The offense has some life
The Bills offense has been the main source of criticism with this team, especially in the last few weeks. The Bills offense struggled through the middle portion of the team’s 2019 schedule, including three-straight weeks where the offense failed to break 25 points. Many questions have been surfacing about the overall quality and ceiling of this Bills offense and whether or not its capable of winning games on its own, especially with a challenging December schedule and a possible playoff game on the horizon.
Buffalo’s offense finally had the break-out performance many fans had been hoping for all season long on Sunday. The Bills marched up and down the field all day against a Miami defense that has been struggling all season, but held each of its previous two opponents under 20 points. Buffalo found little resistance from the Dolphin defense on Sunday, piling up 22 first downs and 424 total yards.
Josh Allen was the star of Sunday’s win. The QB responded to criticism of his sub-par play by having his finest game of the season. Allen produced several big plays that were reminiscent of some of the dynamic highlights he produced last season to get Bills’ fans optimistic for his future. Allen connected on a 40-plus yard touchdown pass, had a 30-plus yard run, and scored a diving rushing touchdown near the pylon. With three passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown, Allen produced at least three touchdowns in a game for the first time since last season’s regular-season finale win over the Dolphins.
Allen carried the Bills’ offense in this game, something he hasn’t done recently. He also produced a big-time throw, which is something fans have been waiting to see all season long. Allen threw a frozen rope to his favorite target, John Brown, that went for a 40-yard touchdown up the right sideline. While it wasn’t a long rainbow deep downfield, it was an impressive enough throw to satisfy many of those frustrated that Allen hasn’t found success with the deep ball this season.
Allen also showed he’s still capable of hurting defenses on the ground. He broke off a 36-yard run in the second quarter to set up a field goal that put the Bills up 16-0. Like the deep completion, the long run is something that Allen did at times last season that has been missing this season.
It was a much-needed performance from the much-maligned quarterback. The Bills have invested heavily in Allen as their franchise quarterback, but his play hasn’t lived up to those lofty expectations. Sunday was a reminder of what Allen is capable of and why the Bills thought highly enough of him to trade up to seventh overall to snag him in 2018.
The Bills made a significant change to their offensive gameplan that was picked up by the CBS cameras during the broadcast. Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll moved upstairs to the coaches booth to call the game, instead of his usual spot on the Buffalo sideline. He was also shown sporting a new mustache that may or may not be Buffalo’s good luck charm.
For one week at least, it produced significant dividends as Daboll called a strong game that resulted in seven scoring drives. One of the personnel changes Daboll went with this week was to use three wide receivers on the field nearly the entire game. The Bills’ “11 personnel” package (three wide receivers, one running back, one tight end), was on the field for nearly 80 percent of the offensive snaps in this game. That’s a change from more of the heavy looks the Bills have been using a lot this season with either two tight ends or a tight end and fullback on the field.
Daboll also kept the Bills’ offense at an up-tempo pace and used the no-huddle offense often. The plan worked as the Bills moved the ball with ease most of the day. Whether this was the result of changes to the gameplan or playing an opponent that’s 2-8 remains to be seen.
In order to ensure themselves of a playoff spot and to have any chance of advancing in the postseason, the Buffalo offense needs to carry its weight. Sunday was the first time in several weeks where the Bills won because their offense carried them. While the output may have been due to a subpar opponent in Miami, the performance inspires some confidence heading into a difficult final stretch of the season.