Bills By the Numbers

[ChuTheFat]

Stats Courtesy of Yahoo

 

Defense

Points/Game: 28th (26.6)

Total Yards/Game: 24th (361.6)

Rush Yards/Game: 32nd (169.6)

Pass Yards/Game: 3rd (192.0)

Total Interceptions: 28th (11)

Forced Fumbles: Tied 14th (12) Tied with 7 other teams

Tackles: 3rd (771)

Passes Defensed: Tied 15th (79) Tied with 1 other team

Sacks: Tied 27th (27) Tied with 2 other teams

 

Offense

Points/Game: 28th (17.7)

Total Yards/Game: 25th (304.9)

Pass Yards/Game: 24th (197.4)

Run Yards/Game: 18th (107.5)

1st Downs/Game: Tied 26th (16.4) Tied with 1 other team

3rd Down %: 18th (37.9)

Penalties: 27th (82)

Penalty Yards: 29th (663)

Time of Posession: 26th (28:35)

 

Analysis

 

Pass defense is pretty darn good. Run defense is horrifically bad. Stunning revelations all around, eh?

The lack of a run defense fully explains a LOT of the stats, including the good stats that appear on the pass defense. Teams don't need to play catch-up football when they're in the lead. They can run the ball and thus maintain the time-of-possession edge (explaining the 28:35 number), decrease their interceptions and passes defensed, and keeping the number of sacks to a minimum.

 

When the opponent is passing, yes, a good pass rush is a priority. But they aren't passing... because they don't have to.

 

On the offense it should be no secret that the O-line was problematic because it looked like they had been coming out of a MASH unit. Two starting receivers went down as well, but the most unlikely of events occurred when high round draft choices and undrafted free agents filled in admirably. Yes, things could have been significantly better, but when called on, they stepped up.

 

Picking the guys who can do that is a talent in and of itself and Buddy Nix was the one that pulled several rabbits out of the proverbial hat. Mid-season is not the time to get quality players off your practice squad, but it is a requirement when the injury bug bites, as it sometimes does. Will you complain about the lack of talent, or will you find those guys who can and do step up?