Bills find right formula on offense
Since Sean McDermott arrived in 2017, he has preached the need for the Bills to be able to be a running team come late season, when the winds swirl in Orchard Park and the games get tough. The concept has been seen as a bit of a joke, since the weather in Buffalo really isn’t any different from places like Pittsburgh, New England, Green Bay, or Kansas City, who have found December and postseason successes from having great passing offenses. A run-first identity is seen as a bit of an antiquated philosophy during a modern era of pass-first offense.
For the 2019 Bills, though, their great passing game isn’t quite there yet. Josh Allen has yet to ascend to an elite level. So while the Bills have more talent in the passing game in 2019 than they’ve had in past years, for Buffalo to be firing on all cylinders on offense, they need help from their running game.
The Bills got exactly what they’ve been looking for from their offense on Sunday afternoon. The Buffalo rushing attack won the day against a stout Denver defense. The Bills had Allen pass just 25 times while Devin Singletary and Frank Gore each had 15+ carries. Allen also had nine rushes of his own.
It was a ground assault from the Buffalo offense as the Bills rolled up 244 rushing yards. Singletary broke the 100-yard plateau for the first time in his pro career with 106 rushing yards on 21 carries.
This was the kind of game McDermott has been preaching since he arrived. The wind was whipping over 20 miles per hour in Orchard Park, which made it the ideal day for keeping the ball on the ground. When they did put it in the air, their strong-armed quarterback was able to cut through the wind on his long touchdown throw to John Brown. The Buffalo defense took care of the rest. This game was the Bills’ overall philosophy in motion.
Singletary showed off the talent that made the Bills select him in the third round back in April. While he didn’t break any big runs, he averaged five yards a carry and was consistently piling up yardage when he was handed the ball.
The big run of the game went to Gore, who broke a 27-yard run off left tackle in the third quarter. With 65 rushing yards, Gore passed Barry Sanders during this game and moved into third place on the league’s all-time rushing list. He also moved past Marshall Faulk to fourth on the all-time yards from scrimmage list.
It was also an impressive day for the Buffalo offensive line, especially considering that they were without Ty Nsekhe in this game and lost Mitch Morse with an injury to his finger in the first half. Cody Ford and Spencer Long filled in admirably well while Jon Feliciano shifted over to center. The Buffalo line had no trouble opening up rushing lanes against a talented Denver defensive front.
Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll, who called the game from the coaches’ booth for the second week in a row, has been one to craft a game plan from week to week based on the opponent. The Bills have had games where they’ve thrown the ball all over the field (opening day) and games where they’ve stuck to the run. Sunday’s game was another example of a game where Daboll tailored a gameplan to the opponent by opting to stay away from a talented Denver pass rush and secondary. The overall philosophy of a strong rush attack combined with shot plays in the passing game is one that we will likely see duplicated throughout December.
Tre White continues to make case for a Pro Bowl berth
There’s little question that Tre’Davious White should be considered among the best cornerbacks in pro football. Sunday’s game was another example of White’s all-pro resume.
Tasked with shutting down one of the league’s most talented wide receivers, Denver’s Courtland Sutton, who had 113 receiving yards against the Minnesota Vikings a week ago, White was more than up to the task Sunday. While he gave up a 27-yard reception to Sutton on the game’s first drive, he yielded nothing else the rest of the way. White was all over Sutton and gave quarterback Brandon Allen no open window for him to look Sutton’s way. White got his hand on a couple targets for Sutton that he could have made a play on for an interception, finishing the game with four passes defended.
The big play, however, came in the second quarter with the Bills ahead by just a 6-0 score. Josh Allen had just tossed his first interception in five games when he overthrew John Brown and sailed a pass right for Justin Simmons. The interception set up Denver near midfield with a chance to grab the lead before halftime.
The Broncos made their way to the Buffalo 25, but on second and nine with 1:07 to go in the half, White made arguably the play of the game.
Allen threw to the wrong spot on a pass for Sutton, who had curled back to the quarterback. The pass was thrown upfield and White tracked it the whole way. White basically ran the route Allen thought Sutton would be running and he snared the ball out of the air in stride to stop the Denver drive.
It was another example of White being a tone setter for the Buffalo defense. Much like in the Miami game in October, a White interception deep in Buffalo denied a scoring drive and really turned the tide of the game in the Bills’ favor. The Bills were only up by six at the time and Denver never really threatened to score again after that. Denver advanced into Buffalo territory just once in the second half and had to settle for a field goal.
White continued his stellar play against top wide receivers. Sutton was held to just one catch on eight targets in this game. As many Brandon Allen passes found White’s hands as they found Sutton’s hands. White has been targeted 66 times this season, but has allowed only 37 completions. Quarterbacks have posted a passer rating of just 49.7 when throwing White’s way. His 13 pass breakups are tied for second most in the league.
There’s not much more White can do to prove he’s an elite cornerback. Of course, playing in Buffalo doesn’t generate the type of spotlight that earns you recognition league wide. White’s chance to make a statement to a national audience will come Thursday in the Thanksgiving game at Dallas.