Buffalo Bills' A.J. Epenesa Details Team's Recent 'Whirlpool of Energy'

Buffalo Bills defensive end A.J. Epenesa is basking in his defense's hot start and sees its impact reverberate throughout the team's performance.

Blowing out two teams fighting for a top-10 draft pick is one thing. Blowing out September’s best team is another.

The Buffalo Bills ended the Miami Dolphins’ unbeaten run in a comical fashion, welcoming them into Highmark Stadium with a four-touchdown margin of victory. The 48-20 win brought the star-bound Dolphins back to Earth and has placed Buffalo firmly in the conversation for the best team in football.

In Week 5, they’ll travel to England to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars, looking to continue their three-game (quickly decided) win streak.

Defensive end A.J. Epenesa spoke about the team’s hot start and how it may continue across the pond.

Epenesa celebrates his interception against the Commanders.

© Brad Mills, USA TODAY

“Just our energy,” Epenesa said. “As a defense and as a team and as a whole, you can tell that we’re feeding off the offense, the offense is feeding off of us, we’re feeding off each other, the special teams is feeding into everybody else, and it’s just like a big whirlpool of energy … energy is contagious and momentum is contagious and all that is the way it is.”

Epenesa, albeit in a limited role, has excelled in 2023. His 77.3 grade from Pro Football Focus is the fourth-highest on the defense, and he’s provided an excellent rotation option with five pressures, a sack, and even an interception in the season’s early going.

Soon, the pass rush is going to get even better. Edge rusher Von Miller is back at practice after a leg injury cost him the end of last season and the beginning of this one. In the next three weeks, Miller will be suiting up for Buffalo.

“Oh he’s jacked up,” Epenesa said. “You can tell he’s ready to go.”

The Bills’ pass rush has helped put the offense in positions to win, especially in the Week 3 win over the Washington Commanders. It also came up big in Week 4, ending crucial Miami drives and stifling a comeback attempt.

Epenesa and the rest of Buffalo’s defense will look to carry that momentum into Sunday’s contest against a Jaguars offense that is yet to find its footing.