Ranking the Buffalo Bills’ defense in the AFC East in 2023

1.) Buffalo Bills

Sean McDermott has not failed to lead a defensive unit towards the top since he arrived in Buffalo in 2017. Last season, the Bills finished the regular season at 13-3, where they lost those three games by a combined eight points (two of those games the Bills gave up only 21 points and 20 points).

For the first four weeks of the 2022 season, the Bills started with a 3-1 record and did not give up more than 171 passing yards. Throughout the season, the Bills did allow over 200 passing yards in nine of their games (including the wild card playoff game versus Miami).

The only time that the Bills defense looked truly defeated was against the Cincinnati Bengals in the playoffs (but it looked like no one showed up from the Bills either). 

Heading into 2023, the Bills defense looks pretty similar from last season, but there is still a question about the middle linebacker position with the departure of Tremaine Edmunds. In addition, edge rusher Von Miller may not be ready for the first couple of games so this defense will be tested right out of the gate.

On a plus note, Tre White will have had a full offseason recovery from his torn ACL in 2021 and Micah Hyde will be back in the lineup for the first time since week two of last season. Will the defense be able to handle the pressure to keep offenses out of the end zone? If it is like previous years, adaptability will kick in and the defensive scheme that is now being led by Sean McDermott should show up with no issues.