As he steps onto the Highmark Stadium field on Sunday as the New England Patriots punter, Mitch Wishnowsky will have one thing on his mind: revenge.
After spending last season with the Buffalo Bills, including 13 regular-season games, Wishnowsky was cut by the team on August 29th for rookie punter Tommy Doman Jr. You can bet Wishnowsky has a little extra motivation heading into Orchard Park to out-punt his replacement and put on a clinic in front of his former home crowd.
Wishnowsky’s Buffalo Perspective
Having spent months with special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers, Wishnowsky has an understanding of Buffalo’s special teams scheme and brings an invaluable scouting report on the Bills. He can be a valuable asset for Patriots special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer, giving him a first-hand understanding of how Rodgers likes to set up his punt return unit.
Flipping Field Position for Josh Allen
New England’s best defense against the Bills’ explosive offense is forcing Josh Allen to lead his team 80-90 yards downfield.
While New England has a sixth-ranked scoring defense, that has also allowed the second-fewest passing yards per game; giving Josh Allen a short field is a recipe for another disaster. If Wishnowsky can consistently pin Buffalo deep in their own territory, it will change the offense’s play-calling approach.
Forced to work the entire field, the Bills will be inclined to lean on early-down running plays to stay out of third-and-long scenarios. This will allow Zak Kuhr’s defense to crowd the box and force Buffalo into grinding drives.
Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills will be won in the margins. While all eyes will be on how New England’s defense fares against Josh Allen and his explosive playmakers, Mitch Wishnowsky’s ability to dictate where the Bills begin their drives is a tremendous asset for the Patriots. If he can force them into long, grinding drives against the Patriots’ secondary, it will go a long way in the Patriots getting back in the win column.
