John Brown proving to be a true no. 1 receiver
One of the boldest moves the Sean McDermott-Brandon Beane brain trust made after arriving in Buffalo in 2017 was to trade the Bills’ unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver, Sammy Watkins. In the two seasons that followed the trade, the Bills struggled to find a dependable top target to catch the football.
The Bills made wide receiver a major priority in the 2019 offseason, resulting in the signing of both John Brown and Cole Beasley on the opening day of free agency. While these moves instantly upgraded the Bills’ receiving core, neither was viewed as being a sure-fire top receiver. Both Brown and Beasley had played well for previous teams in complimentary roles, but neither had been the “guy” in their respective passing offenses.
As the 2019 season has gone along, the Bills have seen one of their new wide receivers blossom in his new role and develop into the No. 1 wide receiver the team has been looking for.
Brown has emerged as Josh Allen’s favorite target. The 29-year-old wide receiver from Pittsburg St. is enjoying a Pro Bowl-caliber season, hauling in 56 passes for 817 yards and four touchdowns through 10 games. He is well on his way to a 1,000-yard receiving season, and would be the first Bills’ pass catcher to accomplish that feat since Watkins in 2015.
Sunday was Brown’s most impressive statistical performance of his Bills’ career. He was targeted a team-high 14 times as Allen looked his way early and often. The result was nine catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns. The Dolphins’ much-maligned secondary had no chance at containing Brown on Sunday.
Brown got free down the right sideline for the big play the Bills have been looking for all season. This came on the Bills’ third drive of the game, leading 6-0. Brown hauled in a 24-yard reception on a catch-and-run earlier in the drive. On a 1st-and-10 from the Miami 40, Allen took a shot to Brown down the right sideline as he was left open between two defenders. Allen’s bullet found Brown, who then shrugged off a defender and finished the play in the end zone.
Brown has been open for those kinds of big plays all season. Allen has had a hard time making it happen, but got it done when given the chance on Sunday. The big-play dimension is one the Bills have been searching for during their recent offensive struggles. With Brown’s ability, the chance to hit a big passing play is always there, it’s just up to the quarterback to connect.
In the fourth quarter, the Bills were looking to put the game away following a Miami touchdown to make the score 30-20. Brown again came up big for Allen and the Bills. Brown had catches of seven and 17 yards to help move the Bills down toward the Miami end zone. On first and goal from the Miami 9, Allen found Brown open in the middle of the end zone off a play-action pass. The score put the Bills up 37-20 and ended any chance of a Miami comeback.
Brown posted double-digit targets for the second consecutive game, confirming that he is indeed Allen’s top choice in the passing game. Brown has now caught five or more passes in a game eight times in 10 contests this season. Brown appears poised to cruise past his previous high total in catches, which was 65 for the 2015 Cardinals.
The Bills have been searching for some weapons in the passing game going back two full years. The investment in Brown this offseason appears to have paid off handsomely and solved Buffalo’s glaring need for a No. 1 target. Brown’s name won’t be mentioned among the best receivers in the league and he probably won’t get the vote to go to the Pro Bowl. But his production is up there among the leaders at his position. Brown’s 56 receptions are tied for 15th most in the league, while he is eighth in receiving yards (817) and 10th in receiving yards per game (81.7).
While many aspects of the Bills’ offense are still questionable heading into December, there’s no doubt the Bills have a reliable No. 1 target in John Brown.