Tag: bills vs commanders

Bills put together pass-rush fest among best ever recorded by NFL Next Gen Stats

Bills put together pass-rush fest among best ever recorded by NFL Next Gen Stats:

Yes, the Buffalo Bills defense was that good.

After the Bills’ blowout win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday, it was clear to see the pass rush has been legit in 2023.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, when Howell dropped back 39 times during the game, the Bills pressured him 27 times. That is the 2nd-highest pressure rate in a game in the Next Gen Stats era (since 2018):

After last week when the Bills defense put pressure on the Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo but failed to sack him. This is more of what we have come to expect of the Bills pass-rush and it’s going to be tough to keep it going moving forward.

Buffalo hosts the Miami Dolphins in Week 4. Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has only been sacked once through three games thanks to his quickness in getting the ball out.

The Bills have their work cut out for them.

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New quarterbacks have a bad time against Sean McDermott’s Bills

New quarterbacks have a bad time against Sean McDermott’s #Bills (via @TejasVemparala):

Recently drafted and new starting quarterbacks should fear starting against the Buffalo Bills.

At least according to the statistics.

Opponent quarterbacks who have played the Bills in one of their first five career starts have not had an enjoyable day.

Following Buffalo’s dominant win against the Washington Commanders, and with plenty of praise for the Bills’ defense who sacked quarterback Sam Howell nine times and generated five turnovers (including four interceptions), the statistic highlights how difficult the task is for new quarterbacks to the NFL:

The eight opposing quarterbacks who have faced the Bills in one of their first five starts are winless, throwing less than 200 yards per game. In total, the eight quarterbacks have thrown only three touchdowns along with 20 interceptions, and have been sacked 29 times.

Commanders quarterback Sam Howell was drafted in 2022, but started his first game in Washington’s season finale against the Dallas Cowboys in January. The Commanders won Howell’s debut game, along with both games to start the 2023 NFL season. The loss against Buffalo highlighted Howell’s inexperience against an elite defense that is excellent at both pass-rush and coverage.

The Commanders will look to get back in the win column, but Howell will have another tough test against the Philadelphia Eagles defense in Week 3. More importantly, the Buffalo’s next opportunity to play an inexperienced quarterback might come against the New England Patriots in Week 7 should Bailey Zappe have the opportunity to start ahead of teammate Mac Jones. If that is the case, look for the Bills defense to continue to make life miserable for the second year quarterback who will have started his fifth game against the Bills.

Maybe we will get an updated statistic of 0-9.

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PFF: Bills’ Tre’Davious White impresses vs. Commanders

Tre White’s PFF metrics vs. the Commanders were impressive (via @TejasVemparala):

Buffalo Bills’ cornerback Tre’Davious White impressed many as part of the fantastic defensive outing against the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

The defender has been part of the Bills’ organization since 2017, but tore his ACL in 2021. He started last season on the physically unable to perform list.

In Week 3, the talented defender picked off Commanders’ QB Sam Howell in the end zone to prevent a touchdown:

The cornerback, who has received plaudits in the past, was tasked with pass coverage of Washington’s strong receivers–Namely Terry McLaurin–and excelled. While and Bufffalo’s secondary allowed the pass rush time to pressure Howell into multiple bad throws.

According to Pro Football Focus metrics, the cornerback was excellent. In the 32 coverage snaps he played in, he was targeted six times and only allowed three receptions for 19 yards in addition to the interception he corralled.

When Commanders QB Howell targeted the Washington receiver that White was covering, he had a 17.4 passer rating. For context, an average passer rating is 66.7.

That’s a great day at the office for the veteran cornerback. We are looking forward to seeing more of him when he is tasked with coverage of the talented Miami Dolphins wide receivers.

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NFL Next Gen Stats: Bills’ pass-rush vs. Commanders among best since 2018

NFL Next Gen Stats: #Bills’ pass-rush vs. #Commanders among best since 2018 (via @TejasVemparala):

The Buffalo Bills defense, if you don’t know, is very, very good.

