Stefon Diggs’ impact on the Buffalo Bills’ offense goes beyond the box score
In the Buffalo Bills’ AFC Divisional Round matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, Gabriel Davis had a game for the record books. He would finish the game with eight receptions, 201 receiving yards and four touchdowns. The receiving touchdown total was a playoff record and he became the first player to ever have more than three in a playoff game.
While it wasn’t surprising to see a Bills wide receiver have that kind of stat line, it is something that would likely be expected from Stefon Diggs. He is one of the top wide receivers in the game and has been a big part of this offense over the past two seasons.
The box score told a different story for Stefon Diggs in the game against the Chiefs as he had only three receptions for seven yards on four targets. However, his impact goes well beyond that as Gabriel Davis recently discussed on The Jim Rome Show.
"“I texted Stefon [Diggs] the other day to thank him for giving me that game because he was getting doubled and I was one-on-one. For him to have that type of reputation, and Cole Beasley as well, when we are all out there. For those guys to be getting doubled and the situations for me to make the plays that was what made the game for me so special.”"
Stefon Diggs can change the game even when not racking up receptions
There is no question that the Kansas City Chiefs came into that game with the game plan of ensuring that Stefon Diggs would not beat them. They certainly achieved in that regard but it opened up the field for Davis to have the game he did.
However, Gabriel Davis’ performance against the Chiefs was a culmination of a strong finish to the season. He started to get more playing time with Emmanuel Sanders in and out of the lineup and took full advantage and prior to that Chiefs game, he had at least one touchdown in four of the final six games of the season.
The presence of Stefon Diggs on the field is one of the big reasons that the Buffalo Bills were willing to give up the draft picks they did in their trade with the Minnesota Vikings. In games where Diggs is not necessarily getting targets, he is still making a major impact on the game.