Buffalo Bills: Predicting snap counts for key players against Miami Dolphins

This is a breakdown of what the snap counts could look like for the Buffalo Bills in Week 17.

The Buffalo Bills have done a phenomenal job this season in racking up a 12-3 record. With the combination of blowout wins, tough wins, and heartbreaking losses this team is battle-tested for the playoffs. With the number two seed up for grabs, many are trying to predict player usage for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins.

One might look to last season’s finale when the Bills faced the New York Jets for that answer.

Like last season the Bills don’t need to win. Securing the number two seed has value, but health is also valued to head coach Sean McDermott. In Week 17 of 2019 against the New York Jets, McDermott gave a few players the entire day off. On offense, clear-cut number one running back in Devin Singletary, top two wide receivers in John Brown and Cole Beasley, and Dawson Knox were all wearing sweatpants. On defense star cornerback TreDavious White did not put the pads on as well as Shaq Lawson. All other starters basically played two series.

2020 MVP candidate Josh Allen played seven snaps last season. The offense managed to have two consecutive three-n-outs in those seven snaps. There was one play with a penalty which is counted in snap totals. Otherwise, backup quarterback Matt Barkley was under center.

As for the running backs, T.J. Yeldon saw the most action with 64 percent of the snaps. Affording their top two wide receivers with rest saw Robert Foster and Duke Williams get 98 and 89 percent respectively. Isaiah McKenzie was out there on three wide receiver sets. With Knox sitting out both Tyler Kroft and Tommy Sweeney carried the load.

How might that translate to McDermott’s approach against the Dolphins? He has shown he prefers some level of participation rather than resting completely with most of the players. Taking into account different players at the positions this is the snap counts you could see on Sunday.

Buffalo Bills Offense

Quarterback – 

Josh Allen – two drives or 8 -10 snaps.

Matt Barkley – rest of the game

Running Back – 

Zack Moss – 0 snaps; replaces Devin Singletary from last season

Devin Singletary – 1 drive or 3 snaps

T.J. Yeldon – roughly the same as last season (64% of snaps)

Taiwan Jones – 25%

It will be interesting to see if Yeldon is available this week as he is currently on the Reserve/COVID-19 list after a positive test prior to the game against the New England Patriots. If he is unable to go, the team could look to Taiwan Jones or call up a practice squad player like Antonio Williams.

Wide Receivers – 

Stefon Diggs – 0 snaps replacing John Brown from last season

Cole Beasley – 0 snaps likely due to injury

John Brown – two drives or 8-10 snaps

Gabriel Davis – 89% of snaps

Duke Williams – 98% of snaps (called up from practice squad prior to game)

Tight End – 

Dawson Knox – 0 snaps; same as last season.

The Rest – Mix of Tyler Kroft (heavy usage), Reggie Gilliam if available, and Lee Smith.

Offensive Line – 

Along the offensive line in 2019, there were four snap counts worth mentioning. Right guard Jon Feliciano played seven snaps and center Mitch Morse snapped ten of them. The starting tackles saw 16 and 14 snaps before being replaced. Expect a similar snap count for players in those positions on Sunday.

Buffalo Bills Defense

Defensive Line – 

Jerry Hughes – 0 snaps; replaces Shaq Lawson from last year

Mario Addison – two drives or seven snaps; replaces Jerry Hughes from last season

Ed Oliver – four snaps; replaces Star Lotulelei from last season

Trent Murphy – expect a heavy dose as he should be active for the first time in a few weeks

Linebackers – 

Matt Milano – two drives or seven snaps

Tremaine Edmunds – two drives or seven snaps

Secondary – 

Tre’Davious White – 0 snaps; same as last season.

Micah Hyde – two drives or 8-10 snaps

Jordan Poyer – two drives or 8-10 snaps

If these were the actual snaps counts that would allow the Bills to finish strongly with blending some philosophy of the Bills’ brass. Allen could still set the franchise single-season passing yard mark, 4,359 by Drew Bledsoe in 2002, as he is only 39 yards short.

Even with a Buffalo Bills loss, the team could lock up the two seed as the Pittsburgh Steelers, led by backup quarterback Mason Rudolph, is facing a Cleveland Browns’ team that needs the win. If the Steelers were to lose, the Bills would still hold onto the two seed.