The Bills are back on the road for a Week 10 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. The last time Buffalo faced the Colts in Indianapolis was in 2018. This week's game will be played at 1 pm and the game will air on CBS.
Here are five things to know ahead of Sunday's game.
🔥1. Off to another 7-2 start
Buffalo is off to another 7-2 start. It's the second time in the Sean McDermott and Josh Allen era the team has started with a 7-2 or better record (2020). Buffalo has done so 10 times in franchise history.
The last six times the Bills have started 7-2 or better, Buffalo has made it to the AFC Championship game (2020, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1988).
After last week's victory over Miami, the Bills now have a four-game lead in the AFC East. The Jets are in second place with a 3-6 record (1-2 in the division). Buffalo's lead is the biggest gap between every division's first and second place teams entering Week 10.
Buffalo is now 24-5 against the AFC East since 2020 (including playoffs) – the best record in the NFL against a team's respective division.
The Bills are going for their fifth straight win on Sunday. The last time Buffalo collected five in a row was in 2023 when the Bills went undefeated after their Week 13 bye.
🐎2. Facing a new-look Colts
Colts head coach Shane Steichen announced on Monday that quarterback Joe Flacco will start against the Bills.
Flacco started in his third game as a Colt in last week's game against the Vikings. Indianapolis lost the game 21-13. Flacco went 16 of 27 (59%) for 179 passing yards, throwing one interception and finishing with a 63.7 passer rating.
ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky thinks there's a big difference between an offense run by Anthony Richardson versus Flacco.
"That's the challenge for Buffalo this week is really honing in on what offense you're going to get because there's two depending on the quarterback," Orlovsky told One Bills Live. "So having to prepare for both, decipher both is a big deal."
With Flacco at the helm, the Colts are more aggressive according to Orlovsky.
"Joe is going to throw the ball into parties," Orlovsky said. "Joe's wildly aggressive, wildly confident, and he's capable of it."
One receiver Orlovsky thinks the Bills need to prepare to shut down is Josh Downs. In last week's game, Downs led Colts receivers with 60 yards. The WR is second on the team with 411 receiving yards and has averaged 84.5 receiving yards per game in the last two weeks.
"The number one person you have to stop is Josh Downs," Orlovsky said "…He's tremendously electric. He's a phenomenal route runner. He's got a great feel. They're going to have to be really disciplined of knowing where he is at all times."
In his three starts, Flacco has one win this season. It came in Week 6 against the Titans (20-17) where Flacco was 22 of 38 for 189 passing yards, throwing for two touchdowns and one interception.
🕳3. Filling a void on the defensive line
The Bills are without another key piece on defense for the foreseeable future. Head coach Sean McDermott announced on Monday that defensive end Dawuane Smoot will miss multiple games with a wrist injury.
"He's going to get surgery sometime this week and he'll be placed on IR," McDermott shared.
In seven games, Smoot recorded 12 tackles, three tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, one and a half sacks and one forced fumble.
"He loves the physical side of the game, and he brings a demeanor that you like on your defense," defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said of Smoot. "(He's) kind of a tone setter, if you will. And, it's been crucial."
Without Smoot in the lineup for at least four games, Buffalo will look to see who takes advantage of the opportunity.
"We have a little bit of time here before we play on Sunday to kind of carve out what that might be," Babich said. "And it could be week in and week out, it could be a different plan each week on how we want to attack that. We'll see how it goes."
Edge rushers Casey Toohill and Javon Solomon could be two options for Buffalo when it comes to helping fill the void going forward.
Smoot is now the second defensive lineman that's been placed on Injured Reserve recently as defensive tackle DeWayne Carter was placed on IR on October 26. Sunday marks Carter's second game on IR.
🏃4. Slowing Jonathan Taylor
Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has the ability to present problems for opposing defenses. Taylor is a versatile back who's hard to take down. The RB is currently averaging 83.7 rushing yards per game, which is the sixth most in the league.
"Taylor, he's a great back," defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said. "…he's a problem."
The last time Buffalo faced the Colts, Taylor had a day. The RB accumulated 185 rushing yards and five total touchdowns when the two faced each other in 2021.
The Bills are allowing an average of 123.4 rushing yards per game (15th) this season. Against the Dolphins last week, Buffalo allowed 149 rushing yards.
Babich said the performance comes down to fundamentals and there's a lot they can learn from the Miami tape.
"It's not just good enough to be in your gap," Babich said. "You've got to be able to shed a block, use your block to block, use destruction techniques and those type of things. So, there's a lot of things we can emphasize, which will be really good for us going into this week."
Last week against the Vikings, Taylor was held to just 48 rushing yards and had no touchdowns.
On Tuesday November 5th, 2024 the Toyota Rookie Club visited Como Park Elementary School in Lancaster. The Buffalo Bills rookies helped students cast their ballots as the school voted for either a Relaxation Day or a Yes Day where teachers would say "yes" to almost any activity such as watching a movie or drawing during class!
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
Buffalo Bills Rookie Club, November 05, 2024 at Como Park Elementary School.
🕐5. Last 1:00 PM game until Dec 22
Get ready to kiss 1:00 PM games goodbye. Sunday will be Buffalo's last 1:00 PM game until Week 16 when the Bills host the Patriots on December 22.
The Bills have a stretch of four games coming up where they play outside of the 1:00 PM window. Three of those four will be in the 4:00 PM window - Weeks 11, 14 and 15. The Bills also have their final primetime game of the regular season coming up in Week 13 when they host the San Francisco 49ers.
