The Buffalo Bills defense is a big reason behind the team’s 8-2 start atop the less-than-impressive AFC East. Every team behind Buffalo has three wins. That fact is an indication of shifting dynamics in the AFC East and also the Bills maintaining the status quo they’ve created by winning the division over the last four seasons.
The main difference for the 2024 offense involves swapping out Amari Cooper for Stefon Diggs. Khalil Shakir grew into his role as a trusted slot receiver and primary option when Cooper is out. Rookie Keon Coleman will miss the massive Week 11 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Tight end Dalton Kincaid is also dealing with an injury.
While the Bills offense will be without at least one key piece for the pivotal showdown with the Chiefs, the defense must show up stronger than ever in Week 11. The offense ranks in the top 10 in most categories, including points scored, rushing yards, passing yards, and time of possession.
Here’s How The 2024 Bills Defense Compares To Last Year’s Team
The State of the 2023 Bills Defense
Last year’s team featured three tenured veterans in the secondary with Tre’Davious White, Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde. White and Poyer moved on in the off-season while Hyde technically remains a free agent. He stated that he’d play for the Bills in 2024 or retire.
Linebacker Terrel Bernard led the team with 143 tackles in 17 games. He also had 6.5 sacks and three interceptions in 2023. Bernard has missed all or parts of four games this year, including games against the Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars and the Seattle Seahawks (Week 8). The Bills defense is much better with Bernard leading the charge.
Gone is defensive lineman Leonard Floyd, who led the team with 10.5 sacks last year. Ed Oliver was second with 9.5 sacks while A.J. Epenesa matched Bernard’s 6.5 sacks. Rasul Douglas, added at the trade deadline last season, led the team with four interceptions. Defensive leader Matt Milano played only five games in 2023.
The defense finished with the following rankings over 17 games in 2023:
- Points Against Per Game – 4th, 18.3
- Total Yards Allowed Per Game – 9th, 307. 18
- Passing Yards Allowed Per Game – 7th, 196.59
- Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game – 15th, 110. 59
- Sacks – finished 4th with 53
Buffalo finished in the top 10 in four of the five basic categories, advancing to the Divisional Round of the playoffs. However, the season ended after losing to the Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
The 2024 Defense is Still a Work in Progress
While last year’s sample consists of a full regular season, some metrics are close after 10 games in 2024. Damar Hamlin, and Taylor Rapp stepped into the starting lineup this year. Linebacker Dorian Williams has assumed the leadership role with Milano and Bernard missing time.
Williams leads the Bills with 93 tackles but can cede pressure with a healthy Bernard leading calling the coverages. Buffalo also opened the 21-day window for Milano to return to the lineup. Through 10 games this year, Buffalo’s rankings are below:
- Points Per Game Allowed – 9th, 19.3
- Total Yards Allowed Per Game – 18th, 336.10
- Passing Yards Allowed Per Game – 18th, 212.90
- Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game – 15th, 123.20
- Sacks – 11th in NFL with 25
The top five in Points Per Game Allowed in 2024 are below. If the season ended today, each of those teams would make the playoffs.
- Los Angeles Charges (13.1)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (16.2)
- Minnesota Vikings (17.4)
- Denver Broncos (17.7)
- Chiefs/Philadelphia Eagles (17.9)
The 2024 rankings are down a bit, but when looking at points per game and sacks, things are close to last year’s finish. The Bills are allowing one more point per game but allowing nearly 30 more yards a game this season.
Those numbers should approach last year’s totals with seven more games and eight weeks to go. If both Bernard and Milano return to the lineup, top-10 finishes in most categories will be attainable once again.
The remaining games, however, will ultimately test if the 8-2 start will be sustainable in the postseason. After a huge game with Kansas City, Buffalo has its bye week. The Bills host the San Francisco 49ers after the bye before hitting the road for pivotal games against both the Los Angeles Rams and the Detroit Lions.
Those offenses have the potential to crash Buffalo’s 2024 rankings. The end of the season, however, offers the chance to approach or match last year’s totals. The Bills finish off 2024 against the New York Jets sandwiched between two games against the New England Patriots.
Main Photo Courtesy of Joe Nicholson – Imagn Images
