The Buffalo Bills were busy this past week with some new additions to the roster. All three will likely play important roles, particularly Linval Joseph and Rasul Douglas. I think Leonard Fournette, will eventually overtake Latavius Murray as the number two back but for now, we'll have to wait and see when he will be activated to the 53-man roster.
I can see a world where Douglas makes this list in the second half of the season, as he should have a huge impact in the secondary and on this defense. For now, though, let's talk about the first half and who has stepped up. On the defensive side, it was tough picking a defensive MVP. There were a few options there but difficult to find one that as been the guy all season.
Buffalo had a very up-and-down first half of the season. At one point, they won three straight games by 28+ points, then followed that up with a few lackluster performances. I think the team will get things rolling again, especially once the new guys get on the defensive side, which should help the defense shore up a few things as well.
Ed Oliver - Buffalo Bills Most Improved
AS this past off-season continued on towards the start of the 2023 NFL season, there was talk among Bills fans as to who the Bills should sign to a contract extension. Most were choosing Tremaine Edmunds over Ed Oliver. A lot of fans were disappointed with Oliver's lack of production as a high first-round pick.
Well, good thing the Bills brass doesn't listen to Bills Mafia. Ed Oliver signed his extension with the Bills, while Edmunds left for more money in Chicago. Oliver has enjoyed the best season of his career thus far, and with five sacks this season, is on pace for his first double-digit sack total. He also tied for second in the league in tackles for a loss with ten on the season.
Stefon Diggs - Buffalo Bills Offensive MVP
While the media was pushing their off-season (and in-season) narrative, Diggs has done nothing but put his best on the field week in and week out. Outside of Josh Allen, he's been the catalyst for this Bills team not only on the field but on the sidelines as well. He is the emotional leader of this team.
Diggs is fourth in the league in receiving yards with 748, tied for third in touchdowns with six, and number one in receptions with 64. I've written recently about the Bills offense needing to go through Stefon Diggs and Dalton Kincaid and the last couple of weeks that's been the case. Diggs has been targeted 24 times over that stretch, with Kincaid adding in 15 targets. This is a recipe for a dominant passing game and one we should see the rest of the season.
Terrel Bernard - Buffalo Bills Defensive MVP
This one might surprise some fans but what he's done for the the Bills defense in the middle of the defense cannot be overstated. So many, myself included, were worried about the middle linebacker and who would fill the spot. We all thought no matter who it was, the defense was going to miss Edmunds.
Bernard proved me and many others wrong in a big way. He's top ten in the league in total tackles with 76, sixth overall. But he's also produced a solid six tackles for a loss, added two interceptions, and has three fumble recoveries. He also has four passes defensed. He's been a huge revelation for the Bills and while the team likely knew what they had in him. Bills Mafia did not and has been pleasantly surprised.
Buffalo Bills Rookie of the year
This has to be the choice, right? After the first four games of the season, I wrote a similar article and named O'Cyrus Torrence but since that time, Kincaid has started to come on. That's not to say Torrence doesn't deserve this too but Kincaid has added a little something extra to the Bills' passing game. Over the last two games, he's been targeted 15 times, with 13 receptions, 140 yards and a touchdown.
Kincaid on the season has 30 receptions on 33 targets and leads the league in catch rate, at 91 percent. He has only one touchdown, but I think those are about to start piling up over the second half of the season, as will his yardage totals.
Buffalo Bills team MVP
This was too easy but honestly, who is more important to the Buffalo Bills than Josh Allen? Every week Allen is expected to be Superman and in most cases he delivers. Minus the Week One opener, Allen has been phenomenal. He turned the ball over four times in that game but has done a better job of protecting the ball in the seven games since, with six turnovers. Hopefully, that can be reduced even further going foward.
Josh Allen is having an MVP season, leading the league in completion rate, total touchdowns, and QBR. He is top five in virtually every other quarterback stat. This Bills team will go as far as Allen can take them and he can take them all the way. Let's hope Ken Dorsey continues to dial up the no-huddle attack because this will only heighten Allen's numbers this season.