{"id":70085,"date":"2019-08-08T22:55:29","date_gmt":"2019-08-09T02:55:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=70085"},"modified":"2021-03-20T13:08:39","modified_gmt":"2021-03-20T17:08:39","slug":"buffalo-bills-preseason-opener-defense-shines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2019\/08\/08\/buffalo-bills-preseason-opener-defense-shines\/","title":{"rendered":"Buffalo Bills Preseason Opener: Defense Poised to Pick Up From Where They Left Off"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s an all too familiar clich\u00e9. What transpires during the NFL preseason, good or bad, doesn’t necessarily translate to the games that matter. But the Buffalo Bills<\/a> preseason opener provided inklings that this team’s defense is ready to reprise its role as one of the best units in the league.<\/p>\n

Buffalo Bills Preseason Opener: Defense Continues to Shine<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In a 24-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts<\/a> at New Era Field on Thursday, the defense pulled out all the stops. They put pressure on the quarterbacks who played (Andrew Luck<\/a><\/strong> didn’t as he’s still nursing a calf injury). They neutralized the running game. Various members of the secondary made plays. All in all, it certainly classifies as a complete performance.<\/p>\n

Jacoby Brissett<\/a><\/strong>, who started for the Colts, was under duress from the get-go. Add in the fact that the front seven made running the ball very difficult and it was difficult for the visitors to get anything going on offense. The defense as a whole made moving the chains nigh impossible during the first half. Indy didn’t convert a single third down until right before halftime.<\/p>\n

Obviously, a significant part of the coaching staff’s respective jobs during the preseason is evaluating which players to keep on the back end of the roster. That’s why it’s difficult to draw concrete conclusions about what to anticipate when the regular season rolls along. But it must be noted that this is a Bills defense which was the only unit in the league to allow fewer than 3,000 passing yards last year. And the players expected to play the most in 2019, at times, looked to be in midseason form.<\/p>\n

Another aspect of the preseason, arguably the most feel-good part of it, is seeing guys make the most of opportunities to move up the depth chart or solidify a roster spot. Two Bills defensive players who probably qualify here are Dean Marlowe<\/a><\/strong> and Lafayette Pitts<\/a><\/strong>. The former came up with the lone interception of the game when he picked off Phillip Walker<\/strong> in the second quarter. And Pitts was all over the field and finished with a tandem of pass breakups.<\/p>\n

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#Bills<\/a> safety room is packed, veteran savvy play by Dean Marlowe for the INT.. good job watching the QB pic.twitter.com\/tqaRlQe3Aq<\/a><\/p>\n

— Nick (@Nick_Wojton) August 9, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n