Bills Pass Rush: Most Important Group for Contention?
The Buffalo Bills are still looking to capitalize on their Super Bowl window while they've got the talent to do so. With Stefon Diggs in his prime and Josh Allen being a young star, the Bills are going to be a threat each year. However, the Bills need production on the other side of the field if they want to contend.
Everyone knows that the Allen and Diggs connection is special. They could use help from another receiver to alleviate some defensive pressure off Diggs, but they're talented enough to work through that this season.
Allen being a dual-threat quarterback helps in the rushing game, though the running back room can help him out in that aspect of the offensive game this season. However, the duo can't control what happens on the other side of the ball.
The Bills were an incredible defensive team this past season. They ranked sixth in opposing yards per game, as they allowed an average of 319.1 total yards per game. They were the fifth best rushing defense league-wide, allowing 104.6 rushing yards per game.
The passing game and pass defense is a different story for the Bills, though. They were 15th in the league in passing yards allowed per game. They gave up an average of 214.6 yards per game in the air on the season.
Injuries to the secondary contributed plenty to this matter, but the defense up front can make life easier for the Bills. There's a reason they spent $120 million over six years to bring in Von Miller.
When healthy, the Bills used Miller just enough to keep him fresh when the lights were the brightest. Assisting him will be Greg Rousseau, A.J. Epenesa and Shaq Lawson. Putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks will be key to giving the offense more and more opportunities on the other side of the ball. Getting Miller healthy and not overusing him early will be important as well.
Among all the holes, the pass rush has the ability to make the biggest impact to the Bills being a serious Super Bowl-contending team.
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