So, how is everyone feeling about this defense going into the playoffs?

[Rubes]

Now that all of the meaningful regular season games are done, having seen how this defense has performed the last few weeks against the Rams, Lions, Patriots, and the Jets, how are you all feeling about their impact on our playoff chances?

It seems to me that this defense is exactly what we’ve come to know: bend and hope they don’t break. Gives up yards and first downs in chunks, forces offenses into long drives, and hopes the other team screws up and either kicks field goals or turns the ball over. Seems to work okay against below average offenses (New England**** or the Jets), not quite so much against very good offenses (Lions, Rams, Ravens). Sometimes does well against certain teams or schemes (eg, Miami, SF), other times not so much.

 

They say offenses win in the regular season, defenses win in the playoffs. I feel like this defense is going to struggle in the playoffs, where most teams have strong offenses. Seems to me like it’s all going to come down to whether Josh can play out of his mind and carry them on his own.

 

I’d just hate to see another great season by Josh wasted by a porous defense (and crappy special teams, too).

 

[US Egg]

I feel good....

 

Too much focus on the two barn burners.    

Edited December 31, 2024 by US Egg

[Kelly to Allen]

Fully healthy I think they will be dominant.

 

Against KC it's going to be tough but they'll do enough to win 

 

Von Miller and Rousseau/ Oliver will be too much for a KC oline imo. 

Edited December 31, 2024 by Kelly to Allen

[SF Bills Fan]

Cautiously optimistic. 

[BuffaloBill]

I don’t like this d against the Ravens. However, they may play more three linebacker schemes on early downs. They sampled this concept some in the last two weeks. 
 

it is not typical for the Bills but they may need it to counter heavy offensive sets. 

[Since1981]

It’s all premised upon O getting started early enough to partially mute opponents run game. Pretty convinced this is the “complementary football” we hear about. 

[Big Turk]

I'm hoping they do what normal team's defenses do in the playoffs...get better instead of worse like this one usually does.

[FireChans]

6 minutes ago, Rubes said:

Now that all of the meaningful regular season games are done, having seen how this defense has performed the last few weeks against the Rams, Lions, Patriots, and the Jets, how are you all feeling about their impact on our playoff chances?

It seems to me that this defense is exactly what we’ve come to know: bend and hope they don’t break. Gives up yards and first downs in chunks, forces offenses into long drives, and hopes the other team screws up and either kicks field goals or turns the ball over. Seems to work okay against below average offenses (New England**** or the Jets), not quite so much against very good offenses (Lions, Rams, Ravens). Sometimes does well against certain teams or schemes (eg, Miami, SF), other times not so much.

 

They say offenses win in the regular season, defenses win in the playoffs. I feel like this defense is going to struggle in the playoffs, where most teams have strong offenses. Seems to me like it’s all going to come down to whether Josh can play out of his mind and carry them on his own.

 

I’d just hate to see another great season by Josh wasted by a porous defense (and crappy special teams, too).

 

Very badly.

 

we have had borderline elite regular seasons defenses with multiple All Pros fall apart in the postseason. 
 

Now we have a mediocre defense without any All Pros heading into the postseason.

 

We are going to need to run the ball and keep opposing teams off the field… a lot.

[SageAgainstTheMachine]

I’m of the same mind.  There will be no elite defensive performances against the likes of Lamar, Mahomes, Burrow or probably Herbert.  What you hope for against these teams is 1 or 2 turnovers and 1 or 2 stalled drives.  Josh can take that and win 90% of the time.  
 

They can, on a good day, embarrass and blow out Tua, Nix, Stroud (sans most weapons) or Russel Wilson.

[Boatdrinks]

I think they are what they are at this point. Capable of being decent to good, not great. They can complement a high powered offense, but won’t save the day if the offense struggles. Everyone knows this. They are relatively healthy, and I wouldn’t be surprised if McD takes a few more risks vs the better teams the Bills will be facing after the WC round. He has Josh Allen, and the more conservative defensive approach has failed in several playoff games. 

[zow2]

If the D can tread water and get a take away or two, and/or a fourth down stuff or two, I’ll take it. That might mean they give up 21 to 24 points but I’m confident Josh and the offense are gonna go off in the playoffs.

[RiotAct]

7 minutes ago, Kelly to Allen said:

Fully healthy I think they will be dominant.

 

Against KC it's going to be tough but they'll do enough to win 

 

Von Miller and Rousseau/ Oliver will be too much for a KC oline imo. 

remember, they’re allowed to do things most other O-Lines in the league aren’t allowed to do.

[Simon]

They aren't great by any means, but if healthy, they are good enough to compliment the Bills offense all the way through the SB.

I think the narrative has fed on itself and gotten out of control; the reality is that since Halloween they have really only had one single bad game and that was an out of conference West coast road trip against a HOF QB playing at the absolute peak of abilities.

If the Bills coaches have the stones to coach them more proactively in the postseason, I think they will be OK.

[MPL]

I am most worried about the likely matchup against Baltimore in the Divisional Round. My only bit of optimism comes from the fact that the defense was without Bernard, Johnson, and Milano when they played in Week 5. Was Rapp out that game, too? 

[CincyBillsFan]

Not great but I have the feeling that this playoff season we will see the best Bills D in the Allen era.

[Bimmer323i]

Can’t even read any of the news articles on here anymore cause there all locked… Why even bother posting em… I wouldn’t pay 5 cents to subscribe to any of those rip off news media outlets 

[QB Bills]

I have zero confidence in this defense and the guy running it when it comes to the playoffs. The turnover luck will have to continue and Josh will continue to have zero margin for error for the Bills to have a chance. It's a big ask.

[HOUSE]

You are not watching the playoff defense yet. It's still on the blackboard. 

[Kelly to Allen]

8 minutes ago, RiotAct said:

remember, they’re allowed to do things most other O-Lines in the league aren’t allowed to do.

It's not going to matter. We will be up too much in the 4th qtr making it obviously a passing situation...

 

The game will then be won with a few sacks late, FF etc

 

Buffalo 37

KC 24 

 

KC with a late TD to make it look closer

 

 

Edited December 31, 2024 by Kelly to Allen

[Success]

It's not the kind of lights-out defense you want for a title run - but they're better than the Lions, Rams & Pats games.

 

I have confidence.  We have a lot of talent on that side of the ball.