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

[finn]

I'm cautiously optimistic Milano will contribute some big plays going forward, but I wonder what happened to Bernard, who looked like a budding Pro Bowl player last year. The secondary looks pretty good, even with Hamlin, who is dependable in both good and bad ways. Oliver and Rousseau can disappear some games, but they can also dominant, and I think Von may really help in the playoffs if the offense can build a big lead. 

 

Bottom line: This defense is at its best when the team is ahead, but it has shown it can help (a lot) with turnovers. 

 

Now ask us about Special Teams. 🤔

[Buffalo Boy]

   This D is going to get shredded. Our hope is Josh can repeat what he did after the 2021 season.

    My hopes are slim to none that we get to the SB much less win it. 

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

it will really be the offense that can carry them deep but against good offenses like detroit or the rams they allowed too many points. and if they have to face the ravens and henry, not a good match up for this defense. granted, JA and the offense can put up 40+ so you'll be weighing on him and the offense to advance but unless they can create those takeaways (31 on the season tied for 1st with pittsburgh) it may be their achilles heel this postseason? I'm expecting those who were banged up to get healthy (hopefully) and go into the playoffs with key players back so they may have a good chance at it?

 

those takeaways are not luck. that is coached and practiced and they know how to get to the ball and lately the QB with some sacks. that group can get it done but my biggest concern would be having to go up against the ravens and henry.

 

but if at home, you never know.

 

 

Edited December 31, 2024 by DaBillsFanSince1973

[jethro_tull]

Right now the Bills defense is a big "IF" for me.  

I think they can beat any team IF-

       They can improve their near last in league 3rd down %- which by default would require improved run stopping and better coverage.  

       

 

[3rdand12]

1 hour ago, HOUSE said:

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

When you can be serious, you can be spot on.

Anyone who has not considered the amount of energy invested into McD et al , all the weaknesses to be exploited for the Team we would likely face to finish off the division and then to win the SB ? well that's tad foolish

 And they wil coaching the Tendencies and counters hard after weak 18. No need for players or position Coaches to focus on what McD studies yet

as you said. Still chalking and erasing and chalking

 

[Sojourner]

No different than before. They’re ok. And that’s all we really need for Josh and the gang. As long as they can get some stops 20% of the game, we’ll be good. 

[Sierra Foothills]

How do I feel about the Bills defense going into the playoffs?

 

Somewhere between justifiably concerned and cautiously optimistic.

 

1 hour ago, NickelCity said:

Remember when George Wilson was playing safety and we had that thread about "this type of defense is not sustainable?" (About a defense that was quite soft but was generating turnovers).

 

I hope we string together 4 games of winning the turnover battle. 

 

Yes, it's true that offenses emphasize ball security and that defenses practice takeaways but usually turnover ratio regresses to a mean average over a large sample size.

 

The only saving grace for our defense this year has been the takeaways. In every other area they've been poor.

 

49 minutes ago, Dan said:

I think the forgotten point is that we haven’t had a fully healthy D since …49rs game?  They’ve been testing one or more injured players since then.   Plus, this will be the first time that we’re fully healthy going in to the playoffs in recent memory.  Hopefully they stay that way!  
 

But, that’s what has me cautiously optimistic.  Being fully healthy and all the day 1 starters playing is pretty big.   They still have to execute and draw up plans to beat the best QBs and RBs in the league.  But no excuses this time.

 

And this is my reason for optimism, is that the Bills D is trending towards being the healthiest they've been all year... and that a lot of the younger players got meaningful experience.

 

Other thoughts... like some have mentioned, I hope the D has a few tricks up their sleeve but with all of the injuries and young players, I'm not sure they're be able to install effective wrinkles in time for the playoffs. It's hard to pin hopes on some secret recipe.

 

Realistically if we continue to win the turnover battle and return to health, our 3rd down defense could possibly improve enough that we can outscore our opponents in 4 straight playoff games.

