Washington Redskins vs. Buffalo Bills: 5 Keys to a Redskins Victory

The Redskins travel to Toronto this week to take on a resurgent Buffalo Bills team, desperately seeking a return to winning ways,

Mike Shanahan's team has lost three out of their last four games, changed their starting quarterback and recently lost two veteran skill players to long-term injury.

But a big rebound win over the 4-1 Bills is not beyond the Redskins, who still have enough talent on both sides of the ball to pose the surprise AFC East contenders some serious problems.

Here are five keys to a Washington victory.

5. Use the Play-Action Pass

With John Beck starting his second game of the season, many will naturally expect the Redskins to lean on the running game.

Kyle Shanahan should use this expectation against a gambling Bills front seven and incorporate lots of play-action passes into the game plan.

The Bills have been one of the league's worst defenses against the run during the past few years, and their eagerness to rectify the problem has led to the defense over-committing against the run several times this season.

A well-executed play-action game could yield some huge gains for the Redskins offense this Sunday.

4. Emphasise Slot Receivers in the Passing Game

When Buffalo faced the Philadelphia Eagles in week 5, Jason Avant terrorised the Bills secondary. Avant worked the slot all game long and found plenty of space in the underneath and intermediate zones.

The Redskins should adopt a similar tactic on Sunday and utilise the slot receiver. The injury to Santana Moss creates an opportunity for another Washington pass catcher to step up and become a valuable over-the-middle outlet for Beck.

Youngster Terrence Austin looked a good fit for the slot receiver role during the preseason, and could have a productive day against the Buffalo defense.

Another option might be to move Jabar Gaffney to slot receiver for this game. Gaffney is a precise route runner and has the smarts and speed to defeat the Bills' coverage schemes.

With Fred Davis always a threat down the seams and in deep areas, there should be plenty of room underneath for the Redskins to consistently move the ball.

3. Be Efficient and Protect the Ball

The one thing the Bills defense has done well so far this season is take the ball away from the opposition. The Bills lead the league in interceptions and the Redskins need to concentrate on protecting the ball better than they have done in their last two games.

Washington's offense surrendered the ball seven times in two defeats against the Eagles and the Carolina Panthers.

The offense must do a better job of protecting the defense. The Bills have enough weapons on offense to concern the Redskins defense, without being gifted favourable field position.

2. Get Consistent Pressure Up the Middle

The Redskins must prevent Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick from stepping up and take away his lane to throw.

The pressure should come up the middle. Nose tackle Barry Cofield must work hard to occupy two blockers, and Rocky McIntosh should be allowed to use his speed and athleticism to routinely blitz the A-gaps.

The Redskins could also shift their line over toward the strong side occasionally and isolate Stephen Bowen one-on-one with Buffalo center Eric Wood.

1. Spill Fred Jackson to the Outside

Bills running back Fred Jackson is a terrific between-the-tackles runner, but lacks the breakaway speed to attack the perimeter of a defense.

The Redskins should look to spill Jackson to the edges, where speedy trio Brian Orakpo, Ryan Kerrigan and LaRon Landry should be able to control him.

Landry's athleticism, tough tackling and instincts should serve him well in this game and the Redskins should design their run defense to position Landry as the force player on the outside.

The middle of Washington's defense will be particularly vulnerable if London Fletcher is not fully fit in time for Sunday's game, and the Redskins must do all they can to keep Jackson going sideways.

It will be a tough game in Toronto for the Redskins, but a road win over an emerging Bills team will send a clear message that the Redskins are back on track and still have what it takes to compete for a playoff spot.

Controlled aggression and sensible play calling on both sides of the ball offer the best route back to winning ways for the Redskins.