NFL · 1 year ago

5 Things We Learned About the Buffalo Bills on Wild Card Weekend

Grant White

Host · Writer

Sean McDermott Knows How to Develop Linebackers
Buffalo has a seemingly neverending supply of talented linebackers, which we're learning is a reflection of Sean McDermott's philosophies. This past weekend, A.J. Klein stole the show, but we've seen a slew of players excel under McDermott's tutelage. Terrel Bernard was their best defensive player of the year, but Tyrel Dodson, Christian Benford, and Dorian Williams have all stepped up in times of need. There are too many overlaps this season and from the past few years to arrive at any other conclusion - McDermott is one of the best at developing and preparing linebackers.
Josh Allen Can Make Responsible Decisions
This season hasn't been a banner campaign for Josh Allen. The former first-round pick has thrown more interceptions than any other season, with the worst touchdown-to-interception ratio since his rookie campaign. Still, seeing that he can still make responsible decisions is a relief. For just the third time this season, Allen completed at least 70.0% of his throws without an interception against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Moreover, that was the third time in four outings that Allen had a completion percentage above 70.0%, the first such stretch since the first four weeks of the year. Allen and the Bills face the ultimate test on Sunday, and he'll have to maintain his current form if the Bills hope to move onto the AFC Championship Game.
Josh Allen's Best Asset is his Rushing Ability
It hasn't always looked glamorous, but the Bills have circumvented Allen's mistakes all season. Despite the increase in turnovers, Buffalo still claimed its fourth straight AFC East title. Offsetting some of those shortcomings has been Allen's ability to take off in the ground game, a standard he'll need to maintain throughout the playoffs. The Bills quarterback has seen an uptick in productivity over the past few weeks. Since Week 17, Allen has totaled 185 rushing yards, with 74 coming against the Steelers. Further, he's taken off 34 times over that stretch, easily his most productive stretch of the season. Although he's fallen short of previous career highs, Allen is finding his footing at the right time of year. If he can continue his upward trajectory, he could do enough to help the Bills escape the clutches of the defending Super Bowl Champions.
Stefon Diggs is Not at His Best
The Bills offense has taken a hit compared to last year's metrics. Buffalo's yards and points per game have fallen from 2022, representing a 20-yard dip in total offense and a one-point drop in scoring. That dip can virtually all be assigned to Stefon Diggs, who had one of his worst receiving years on record. Diggs' production imploded in 2023. The former All-Pro went from 89.3 receiving yards per game in 2022 to 69.6 this season, accounting for nearly all of the Bills' lost production. Of course, it's unfair to saddle the Bills' decreased efficiency all on Diggs. But as the season progresses, it's becoming abundantly clear that the Bills star is not at his best.
Dalton Kincaid Has Usurped Dawson Knox
We all knew it was just a matter of time before Dalton Kincaid usurped Dawson Knox on the Bills depth chart, but some people weren't expecting it to be this soon. Kincaid has emerged as the top pass-catching tight end for the Bills, leaving Knox in a primarily blocking role. Kincaid's ascent coincides with Knox's mid-season five-game absence. Over that stretch, the rookie saw an increase in target share while filling in for his predecessor. Since then, Knox has been targeted just ten times across six outings, playing fewer than 48.0% of the snaps in all but one of those contests. The future is now for Buffalo, as Kincaid cements himself as the tight end of the present and future.
Sean McDermott Knows How to Develop Linebackers
Buffalo has a seemingly neverending supply of talented linebackers, which we're learning is a reflection of Sean McDermott's philosophies. This past weekend, A.J. Klein stole the show, but we've seen a slew of players excel under McDermott's tutelage. Terrel Bernard was their best defensive player of the year, but Tyrel Dodson, Christian Benford, and Dorian Williams have all stepped up in times of need. There are too many overlaps this season and from the past few years to arrive at any other conclusion - McDermott is one of the best at developing and preparing linebackers.
Josh Allen Can Make Responsible Decisions
This season hasn't been a banner campaign for Josh Allen. The former first-round pick has thrown more interceptions than any other season, with the worst touchdown-to-interception ratio since his rookie campaign. Still, seeing that he can still make responsible decisions is a relief. For just the third time this season, Allen completed at least 70.0% of his throws without an interception against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Moreover, that was the third time in four outings that Allen had a completion percentage above 70.0%, the first such stretch since the first four weeks of the year. Allen and the Bills face the ultimate test on Sunday, and he'll have to maintain his current form if the Bills hope to move onto the AFC Championship Game.

5 Things We Learned About the Buffalo Bills on Wild Card Weekend

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