by Tony Fiorello
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 07: a Buffalo Bills helmet rests on the field before the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, January 7, 2024 at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
1. If the last two weeks don’t stamp Josh Allen as the favorite to be named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player, I don’t know what will. What he’s been doing at the helm of Buffalo’s offense has been otherworldly – Allen’s been doing things that few, if any, quarterbacks have ever done and to borrow a saying from New York Yankees Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, he’s “the straw that stirs the drink”. As he goes, so do the fortunes of the Bills.
2. Beyond the puzzling decision by Joe Brady to have the team run a screen on the last play of the first half, he called a fabulous game. Using many different run concepts, lots of motion and misdirection, changing up the tempo of the game (some no-huddle along with other drives to keep Detroit on the sidelines as long as possible) and leaning on Buffalo’s core of talented running backs, Brady was a stud on Sunday.
3. Giving up over 40 points for a second straight week isn’t ideal (Sean McDermott and Bobby Babich do have some work to do with their defense) but given the opponent – Detroit entered the contest as the highest-scoring team in the league – and the amount of injuries they had (Rasul Douglas, Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp all missed the game while Matt Milano got hurt again and Dorian Williams also missed some action) – it was understandable. But winning games like this can’t be a habit. One can’t expect to score 40 points every week, so the defense needs to come up better against the Patriots.
4. On that note, that may have been the best game Ed Oliver’s had as a pro. Good hand usage, power and leverage allowed him to both defend the run well and affect Jared Goff in the passing game all day long. Ditto that of Kaiir Elam, who made few mistakes in pass coverage.
5. We’re on to New England!
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