Buffalo Bills Coach Sean McDermott Discusses Philadelphia Eagles WRs A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith
In what could very well be Sunday’s best game, the Buffalo Bills (6-5) will head on the road to face the Philadelphia Eagles (9-1).
Buffalo has played well enough to reignite playoff optimism, leaving two options to end the season. Either the Bills come out on the other end battle-tested and ready for playoff football, or flaws on both sides of the ball ultimately foiled their January plans. With the Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, and Miami Dolphins both on the schedule and in playoff position entering Week 12, there’s no time for another cold streak.
That includes the defense, too. Since Week 5, when the blizzard of injuries started to take hold, Buffalo ranks 25th in expected points added per play. It has been especially leaky on the back end, falling outside the top 20 in dropback expected points added and dropback success rate in that span.
Frankly, that doesn’t mesh well with an explosive Eagles offense that specializes in the deep ball. No team has perfected nine routes down the boundary like Philadelphia. Quarterback Jalen Hurts, the current favorite to win MVP, may throw the best deep ball in the game. Throwing to All-World receiver A.J. Brown and trusty sidekick, Heisman-winning receiver DeVonta Smith, the chunk gains come in bunches weekly.
A.J. Brown makes a play after the catch in the Super Bowl.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Despite not quite living up to expectations on a down-to-down basis, the Eagles' numbers are inflated by incredible downfield success.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott spoke about the duo they’ll be facing on Sunday.
“They take their shots down the field, they believe in that philosophically offensively. And when you look at what [Hurts is] able to do to extend plays, when he’s got A.J. on one side and Smith on the other,” McDermott said. “They’re different, right: one guy is a little more smoother than the other one, the other one’s a big-bodied, tough, strong receiver at the point of attack. So two different guys, but both very effective.”
Unsurprisingly, Brown and Smith are Hurts' most common options. Brown has gone nuclear for most of the year (though he disappointed in Week 11), posting 68 catches, 1,013 yards, and six scores in 10 games. Smith, meanwhile, has as many targets as Brown has receptions, generating 48 catches for 632 yards and four touchdowns.
Against a Buffalo defense that has given up its fair share of explosives, there’s reason to worry. The Bills have done fairly well against quality receiver duos, beating the Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins put up 110 yards in Week 9’s contest.
Furthermore, they’ll be short-handed on their trip. Cornerback Dane Jackson will miss this one with a concussion, as will safety Taylor Rapp.
If Buffalo is going to come out of this one unscathed, it will be at the hands of veterans in the defensive backfield. Corner Rasul Douglas can expect to be tested, while veteran safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer (should they be healthy enough to go) will be critical in closing windows downfield.
Kickoff is at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS.
