Eagles vs. Bills: 3 2nd-Half Keys to Victory for Buffalo

The game story pretty much wrote itself in the first half: Michael Vick threw three picks, and consequently, the Bills hold a two-touchdown lead heading into the locker room.

What can the Bills do to hold off what promises to be a fierce Eagles' rally? Read on:

Pressure on Vick 

The Bills' faithful had to be a little worried coming into this game.  Despite having success against the likes of Tom Brady, George Edwards' defense faced a different sort of challenge in Michael Vick.  Had Buffalo given Philly a chance to get things going on the ground early, Vick would have had a field day throwing the ball.

So far, that has not been the case.  Three Michael Vick interceptions later, the Bills are sitting pretty. However, as the denizens of Buffalo learned last week, they cannot rest on their laurels.  Continue to rush Vick, hit him and force passes under pressure.  Even a competitor as fierce as Vick gets rattled.  

Continue to Pound It 

The Bills have been running the offense primarily through Fred Jackson, sticking it to Philadelphia's banged-up defensive line with hard runs up the middle and around the edge.  Jackson ran the ball effectively enough to open up the pass, and then punished the Eagles' D in the open field on a 50-yard screen pass.  

Fitzpatrick has looked a little shaky coming off a devastating loss.  He'll need to lean on Freddie Jax a little more to bring this one home for Buffalo and avoid another collapse.  

3rd-Down Defense 

Michael Vick punishes defenses most when he does the unexpected.  So many times in his career has he converted 3rd-and-impossibles, which snowball quickly into points and momentum for his team.

As I already said, the pressure needs to come.  Buffalo can't rest assured they can stop Vick by hanging eight back.  Aggressive play has been responsible for turnovers, and the same principle holds in all situations.