Many have been written highlighting the Bills’ domination on the defensive side of the ball against the Washington Commanders on Sunday. And now, NFL’s Next Gen Stats is also supporting that with a look at the pass rush generated by Buffalo’s defense on Washington quarterback Sam Howell.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, when Howell dropped back 39 times during the game, the Bills pressured him 27 times. That is the 2nd-highest pressure rate in a game in the Next Gen Stats era (since 2018):

The Bills defensive line was phenomenal, generating pressure on Howell to not only sack him but have him throw four interceptions during the game as well.

Defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who NFL Next Gen Stats has showcased before as an excellent pass rusher, led Buffalo defenders with seven QB pressures, with edge rusher Shaq Lawson right behind with six.

Multiple edge rushers including A.J. Epenesa, who had a pick six against the Commanders, Leonard Floyd who converted the pressures to multiple sacks, Greg Rousseau, and Daquan Jones all had five QB pressures.

In total, seven Bills defenders had four or more QB pressures against a Commanders offensive line that was not expected to be good.

Nevertheless, the quarterback pressure Howell faced would suffocate any quarterback. The Bills front four will look to continue to generate pressure against the division leading Miami Dolphins’ offensive line in Week 4.

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Bills Mafia recognized by players: ‘Seeing them celebrate was amazing’

#BillsMafia recognized by players: ‘Seeing them celebrate was amazing’

NFL Week 3 in Washington D.C. saw the Buffalo Bills come to town for a muddy contest against the Commanders that resulted in a landslide 37-3 victory.

But they didn’t come alone.

The score wasn’t the only lopsided differential in the stadium on Sunday, as Bills Mafia invaded to flip the environment to one more like a home game for Buffalo.

The Bills fanbase is known for being one of the most traveled in terms of showing up at opponents’ stadiums to support their team.

Even still, after doing so in the past, the act of support continues to resonate with the Bills players and coaches.

“To see them stick around the entire time, and obviously the game was already won, seeing them celebrate was amazing,” safety Micah Hyde said to the press. “For sure, over half the fans here was Bills Mafia.”

Hyde had his first interception in the game since returning from an injury that kept him out all of the 2022 NFL season.

The pick was one of four on the day for Buffalo, whose fans reveled in the performance.

When Buffalo’s defense picked off Commanders QB Sam Howell four a fourth time in the game and returned the interception for a 32-yard touchdown, Washington’s fans had seen enough and began heading for the exits with 10 minutes left in the game and a score of 30-0.

Bills fans, however, stuck around.

When Buffalo was on defense later in the game, defensive tackle Jordan Phillips motioned toward the Bills sideline and their fans and that crowd erupted in response.

“That’s always Big Phil,” Hyde added. “He gives the fans the juice, man.”

While Hyde noted the juice Phillips, the Bills, and their fans brought even late in the game, their opponents seemed to be running on empty.

Speaking with WROC, Phillips said you could sense what the Commanders were thinking on their sideline. “The other team is deflated, they don’t know what to think, they were like ‘What am I doing out here? This isn’t a home game. Why did I even come?’ And you can feel that on their sideline too, they didn’t have no juice when we’re out there getting the crowd going, yelling, doing all this, that’s just deflating for another team.”

After the game, a number of players reveled in the atmosphere of support from the fans who stuck around, including WR Stefon Diggs who also played in front of his hometown crowd.

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Report card: Bills top Commanders, 37-3

Report card: #Bills top #Commanders, 37-3:

The Buffalo Bills traveled to Washington D.C. to battle the Commanders in NFL Week 3 and left with a 37-3 victory.

It was a true team win, with the squad getting it done in all three phases of the game.

With the win the Bills improved to 2-1 while logging one of their most productive games defensively under head coach Sean McDermott, who took over playcalling on that side of the ball.

Here’s how Bills Wire graded Buffalo’s performance against the Commanders: