Buffalo Bills: 3 reasons for optimism after Week 1 loss to New York Jets

Buffalo Bills answered some questions

When the Bills traveled to St. John Fisher University for the start of their 2023 training camp, there were a number questions they needed to answer — who would step up in replace of Von Miller, who was going to fill the empty starting positions, and was Stefon Diggs relationship with the team starting to slip?

Despite losing to the Jets on Monday night, the Bills had these questions answered in some positive ways, particularly with Diggs and Allen's steady rapport on the field. Diggs hauled in ten of Allen's 29 completions for 102 yards and the team's only touchdown.

On the defensive front, the Bills starting pass rushers flustered Jets backup quarterback Zach Wilson all night long. While the group only recorded three total sacks, free-agent signing Leonard Floyd and defensive tackle Ed Oliver combined for two of those sacks and eleven quarterback pressures.

In the second and third levels of the defense, the Bills were starting two inexperienced players at middle linebacker and the second cornerback position opposite Tre'Davious White. Terrel Bernard, playing middle linebacker for the night, struggled against the run early on before settling in and looking effective as a zone defender later in the game.

In Christian Benford's case, he made a highlight-reel tackle at the starting cornerback position that saved four points when he hunted down Jets running back Breece Hall at the tail end of an 83-yard run — and he looked steady in coverage for most of the night.