3 New England Patriots defenders on high alert vs Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Christian Barmore, New England Patriots interior defense vs Bills running game
The Buffalo Bills aren’t highly touted for their run game, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have the capability of controlling this game on the ground if the New England Patriots defensive line gets bullied like they were a week ago against the Tennessee Titans.
In giving up over 250 yards on the ground to no-name running backs, the Patriots’ run defense was pretty much exposed. Hopefully, that was just a one-game mirage because the Bills will try to exploit that, which could make for an important game for rookie defensive lineman Christian Barmore.
Related Story. Christian Barmore is the key to the Pats defense. light
Along with veterans Lawrence Guy and Davon Goddchaux, the Alabama product must establish their physicality early in the game. They can’t allow the Bills’ offensive line to win the line of scrimmage and allow Bills running backs Devin Singletary and Matt Breida to run wild. If that happens, it will make the Bills’ offense just that more dynamic and tougher to defend, which is obvious.
Why Barmore is important along that defensive line is because he does demand a lot of attention. If he is not double or even tripled teamed, he can be disruptive, which is why his presence can allow the linebackers to fill those gaps and make plays against the run.
As far as the pass rush goes, it’s a given Matt Judon will be in Allen’s eye view off the edge, but Barmore bull rushing the pocket up the middle could get the Bills’ QB scrambling around early and hopefully into the arms of players like Judon and Kyle Van Noy.
With that, Christian Barmore will be a defensive x-factor in this Monday Night showdown.