Buffalo Bills: 3 areas the defense needs to improve after disappointing start

Sep 27, 2020; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes (55) rushes Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) as offensive tackle Rob Havenstein (79) blocks in the first quarter of a game at Bills Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2020; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes (55) rushes Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) as offensive tackle Rob Havenstein (79) blocks in the first quarter of a game at Bills Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /
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Buffalo Bills
Sep 27, 2020; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes (55) rushes Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) as offensive tackle Rob Havenstein (79) blocks in the first quarter of a game at Bills Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /

These are three areas the Buffalo Bills defense needs to improve after a lackluster start to the year.

The Buffalo Bills defense has struggled in the early part of the 2020 season. This is undoubtedly surprising considering they returned almost every starter with rotational players like Jordan Phillips, Shaq Lawson and Lorenzo Alexander being the biggest losses.

Last season, the Bills finished in the Top 10 in a number of categories but it was their pass defense that was elite. They finished fourth in passing yards allowed (195.2 yards per game), second in passing touchdowns allowed (five), and third in passer rating against (78.8).

Since the Bills brought back all starters from last year in the secondary with cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Levi Wallace, safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde and nickel corner Taron Johnson, combined with the scheme remaining the same, this was not something fans expected to see.

While the pass defense has seen the biggest change this is not the only area the Buffalo Bills defense has seen performance drop. Let’s take a closer look at the pass defense, as well two other areas, the coaching staff needs to focus on improving in the coming weeks, especially with a matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6 quickly approaching.