Bills Defense, will it get better as season goes on

[Mikie2times]

On 9/22/2025 at 1:20 PM, Mark80 said:

This is dumb.  The Jets had 154 yards.  The Dolphins had 276 yards.  They had 10 and 21 points respectively.  The defense came up with big stops and a turnover at the end of the Ravens game to allow the comeback.  We are down 2 starting DTs, a starting CB, a starting LB.  This is dumb.

We are down 1 starting DT and a starting LB that has barely played the last two years. But lets not focus on that. It sounds like from your view we can go ahead and check the playoff ready box? 

[HamptonBillsfan]

2 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

Yeah I am also curious to what to think 3-4 weeks down the road and really interested to see how this unit starts to come together when we get our young guys more experience (like Bishop and our rookie class), our PED guys into the rotation, and of course our injured guys back.  

 

The 2 games I got my eye on are KC and the Bucs game as measuring sticks on our progress.  

One thing you can be sure of, all the upcoming teams we play will be looking at the game as their SB. Imagine the jolt of confidence beating the Bills would give any team.

[Mark80]

13 hours ago, Mikie2times said:

We are down 1 starting DT and a starting LB that has barely played the last two years. But lets not focus on that. It sounds like from your view we can go ahead and check the playoff ready box? 

Yes.  We will be fine.  The fact of the matter is the Ravens, Chiefs, maybe the Chargers, those games are going to be coin flip games.  Same with the SB if we get there.  Just need one key turnover or a couple key stops and you win.  Its really not more complicated than that.  Even vs the Chiefs last year, with how bad it seemed, Josh still had a chance to win it at the end, Kincaid dropped a ball he could have caught.  I'll take my chances with Josh in that situation any day.

Edited September 24 by Mark80

[SoMAn]

I believe it will improve as the rookies and 2nd year players gain experience, along with the return of the suspended and injured players (specifically Milano and Oliver).

Of course the trend towards an improved defense will depend somewhat on keeping their impact players out of the infirmary an on the field. 

 

I'm optimistic about improved chemistry and efficiency on the offensive side of the ball as well. 

[Mikie2times]

3 hours ago, Mark80 said:

Yes.  We will be fine.  The fact of the matter is the Ravens, Chiefs, maybe the Chargers, those games are going to be coin flip games.  Same with the SB if we get there.  Just need one key turnover or a couple key stops and you win.  Its really not more complicated than that.  Even vs the Chiefs last year, with how bad it seemed, Josh still had a chance to win it at the end, Kincaid dropped a ball he could have caught.  I'll take my chances with Josh in that situation any day.

We haven't been fine in the playoffs to this point and I don't know that I echo the taking a chance on a game winning drive to win in the playoffs until we execute on such a drive. I wasn't trying to give you a hard time, I just don't think what we have seen thus far really tells us a heck of a lot either way. I don't feel any worse and I don't feel any better. We will learn a lot more as the season progresses. 

[Yockopondowsk]

It better get better.  Soft underbelly zone doesn’t work in the final four group.  Sean has to be more aggressive in the playoffs in general.  Corners up on receivers, and sending five or six.  If only for the change up strategy.  The Bills need more 3 and outs!! 

[LABILLBACKER]

Lets just be real and say I'd feel alot more confident if we had a more polished and dominant defense.  Regardless of what current players (injured/suspended) will be returning.  And unfortunately that puts us in another precarious situation come playoff time. We won't have a comfortable lead. And it will come down to either Josh saving the day or our D getting that 4th quarter turnover. 

[GerstAusGosheim]

On 9/23/2025 at 2:02 PM, GunnerBill said:

 

Yes. It was a LOT better under Frazier.

 

Frazier

2017 - 17th

2018 - 8th

2019 - 7th

2020 - 13th

2021 - 1st

2022 - 7th

 

McDermott

2023 - 19th

 

Babich

2024 - 29th

2025 (incomplete) - 23rd

 

 

It's true that I don't think the talent not is what it was at Leslie's peak here... but Frazier was never the problem. There are just a bunch of fans who want blitz happy defenses and loads of man coverage and Leslie is never gonna give you that. But he is a really good DC and I guarantee even with this group he'd be performing a lot better.

 

Pushed out after back-to-back top 2 DVOA performances. Nuts!!!

 

Defensive DVOA 2022 (LESLIE)

Record: 13-3

Defensive DVOA Rank: 2

Vs. Pass Rank: 2

Vs. Rush Rank: 3

Schedule Rank: 14

Points Ave Per Game: 19.1 (Rank 4)

Yards Ave Per Game: 319.4 (Rank 7)

INTs: 17

Fumble Recoveries: 10

Sacks: 40

 

Defensive DVOA 2021 (LESLIE)

Record: 11-6

Defensive DVOA Rank: 1

Vs. Pass Rank: 1

Vs. Rush Rank: 1

Schedule Rank: 31

Points Ave Per Game: 18.3 (Rank 1)

Yards Ave Per Game: 289.2  (Rank 1)

INTs: 19

Fumble Recoveries: 11

Sacks: 42

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

I think the Bills need to make a move or two on defense, especially in the backfield.

 

I'm not TOO worried about the line or the backers, but could really use some help at CB.

 

[GunnerBill]

3 hours ago, Yockopondowsk said:

It better get better.  Soft underbelly zone doesn’t work in the final four group.  Sean has to be more aggressive in the playoffs in general.  Corners up on receivers, and sending five or six.  If only for the change up strategy.  The Bills need more 3 and outs!! 

 

3 and outs wasn't the problem against the Dolphins. They had four of them. The issue was as soon as they didn't force a three and out they were unable to then get a stop. 

[WideNine]

Perhaps someone else keyed in on this, but in the Baltimore game the Ravens took advantage of our normal defensive practice of pre-snap defensive movement - where we disguise coverage, simulate pressures or blitz looks, by snapping the ball quickly before our defense was even set.

 

So, some of our defensive confusion was self-inflicted.

Just listening to Taron's comments on the Bills presser and he said that Miami caught them a few times with quick snaps as well. It is a copy-cat league, but getting the defense set before the offense is ready to snap the ball seems like the easy button to at least some improvements while we work through coaching changes and the growing pains of some youth on our line.

[T master]

I think and believe that as the year goes along the team in general will get better as they learn to play together and off of each other with in the scheme, I also hope that they will be hitting on all cylinders by the end of the season and the rookies will be having good production by that time as depth players or possibly starters if this injury thing continues .

 

The Bills have the talent to go all the way and have had it for the past few years but the one thing they haven't had a lot of is luck in some instances not to mention I feel the NFL has wanted especially last year help the Chiefs make a 3 peat because then they could get more Swifty's as NFL fans to make mor money for the NFL in general ...

[Thrivefourfive]

Agreement here. The cavalry’s coming

 

[RyanC883]

On 9/22/2025 at 12:48 PM, BearNorth said:

I find it interesting that both Bosa and Daquan are grading in the top 5 of their positions, and Ed was #1 for the game he played, Groot is in the top 20.  Behind them tho, our secondary looks less than a top crew. The only back 7 players who are grade above the midpoint at their position are Taron and Tre White.  Benford has had a huge fall off.  I think any team with a lot of speed at RB and WR is going to give us problems unless the coaches find a fix.

Benford is a major disappointment so far.