Buffalo Bills: 5 defensive players who could break out in 2023
By Brandon Ray
It is safe to say that the NFL has pivoted to an offensive favored game over the last couple of years, meaning that defensive players are put at a disadvantage. With that being said, defense still matters and defense still wins championships at the end of the day. Even though the Buffalo Bills have shifted to the offensive firepower in the last couple of seasons, head coach Sean McDermott still values his defense and will always keep the Bills defense among the top units in the league.
In the last two seasons, the Bills' defense has ranked in the top five as an overall unit in the league in both points and yards allowed.
The last three seasons since 2020, the Bills have ended the regular season with a point differential of +100 or more, meaning that not only can the offense light up the scoreboard but the defense can hold their ground throughout games and not give up a lot of points.
Heading into 2023, the Bills defense should look different. Leslie Frazier will not be with the team this season and it looks like McDermott will be calling the plays on defense. As a former defensive coordinator in Carolina, McDermott is able to transform this defense from what it has been the last couple of seasons. While they have been great, they have also been bad as well.
The Bills lost a key piece of the defense in Tremaine Edmunds, but have brought in and brought back valuable players who should make an impactful presence this season.