The Buffalo Bills, currently holding a 4-2 record, head into their bye week amidst concerns regarding their on-field performance. Other than their stellar record, it’s hard to find anything going positively for them, especially when evaluating penalties and defensive metrics. As they take a moment to regroup, Coach Sean McDermott emphasizes the need to reevaluate the team’s foundation and practices.
The Bills lead the league with 35 total penalties this season. This trend has the potential to greatly jeopardize their odds of success going into the future. Of these penalties, 30 have been finalized. This success makes them one of the most penalized teams in terms of accepted penalties over that time span. Beyond that, this issue points to a lack of discipline and execution on both sides of the ball.
Defensive Struggles
One of the most confusing parts overall for the Bills has been their defense. Their defensive line has been the biggest disappointment, as the team currently ranks last in the NFL for yards allowed per carry. They surrender an astounding 5.8 yards! Their ranking of 31st in opponent yards before contact, 3.2 yards, compounds this stat well. Furthermore, they’re giving up a whopping average of 2.6 yards after contact per rush. Such figures indicate a significant struggle in stopping the run, which could be detrimental as they face tougher opponents in the coming weeks.
The defensive line has seen some positive contributions, particularly from Deone Walker, who has emerged as a strong presence up front. Without regular help from the rest of the defensive unit, their best efforts could still be doomed to failure. Collectively, they must conspire to reverse the Bills’ defensive fortunes.
Offensive Concerns
On the offensive side, the play of quarterback Josh Allen has led to some alarming questions. He’s only thrown four picks on the year, but has taken 12 sacks. These figures point to gaps in both protective measures and judgment during high-stress scenarios. Any inconsistency in offensive execution will be magnified by the team’s capacity to convert on scoring opportunities.
Cook has emerged as a feature back, particularly since his four-year extension came through this offseason. He’s contributed well whenever he’s on the field (5.3 yards per touch), but his impact has been drastically reduced by lack of usage on high-leverage third downs. He’s produced just five touches on third downs through five weeks this season. With involvement on only 14.7% of those plays, it is further still given how the coaching staff appears primed to use his talents—better—in 2024.
“You start every year at ground zero and work your way back up to where you currently are.” – Sean McDermott
Coach McDermott’s reflections during the flight home from Atlanta indicate a proactive approach to addressing these challenges. In doing so, he prompted his coordinators to cover compelling topics. They’ll have to work on these as they look forward to their rematch next.
Looking Ahead
As the Bills head into their bye week, they find themselves at a pivotal crossroads in their season. Prior to this bye week, under Coach McDermott’s tenure, the team had never gone into a bye week with a win. This year, they have a special challenge in the form of two consecutive defeats. General Manager Brandon Beane is expected to consider potential moves to strengthen the roster as they head into the latter part of the season.
That’s disgraceful when it’s 50 penalties for the Bills this season altogether. This figure starkly illustrates the immediate need for them to sharpen their focus and get their act together. Fewer than fifteen penalties in their first three games, which was third-fewest over that span. What was obvious in recent contests was a serious uptick in cheap, undisciplined behavior.
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