All offseason, the Bills were told they were special. They had a special quarterback, Josh Allen. They had special weapons, like Stefon Diggs. And they had special, battle-tested veterans joining the fray, such as Von Miller. Buffalo was a team of destiny and would show it this season.
But at a certain point, you have to put pen to paper. If the Bills’ uneven but decisive 31-10 opening season laugher win against the Rams Thursday night was any indication of their fortunes in 2022, all systems remain full throttle in Western New York.
Let’s be frank: Buffalo didn’t play its best game against the defending Super Bowl champions at the start of their quest to “burn it all.” Far from it. For a squad that fancies itself a relentless juggernaut, the Bills left more than a few yards, catches, possessions, and points on the board than you’d expect.
After a dominant first possession capped by a magical playoff connection, you would’ve thought Buffalo was about to drop 50-plus points on the last team to lift the Lombardi Trophy. They probably should’ve! Yet, on their four other first-half drives, Buffalo turned the ball over three times and had a total of 124 yards on 22 plays. The Rams were in the mirror, were closer than they appeared, and these were not the same Bills everyone expected to circle the wagons. Instead, they resembled an average team on the brink of a backbreaking mistake at any moment.
When even the latest model of the Terminator, aka Allen, is contributing to the follies with multiple picks, then it might be time to pack it up and go home:
#RamsHouse with another INT!#Kickoff2022 on NBC and @peacockTV.
(Via: @NFL)pic.twitter.com/X2530J8HSw
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 9, 2022
As we’ve seen over the last couple of years, these are not the same Buffalo Bills. After their meaningful learning experiences, this is a team ready for the Big Stage. When it was time to turn on the afterburners to pull away from what turned out to be the definitively inferior Rams, the Bills wasted no steps.
To the shock of no one, Allen lit the fuse for the Bills. Because, of course, he did. On a crucial third-and-seven to begin the second half, Allen took off for the down marker. Rams’ defensive back Nick Scott, the poor soul, was in Allen’s way. In one of the more disrespectful stiff arms you’ll see on a national stage, the QB would simply not be denied.
JOSH ALLEN SAID GET OFF ME! #BillsMafia #Kickoff2022 on NBC and @peacockTV. pic.twitter.com/Fp6n69jnho
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 9, 2022
Third down, and you need seven? Allen gets you that and a little more — eight yards — on a possession that ended with seven points and a 17-10 lead.
Then, with the Rams still technically within a two-score striking distance early in the fourth quarter, the Bills decided to drop the hammer. There are few better ways to do so than by Allen launching a 53-yard laser to Stefon Diggs just past the outstretched arms of the all-world Jalen Ramsey:
Allen to Diggs for SIX. #BillsMafia is feeling good tonight. #Kickoff2022 on NBC and @peacockTV. pic.twitter.com/vbEOr1o4P7
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 9, 2022
Ballgame. See you later, everyone. Maybe in February? (Well, Buffalo anyway.)
All told, the Bills seemingly would not get out of their own way early on in Los Angeles. On a night that likely carried with it a lot of jitters, that’s understandable. But few teams, if any others, would settle themselves down after shooting themselves in the foot multiple times.
The Bills did.
Despite his two picks, Allen set a Bills’ franchise record with an 83.9 completion percentage in a single game. Mind you, that’s while repeatedly launching bombs with a robust 9.59 yards gained per attempt. Allen’s turnovers, or his teammates’, may as well have never happened. Honestly, since the Rams technically never forced the Bills to punt, I’m all for ignoring those giveaways if the motion comes to pass.
But we knew Allen was great. We knew Allen would eventually find a path to a clutch play or four. What should be the Bills’ real cherry on top is a dominant defensive performance led by Von Miller (three tackles-for-loss, two sacks, two QB hits). Not only did Miller and Co. turn Matthew Stafford into a turnover pumpkin (three picks), they made sure he never had enough time to find any consistently open throwing lanes by bringing him to the turf seven times.
Such a feat was managed with patience. Powered by the depth of a defensive line that seems to go eight strong, the Bills didn’t blitz Stafford once:
The Bills sacked Matthew Stafford seven times without blitzing on a single play.
Buffalo's seven sacks with four-or-fewer pass rushers is tied for the 4th-most in a game since 2016.#BUFvsLAR | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/AX8VoPOyAK
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 9, 2022
The Bills had pro football’s No. 1 ranked defense by Football Outsiders’ DVOA last season. Based on their humbling performance at the expense of the Rams, their top unit might actually even be better. It’s the kind of unit that might emphatically close the door a few times in some playoff games this winter.
The Bills did not play as well as they are capable of against the Rams. What’s absurd (and a little disturbing, if you’re an upcoming opponent) is they won by three touchdowns anyway. The Super Bowl 57 favorite essentially used the Super Bowl incumbent as a de facto preseason game to tune up for the rest of the year. Huh. Maybe Buffalo really does have a team of destiny.
