The Buffalo Bills aren’t just using their tight ends more, they’re straight up challenging the league’s defensive schemes with a heavy, three-tight end grouping called 13 personnel. Through the first two weeks, the Bills are rolling with this look on a massive 33.8% of their plays, trailing only the Rams at 36.4%. That’s double what the third-place Ravens are doing at 18.3%. This isn’t just about throwing more TEs out there; it’s a strategic shift that makes you wonder what defenses are even supposed to do.
Kincaid’s New Blueprint
Remember when the Bills stocked their initial 53-man roster with four tight ends and five receivers? Yeah, we should’ve known something was up. But it’s not just the numbers; it’s about what players like Dalton Kincaid are bringing to the field. He’s reportedly bulked up, adding strength particularly around his knee, which is huge for durability. But get this, that added power is turning him into a legit, “people-moving” blocker. He’s already shown clear improvement in the opening two weeks. This isn’t the Kincaid we’ve seen before; he’s becoming a complete threat.
The 50/50 Bomb
Here’s where it gets wild. For the first three years of his career, Kincaid on the field was practically a flashing neon sign that a pass was coming. Max Toscano on Twitter/X charted it: 11 personnel? 76.7% pass. 12 personnel? 70% pass. But in 13 personnel, with Kincaid out there, the Bills have an exactly even 50-50 run-pass split through two games. A fifty-fifty split! That completely changes the game. It means defenses can’t predict anything. We saw this adaptability firsthand in Week 2 after DJ Moore went down. The Bills just kept rolling out 13 personnel, leaning on the ground game and keeping defenses honest, even with a big lead and their top wideout sidelined. That’s real-time problem-solving, plain and simple.
This whole heavy personnel trend is gaining steam across the league, with teams seeing huge efficiency gains, especially throwing the ball, because it messes with how defenses counter. The Rams’ 13 personnel plays last season, for example, had a higher Expected Points Added per drop back than the Packers, who were the number one offense in 2025. It’s clear that teams are finding ways to innovate and confuse.
While other teams are figuring that out, we in Seattle are riding high after a dominant performance! The Seahawks just rolled over the Arizona Cardinals, 31-7. That’s how you start a season, folks. Looking ahead, we gotta keep that energy up, keep playing smart, and keep dominating on both sides of the ball. What a statement win to build on! Go Hawks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Buffalo Rumblings.
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