Gameday: Patriots need throwback Bill Belichick to defeat Josh Allen

It’s going to take a good Mac Jones, a disciplined defensive effort, strong special teams play and vintage Bill Belichick for the New England Patriots to solve Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.

In this Thursday night showdown, Belichick and the Patriots are in a must-win situation against at team they haven’t forced to punt the last two games they met.  That is unheard of when it comes to a Belichick coached team.  Is Allen and the Bills offense just that good?

Is it an issue of the Patriots’ defense not having the talent to maintain a multi-faceted quarterback like Allen?

It probably is a combination of both, but the mastermind of Belichick has figured out high-powered offenses in the past.  With Allen getting the best of him the last two matchups, the ball is back in Belichick’s court to deliver a counter punch, or at the very least slow down the Allen to Stefon Diggs connection that has been unstoppable.

Patriots chances of beating Josh Allen, Bills lay with Bill Belichick

So, forget Matt Patricia’s offensive play calling, forget Steve Belichick and Jerod Mayo calling the signals on defense, this AFC East battle is all about Belichick, the throwback version of Bill Belichick.  The coach who finds ways to take away the other team’s most dangerous weapon.  In this case it is Allen who now fully has the Patriots coach’s full attention.

"“Yeah, he’s very dangerous out of the pocket, he’s dangerous in the pocket,” Belichick said this week, via Patriots.com. “So just team defense. Playing with our leverage, using our teammates help, them being where they need to be, being aggressive. He’s a hard guy to get and you can’t just stand there and watch him throw because he’ll throw it pretty good, too. So it’ll be a challenge for us.”"

To beat a Bills team that is the Super Bowl favorite will be more of a coach’s effort.  Yes, the players will have to execute but on both sides of the ball they need to call the plays that will put their players in the best position to be effective.

Offensively, the offensive line will need to hold up like they did against the Minnesota Vikings…well most of that game.  Mac Jones must be efficient and take his shots when they are there.  He also must once again play clean football where he doesn’t turn the ball over.  They simply must score points and they also must get Rhamondre Stevenson going early and often to help keep the ball out of Allen’s hands.

Defensively, the Patriots must keep Josh Allen in the pocket.  That is easier said than done, but if he is in the pocket, the more he is prone to making a mistake.  This may be a game where the safeties and smaller linebackers like Mack Wilson become the key to the game.

The speed of those players can play a role in limiting some of those quick passing plays that killed the Patriots in the AFC Wildcard game.  Mixed in with Allen’s design runs, the Patriots defense was exposed and uncharacteristically Belichick had no answers.

Will he have an answer this time?  There is a good bet he will.  Whether it is effective or not will depend on the players.  But where throwback Bill Belichick comes in, is the ability to adjust as the game goes on.  The last two matchups he couldn’t make those adjustments.  Now, he has to answer the call if this New England Patriots team is going to have any chance of making the playoffs this season.

It’s all on Belichick Thursday night.  It’s game day.