Bills vs. Jets: Josh Allen Sloppy, Strong Defensive Effort Wasted - Notebook
The NFL could not have asked for a more thrilling Monday Night Football opener. The Buffalo Bills would have accepted a less heartbreaking affair.
The Buffalo Bills left MetLife Stadium with a loss to the New York Jets on Monday, 22-16. An overtime punt return from receiver Xavier Gipson ended New York’s night with fireworks.
At 0-1, Buffalo now shares last place in the AFC East with the New England Patriots.
Obviously, Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ injury will steal the headlines, justifiably so. Still, Week 1 was the first dose of real Bills football, giving fans a fresh docket of hope, concern, and unhealthy amount of stress.
There was a lot to learn from Buffalo’s Week 1 loss.
1. Even without edge rusher Von Miller, this pass rush can compete.
It was apparent early and often, and it played a role in Rodgers’ exit. The Bills’ pass rush was facing a questionable opponent: 38-year-old left tackle Duane Brown and right tackle Mekhi Becton. The latter hadn’t earned the starting job until the end of August.
Both tackles struggled mightily, and weren’t helped by the processing of backup quarterback Zach Wilson. It seemed like every other pass attempt ended in Wilson holding the ball too long and getting chased by a Buffalo defender.
Edge rusher Leonard Floyd totaled 1.5 sacks while defensive tackles Jordan Phillips and Ed Oliver had one sack and a half sack, respectively. Greg Rousseau made his presence felt, too, even if it didn’t show up in the box score.
Wilson was clearly uncomfortable in game action nobody saw coming, and Buffalo did their part to make life difficult. If they can continue to apply pressure like they did on Monday, the eventual addition of Miller could render them a legitimate top defense.
© Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY
2. Josh Allen hasn’t fixed the turnovers, yet.
Regardless of how this game ended, it would have been impossible not to note Allen’s turnovers that stunted a strong defensive performance.
A fourth-quarter fumble gave New York a chance to clinch the game after he mishandled the snap. Prior, safety Jordan Whitehead pulled off a hat trick. He intercepted Allen twice on questionable deep shots, and again at the Jets’ 43-yard line.
Sure, his first interception was a pseudo punt, but when the next play is an 83-yard rush, it becomes a little easier to believe in momentum. Allen’s second toss was more reckless, unleashing on second-and-13.
The turnovers negated an otherwise strong performance and were crucial in keeping the Jets in a game they had little business winning. To some extent, this one is on him.
Allen has proven to be turnover prone, but it’s something Buffalo will live with. Expect him to return to MVP-form next week, even if the interceptions continue to linger.
3. The ancillary weapons are vital to Buffalo’s success.
For all the drama surrounding receiver Stefon Diggs this offseason, he played well in the opener. In total, he registered 10 catches, 102 yards, and a touchdown. An offensive pass interference penalty added a little extra doubt to the Bills’ final drive of regulation, but all in all, he had a strong day.
The Bills can trust him to do his job. Everyone else had the opportunity to earn some confidence on Monday.
Running back James Cook was a nuisance, using his explosiveness to get to the edge consistently. He has solidified his role as the starting running back.
Receiver Gabe Davis had a big 26-yard reception, but recorded just one other reception. No other receiver separated themselves, but fans got a glimpse of how the tight end usage would go down.
Both Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox saw plenty of action on Monday. Offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey deployed them creatively, isolating them outside and putting them as the flat receiver in RPOs.
If the run game can keep going and Buffalo’s “11 and a half” personnel continues to find success, it’s only a matter of time before this offense finds itself in a rhythm.
The Bills will look to get their offense in order next week against the Las Vegas Raiders.
