Bills Have Multiple 'Unsung Heroes' After Wild Season, But One Name Emerges
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If the 2022-23 Buffalo Bills were a movie, the leading man is obviously quarterback Josh Allen, with a large cast of main characters that include receiver Stefon Diggs, safety Damar Hamlin and safety Jordan Poyer.
Other key names included the likes of receiver Gabe Davis, and linebackers Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds.
But as the credits roll on, which player would earn the spotlight as unsung hero?
NFL.com picked one unsung hero, whose contributions flew under the radar, from all 32 teams, and defensive tackle Greg Rousseau is the Bills selection.
"Obviously we have big goals over here," Rousseau said after the season ended. "We couldn't get it done unfortunately. We have to learn from it and move forward and grow from it."
Here's what NFL.com had to say about the selection:
The disappointing finish to Buffalo's season left me wondering if things might have gone differently if Von Miller hadn't torn his ACL. Miller was excellent in his first season with Buffalo, and the Bills certainly missed him over the past two months. On the plus side with Buffalo's defensive front, Rousseau seems to be building toward a prosperous future.
After recording four sacks as a rookie, Rousseau doubled that total in 2022 despite playing in four less games. PFF graded him as the 20th-best edge rusher in the NFL, and I have a feeling he'll end up even higher in future seasons. This kid is just getting started.
Rousseau's eight sacks in 2022 established a new career high and led the Bills, tied with Von Miller. Among all first and second year players in the league, Rousseau's eight sacks are tied for third. His PFF grade is 83.6, second-best on the team, behind only Miller's.
To add to the 'unsung hero' story line, Rousseau had to make a comeback from an ankle injury that sidelined him for three games. When Miller's season ended due to ACL surgery, Rousseau stepped in when the Bills needed him most. Rousseau has prided himself on learning from the future hall-of-famer Miller.
Rousseau was a bright spot on Buffalo's defense, which played a major part in taking the AFC East Division crown. While the Bills overcame adversity to reach the Divisional Round of the playoffs, the team fell short of their ultimate goal in a 27-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Buffalo will be watching the Super Bowl from home on Sunday, Feb. 12. The Kansas City Chiefs (1.5-point underdogs) will try to pull the upset over the Philadelphia Eagles in Glendale, Ariz. to become Super Bowl LVII Champions.
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