Washington Football Team: 3 key matchups to watch vs Bills
By Jerry Trotta
The Washington Football Team will face their toughest test of the young season when they lock horns against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Like Washington, Buffalo has been the definition of inconsistent to start the year in Week 1. After losing 23-16 at home to an anemic Steelers offense, they went down to Miami and embarrassed the Dolphins to the tune of a 35-0 shutout.
That performance reminded everyone that the Bills are nothing to be trifled with. When healthy, this is one of the best teams in the NFL and they deserve to be pegged as the favorites to supplant the Chiefs in the loaded AFC.
Long story short, the Football Team will have their work cut out for them. Buffalo is in debt to their fans for the dud they turned in vs Pittsburgh.
If Washington is to stand any chance at toppling the Bills, these key matchups will need to be won by the fellas in the Burgundy and Gold.
3 matchups to watch in Washington vs Buffalo
3. Chase Young vs Dion Dawkins
We highlighted Chase Young as a player that needs to rebound from Week 2, and for good reason. In a game where Montez Sweat and Jonathan Allen terrorized the Giants’ offensive line, Young was largely invisible save a few flash plays.
However, Young’s struggles date back to Week 1, when Chargers rookie left tackle Rashawn Slater gave him the BUSINESS on the edge. Seriously, go look at the highlights. We only found one, but it really encapsulated Slater’s dominance.
I wonder if Rashawn Slater has given Chase Young permission to move from the spot he planted him in yet. pic.twitter.com/86Y6qFli4E
— Andrew Cunneen (@Cunneen92) September 13, 2021
In Young’s defense, Slater is already one of the finest young tackles in the league. However, fans should expect better from the former No. 2 overall pick. Young was drafted to put pressure on QBs, regardless of the opposition.
The task won’t get any easier for Young in Week 3, as he’ll largely be lined up against Bills left tackle Dion Dawns, who, despite the lack of accolades (zero Pro Bowl nods), is as consistent as they come protecting his QBs blindside.
Young simply has to get the better of this matchup. While Sweat and Allen are capable of dominating without him, last week’s win proved that the defense as a whole performs better when Young is on his game.
We’ll be watching Young vs Dawkins with a keen eye.