The Buffalo Bills have registered a strong start this season under new head coach Joe Brady. They are 3-0, but there’s a lot to be talked about when it comes to that last win. Former head coach Sean McDermott added his two cents on where the Bills need to clean up.
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“Defensively, they’ve had some good moments, and they’ve had some moments I’m sure that they want back,” he said on the Rich Eisen Show. “… It just takes some time once in a while to get some things connected the way you want it to get connected, the way it needs to get connected. And then the communication between, you know, the back seven and the front, and the front and the back seven, that’s imperative that they get that, they continue to get that ironed out. I’m sure they will.”
Bills’ defense has had mixed performance so far. The Bills did a solid job against Detroit’s running game, limiting Jahmyr Gibbs to just 52 yards on 16 carries. The biggest gain he could add was 16 yards.
However, the Bills only won that game by a margin of 10 points and allowed 289 yards through the air. Against the Texans, the Bills defense gave up 31 points.
In three games, Buffalo has allowed 361.3 yards per game, the eighth-most in the league. They have also given up 78 points in total. Save for the Chargers game, the other two wins were close games for Buffalo.
“I think it’s inconsistent right now,” defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said after the Lions game. “We’re kind of a boom or bust defense, and that’s not okay long term. That’s not sustainable. When things have gone well in a drive, I think we’re pretty much either three-and-out or touchdown right now over two games. Obviously, that’s not a sustainable way to win and play good defense throughout the course of this season.”
However, the Bills’ defense had a much better game against the Chargers, after giving up 31 points in each of their first two games. In fact, it was the defense that helped Buffalo come out of the game with a win, as the offense faltered with five turnovers.
The defense needs time, but they are showing improvement.
“The more reps we get with each other, the more comfortable we get, the better we’ll be,” ILB Terrel Bernard said. “And you know, I feel like we did that [on Sunday]. We took a step forward. Obviously, there’s a lot to clean up, but I feel like we really took a step forward.”
As per PFF, the Buffalo Bills have found a strong pass-rushing duo in Deone Walker and Greg Rousseau. Through the first three games, they have combined for 36 pressures and eight sacks.
Plus, they might need some more time to adjust to Jim Leonhard’s defense, as he came in this year in January. The secondary also has new players, so it is understandable that this new unit is taking time to gel together. Buffalo allowed more offensive yards from the Chargers, but the latter failed to convert three of four red zone attempts.
Both Josh Allen and Joe Brady credited the defense for saving the day.
“Thank the Lord, thank our defense,” the quarterback told FOX Sports.
“I’m so proud of the defense… they kept us in the game,” Brady said. “… All ball game, their backs were against the wall, and they did a good job of handling it.”
There is improvement, but Buffalo needs to pick up the pace. The defense should have a better time against the New England Patriots, whose offense is not having a great time.
Now, with these major improvements, it will be interesting to see how they will hold up their game against the Patriots in Week 4.