The Buffalo Bills are finally headed back to the Super Bowl if this historical trend continues. They have a 1 in 3 chance of making it to the big game and will need to win their last 4 games just to get there.
The Buffalo Bills offensive scheme is a trend that has been going on for a long time. If the trend continues, the Buffalo Bills will make it back to the Super Bowl.
The Buffalo Bills are on a roll after an early-season setback. The squad has outscored its opponents 118-21 in its past three games. While the offense has performed well in recent games, it is the defense that has stood out. In fact, just two teams in NFL history have done what the defense is accomplishing, which should have Bills Mafia very happy.
In 2024, the Buffalo Bills defense has eclipsed the star-studded offense.
The Bills are presently ranked first and second in both scoring defense and offense (2nd).
Only one club in the past 25 NFL seasons has done it for the whole season. pic.twitter.com/NZOOND1d76 (2005 Colts, 2nd D/2nd O)
— October 4, 2024, NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS)
A high-powered offense propelled the Buffalo Bills to NFL prominence in 2024. The Bills’ offense, spearheaded by quarterback Josh Allen and wide receiver Stefon Diggs, won the AFC East for the first time since 1995 and advanced to the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 1993.
In 2024, the offense struggled right away, scoring just 16 points in a defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1. Allen and company have turned things around in the last three weeks, scoring 35, 43, and 40 points.
Even with these huge statistics, the Bills’ defense has been the most outstanding thus far.
In the opener, Pittsburgh scored 23, but seven of them came on a blocked punt return. In the next games, the Bills defense allowed 21 points to the Washington Redskins while shutting out the Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans.
The Bills defense is ranked first in the NFL in yards allowed (847) points allowed (44), yards per play (4.0), takeaways (11), first downs allowed (48), passing yards allowed (595), and anticipated points contributed by all defenses (all defenses) (66.16).
So, how good has the defense been for the Bills?
Expected points provided by all defense is an advanced metric that takes into account variables such as field position, 3rd down defense, and red zone defense. The Bills are one of just seven teams in the league with a positive number in that area (which is excellent! ), and the second-place Denver Broncos D is a long way behind with a score of 22.59.
The last two NFL teams to accomplish what the Bills defense has achieved have won the Super Bowl.
The defense of the Buffalo Bills in 2024 isn’t simply outstanding. It’s historically significant. Only two other defenses in NFL history have thrown two shutouts in the first four games.
The most recent was the D. of the Baltimore Ravens in 2000. Ray Lewis, Rod Woodson, Tony Siragusa, Jamie Sharper, Peter Boulware, and Chris McAlister were among the unit’s prominent members. They blanked the Steelers 16-0 in Week 1 and blasted away the Cincinnati Bengals 37-0 in Week 4.
The now-Washington Football Team was the first to accomplish it in 1991. Darrell Green, Wilber Marshall, and Charles Mann were among the talented members of that D. In the season opener, Washington thrashed the Detroit Lions 45-0, and in Week 3, it thrashed the then-Phoenix Cardinals 34-0.
What are the similarities between these two famous defenses?
In the years they began with two shutouts, they each helped their teams reach and win the Super Bowl.
The Ravens won the Lombardi Trophy in 2000, defeating the New York Giants 34-7, while the 1991 Washington squad defeated — wait for it — the Buffalo Bills, 37-24.
The Bills’ better defense may be attributed to their Week 5 opponent.
The Buffalo Bills’ Greg Rousseau celebrates a sack against the Miami Dolphins | Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Michael Reaves
The following game will be another excellent indication of whether the Buffalo Bills of 2024 are really on their road to the Super Bowl.
The Buffalo Bills go to Arrowhead for Sunday Night Football to face the Kansas City Chiefs in one of the most highly anticipated games of the year.
In some ways, the Chiefs are to blame for the Bills’ No. 1 defense this season. After losing twice to Patrick Mahomes last season, including in the AFC Championship Game, the Bills recognized they needed a stronger pass rush and overall defense to beat the Kansas City Chiefs.
As a result, four of Buffalo’s first seven NFL Draft selections in 2024 were defensive players. With the first and second round selections, the team selected two pass-rushing defensive ends (Greg Rousseau and Carlos “Boogie” Basham).
This season, Rousseau has been particularly successful. He’s played in two games and has 2.0 sacks, three tackles for loss, and 13 tackles to his credit.
The route to the Super Bowl must pass through Kansas City if Buffalo wants to follow the historic pattern begun by Washington and Baltimore. On Sunday night, we’ll see how the Bills’ better defense performs.
Pro Football Reference provided all stats.
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