"I provided keys to victory -- one offensive and one defensive -- for all four underdogs in the divisional round. That includes three road teams in the Bills, 49ers and Texans, along with the Bears, who have a tough matchup in Chicago against the Rams. These winning blueprints focus on personnel matchups, scheme advantages, coaching tendencies and what we see on the game tape."
"The Broncos played man coverage (Cover 1, two-man, zero-man) on a league-high 60.8% of opponent dropbacks this season. And Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph will bring man pressure, as the Broncos' blitz rate of 31.3% was the seventh highest in 2025. So, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady must dial up his man-coverage beaters, while getting the ball out of quarterback Josh Allen's hands at an accelerated rate."
Four underdogs — the Bills, 49ers, Texans and Bears — have specific offensive and defensive keys to win in the divisional round. The Bills must attack Denver's heavy man coverage (60.8% of opponent dropbacks) by dialing up man-coverage beaters and getting the ball out of Josh Allen's hands quickly against a 31.3% blitz rate. Buffalo's defense plays heavy two-high coverage (52.9%) with late safety movement and disciplined zone rotations. Winning blueprints emphasize personnel matchups, scheme advantages, coaching tendencies, and identification of an X-factor player for each upset opportunity. FPI and DraftKings odds are noted for each matchup.
Read at ESPN.com
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