The Buffalo Bills were not known as a team that’s filled with sack artists in 2020 or recent memory. But Pro Football Focus reminds us that it’s not all about just sacks.
This season the Bills (13-3) racked up a decent 38 sacks. That left them in the middle of the pack in the NFL, No. 15 overall.
But PFF says Buffalo is much better than that at rushing the passer. In fact, the football analytics outlet recently tabbed the Bills as the sixth-best pass rushing team in the NFL.
Here’s how PPF came to that conclusion:
The Bills’ defense had its issues throughout the regular season, but the pass rush wasn’t one of those problems. They were particularly effective at getting to the quarterback quickly, recording a 25% pressure rate in 2.5 seconds or less that trailed only the Steelers. Getting to the quarterback is good, and getting to the quarterback quickly is even better.
Once again, their leader was Jerry Hughes, who generated pressure and won his pass-rushing reps much more consistently than one would expect from an edge defender with just 4.5 sacks on the season. That seems to be a common theme over the past several years. Since 2018, Hughes ranks sixth among edge defenders in total pressures (175) but tied for just 42nd in sacks (16.0).
PFF has long been a big supporter of Hughes. He actually hasn’t recorded double-digit sacks with the Bills since Mario Williams was on the other side of Buffalo’s defensive line. However, PFF has consistently still looked upon him fondly.
In 2020 alone, his 72.1 overall grade was the best among all edge defenders on the Bills and 26th best in the NFL. That No. 26 is even better considering PFF takes both left and right defensive edge players into the same consideration.
Behind Hughes, PFF actually has Trent Murphy, who has been a healthy scratch recently, as Buffalo’s second-best edge defender with a 66.0 overall grade with AJ Epenesa at 63.2 overall. Sliding in at No. 4 on Buffalo is . Mario Addison, who was at a shaky 59.1.
In terms of overall sack numbers, Addison did pace the Bills’ pass rush though, leading the team with five along with linebacker AJ Klein.
As the team right outside the top-five, the teams the Bills trail on PFF’s list are the Football Team, Bears, Rams, Eagles and Steelers in the top spot, respectively.
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