It’s here. After months and months of waiting and a pandemic, it’s finally here. The 2020 NFL season is underway and week one for the Buffalo Bills is upon us. In week one of the 2020 NFL season the Buffalo Bills face the New York Jets. A division rival and team that most fans and analysts think the Bills should beat. It’s never too early to get into a rhythm and build momentum and the Buffalo Bills can do that in week one. Coming away with a win is the most important objective in this game for the Bills. However, along with a win, there are several must-haves needed from the Buffalo Bills in their 2020 week one matchup.
Buffalo Bills Week 1: Needed Performances
The 2020 Buffalo Bills are a team with expectations. And in order to establish confidence that they can meet those expectations, they need a strong week one performance. The Buffalo Bills have a deep, versatile, and talented roster. But they will only go as far as Josh Allen takes them in 2020. In week one the Buffalo Bills must have a strong performance from Allen. They must also have a strong performance from cornerback Levi Wallace. Wallace will hold down the number two cornerback position on his own with Josh Norman ruled out. A cornerback position that is suddenly lacking quality depth. Lastly, the Bills must also have strong play from their offensive line.
A Strong Josh Allen Performance
Josh Allen is arguably the most polarizing player in the NFL. But for as much as Bills Mafia sings his praises, and for as much as the doubters put him down, there’s a lot up in the air for Josh Allen in 2020.
There’s no doubt that Josh Allen improved in 2019. His completion percentage rose. His intermediate passing improved. And he threw more touchdowns and less interceptions than he did in 2018. All very good. But he also struggled against the blitz. Made poor decisions. And was terrible with his deep ball.
All eyes are on Josh Allen in week one of the 2020 NFL season for the Buffalo Bills. And he’s facing a Jets defense that is without several key players due to injuries, opt-outs, and trades. The Jets defense is weak and wounded right now. And if Allen struggles against a weak and wounded Jets defense that people expect little of, it’s blood in the water.
Josh Allen must have a strong performance in Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season for the Buffalo Bills. It would be a positive sign that he’s growing into the quarterback the Buffalo Bills need him to be. Also a strong performance here won’t quiet the doubters. But it won’t give them any ammunition either.
A Strong Levi Wallace Performance
Josh Norman has officially been ruled out for week one of the 2020 NFL season for the Buffalo Bills. That means the number two cornerback position lies squarely on the shoulders of Levi Wallace.
The Bills lack quality depth at the corner position behind All-Pro Tre’Davious White. And the Jets wide receivers are a group that are banged up and lack talent. Rookie Denzel Mims has been ruled out. Breshad Perriman has been dealing with a knee injury through camp. Their best wide receiver is Jamison Crowder. Right now, this is not a group that strikes fear into opposing defenses.
If Levi Wallace can’t hold his own against the Jets wide receivers in week one, then one can assume he won’t hold his own against the more talented and healthy wide receiver groupings the Bills face later in the year. The Bills have a tough schedule. They face good teams with good offenses and good wide receivers. Teams that can, and will, take advantage of a weak number two cornerback.
Levi Wallace must have a strong performance in Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season for the Buffalo Bills. Much like Allen, a strong performance won’t quiet the doubters. But a poor performance could be a very bad sign of things to come.
A Strong Offensive Line Performance
Games are won and lost in the trenches. A team’s offensive line can make or break them. Therefore eyes will be on the Buffalo Bills offensive line in week one of the 2020 NFL season.
For any conversation about the Bills offensive line, it starts and ends on the right side. Will Cody Ford play guard or will he play tackle? If he plays guard who will play right tackle? Would it be Ty Nsekhe or would it be Daryl Williams? Could it be both?
The official Buffalo Bills depth chart has three players listed at both first team right guard and first team right tackle. A bit of gamesmanship for sure, but also a bit of truth in that the right side of the line isn’t set in stone. Furthermore, when incumbent starting right guard Jon Feliciano comes back from injury, that side of the line gets even more complicated. That’s because a common thought is that Cody Ford is better suited for guard at the NFL level than tackle. 2019 saw Ford at right tackle. So any real reps at guard will garner attention.
How this grouping looks as a whole in week one against the Jets could go a long way in determining how this group looks the rest of the season. For what the Jets lack in talent, they make up for with scheme and chaos. The Jets had a blitz percentage of 39.2% in 2019 which was fourth in the NFL. The communication and continuity of the Bills offensive line will be tested in this game. And they must have a strong performance. Because without a strong line, Josh Allen is in trouble.
Last Word on the Buffalo Bills 2020 Week One Must-Haves
The Buffalo Bills were a fun story in 2019. An afterthought that overachieved. Now in 2020, that’s no longer the case. There are expectations for the Buffalo Bills in 2020. And with expectations comes pressure. And with pressure, comes the opportunity for failure. In order for the Buffalo Bills to succeed in 2020 they need to get off to a strong start in week one. A strong start that includes more than just a win.
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