Vikings vs. Bills: Breaking Down Buffalo's Game Plan

The Buffalo Bills need to protect their home turf. After losing to the New England Patriots in Week 6, the Bills return to Ralph Wilson Stadium for a Week 7 matchup against the 2-4 Minnesota Vikings. The Bills enter the game 3-3, but they've won just one game at home. 

Head coach Doug Marrone knows how important it is to take care of business at home. During a press conference, he addressed his thoughts on getting it done in the home games.

"It’s an advantage for us when we play at home," Marrone said. "It’s important to win your games at home, especially in this league, because it’s twice as hard to go on the road and win. There’s no doubt about it. We understand that as a team."

This is a good opportunity for the Bills to notch one in the win column with a struggling Vikings team coming in that is starting a rookie quarterback. But the Bills can't sleepwalk through the game; they still need to come out and execute better than they did against New England if they want to win. Let's take a look at how the Bills should attack the Vikings this week.

Let Hughesamania Run Wild

The Bills' defensive identity is to create pressure on the opposing quarterback with their front four. They weren't able to do much of that against the Patriots as they only got to Tom Brady twice.

But against the Vikings, the Bills have a good chance to get after Teddy Bridgewater. Jerry Hughes (newly nicknamed "Hughesamania," how great is that?) has to be licking his chops this week as he is set to face off with Vikings left tackle Matt Kalil.

Kalil has been struggling this season, to say the least. So far this season, Kalil is ranked as the league's worst offensive tackle by Pro Football Focus. He's down at the bottom of the list with Bills rookie Seantrel Henderson.

If Hughes can abuse Kalil like the tackle has been thus far, it can disrupt Bridgewater and force him into some bad throws. And the Bills don't even need to use any exotic formations to confuse Kalil. He has been getting consistently worked in one-on-one situations.

The Bills will need more than just Hughes to get pressure on Bridgewater. But if Hughes gets off to a fast start and it forces the Vikings to give him more attention, it can open things up for the rest of the defensive line to go to work.

Keep Scott Chandler Involved

Tight end Scott Chandler had his best game of the season against New England, snagging six balls for 105 yards. Not only was Chandler making catches, but he was making important catches. 

With the Bills' run game (or the offensive line) struggling, they will probably pass a little more until things get straightened out. Chandler is tough to cover over the middle, and if he gets matched up on a linebacker, forget it. He was even named the X-factor for the Bills by Mike Wobschall of Vikings.com.

As Wobschall points out, Kyle Orton has targeted Chandler more in two games (15 times) than EJ Manuel did in the first four contests (13). Chandler has shown a knack for making catches that keep drives alive, which can help turn field goals into touchdowns.

Also, if Chandler is causing trouble over the middle, it opens things up for Sammy Watkins and the rest of the receiving crew on the outside. 

Speaking of Watkins, the Bills also need to get him more targets. Whether it be with bubble screens or sweeps, the Bills have to get the young receiver the ball in space where he is at his best. Chris Trapasso of NFL.com thinks the Bills are going to start making Watkins more of an offensive focal point.

If the Bills can have success early through the air, it can help the run game. The Vikings will have to use more sub-packages to keep up with the Bills receivers, which should keep players away from the line of scrimmage and give the running backs more space to operate.