Buffalo’s defense entered its Week 11 meeting with the Miami Dolphins in need of a resurgence.
The unit, which was once widely looked at as one of the stronger defensive groupings in the league, had struggled in the weeks leading up to its matchup with the 2-6 Dolphins. The team had allowed over 350 net yards in three out of its previous four contests. It had given up triple-digit rushing nets in each of its last five games.
The Bills’ defense was in desperate need of a statement game, a contest that could reaffirm its status as one of the league’s elite units.
Spearheaded by the play of Tremaine Edmunds, Buffalo did just that.
The Bills’ defense was near-impenetrable in the team’s 37-20 win over Miami, allowing a total of just 303 yards. The previously struggling run defense refound its form in Hard Rock Stadium, allowing a season-best 23 rushing yards in the contest.
The defense played with a tenacity it hadn’t shown in recent weeks, a mindset that was set and demonstrated by Edmunds, according to head coach Sean McDermott.
“They were aggressive,” McDermott said. “They were aggressive, and they had a great week of preparation, that’s really where it starts. You go back and say, ‘Why did we get the results that we got?’ And you double down on those habits. Those are good things.
“Just the overall aggressiveness, I think overall, was where it needed to be. I thought Tremaine did a great job from the communication standpoint, from a leadership standpoint.”
Edmunds tallied a team-high 12 tackles on the day, complementing explosive plays at the line of scrimmage with solid plays in coverage.
The game perhaps served as a microcosm of Edmunds’ entire skillset. The rangy middle linebacker prevented Miami from picking up anything on the ground with his stout play against the run. He also broke up a deep pass to Miami tight end Mike Gesicki in the fourth quarter. He even notched a half-sack in the contest, contributing to Buffalo’s total of six.
Though statistics and strong play are valuable, a unit’s culture is perhaps as important as it is immeasurable. The 21-year-old Edmunds set the tone for the entire Bills’ roster ahead of its dominant outing, a process he started with a speech days before the matchup.
“Tremaine, he gave a speech yesterday,” wide receiver John Brown said following the win. “It was time to show them what we can do . . . [He said] it’s just time for us to play our game and play fast, and leave no doubt behind.
“Everybody was amped up and ready to go . . . You barely hear Tremaine talk, so I was kind of shocked by that.”
Typically a lead-by-example type of player, it was a verbal speech from Edmunds that ultimately propelled Buffalo to victory. Now able to complement his on-field production with off-field influence, Edmunds is a player that teammates look to for inspiration.
“Tremaine is a true leader,” defensive tackle Jordan Phillips said. “He not only says it but he goes out there and does it. He goes out there and plays hard, plays free.
“I look to him when I need guidance. He’s a young guy but he’s all over the place and he’s a leader of our defense.”
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