After a disappointing effort in Week 1 that resulted in a 23-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Buffalo Bills bounced back in a major way in Week 2 against the Miami Dolphins.
Led by its improved defense, Buffalo pitched a shutout against its divisional rivals, blanking the Dolphins in a 35-0 rout. Naturally, in a win of this magnitude, several defensive players stepped up and propelled the Bills to an impressive victory.
In 2020, it was difficult to pin many wins strictly on the play of the defense, but Buffalo’s first triumph of 2021 can certainly be chalked up as just that.
It only seems right to spotlight four defenders as this week’s key contributors for the Bills.
DE AJ Epenesa
Last week, AJ Epenesa was one of the five players who didn’t meet expectations in Buffalo’s loss to Pittsburgh, but he certainly redeemed himself against Miami.
Moving around on the defensive line, playing both the right and left ends while matching up against offensive tackles Austin Jackson and Jesse Davis, Epenesa couldn’t be stopped. In the contest, he racked up one hurry and two QB knockdowns, totaling three pressures. He was also the one responsible for knocking Tua Tagovailoa out of the game.
Tua Tagovailoa was helped off of the field and carted to the Dolphins locker room following a bit hit.@NFLonFOX | #FinsUppic.twitter.com/ou1nN6BYgb
— FanSided (@FanSided) September 19, 2021
Tagovailoa has since been diagnosed with fractured ribs and will miss Week 3’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
For Epenesa, it was the type of performance that should have Bills fans very excited about his future with the team and a nice sign that he’s ready to take a step forward in his sophomore campaign.