For the first two weeks of the season, it appeared that Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills offense would once again be one of the most potent in the NFL. The Bills hung 36 points on the Houston Texans—widely considered to have one of the stingiest defenses in the league—in Week 1, and followed up with a 41-point output in a Week 2 win over the Detroit Lions.
But since then, Buffalo’s offense hasn’t appeared quite right, and that starts with Allen, who has thrown three interceptions with two fumbles
(one lost) over the last two weeks. The Bills held on to beat the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3 despite committing five turnovers, but turnovers and an offense that mustered zero or one first down on seven of 11 possessions doomed Buffalo in a Week 4 home loss to the New England Patriots.
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After four weeks of the season, today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off by assessing the state of Buffalo’s offense following a 3-1 start, including how defenses have succeeded in containing talented tight end Dalton Kincaid, and why head coach Joe Brady says solving the issues on offense will take improved efforts from everybody, not just Allen.
“There’s a standard by which we play, and we’re either playing to that standard or not,” Brady said. “It obviously wasn’t good enough [against New England], and we didn’t find a way to go 1-0.”
Check out the assessments below and then let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
Have teams figured out how to contain TE Dalton Kincaid?
In wins over the Texans and Lions, Kincaid hauled in 12 of 14 targets for 245 yards and a touchdown, sporting a 4.69 yards per route run (YPRR) figure that trailed only Jaxson Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks, and a 29.2% targets per route run figure that was 12th highest in the NFL.
Since then, Kincaid has been getting challenged by opposing defenses, amassing only three receptions on five targets for 45 yards with a lost fumble. His YPRR plummeted to 1.13, and his target rate declined to 12.5%, tied for 160th out of 209 qualifying players.
Against the Chargers and Patriots, the defenses played physical with Kincaid and provided help over the top, neutralizing Buffalo’s 2023 first-round pick. The one good development from Buffalo’s receivers through the first four weeks? Keon Coleman, who broke out with six catches on seven targets for 116 yards with a touchdown against New England. But for Buffalo’s offense to be on its game, the Bills need to figure out a way to get Kincaid more involved.
In other news out of One Bills Drive, we dissect how both the good and the bad Josh Allen were on display against New England; discuss the Bills’ growing problem with two-point conversions; and explore why the pressure is on Brady and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. to figure out how to get the downfield passing game back on track if wide receiver DJ Moore is sidelined with his shoulder injury.
- Did the Patriots reveal a blueprint for stopping Dalton Kincaid?: Bills All-22 film review – The Athletic (subscription required)
- Making sense of Dalton Kincaid’s role in the Bills’ offense: ‘We’ve got to get him the ball’ – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Early AFC stakes grow as Bills search for offensive answers – Democrat & Chronicle
- Buffalo Bills’ WR Draft ‘Bust’ Finding Success in New Role – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- Josh Allen’s crazy plays cut both ways. We saw both vs. Patriots – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Buffalo Bills’ loss to Patriots raises questions about secondary, Dion Dawkins and more – newyorkupstate.com
- Buffalo Bills have a 2-point conversion problem and Joe Brady knows it – Democrat & Chronicle
- Bills Well Behind Rest of NFL in Critical Offensive Stat That Was Costly vs. Patriots – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- Buffalo Bills’ continued struggles with two-point conversions proved costly Sunday – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- DJ Moore’s absence a problem Bills must answer. Joe Brady: ‘There’s no excuse’ – Buffalo News (subscription required)
Even more Bills news
Examining the rumors linking Buffalo to speedy wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Plus, grading the Bills through the first four weeks; find out what left tackle Dion Dawkins is doing to help people impacted by the criminal justice system find work; and more!
- NFL Insider Names Bills as Top Suitor for Tyreek Hill – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- Bills Face Strong Tyreek Hill Prediction as NFL Comeback Looms – Heavy.com
- Bills’ Grades for Every Position Group Through Season’s First Quarter Show Weaknesses – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- None of Brandon Beane’s Last Three First-Round Draft Picks Helped Bills vs. Patriots – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- Dion Dawkins helps people impacted by criminal justice system find a path to work – WGRZ
- Bills’ Dion Dawkins hosts community job fair – WIVB
- Dion Dawkins spearheads ‘Not Your Average Job Fair’ to provide a fresh start – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Mike Hamby breathing new life after double lung transplant – WGRZ
Buffalo Bills articles recently featured on Buffalo Rumblings
- Are the Bills still headed in the right direction after 4 games? – Buffalo Rumblings
- We have to talk about Keon Coleman… – Buffalo Rumblings
- Bills need to revert to multiple TE ways on offense – Buffalo Rumblings
- Tyreek Hill to Bills would be wild – Buffalo Rumblings
- Did Bills defense lose the game or did Patriots offense win it? – Buffalo Rumblings
- Can you guess this Bills quarterback in today’s in-5 trivia game – Buffalo Rumblings
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