Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Bills, Hyde Ready For 'Big Challenge' vs. Raiders

Originally posted on FanNation Bills Central
By Nathaniel Marrero | Last updated 9/15/23

With a short week to prepare for Week 2, the Buffalo Bills don't have much time to lick their wounds after opening the season with a 22-16 loss in overtime to the New York Jets.

The Bills have a stiff test coming to Buffalo in the Las Vegas Raiders. Las Vegas began its season with a 17-16 win on the road against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 10.

Buffalo's defense will have the tall task of stopping Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, who led the league with 1,653 rushing yards in 2022. That smashmouth-style offense from Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels, along with their weapons on the outside led by Davante Adams, is one Bills safety Micah Hyde said will push the defense.

Hyde has familiarity playing against McDaniels from facing him twice a year from 2017-2021 when he was the New England Patriots' offensive coordinator.

"That's the type of ball that McDaniels likes to play," Hyde said. "We've got to be ready for it. Great running back and weapons on the outside with Davante Adams and [Jakobi] Meyers whether he's going to play or not. They've got some weapons and a good team so they're going to come in and test us. It's going to be a big challenge for us."

Meyers suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter of the Raiders' win over Denver. He remains in concussion protocol, and his status for Sunday is unknown.

If the Bills' defense is going to put together another strong performance, they'll have to improve against the run. The Jets ran for 172 yards on 28 carries, with second-year running back Breece Hall leading the way. Hall had 10 carries for 127 yards.

While Jacobs struggled against the Broncos with 19 carries for 48 yards, he'll have a chance to capitalize on Buffalo's shoddy run defense if they don't get things in order.

"Physicality at the point of attack is important for us," coach Sean McDermott said. "Use of our hands to get off blocks and defeat blocks and then tackling overall, I think that's going to be important as we continue to move throughout the season here."

The Bills will look for their first win of the season when they host Las Vegas at 1 p.m. ET at Highmark Stadium on Sunday.

This article first appeared on FanNation Bills Central and was syndicated with permission.

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