Sean Payton Reveals Broncos' Key to Beating Bills

If the Denver Broncos are going to extend their winning streak to three games, it will take error-free football. The margin for error is non-existent against a quality AFC opponent like the Buffalo Bills, especially on the road.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton seems to recognize that. When asked what the keys are to beating the Bills on Monday Night Football, Payton immediately honed in on protecting the ball.

“I think ball security," Payton said on Saturday. "This is a team—if you look statistically speaking—they cause more fumbles than pretty much anyone in the league. I think they are second. It’s being coached well."

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The Bills are currently ranked No. 6 in the NFL with 14 takeaways. The Broncos, meanwhile, have given the ball away 12 times.

With four interceptions this season, Russell Wilson has done well to protect the ball relative to his accuracy and decision-making. However, he's fumbled the ball five times, mostly due to holding onto it too long or trying to make a play that isn't there.

The fumbles that Wilson has lost have been costly — far more so than his four picks. The path to getting Wilson to loosen up on the ball is pressure. But it goes hand in hand with coverage because this season, if the first read isn't there for him, he burps the baby way too long, which allows pass rushers to get to him, causing fumbles.

Ah, the symbiosis of football: coverage + pass rush = takeaways = victories. It's a beautiful thing. But it can be painful and ugly when your team is on the losing end of a symbiotic opponent.

We've seen Payton being critical of Wilson after such a turnover. Fans want to scream, "Throw it away! Live to fight another down!" Much like Wilson's coach, in all likelihood.

One of the hallmarks of a quality NFL team is turnover differential. And specifically, how a team capitalizes on takeaways.

Buffalo's ranking in turnover differential isn't as high as it's been in years past, mostly due to quarterback Josh Allen throwing nine interceptions through nine games, but the team sits at zero on the season, which ranks No. 13 in the NFL.

However, thanks to a predatory defense, the Bills are one of the NFL's best when it comes to winning the turnover battle, as Payton emphasized on Saturday.

"Two turnovers—I think [Bill’s Head Coach] Sean [McDermott] and Josh [Allen] are 33-1 when they win the turnover battle," Payton said. "There are certain things that you can have your best plan and effort and everything else, but that is the trump card that can keep you from winning.”

Wilson hasn't thrown a pick in either of Denver's past two games, though he did lose a fumble in Week 8. It's no coincidence that the Broncos won both contests, especially as the defense has become predatory in its own right.

If the Broncos are going to overcome a 7.5-point spread in Upstate New York, Wilson will have to be stubborn with the ball. And the Broncos will have to figure out how to bait Allen into a turnover or two.

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