NFL Analysis
10/27/24
5 min read
Buffalo Bills Look Like AFC's Best Team Through NFL Week 8
The AFC may feature several legitimate contenders this year, but the Buffalo Bills are starting to look like the best team in the conference.
Buffalo came away with a convincing 31-10 win against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, improving to 6-2 on the year. Despite the rain and wet conditions, the Bills racked up 445 yards and 6.4 yards per play while dominating time of possession, holding onto the ball for more than 38 minutes of game time.
According to FTN Fantasy, the Bills were the fifth-best team in the NFL by DVOA heading into Sunday. That ranking is likely to climb after another dominant win on Sunday against a playoff-caliber team in the Seahawks.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens looked mortal on Sunday, but the Bills are coming together to look like the team to beat in the AFC.
A Balanced Offensive Attack
Josh Allen threw his first interception of the year on Sunday, but that didn't stop the Bills from continuing to have one of the most well-balanced offenses in the league.
Even with the turnover, Allen posted a 102.9 passer rating in the win, throwing for 283 yards and two touchdowns with 8.3 yards per attempt. RBSDM credited Allen with 16.9 total EPA, including an outstanding 0.37 EPA per play.
Buffalo's superstar quarterback is having such a dominant season that Sunday's performance will actually drop his passer rating, which was 108.4 before the win against Seattle.
Allen's success as a passer has taken the pressure off of him as a runner. He's pacing for one of the lowest rushing totals of his career, but that hasn't prevented him from coming away with all kinds of highlight-worthy plays when scrambling, like this touchdown pass to Dalton Kincaid.
Dalton Kincaid runs in the 14th TE touchdown of the day to extend the @BuffaloBills lead! 🤩#NationalTightEndsDay
— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
📺: #BUFvsSEA on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/b2Xut8wJZR
Amari Cooper was held in check, recording just one catch for three yards. However, as discussed at the time of the trade, his arrival has opened up the way for Buffalo's other pass-catching options.
Khalil Shakir had his best game of the season, catching 9-of-10 targets for 107 yards. Meanwhile, rookie Keon Coleman has had his two best games since Cooper arrived, catching nine passes for 195 yards and a touchdown in that span. His touchdown came on this impressive contested catch at the goal line.
This is why you drafted Keon Coleman over Xavier Worthy pic.twitter.com/TxOCixPyAe
— 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝘿𝙚𝙇𝙖𝙪𝙨 (@TheThomasDeLaus) October 27, 2024
All of the weapons in the passing game, including an MVP-caliber quarterback, are great. However, the Bills refuse to be a one-dimensional offense and continue to run the ball with success.
Cook had easily his best game of the season, running just 17 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns. It was the first time in his career he's had more than 100 rushing yards and two scores in the same game.
Backup running backs Ray Davis and Ty Johnson have also been efficient on limited touches throughout the year. It's a big reason why the Bills came into Week 8 with the seventh-best running offense by DVOA.
Sunday was one of the best performances from Buffalo's offense all season, and it showed just how dangerous their unit can be when they can stay balanced with running and passing the ball.
An Emerging Defense
The Bills lost significant contributors on defense in Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, and Tre'Davious White this offseason. That hasn't seemed to be much of an issue with the way the defense is playing right now.
Heading into Week 8, the Bills had a top-10 defense by DVOA. That has been boosted by a strong run defense, which stepped up again by holding the Seahawks to just 1.9 yards per rushing attempt despite having one of the most exciting running backs in football in Kenneth Walker III.
Meanwhile, Greg Rousseau has turned into one of the best pass rushers in the league. He has just 3.5 sacks this season but has the fifth-most pressures in the league with 38, according to Pro Football Focus. His game the previous week against the Tennessee Titans showed just how disruptive he can be to an offense.
Greg Rousseau was so close, so many times. He finished with 11 pressures, 1 sack, four hits, and six hurries.
— Jon Helmkamp (@JonHelmkamp) October 21, 2024
It feels like he should have finished with 3-4 sacks. #Bills pic.twitter.com/KWwmhxRy6N
The pass rush should soon receive reinforcements in the form of Von Miller, who will return this week from a four-game suspension. Ed Oliver and A.J. Epenesa also bring pass-rushing juice, making it difficult for opponents to handle who is coming from where when dropping back to pass.
Being able to stop the run and pressure the quarterback is helping the Bills find a defensive identity. They struggled at times against the Ravens and Texans earlier this season but could be regaining their confidence after a shutdown performance like this one.
