The Bills began the season strong, winning their first four games. Buffalo and the defending Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, are the only undefeated teams heading into October.
It seems that Buffalo and Philadelphia are on track to face each other in the Super Bowl. However, in the first month of the season, the Bills have appeared to be the stronger team. USA Today’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz has assigned grades to all 32 teams this month, awarding the Bills the only ‘A’ grade.
“Despite its standing as one of the league’s two remaining undefeated teams, Buffalo isn’t without fault,” Schwartz wrote Tuesday. “But it’s hard to argue with the results. A shapeshifting offense is mowing down all comers, averaging a league-best 0.18 expected points added per play, according to Next Gen Stats. With the ability to seamlessly toggle between Josh Allen airing it out to an array of pass catchers and turning the reins over to James Cook and the ground game, Joe Brady’s attack has the flexibility to keep opponents off balance all season.”
Bills’ Offense is Coming Alive, But Defense Could Play Better
Allen and Cook have been amazing to start the season. The 29-year-old quarterback has thrown for 964 yards and seven touchdowns, with only one interception. Meanwhile, Cook is living up to his four-year, $48 million contract that he received this summer, rushing for 401 yards and five touchdowns.
Buffalo’s defense has been shaky at times, allowing two underwhelming offenses, the Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints, to score over 18 points. Schwartz highlighted that the safety play is concerning.
“Rocky play at safety and frequent lapses in stopping the run have left some unease about the defense, which has also had trouble getting off the field on third downs (42% conversion rate allowed),” Schwartz added.
Buffalo Continuing To Build Off Week 1 Success
The Bills couldn’t have received an ‘A’ grade if it weren’t for their Week 1 comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens. Buffalo was down by 15 points at the start of the fourth quarter but managed to come all the way back to win the game.
But Buffalo has maintained the theme of rising to the occasion ever since its stunning Week 1 rally to upend the Ravens,” Schwartz wrote. “It will need to continue that trend once the schedule gets tougher on the back end, but this is a team plowing a trail to a possible No. 1 seed at a time when the AFC’s other leading contenders are faltering.”
The Bills can continue their September success when the calendar flips to October this week by taking on the New England Patriots on Sunday night football.
It will likely be the Bills’ second-toughest game of the season, given the way quarterback Drake Maye is playing this year.
If Buffalo can secure a win on Sunday, it will be 3-0 in the AFC East, placing them in a strong position to win the division for a sixth consecutive season.
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