmunds was reportedly atrocious in the Chargers game and didn't look ready to start. The 20 year old was torn apart in coverage last week. Matt Milano was a 5th round rookie that the Bills think is up-and-coming player. Finally, Jerry Hughes isn't quite as good as he was eariler in his career, but somehow the 35 year old Lorenzo Alexander is still getting it done as a pass rusher/LB hybrid. Kyle Williams is an always-sturdy DT with a promising kid in Harrison Phillips behind him. Star Lotulelei was given $10M a year on a new deal, but he's been terrible in Carolina and now Buffalo. Why?!
Prediction: Vikings 34, Bills 13
The Vikings should play a better game at home against an opponent that has already given up. Josh Allen will make a handful of plays, but the Viking defense should force turnovers and make this one a snoozer but the 3rd/4th quarter.
Any thoughts?
Injury Reports
Vikings
HB Mike Boone - Questionable
HB Dalvin Cook - Out
C Pat Elflein - N/A, but announced as Out
DE Everson Griffen - Out
TE David Morgan - Out
CB Marcus Sherels - Out
Bills
DE Shaq Lawson - Out
CB Phillip Gaines - Questionable
CB Taron Johnson - Questionable
WR Ray-Ray McCloud - Questionable
HB LeSean McCoy - Questionable
HB/ST Taiwan Jones - Questionable
HB Mike Boone - Questionable
HB Dalvin Cook - Out
C Pat Elflein - N/A, but announced as Out
DE Everson Griffen - Out
TE David Morgan - Out
CB Marcus Sherels - Out
Bills
DE Shaq Lawson - Out
CB Phillip Gaines - Questionable
CB Taron Johnson - Questionable
WR Ray-Ray McCloud - Questionable
HB LeSean McCoy - Questionable
HB/ST Taiwan Jones - Questionable
The Vikings have a surprising amount of injured players, and somehow Rashod Hill (whose ankle injury looked worse than it actually was) isn't even on the report, so he's good to go. We'll be seeing Stephen Weatherly get his first career start at DE and hopefully a combo of Murray and Boone at HB.
So about the Bills... the problem is that their offense is simply terrible. Last season, everything went through LeSean McCoy, but I'm not sure he'll play due to injured ribs, which is likely to slow him down even if he does play. Everything will be up to the rookie Josh Allen, of whom I thought as a 2nd round prospect who needed time on the bench. This test against the Vikings defense on the road will prove to be a massive challenge.
However, the offense's shortcomings come from everywhere else. Even if Allen turns out to be a good QB, his WRs either simply don't care anymore (Benjamin), had a horrendous rookie season (Zay Jones), or are undrafted rookies (Foster and McCloud). Charles Clay is a good blocker, but he's not going to tear the secondary apart as a receiver. The offensive line has one good starter at the most important position, but their RT spot is downright awful. There's nothing good to say about the interior either. Running the ball should prove futile.
The defense is solid, but it's missing the components that powered it to the playoffs in a weak AFC conference in 2017. #2 CB E. J. Gaines left in free agency, leaving a hole that was supposed to be filled by Vontae Davis... who retired at halftime in last week's game!! The Bills have nothing at CB outside of the incredibly impressive sophomore Tre'Davious White. The safeties were both great last season, but I'll guess they won't be quite as good this year.
Finally, the front seven... it's mediocre now. With every-down LB Preston Brown out of the picture (which may be a good thing), Tremaine Edmunds fell to the Bills (who traded up for him). Edmunds was reportedly atrocious in the Chargers game and didn't look ready to start. The 20 year old was torn apart in coverage last week. Matt Milano was a 5th round rookie that the Bills think is up-and-coming player. Finally, Jerry Hughes isn't quite as good as he was eariler in his career, but somehow the 35 year old Lorenzo Alexander is still getting it done as a pass rusher/LB hybrid. Kyle Williams is an always-sturdy DT with a promising kid in Harrison Phillips behind him. Star Lotulelei was given $10M a year on a new deal, but he's been terrible in Carolina and now Buffalo. Why?!
Prediction: Vikings 34, Bills 13
The Vikings should play a better game at home against an opponent that has already given up. Josh Allen will make a handful of plays, but the Viking defense should force turnovers and make this one a snoozer but the 3rd/4th quarter.
Any thoughts?
... and neither is this Chris guy.