Bills roundtable: Who's the biggest AFC threat? What's working? What's not? That and more
Buffalo News sports reporters Jay Skurski, Katherine Fitzgerald and Lance Lysowski debate some of the biggest topics surrounding the Buffalo Bills through the first three weeks of the season
Buffalo News sports reporters Jay Skurski, Katherine Fitzgerald and Lance Lysowski debate some of the biggest topics surrounding the Buffalo Bills through the first three weeks of the season:
What’s been the most pleasant surprise through the first three games?
Jay Skurski: Dalton Kincaid’s emergence as a playmaker. This shouldn’t be a surprise, necessarily, because Kincaid was drafted in the first round to be exactly that. After a tough, injury-plagued second season, however, it was a bit of an unknown what Kincaid would provide in 2025. Through three games, he has provided a consistent target for Allen, with two receiving touchdowns and another near-TD that was stopped 1 yard short of the end zone.Katherine Fitzgerald: James Cook’s continuation. Cook had an incredible season last year, which was why he was adamant about getting his money this offseason. But the Bills coaches say often a player can go one of two ways after getting paid. Cook has opted to ascend. His 284 rushing yards are second-most in the NFL, and his four rushing touchdowns are the most by any running back. Perhaps most pleasant surprise of his performance though has been 70% of his rushing yards are coming after contact.
Lance Lysowski: Deone Walker. The rookie defensive tackle slipped to the fourth round because of a back injury that was so bad during the pre-draft process that the Bills’ scouts told general manager Brandon Beane that Walker shouldn’t have been on the field at the Senior Bowl. Their athletic trainers and strength staff created a plan to alleviate his discomfort and prepare Walker to make an impact in 2025. It seemed like he may have been in line for a redshirt season, but he earned a role in training camp and proved he's ready to contribute. Walker has the talent to become another Day 3 steal for Beane and, just as important, the rookie looks healthy.
What’s been the biggest concern?
Jay Skurski: Third-down defense. The Bills are allowing opponents to convert third downs 43.2% of the time – and that includes their win over the Jets, in which the Bills held New York to 0 for 11 on third down. At some point, the team’s 25-game streak of winning the turnover battle is going to end (I think) so the defense absolutely has to do a better job getting off the field. It has done so at times, but the defense needs to be more consistent in that.Katherine Fitzgerald: Injuries on defense. The Bills have been able to overcome injuries so far, with defensive tackle Ed Oliver and linebacker Matt Milano the latest to miss games. And they should get rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston back soon. Still, the injuries to Oliver and Milano are concerns, because Sean McDermott has been murky on timelines for each of them. While the next-man-up mentality has worked, it still all causes stress on the defense to adjust quickly to new faces, and it tests depth as well.
Lance Lysowski: The Bills' pass rush and coverage on third and fourth downs. Their third-down defense dropped to 24th in the NFL because they allowed the Ravens and Dolphins to convert 16 of 26 opportunities in Weeks 1 and 3. The pass rush allowed Lamar Jackson and Tua Tagovailoa to escape the pocket, which put stress on Buffalo’s secondary to cover talented receivers for too long. The Bills are 20th in pressure rate on third down, according to Next Gen Stats, and they’re 31st in rushing yards per play allowed (7.5).
Which team looks like the biggest threat to the Bills in the AFC?
Jay Skurski: It’s still the Chiefs. It’s always the Chiefs. I know what you’re thinking: They don’t look good right now. You’re right. But they’re going to get receivers Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice back soon enough. We’ve been down this road with Kansas City before. The Chiefs start slowly, look vulnerable, etc., and by the time it matters most, they are exactly where they need to be. I’m not anywhere close to writing them off despite their 1-2 start.Katherine Fitzgerald: I actually still think it’s the Ravens, even though they are fresh off their 38-30 loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday night. And they are 1-2 now. And they face Kansas City next. But I still think they are going to figure out how to translate their offense (they have a league-leading 111 points) into wins. If Derrick Henry (three fumbles in three games) can hang onto the ball, and the defense can finally get some critical stops, they will be a force again.
Lance Lysowski: The Los Angeles Chargers. They have one of the best coaches in the NFL in Jim Harbaugh; a mobile quarterback with a big arm in Justin Herbert; and, despite a season-ending injury to left tackle Rashawn Slater, an excellent offensive line to block for rookie running back Omarion Hampton. The receiving corps is also better with the emergence of Quentin Johnston and return of Keenan Allen. On defense, they have allowed just 16.7 points per game. They have three interceptions and seven sacks in three games.
Quarterback Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills have plenty to smile about after their 3-0 start to the season.
Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
Yes or no: The Bills reach their bye week at 6-0, and why or why not?
Jay Skurski: Yes. Because they are good, and their upcoming opponents are not – at all. How’s that for a simple answer? The Bills get the Saints at home this week, which is as close to a bye week without being a bye week that the NFL has. They follow with the Patriots at home and then the Falcons on the road on a Monday night. The Bills are a 16-point favorite over the Saints and should be at least a touchdown favorite in both of those games.Katherine Fitzgerald: At this point, it’s certainly trending that way. The Bills are still figuring some things out, and if they’re to play a complete game, that’s extremely bad news for their next three opponents. The Saints, Patriots and Falcons are a combined 2-7. The last time the Saints were 16-point underdogs was in 1985, then facing the 49ers. Things could get ugly fast for opponents in this next stretch as the Bills roll to the bye week undefeated.
Lance Lysowski: Absolutely. The Patriots are a team on the rise under coach Mike Vrabel, but they commit too many penalties and turn over the ball too often. In Week 6, the Bills travel to Atlanta for a matchup on Monday night against a talented Falcons team that just got shut out by the Panthers, 30-0. The Falcons’ offense has just one touchdown over their last two games, and their second-year quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., has completed 50.4% of his passes with two interceptions during that span.
