Buffalo Bills: 4 biggest disappointments from first four games

Bills’ defense has taken a step backward

Although there are plenty of individual players on this Buffalo Bills defense that have taken a step forward, the group has collectively taken a step backward from how they have performed in years past. Aside from Shaq Lawson, Jordan Phillips, Kevin Johnson, and Lorenzo Alexander the 2020 Buffalo Bills defense is largely the same cast of characters from 2019. These four players lost this past offseason served primarily rotational roles on the 2019 Bills defense. Additionally, it’s safe to say that Lawson, Phillips, Johnson, and Alexander have been replaced by considerable upgrades. These replacements include second round draft pick A.J. Epenesa, Mario Addison, Quinton Jefferson, Vernon Butler, Josh Norman, and A.J. Klein.

Realistically, these new pieces will take time to gel into the core of the Bills’ defense, and the scheme they have run so well since head coach Sean McDermott joined the Bills in 2017. So far this year, the Buffalo defense has shown glimpses of greatness against both the run and pass, but that is the cause for concern because last year the Bills defense was never short in consistency.

Fans could almost always rely on a key stop or a momentum-swinging forced turnover. Aside from late in their game against the Raiders this past week, this year’s Bills defense hasn’t shown that consistent knack to force turnovers.

Surprisingly, the Bills defense is doing considerably better against the run than they are against the pass so far this season. Through the first quarter of the season, the Bills rank eighth in rushing yards allowed, compared to being ranked 27th in passing yards allowed. Although that may be surprising considering how well the Bills were last year against the pass, the game script has dictated opposing offenses to utilize the passing game more in order to play catch up.

Hopefully, the defense will become used to the idea that they have to protect their leads with a sound passing defense. A quarter of the way through the season, the Bills have allowed 1,121 total passing yards, which is almost 300 yards passing allowed per game.

The Bills know they can’t expect to win every contest when they allow that many yards in just the passing game alone. Bottom line is that the passing defense needs to become more consistent and there’s no reason to believe they can’t get there with mainly the same secondary players.