Heading into the postseason, the Buffalo Bills just wanted to find consistency against a poor and beat-up New York Jets team. Despite the team resting many starters, with others in limited action, they did just that.
The offense found its rhythm early, quickly establishing the run and utilizing play-action passes to its tight ends. Dawson Knox grabbed two passes on the first drive of the game, including a 17-yard touchdown grab for the first points of the game. Beyond Knox, offensive coordinator Joe Brady made a concerted effort to get Dalton Kincaid involved in the game.
Kinciad caught three passes for 48 yards in the first half, which helped spur the Bills’ positive momentum over the Jets. Heading into the postseason, the Bills need all the help they can get in the passing game, and allowing Kincaid to build some momentum ahead of the playoffs offers some confidence in a real weak spot on the Bills' path to Super Bowl XL.
Dalton Kincaid reasserts himself as a focal point heading into the playoffs
Kincaid dealt with a lingering knee injury all season, keeping him out of five total games and leading to his lowest total targets in a season and fewest catches, just 39. Still, he set a new career high in touchdowns with five and put up more yards than he did in 13 games last season.
Despite the limited production, though, the Bills are going to need Kincaid as an active participant in the passing game through January. While receivers Gabe Davis and Keon Coleman were active against New York, it should be treated as the outlier you’d expect facing the New York Jets’ secondary this season. It won’t translate to next week in Jacksonville.
Kincaid, though, has proven more reliable when active this season. He caught at least three passes in eight games this season, and he’s the only player with multiple 100-yard receiving games this season, even if it is just two of them.
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Just getting a glimpse of Kincaid producing in the first half was one of the main things to put smiles on the fans filling out Highmark Stadium for its final regular-season game. But it surely put a bigger smile on quarterback Josh Allen’s face. After all, those three first-half catches were the first Kincaid had hauled in since the Bills beat the New England Patriots.
Kincaid might not be 100%, but he looked the closest he has since Week 15, which is as good a sign as Bills fans could ask for heading into the playoffs.