The NFL’s highest-paid center, Tyler Linderbaum, probably needs therapy after Week 6, because Buffalo’s Deone Walker absolutely owned him in the Bills’ 33-30 win over Las Vegas. Linderbaum, who the Raiders just made the league’s top-earning center with a monster three-year, $81 million deal that included $60M guaranteed, found himself completely demolished by the Bills’ disruptive nose tackle for a huge chunk of that game. Seriously, this was a beatdown.
Walker Made a Mockery of the Raiders’ Run Game
While Walker only officially got one pressure on his 30 pass-rush snaps, anyone watching knows he “won” his one-on-one reps against Linderbaum way more than that. The guy just flat-out wreaked havoc on the Raiders’ ground attack, which could only muster a paltry 3.3 yards per rush. Remember, Linderbaum wasn’t some scrub before this. He became an elite-level center back in Baltimore before heading to Vegas, known for his incredible balance, agility, and pure power. This dude was even an All-State wrestler in high school, famously pinning future NFL lineman Tristan Wirfs back in a 2017 match. Yet, Walker, all 6’6″ and 345 pounds of him, literally tossed the 6’2″, 305-pound Linderbaum aside like he was a practice-squad long-snapper on one insane rep. He then wrapped up Mike Washington for a short gain, a play that was an instant All-Pro level highlight.
Linderbaum’s Strengths Became Irrelevant
One of Linderbaum’s biggest strengths, dating back to his Iowa days and early career with the Ravens, was how explosive he was in the run game. He’d burst out of his stance, climb to the second level, or get across gaps with reach blocks like it was nothing. That movement ability is exactly why he was a first-round pick and why he got such a huge deal in March. But against Walker, Linderbaum’s specialty just vanished. It was irrelevant. There was one specific type of block where the smaller, more explosive Linderbaum *should* have had the advantage over Walker, but Buffalo’s second-year defensive tackle took an even cleaner victory later in the game on a similar concept, turning it into a tackle for loss. Seriously, a guy that big, 6’6″ and 345 pounds, should not be able to shoot a gap like that on Linderbaum. No way, no how. But Walker did it. Even though he was double-teamed on most of his pass-rushing opportunities, whenever Walker got a one-on-one shot, he either got completely free or just caved the pocket right in front of Kirk Cousins. On the very first offensive play of the game, Walker bull rushed Linderbaum, then countered late to get a hand right up near Cousins’ throwing motion. It was pure dominance.
This performance from Deone Walker in Week 6 was a massive statement. You have to wonder what Linderbaum’s film session looked like after that one.
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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