On The Beat: 5 questions with Buffalo writer Mike Rodak – 'The Bills’ offense has been historically bad this season'

Every week, we go deep on the Patriots’ next opponent with our “5 questions…” feature where we check in with a writer who covers New England’s next opponent. For this week’s game against Buffalo, we talk with Bills’ beat writer and good buddy Mike Rodak, who covers the team for ESPN. Check him out on Twitter here.

1. When it comes to Buffalo’s quarterbacking situation, how did it get to a point where the Bills are starting someone like Derek Anderson?



The Bills have been slowly making their way through Dante’s circles of quarterback hell. First, they traded Tyrod Taylor in the offseason because he had reached his ceiling as an NFL starter and was never going to become a franchise quarterback. Then, the Bills dealt A.J. McCarron after an underwhelming preseason and a more promising summer from Nathan Peterman. Then Peterman continued to implode under the pressures of live action, forcing Josh Allen into the lineup. Allen looked predictably wild as a rookie with a shaky college resume and weak supporting cast. Anderson was signed to mentor him, but became the starter a week into his tenure after Allen sprained his right elbow in Week 6. Allen will avoid Tommy John surgery -- imagine the reaction in Buffalo he couldn’t play again until 2020 -- but Anderson last Sunday as a 35-year old coming off his couch would. Now Anderson has back and calf injuries to prove it.

2. What are the combination of events that have caused Buffalo to go from a playoff team to one that has struggled mightily over the first seven weeks of the season?

The quarterback debacle is ground zero, but there is more to it. The offensive line has expectedly taken a step back after center Eric Wood was forced into retirement by a neck injury and guard Richie Incognito was forced into retirement by his own actions. The offensive line has not been able to sustain a running game the same way it did in past seasons under former coordinators Greg Roman or Anthony Lynn, which has only compounded the passing game’s struggles. The defense has held up its end of the bargain about half of the time this season, but has shown surprising lapses against the run (in a loss to the Colts) and the pass (in a loss to the Chargers).

3. There were some here in New England who believed Brian Daboll would have been the heir apparent to Josh McDaniels if McDaniels would ever leave to take a head coaching job elsewhere. How has he impacted the Buffalo offense this season?

LeSean McCoy called Daboll a “genius” before the season, which has become a running joke among fans on social media and on talk radio. Indeed, the Bills’ offense has been historically bad this season -- Football Outsiders’ metrics have them on pace to be the worst in modern NFL history -- but it is tough to blame Daboll for all of that. The Bills are severely deficient in personnel at both wide receiver and along the offensive line and Daboll has generally not been able to mask that. He cannot be truly judged though until Allen is back on the field and his development as a quarterback is given a chance to continue under Daboll’s guidance.

4. Is there an under-the-radar type who has a chance to make an impact against the Patriots?

Either linebacker Matt Milano, a 2017 fifth-round pick from Boston College, or cornerback Taron Johnson, a 2018 fourth-round pick from Weber State. Both will be starters if Buffalo opens in its nickel defense, and each has an interception this season. They are part of a young defensive core of players that coach Sean McDermott hopes will lead the team into the future, but both can make their presence felt on national television Monday night by causing a turnover against Tom Brady.

5. Buffalo wins Monday night if…

It can play a flawless game on defense, force at least one turnover and can establish their running game. Those are all clichés, but there is little chance the Bills can win if Anderson is throwing the ball 30-plus times. Their best hope is to mimic what they did in their monumental Week 3 upset of the Vikings, when the defensive line dominated the line of scrimmage and gave the offense short fields.

Mike’s pick: Patriots 34, Bills 14 — The disparity between these two offenses is stark, and I doubt the Bills’ defense or special teams can overcome it. Despite some of the praise Bill Belichick gave the Bills’ special teams this week, their efficiency rating is the worst of any team’s special teams unit since ESPN Stats & Information began tracking that metric in 2006. Buffalo’s defense has been good, but has not generated the sort of point total that will be necessary to beat the Patriots.