3 takeaways for the Buffalo Bills defense from the 2023 season

Terrel Bernard had a fantastic year despite being a first-year starter

Bernard had some big shoes to fill in at the middle linebacker position, with Tremaine Edmunds being let go in free agency the year prior. Bernard was a second-year player drafted in the third round of the 2022 draft, and when his opportunity came, he didn't look back.

Bernard did struggle a bit in his first start against the Jets, but after that, Bernard quickly became a very reliable single caller for the defense. The middle linebacker position was an area of concern during the offseason, but not anymore, as Bernard played at a high level throughout the season, finishing as the team leader in combined tackles with 143, which is also top 15 in the NFL. Bernard also finished the season with three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, six and a half sacks, and 10 tackles-for-loss. 

Thankfully, Bernard's injury against the Steelers in the Wild Card Round wasn't anything too serious, so Bernard won't be taking a big step back in terms of getting healthy for next season. One can only imagine how well Bernard will perform with a healthy Matt Milano lining up next to him for an entire season.