On The Beat – 5 questions with Buffalo writer Mike Rodak: Allen and Bills aim to stay competitive vs. Patriots

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 the Bills, we spend some quality time with our good friend Mike Rodak, who covers the Bills for ESPN. Check him out on Twitter here.

1. How has Josh Allen taken command of the Buffalo offense?



He’s done it both on and off the field. Coach Sean McDermott said recently that Allen, although he is not a captain, has become the leader of the offense. That much is clear from his demeanor on the field. He is a fearless passer and confident runner who has been unafraid – sometimes to a fault – of taking chances and taking hits. Statistically, Allen’s arm or legs have accounted for 1,152 of the Bills’ 1,422 total yards since his Week 12 return. As aging players such as LeSean McCoy and Charles Clay have faded, and with an underperforming Kelvin Benjamin gone, Allen has become the engine of the offense.

2. They’re out of the playoffs, so what are the Bills playing for these last two games?

The Bills have effectively returned to the preseason in December. That is not to say the results don’t matter -- the Bills want their players to “learn” how to win -- but the final stretch has been more about developing Allen, experimenting with players around him and evaluating the roster. Talk in the locker room is about how the Bills are only worried about themselves, which is a departure from some of the stronger language we heard during the Rex Ryan years about the Patriots, some of which made it onto the field in a pregame fight in 2016. I don’t get the sense players or fans will live or die by the result of this game; it’s more about how Allen plays and what strides he can make.

3. Who is your choice for an under-the-radar possibility for Buffalo on Sunday?

Wide receiver Robert Foster. The Bills’ undrafted rookie was on the practice squad the last time these two teams met in October. He was elevated to the 53-man roster and has since recorded three 100-yard receiving games. With Benjamin gone, Foster is now a starter opposite Zay Jones. The Alabama product was a highly-touted recruit who never emerged in Tuscaloosa but has found a niche as a deep threat in Buffalo. Expect Allen to chuck a few balls downfield at Foster on Sunday.

4. How does the removal of Josh Gordon from the Pats’ offense mean for the Buffalo defense?

It should free up top cornerback Tre’Davious White to shadow Julian Edelman or perhaps play a more traditional role. White acknowledged this week his play over the past two weeks has been down -- he’s given up contested catches to the Jets’ Robby Anderson and Lions’ Kenny Golladay -- but overall the 2017 first-round pick is still trending toward becoming one of the NFL’s best corners. With free-agent pickups Vontae Davis (retirement) and Phillip Gaines (released) gone, the Bills are starting another undrafted rookie from Alabama, Levi Wallace, opposite White.

5. Buffalo wins Sunday if…

…they avoid turnovers and force Patriots turnovers. It is football cliché, but it has held true for the Bills this season: they are 4-0 with a positive turnover margin, 1-1 with an even margin and 0-8 with a negative turnover margin. Allen is most promising when he doesn’t make reckless decisions, often on the run, with the football. Tom Brady made that sort of mistake last Sunday against the Steelers. It will be tough, but Allen most likely will need to look like the steadier hand to win.

Mike’s pick: Patriots 24, Bills 14 — The Bills are 2-5 on the road this season and probably lack the offensive firepower to match what Brady can accomplish on his home field. Even if the Bills don’t win on the scoreboard, it will be a victory for the team and its fans if Allen can be competitive on the road against a long-dominant division foe and provide hope that the two franchises are headed in opposite directions over the coming seasons.