The Bills have done a lot of things right to position themselves in second place in the division at 4-2. But nobody’s perfect. So as Buffalo rested up during its bye week and took a look at the positives and negatives in its play thus far, we did same.
The Best
Rushing: Most offenses need a strong running game to survive, and when you have the league’s second best rusher, that always helps. Fred Jackson is averaging just over 100 yards per game thus far at nearly six yards per clip. More impressively, Jackson has come out of the backfield as a receiver for the Bills when called upon and produced, amassing more than 275 yards. Buffalo’s rushing touchdowns (8) are also second best in the league, while ball carriers have only put the ball on the ground once so far.
Offensive line: You can’t be an elite rushing team without a strong offensive line, and Buffalo’s line has been one of the most surprising in the league this year. Many were skeptical of the corps coming into the season (us included), saying the squad lacked leadership and experience. Aside from doing its part to help Jackson’s cause on the ground, the line has allowed only seven sacks and 26 quarterback hits, which is equates to hits on 16 percent of dropbacks.
Red zone offense: Buffalo's effectiveness in the red zone hasn't hurt its cause either. Buffalo leads the league in red zone touchdown percentage at more than 75 percent, up more than 25 percent from last year. In fact, the Bills haven't had a trip to the red zone where they haven't scored. Jackson and tight end Scott Chandler lead the team's red zone attack, tied with four touchdowns apiece.
The Worst
Defensive sacks: Despite being ranked second in the league in interceptions, there are issues on the defensive side of the ball that the Bills will assess. Primarily, the D needs to get the quarterback. Buffalo is last in the league in sacks, with only four total in their six games. The Bills finished the 2010 season at the bottom of the league in sacks as well, and coach Chan Gailey has already displayed his frustration with the pass rush.
Defensive yardage: When you can't get to the quarterback, you get passed on, a lot. Buffalo is third worst in the league in passing yards allowed, at nearly 285 per game. The secondary has been most vulnerable on long plays, giving up an array of passing plays of 20-plus yards and allowing quarterbacks to throw for over a 60 percent completion percentage. Teams have realized this weakness and are exploiting it, averaging nearly 40 pass attempts per game against Buffalo.
Special teams: The Bills' special teams unit hasn’t had to make any game-changing plays to win games, and special teams coach Bruce DeHaven is probably pretty OK with that considering its production. Buffalo is second to last in the league in kick return average and fourth worst in punt returns. The Bills haven't gained more than 30 yards in a play in either respect, despite having two versatile, speedy returners in Brad Smith and C.J. Spiller. The two have three career kickoff returns combined and each gained more than 1,000 return yards last year, so it's not like they haven't proved they can do it.
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