ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — There was plenty of back slapping going around in the immediate aftermath of the Buffalo Bills defense’s dominating performance over Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets.
Three takeaways, four sacks — including one for a safety — and chasing Rodgers to the bench while enjoying a 40-0 lead through the opening minutes of the fourth quarter Sunday was a welcome sight for a patchwork defense that had allowed a combined 107 points, 1,357 yards and 86 first downs in its three previous outings.
Encouraging as it was in a 40-14 win in which Buffalo (13-3) clinched the AFC’s No. 2 seed, questions remain over how the unit holds up against superior competition once the postseason opens in two weeks. And will it be enough for a prolific Josh Allen-led offense to mask Buffalo’s defensive deficiencies by simply outscoring opponents?
“These past couple of weeks we’ve been doubted,” said A.J. Epenesa, who had the safety. “Just responding. We know what caliber defense we can be.”
And yet, overwhelming a struggling Rodgers and the unraveling Jets, who are headed into another uncertain offseason is one thing. Putting together a similar performance against the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert presents a far more daunting test.
As much as Buffalo enters Monday ranking 11th in the NFL averaging 21.6 points against, the team is 5-3 when allowing 21 or more points. This is also a unit that ranks 21st in yards allowed, and relying on having forced 31 takeaways — tied for the NFL lead with Pittsburgh and Minnesota through games Sunday — to get off the field.
“It was good to see our defense balling. We were hitting on all cylinders,” cornerback Taron Johnson said. “We keep that up, we can do something special.”
Perhaps.
What’s also important to weigh are the complementary keys that have added up to the Bills’ success.
The common threads in Buffalo’s losses to Baltimore, Houston and the Los Angeles Rams include the defense allowing 400-plus yards and a combined turnover differential of plus-1 for a team that enters Monday with a league-best plus-23. The losses also marked the only times this season in which the Bills trailed by 10 or more at halftime.
By comparison, the Bills are 9-0 when leading at the half, and 7-1 when scoring on their opening possession.
This places an emphasis on Buffalo getting off to fast starts, which was most evident in a 48-42 win at Detroit on Dec. 15. The defense forced punts on the Lions’ first two possessions, while the offense scored touchdowns on its first three.
If any of this sounds familiar, questions over the defense stepping up in the playoffs have been an ongoing theme.
In being eliminated three times by Kansas City and once by Cincinnati over the past four playoffs, the Bills have been outscored by a combined 134-94, allowed an average 441 yards offense and forced two takeaways (both fumbles).
Injuries and youth are the reasons behind Buffalo’s defensive inconsistencies this year. And the bright side is the unit finally approaching its healthiest entering the playoffs.
Better still is coach Sean McDermott having the opportunity to rest ma
