The Buffalo Bills are pretty much as good as everybody anticipated. That is no shock. What we could not have anticipated? Their protection has typically been higher than their offense, even with out their greatest star, Von Miller. That is not a knock on the offense. Buffalo has been one of many NFL’s greatest and most well-rounded defenses.
The Payments proved that towards the New York Jets on Sunday in a 20-12 win.
In a mixture of rain and snow, the Payments protection beat up Jets quarterback Mike White, and although Buffalo struggled to defend working again Zonovan Knight (17 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD), the Payments discovered tips on how to win ugly — and with bodily soccer.
As robust as White was to play by an upper-body harm, he clearly wasn’t wholesome sufficient to play his greatest. And if the Jets have been going to have an opportunity, White must be at his greatest. That was solely certainly one of many robust breaks for the Jets on the quarterback place. As a result of when White missed a couple of snaps because of the rib harm, Joe Flacco fumbled the ball away. It appeared to decimate the Jets’ confidence. It added insult to harm. The Payments used the fumble to attain a subject aim and widen their lead within the third quarter.
Buffalo capitalized upon essential performs to take management of the sport — and dictate momentum.
At the moment of 12 months, that is a vital ability.
As a result of whereas it is good to see high-flying offenses and shootouts, the Payments need to win a Tremendous Bowl. That’ll take a well-rounded effort. They need the playoffs to come back by Buffalo. And that’ll imply successful within the chilly. The Payments are turning into the staff they have to be.
It wasn’t all good. Buffalo’s offense transformed simply 2 of 13 third downs. That is an abysmal quantity for Josh Allen and firm. Allen was simply 16 of 27 for 147 yards and a landing. He led the staff in all dashing classes: 10 carries for 47 yards and a dashing landing. Stefon Diggs had simply three catches for 37 yards.
You’d assume, taking a look at these stats, that possibly the Payments misplaced. However Buffalo has been capable of lean closely upon its protection in slugfests like this one. The Jets have a tremendous protection, one of many prime items within the NFL. However as a result of Allen may belief his protection would comprise the Jets, the quarterback did not press. He did not flip over the ball. He virtually casually cruised to victory. He was environment friendly sufficient.
It by no means felt just like the Payments have been in hassle. They’d management of the sport, notably as White winced his method by the second half attributable to that rib harm. There have been loads of alternatives for the Jets to get again into the sport. New York simply did not have a quarterback that would seize these alternatives, even with receiver Garrett Wilson enjoying extraordinarily nicely and ending with six catches for 78 yards. Elijah Moore additionally continued to see an uptick in his manufacturing, with six catches for 60 yards.
It wasn’t just like the Payments secondary shut out New York. However that is truly the place it looks like Buffalo has probably the most upside, with Tre’Davious White getting more healthy in his first few video games again from an ACL harm. Rookies Kaiir Elam and Christian Benford proceed to get extra expertise, which ought to assist them contribute later within the season.
“That is an All-Professional nook that now we have in there,” Jordan Poyer stated of White postgame. “We’re excited transferring ahead with him.”
However their defensive position — and their complete entrance seven — remained their greatest power. They have been with out Miller for 2 weeks, however the line hasn’t let up. Gregory Rousseau logged a pair of sacks and a tipped go. Linebacker Matt Milano batted a pair of balls to go along with a quarterback hit and 9 tackles. The Payments completed the sport with 4 sacks and eight QB hits on White and Flacco. Between the harm and the fumble, these QB hits dictated the end result of the sport.
“We’re going to see these guys once more,” Jets coach Robert Saleh stated, suggesting he thinks he’ll get a shot at Buffalo within the playoffs.
If he is proper, it will most likely be in Buffalo once more.
And that brings me to the larger image of this win. The Payments (10-3) are No. 1 within the AFC and are positioning themselves to perfection.
They’ve back-to-back wins over AFC East groups they usually’ll face the Miami Dolphins subsequent week. A win there would go a good distance in solidifying the Payments’ standing atop the AFC and the AFC East. They’re presently atop the AFC, with a first-round bye and a home-field benefit. However a loss to any of those two groups — New England or New York — within the final two weeks would have left them susceptible to a loss within the upcoming sport on Saturday towards the Dolphins.
A win like this helps make sure the highway to the Tremendous Bowl goes by Buffalo. And that fits their defensive focus — which is able to work for them in chilly and messy-weather video games.
High tales from FOX Sports activities:
Previous to becoming a member of FOX Sports activities because the AFC East reporter, Henry McKenna spent seven years masking the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Comply with him on Twitter at @McKennAnalysis.
Buffalo Payments
Josh Allen
New York Jets
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