NFL
By: Randall Slifer
The New Orleans Saints are heading to Buffalo as the Bills are attempting to start 4-0 for the first time since 2020. Everyone is calling our schedule easy, and it’s a walk in the park; some of it can be true. Let’s be honest, we had the top victory in defeating the Baltimore Ravens in week one, and after that, the opponents have not been the greatest, having a record of 1-8 before this week kicks off.
It has been a luxury, as Buffalo has a battered and suspended defensive line, and a first-round corner who is taking longer to rehab than expected. Ed Oliver should be on his way back in week 5, and Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi come back from their suspensions after Buffalo’s week seven bye week.
Max Hairston just started doing workouts on the sidelines after suffering an LCL sprain at the end of July. The timetable seems a little confusing, as there were discussions about Max not going on IR, and now there is a chance he may not be 100% healthy once his four-week injury reserve stint is up. Regardless, Buffalo should not rush Max Hairston into play until he is 100% healthy, given that he is a first-round pick whom Brandon Beane heavily invested his time in during the draft.
The Saints are 0-3, and I don’t know how badly they need a win. The Saints have been in cap hell for what seems to be a decade, but it is coming to an end soon. In 2026, they will only be -24 million in cap space, and in 2027, they will be free and have more cap space to work with than they have ever had.
If I were the Saints, and I know this is not allowed, but I would be gunning for the number 1 seed. Get yourself a franchise quarterback that you can begin to build around, and who will have no pressure on him in the first couple of years as he learns the NFL.
I am saying all of this because the Saints will need a lot to win this game in Buffalo. The Saints took a loss to Mac Jones and the San Francisco 49ers, and then got dismantled by the Seahawks, allowing 38 points in the first half.
Buffalo’s offense will be the best they have faced, and the defense should be able to handle their offense and Spencer Rattler. Let’s take a look at some things I would like to see in this game:
More play action from the offense
Joe Brady is a dynamic play caller, and he gets a very good rhythm going every game. One thing that Joe Brady does not use as much as the rest of the league is play-action passing.
Josh Allen and the Buffalo offense have used play action passing on 25% of his drop-backs, with 20% of his yards thrown with two out of his five touchdowns on play action passing. Play-action passing under center is becoming increasingly popular, effectively marrying the run and pass, much like Joe Brady prefers to do.
Joe Brady has done a good job of mixing up personnel looks and evolving plays to make it more confusing for defenses. More play-action passing will add another wrinkle to the tape that other teams need to watch, making it much more difficult, especially at the end of the year or in the playoffs, to predict what each play call will be.
Get Landon Jackson a jersey for this game.
Sean McDermott was on the podium last week talking about Landon Jackson almost getting a jersey for the Miami Dolphins. He stated that he wanted to get all these rookies a jersey to see what they look like in an NFL game.
For a lot of fans, Landon Jackson has been a disappointment, not being able to see the field yet. Many third-rounders have not played a single snap yet, so Buffalo fans should hold off until Landon gets his shot.
If you saw Landon in college, it was clear he needed a lot more to develop. His pass rush was limited, and his pad level was inconsistent. His athleticism and the ability to produce in the SEC were what made Landon most intriguing.
Javon Solomon has been starting over Landon Jackson, rightfully so, entering his second year in the NFL. He has not done well this year, only producing three pressures and one quarterback hit in the three games he has played.
The Saints are a perfect opportunity to switch the jerseys and give Landon Jackson a shot to show what he has in his rookie season. There will be minimal damage swapping out the edge rushers for the Saints, and he can contribute well in defending the run. If McDermott was true to his word, this game makes the most sense for Landon to get his first start.
Give Ray Davis more touches.
Ray Davis has had a confusing start to his sophomore season. Ray Davis had such a good rookie season that most of the Bills Mafia did not want to pay James Cook, as they thought Ray could take over as the lead running back. I was not one of those Bills Mafia, but I was very excited to see him contribute as a Detroit Lions “Sonic and Knuckles” combo with James Cook.
Ray Davis has only gotten ten rushing attempts and 26 yards in the first three games. Coming out of college, Ray Davis was listed at 5’8 and 215 pounds. There are talks about Ray losing some weight to become quicker and more elusive in the NFL.
Ray Davis’ running style is best known for that of a bruiser who does not go down on the first or second point of contact. He has good vision, and when he sees the gap to run through, he is either off to the races or carrying a guy an extra couple of yards to make it 2nd or 3rd and short.
James Cook should still lead the game in rushes come Sunday, but Ray Davis needs his touches to get acclimated to his sophomore season. He hasn’t gotten a chance to settle in, where his most rushes in one game were nine in a blowout win against the New York Jets. Ray Davis is pivotal to the playoffs, as Buffalo has one of the most dynamic rushing games with three very good running backs, and of course, Josh Allen.
Buffalo plays the New Orleans Saints at 1:00 EST in Buffalo on Sunday. Vegas has made Buffalo the highest point spread for the second week in a row, with Buffalo favored at -12.5 points. The total is 48.5, which is another case of Buffalo scoring high while the opponent scores low. Buffalo can cover the spread and the total, where everyone watched the first half of the Seattle game. After this game, Buffalo needs to get everyone healthy and ready, as the schedule will only become more difficult as time progresses. As always, Go Bills.
