The Buffalo Bills continue their 2026 NFL season with a matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders on the road at 4:25 p.m. at Allegiant Stadium. The Bills defense will play its part, for better or worse.
While game plans, coaching, and strategy will play a role, sometimes a big emphasis will sit with some individual players. In terms of the Bills defense, who could those be?
Here are Bills Wire's three potential X-factors on the Bills (4-1) defense against the Rams (2-3) in Week 6:
LB Terrel Bernard
Bernard has had a poor season. Pro football Focus grades him as the 54th best linebacker in the entire NFL heading into Week 6 out of 72 qualifying players. He usually leads the way in pass coverage from the position, meaning he will have a say in regard to Raiders tight
end Brock Bowers.
Bowers is on fire. In his three games this year, he has two over 100 yards and the other was 86. Not to mention, double-digit catches in each of those outings.
S CJ Gardner-Johnson
Like Bernard, Gardner-Johnson will likely have a save against Bowers. In addition, Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins has four interceptions in five games this season. This could be an opportunity for Gardner-Johnson to grab another takeaway as well.
DT Deone Walker
Walker has been a consistent force in the middle of the Bills' defensive line. The Raiders' offensive line has not had the best of seasons.
In the middle, Las Vegas has two guards in Jackson Powers-Johnson and Spencer Burford who rank among PFF's worst players at their position in the NFL. This could be the game the stat line goes to Walker instead of Greg Rousseau.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 3 potential X-factors on the Bills defense vs. Raiders in Week 6
