ESPN: Bills have the best defense in football

[VW82]

Courtesy of ESPN writer Bill Barnwell: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27680783/barnwell-stacking-surprises-nfl-seven-3-0-teams

 

There's much more in the link.

 

Quote

Not surprising: This is the best defense in football.

Most people should realize by now that the Bills have a good defense, but that has undersold the story for a while. In 2017, Sean McDermott took over what had been the league's 27th-ranked defense by DVOA under Rex Ryan and immediately pushed it to 15th. While the Bills failed to return to the playoffs and took a step backward in 2018, the defense wasn't the problem. Leslie Frazier's defense allowed 47 points to the Ravens in last year's season opener and then 31 points to the Chargers in a game most famous for Vontae Davis retiring at halftime, but the Bills have been a dominant defense ever since.

 

Quote

Over their last 17 games -- from Week 3 of 2018 on -- here's where the Bills rank in a few key defensive rate statistics:

Buffalo's Dominant Defense

CATEGORY	STAT	RANK
Drives/Gm	11.8	29th
Avg Starting FP	69.4	31st
Pts/Drive	1.51	3rd
Yds/Drive	24.8	1st
TD%	17.1%	3rd
TO%	16.1%	T-2nd
Score%	28.1%	3rd
Three-and-Out%	36.2%	1st

No unit has things harder than the Bills' defense, which faces a ton of drives and inherits terrible starting field position from an offense that turns over the ball too frequently. The Bills have gone up against 29 drives beginning on their own side of the field, almost always after an offensive takeaway. To contrast, the Patriots -- who rank just ahead of the Bills in points allowed per drive -- have faced 14 such drives over that time frame. The Chiefs have faced just five.

 

So basically our defense is once again saving our bacon. Hopefully the offense starts to pick up the pace and do their part too. Once that happens the sky's the limit for this group.

 

[billieve420]

Here comes 50 from the Pats. I hate when these articles come out so early in the season. The Bills have a good defense let's see where they finish up at the end of the year.

Edited September 23, 2019 by billieve420

[Gugny]

2 minutes ago, billieve420 said:

Here comes 50 from the Pats. I hate when these articles come out so early in the season. The Bills have a good defense let's see where they finish up at the end of the year.

 

That's the spirit!!

[Doc Brown]

1 minute ago, billieve420 said:

Here comes 50 from the Pats. I hate when these articles come out so early in the season. The Bills have a good defense let's see where they finish up at the end of the year.

We gave up 23, 37, 25 and 24 to them since McDermott took over.  It's going to take a great day by our offense and we'll have a shot.

[Don Dokken]

If it makes you feel better, he goes on to say that maybe the Packers, and definitely the Pats, may have better claims to “the best defense in football”. We’re number 3!!

[Buffalo_Stampede]

I'll change that to best coached and most disciplined. They lack pass rush and it's going to hurt them this week.

Edited September 23, 2019 by Buffalo_Stampede

[YoloinOhio]

6 minutes ago, billieve420 said:

Here comes 50 from the Pats. I hate when these articles come out so early in the season. The Bills have a good defense let's see where they finish up at the end of the year.

It’s not just this season...

[billieve420]

Bills will need to score at least 30 if they want to have a shot in this game. Pats will put up points.

[John from Riverside]

The defense is the identity of our team....the offense is still a work in progress

 

but

At least the offense now has some talent to compete.....instead of a defense that would play lights out last year in losses

[H2o]

5 minutes ago, billieve420 said:

Here comes 50 from the Pats. I hate when these articles come out so early in the season. The Bills have a good defense let's see where they finish up at the end of the year.

I don't see it, not this year. They might, and I say MIGHT, put up 30 at the most imo. Gronk has usually killed us and they have no Gronk. They may not have Edelman either possibly. There is no Hogan. Their OL is a shadow of it's former self in years past. Our depth on defense is totally different along the line and at CB. I expect a close game with both teams scoring in the 20's.  

[Reader]

9 minutes ago, Doc Brown said:

We gave up 23, 37, 25 and 24 to them since McDermott took over.  It's going to take a great day by our offense and we'll have a shot.

 

Maybe this is revisionist history on my part, but I think some of those games the Bills D was able to keep the points low most of the game only to eventually wear down due to the offense not making due on their end of the bargain. If the offense can actually put up points and sustain drives it might look different this time around.

[Big Blitz]

But Mike Schopp wants us to know he really doesn't know if we're good or just another Bills team.  Because of who we've beat.  

 

This is so sad.

 

Why am I subjecting myself to this.  

[Call_Of_Ktulu]

This defense is around defcon 3 as far as needing a DE that can pressure the QB. 

[Big Blitz]

"When will we know if we're good?"

 

 

Holy cow.  

[Call_Of_Ktulu]

Our season really hinges on 3 players. 

 

1. Allen

2a Morse

2b Hughes

[Stank_Nasty]

Waiting to here from a certain few posters in this one. We all know who they are.

 

oh by the way the run d that they were concerned with is now top 10 after facing bell, Barkley and mixon

Edited September 23, 2019 by Stank_Nasty

[Big Blitz]

Just now, Call_Of_Ktulu said:

Our season really hinges on 3 players. 

 

1. Allen

2a Morse

2b Hughes

 

I'd put Tre at 2b.  

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

18 minutes ago, Gugny said:

 

That's the spirit!!

It’s in the glove compartment.  Have a snort!

[TwistofFate]

Patriots will be exposed on Sunday.   National media falls all over them because it sells. 

 

Ive said it before and ill say it again, we are statistically on par with them offensively and better than them defensively. 

 

This team will be ready for them on Sunday in every way. 

 

Imo the Bengals are much more potent than NE on offense. 

 

 

[zow2]

Belichek always manages to confuse our offense or throw different wrinkles at them.  NOw he has a very good D so that's a bit worrisome this week.   Hey, how about the Bills staff come up with a few wrinkles to confuse ol' Tom and company ?!?!?