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How the mighty have fallen, at least across the past few games – with the Buffalo Bills’ Week 14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Josh Allen and company have lost three of their last four games. Struggling to keep their head above water, the AFC East battle is becoming more and more out of Buffalo’s hands as the losses pile up.
Allen’s skillset was on full display on Sunday, as he threw for over 300 yards and ran for over 100 against a tough Buccaneers defense that did not make anything easy for the offense all day. Even though Allen certainly produced great numbers, the team was not able to overcome Tom Brady and his late-game magic again, faltering in overtime on Brady’s 700th career TD pass.
Allen needs help from his RBs
Matt Breida, Zach Moss, and Devin Singletary have all had their fair share of chances this season to make an indent on the rushing opportunities for the Bills in an attempt to take some pressure off of Allen. But up to this point, there has been nothing positive to glean from this, except for the fact that the front office has to do something different.
The trio of backs have failed to combine for 1,000 yards on the ground this year, speaking to just how gross this backfield is. Ever since Allen was drafted by the Bills back in 2018, he has been counted on more in the rushing attack than any other running back on the roster.
Allen has proven, and will continue to prove, that he can shoulder the load and take on both roles, but this team is going to need one of these in-house options to step up, especially as the months grow colder and the stakes grow higher.
Knox has ascended into TE1 territory
Albeit not a household name, Dawson Knox has quickly climbed the ladder of gifted tight ends making a name for themselves in the NFL, and with his current pace, he could soon join the likes of Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, and Darren Waller, among others, at the top.
The Bills have been hard-pressed to find their #2 target behind Stefon Diggs, and Knox has naturally ascended into that, providing Allen with both a safety blanket and a deep threat that has been extremely consistent. Knox’s eight TDs on the year puts him in a tie for fifth among all tight ends, and Sunday’s game, where he received his second-highest target share and caught the most passes in a game this year, is a perfect example of his role.
If the Bills continue to include Knox in their passing attack, then that takes pressure off Diggs while giving Allen another dangerous target.
The defense desperately misses Tre'Davious White
After losing CB Tre’Davious White to a torn ACL on Thanksgiving, the secondary for the Bills have been missing its top coverage guy, and Brady helped expose that wound to the tune of 363 yards and 2 scores.
The big three of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Rob Gronkowski for the Buccaneers combined for 21 receptions (30 targets) for 258 yards and 1 TD, which was a 13-yard pass to Evans. Those three targets are tough for any team to stop, but their heavy reliance through the air was evident from the get-go and a likely target for opponents to continue to attack.
If the Bills can help out their boundary corners and solidify their coverage, then they will be able to address what likely is the defense’s biggest flaw, something that needs to happen before the playoffs begin.
