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Bills explosive plays on offense standout through first two weeks of 2026 season

Sep 24, 2026 at 06:28 PM

Buffalo Bills Week 3 Practice, September 24, 2026 at the Kaleida Health Performance Center.

As the Buffalo Bills continue their preparation for the Los Angeles Chargers, we're taking a look at the latest practice updates from Thursday, as well as diving into one key metric that's helped Buffalo's league-leading offense through two weeks.

"We look good" | Bell impressed with Bills offense, stays ready for his opportunity

With Buffalo potentially short-handed at wide receiver this weekend, a fourth-round rookie has a chance to make his NFL debut. Injuries to WRs DJ Moore (shoulder) and Keon Coleman (ankle) have opened the door for Skyler Bell to potentially play in his first game when the Bills host the Chargers.

Though Bell hasn't been explicitly told whether or not he'll suit up Sunday, he's been staying ready while being a healthy inactive the first two games.

"I'm still living my dream. Like I'm playing in the NFL, so I try not to take those days for granted," Bell said. "Even just being there for those two games, just the experience going down to Houston, being here for the Detroit game. I try to take it day by day, stay focused, stay in the game plan, so that when they do call my number, I'm ready."

Bell shared that he has continued to earn reps with the Bills' starting offense since the start of the season, continuing to build chemistry with QB Josh Allen. With Moore and Coleman listed as non-participants in Thursday's practice, Bell had additional opportunities with the offense.

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"My rep count with the ones have been a little bit more because some guys are a little bit limited," the receiver added about this week's role. "Go out there and make plays when the ball comes my way. Be on the same page as 17 [Allen], and catch the ball."

The Bills offense ranks No. 1 in the league in scoring through two weeks and Bell is eager to add to that mix should he get the call up to the game day roster, whether it's this week or a future week.

"We look good, man. There's still a lot of room for improvement, but just seeing how explosive and dynamic we are I'm excited. I want to be a part of it, I want to add my abilities to the offense," Bell said.

Sunny with a chance of football. ☀️ pic.twitter.com/fJiH2furkU
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 24, 2026

Explosive plays helping open up the offense

The Bills' strong start to the regular season has been in large part due to maintaining one of the NFL's most prolific offenses. Through the first two weeks, Buffalo is averaging a league-high 38.5 points per game.

A huge reason for Buffalo's offensive production has been its ability to generate explosive plays.

"We've been a little bit more aggressive on some of the second-and-longs and third-and-longs, having the opportunity to push the ball downfield," QB Josh Allen said. "Our guys are doing such a great job and being in the right spots and converting on the opportunities that we have thrown down the field."

Explosive plays are defined as rushes for 12 yards or more, along with passes for 16 or more yards. The Bills sit atop the NFL in the metric, generating 24 plays that fit the criteria through their first two games.

The split between big rushes and passes has been pretty even through the first two games. Buffalo is currently second in yards per passing attempt (9.7) and fourth in yards per rushing attempt (5.1).

"We want to force teams to defend every blade of grass on the field, deep, intermediate, short passes in the run game as well," Allen said. "Just trying to be as versatile as we can be."

Showing opponents the confidence to stretch the field has opened up looks for Allen, helping him lead Buffalo's offense to score a touchdown on a league-high 47.6% of drives.

Despite showing that airing the ball out down the field can lead to success, Allen hasn't forced the big plays to come.

"Whether it's there or not, making the right decision is obviously the first and foremost priority," Allen said. "If they're taking everything deep away, give it underneath, and try to get into either a third-and-manageable or fourth-and-manageable, and have the option to go for it."

The Bills Week 3 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers could present another opportunity to get vertical in the receiving game. L.A. has allowed the fourth most passing yards per game (262.5) to begin the year.

Despite surrendering big yardage over the course of each game, the Chargers have only allowed nine explosive plays through the first two weeks. Even if the opportunities aren't there for Buffalo on Sunday, the threat of the big play could do enough to help put points on the board.

"The average depth of target is never important to me," head coach Joe Brady said. "It's about Josh, if the opportunity is there, being able to take advantage of it. And when we have those, cashing in on them. A long incompletion doesn't do much either.

"Anytime you have the ability to run the ball with our run game, and then you've also got Josh Allen in there, and you can be aggressive with it, it puts stress on the defense."

Injury updates

WR DJ Moore (shoulder) did not practice on Thursday, after being a limited participant in a non-contact jersey on Wednesday. DL Ed Oliver (hip) was limited on Thursday after missing the first practice of the week.

WR Keon Coleman (ankle) and DL T.J. Sanders (illness) each missed their second day of practice, while G Ar'maj Reed-Adams (elbow) was limited for the second day in a row. DB Jordan Hancock (hamstring) also wasn't at practice after being limited to start the week.

Despite missing the first two regular-season games of the season, RB Ty Johnson (hamstring) has been a full participant on both days ahead of the Week 3 matchup.