 

Edited December 31, 2024 by Sierra Foothills

[BigdaddyinOrlando]

Feeling better than a few weeks ago, intrigued as I think there is stuff we haven’t shown yet. But still believe our best defense is our offense putting up 30-35 pts per contest. Fingers crossed and let’s go Bills

[Virgil]

I try not to think about it

[3rdand12]

4 minutes ago, Virgil said:

I try not to think about it

And yet ..

😋

[In Summary]

Everyone on D is better when the DTs don't get handled. What's the status of DaQuan Jones? Not seeing much in the stat lines for him.

[Chandler#81]

We’re not a dominating Defense by choice (also due to lack of size & talent). I think it’s predicated on the expectation that the MVP is going to score early and often, so we give the run away and concentrate on coverage more. It’s very effective when the O is humming. But when it’s not, we’re in a tough spot..

Edited December 31, 2024 by Chandler#81

[machine gun kelly]

Guys, to put in perspective through 16 games in defense, we’re 11th against in points, 13th against the rush, and the place where lacking is against the pass at 22nd.

 

So, I’m not stating we are the 1999 Ravens on defense, but we’re also not atrocious, and balanced with 2nd highest scoring offense in the league.

 

I also think as one person pointed out, we’re getting healthy and that will only improve as any questionable players in terms of health will sit Sunday.

[Scott7975]

Not good honestly. This D does not match up well with the Ravens. It struggles with run defense. It struggles with mobile QBs. The Ravens have it all. We are sure to face them unless some miracle happens in the WC round. Im a little more optimistic about the Chiefs but since we last played them they have Brown and Pacheco back. Josh is going to have to have games like the Rams and Lions pretty much from here on out.

Edited December 31, 2024 by Scott7975

[Joe Ferguson]

Bills D will have no problem facing quarterbacks like Stroud,  Wilson, Tua, Nix or Herbert in the playoffs. But there's no way HC McD and his dog turd defense can stop Burrow, Lamar and Mahomes. Bills will once again get eliminated for the 7th straight year under HC McD and his overpaid and useless defense. 

I'm hoping I'm wrong though.

[Magox]

First thing that will need to happen is that the Bills score near 30+ per game.

 

This defense will not be a sort of defense to shut down good opposing offenses, they will give up yards.

 

However, we do have lots of players who are capable of making plays, we get tons of turnovers and in order to win against the top offenses we will need to get some sacks, forced fumbles, int’s and some tackles for losses.  
 

Need to force a few stops a games and FG attempts.  If the Bills can do that defensively while still scoring points than the Bills can beat anyone.

 

Also, the Bills defense has been playing with 3 Lb’s more often and I fully expect to see that in action a lot vs the Ravens if we play them.

 

I also think you will see Babich dial up more blitzes and exotic pass pressures than we’ve seen.   

[JMM]

Very, very, very concerned. 

[NewEra]

It all comes down to one thing imo,

and that thing is hard to predict. 
 

How will the defensive line perform?  Will Ed play like he did against the Lions and their great OL or will he disappear?  Will Rousseau take the next step earn a 25M aav contract or will he remain a very good player?  Will AJ and Von make a splash play or 2 each? 
 

The defensive line needs to make plays.  It all starts….and ends, with them

Edited December 31, 2024 by NewEra

[Bills Bud]

Not good

[PoundingDog]

10 minutes ago, Magox said:

First thing that will need to happen is that the Bills score near 30+ per game.

I have to stop right there. Everyone assumes, like you said, that the offense under Josh will score 30+ a game in the post season to the superbowl win. Does anyone know it is a TALL, TALL order in the playoffs?

 

Look at the superbowl champ 1999 Rams. They went 14-2 regular season scored over 30 in all but 2 games. In the playoffs, they scored 49, 11, and 23 points in 3 games to win the superbowl. Only the 2019 Chiefs scored their way (over 30) in the playoff to a superbowl win and that is will a prime Kelce and Hill.

 

When the offense is rolling un-hindered, I don't have much concerns. The problem is when opposing teams do stop us from time to time, we need our defense to rise up and match the stops. That's where no oner has confidence.