Super Bowl champ highlights the one area Buffalo needs to exploit
The Buffalo Bills received a major vote of confidence from two-time All-Pro and Super Bowl champion Eric Weddle on Thursday. Weddle spent 14 seasons in the NFL as one of the league’s top safeties. With six Pro Bowl nominations under his belt, Weddle knows a thing or two about exploiting an offense’s weaknesses. Weddle joined […]
The Buffalo Bills received a major vote of confidence from two-time All-Pro and Super Bowl champion Eric Weddle on Thursday.
Weddle spent 14 seasons in the NFL as one of the league’s top safeties. With six Pro Bowl nominations under his belt, Weddle knows a thing or two about exploiting an offense’s weaknesses.
Weddle joined Kay Adams on FanDuel TV’s Up & Adams to breakdown the Bills’ Divisional Round matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals. When discussing the game, Weddle made a strong statement about the Bengals’ chances to upset Buffalo on the road.
Knock On Wood
“They’ve got zero chance against the Bills,” Weddle stated with confidence. “They can’t protect Joe. They’re playing without any linemen. This is a top five defense, it’s gonna be a tall task.”
Cincinnati is facing cluster injuries on its offensive line. The Bengals lost starting right tackle La'el Collins to a torn ACL in Week 16. Right guard Alex Cappa has been deemed week-to-week by head coach Zac Taylor after suffering an ankle injury in Week 18. To make matters worse, starting left tackle Jonah Williams dislocated his knee in the Bengals’ wild card win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Neither Cappa nor Williams participated in Cincinnati's Thursday practice session.
“When you’re playing with second and third stringers it doesn’t matter,” Weddle noted. “That’s the reality that the Bengals are facing right now. How do you manufacture not turning the ball over, how to be able give your defense and give your team the best shot of winning playing with a mangled O-line in the playoffs against one of the best teams in the league?”
“(The Bengals) got through it last year, I just don’t see it happening. They’re just down too many guys.”
Like Weddle said, overcoming injuries on the offensive line against a ferocious Bills pass rush is a tall task. However, Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier has struggled to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks since Von Miller has been sidelined.
Buffalo can’t afford to let Joe Burrow sit back in a clean pocket and pick the secondary apart. Frazier must dial up unique looks, bringing pressure early and often to throw the Bengals’ star signal caller out of a rhythm.
Featured image via Joesph Maiorana – USA TODAY Sports
