Buffalo Bills fans, you just barely survived Week 1, huh? Like, seriously. Coach Joe Brady’s head coaching debut was a nail-biter against the Texans, needing a clutch 34-yard touchdown from Josh Allen to Joshua Palmer with only 1:36 left on the clock for the 36-31 win. Allen was an absolute machine, slinging for 334 yards with two passing touchdowns and punching in two more rushing scores. Four TDs total from your QB, and it was still this tight? That’s wild.
Brady Ballers: Offense is Cookin’ (Mostly)
Man, Brady came out swinging with some interesting looks early. We saw a lot of three tight end sets, but it wasn’t just old-school smashmouth. Some of those formations were essentially 12 personnel, just with Dalton Kincaid lined up like a big wide receiver instead of Tyrell Shavers. That’s smart, keeps defenses guessing. Kincaid, by the way, was straight-up excellent, snagging five catches for 130 yards, including an awesome grab to kick off the two-minute drill. And D.J. Moore, making his Bills debut, was electric. Five catches for 100 yards, including a sick 43-yard touchdown that pushed them to 24-14 in the first half. Allen’s ball velocity is no joke, just zips past defenders, and Moore absolutely loves it.
Brady had guts to go for it on 4th and 2, even if it didn’t work out. You gotta live and die with Josh Allen and that powerful offense, right? And I love how he’s moving those main pass catchers around. Kincaid inside and out, Khalil Shakir sometimes outside, Moore in the slot. That keeps the defense on their toes, constantly thinking. Twenty-four first-half points? That’s the kind of firepower that can win you games, but it also masked some serious defensive issues.
Defense? We Need to Talk. Immediately.
Alright, let’s be real. That defense needs to get its act together, and fast. Terrel Bernard was flying around, which was great to see, but the overall performance was rough. The base 3-4 D was okay against the run, but as soon as they went to nickel, it was a struggle to stop the ground game. And man-to-man with Damar Hamlin on the field? That move was dumb and cost them a big opportunity to get off the field on a third down. Michael Hoecht, as the second interior defensive lineman on passing downs, just wasn’t there, not close to what he showed last year before his injury. They need better IDL play, period. Deone Walker seems like the only consistent good piece in there.
Even Ed Oliver needs to step up. Yeah, he had a fumble recovery that set up Tyler Bass’s first field goal, but the group needs way more consistent play. Guys like Landon Jackson and DeWayne Carter didn’t impress, and T.J. Sanders, who didn’t look good in preseason, is now out. Gaines? Invisible. There is major, major room for improvement there. What was that with one minute left in the first half? Bernard gets caught changing the play, covers the flat, and leaves the whole middle wide open for a big play. That was awful, setting up Nico Collins’ 12-yard touchdown. You can’t be giving up points like that.
This win was thrilling, but the Bills cannot rely on Josh Allen to be a superhero every single game. That defense has to tighten up, especially the interior D-line and those mental lapses, if they want to build on this chaotic Week 1 victory. They’ve got work to do, but at least it’s a win. Bring on Week 2, let’s see some adjustments!
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.
Leave a Reply