1. What is Buffalo's winning formula?
On this week's Move the Sticks podcast, NFL Network analysts Daniel Jeremiah and Rhett Lewis shared their thoughts on what they think is the secret to the Bills' success.
"They have their formula and it's not about Josh Allen passing yards, completion percentage, touchdowns or even rushing yards," Rhett Lewis said. "It's when he doesn't turn the ball over, they are always going to be in a position to win because their defense plays lights out. And, he makes enough big plays to let them win big games or give them an opportunity to win big games. But when he doesn't turn it over, that is the secret."
Looking back at all of Allen's starts in his two seasons as an NFL quarterback proves this "winning formula".
"I went and looked back at it, all 17 games that he has started," Lewis said. "He has only been clean in the interception column in six of those 17 games. They've won five of those six games. And in that sixth one when he didn't throw an interception, as a team they turned it over three times. So, they lost three fumbles."
Allen was turnover free in Sunday's game against the Dolphins. No interceptions and the fact the offense scored 15 points off two takeaways was a big help in getting the 31-21 win.
"That is clearly the formula, and I'm telling you if he doesn't make two really bad decisions on three interceptions against the Patriots, we could be talking about the Bills being undefeated right now," Lewis said. "That's their lone loss, that's how good they can be when they take care of the football."
2. DC Leslie Frazier makes this impressive list
NFL.com writer Marc Sessler made a list of his top seven in the running for assistant coach of the year. Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier made the list at No. 4.
Frazier fizzled out as head coach of the Vikings, but his Bills defense is all the rage. Sunday's 31-21 win over the out-to-lunch Fins actually marked the first time a Buffalo opponent has cleared 17 points this season. The Bills have stymied challengers with a sticky secondary led by Tre'Davious White, Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde. Edge rusher Jerry Hughes is off to another strong campaign, while rookie lineman Ed Oliver fits right into a scheme dreamt up by Frazier and head coach Sean McDermott.
The Bills have had a talented defense the last few years, but Frazier has put together a top-notch defense this year that ranks top five in many categories across the league. The defense's 91 points allowed through six games ranks as the least points given up since 1993. Buffalo has the third best defense in the NFL allowing an average of 4.7 yards per play. They also are third in allowing an average of 15.2 points per game.
3. Tremaine Edmunds: It's still early for this defense
Second year linebacker Tremaine Edmunds joined One Bills Live to discuss the defense's performance against the Dolphins and the improvement he sees in himself this season. Edmunds said the defense didn't play it's best on Sunday and knows there is room to grow.
"I think it starts with us," Edmunds explained. "We could have done a better job executing and that starts with me. If we played football the way that we know how to play, I think we could have eliminated some of that stuff."
The defense was able to turn it around with a huge tackle for loss in the red zone, an interception and forced fumble recovery late in the game. Edmunds said those three plays helped ignite the entire team as well as everyone in the stands.
"That was huge for us," Edmunds said. "They had driven down the field in the red zone on the goal line, so that was a big play. I think Jordan (Phillips) got the crowd into it. It made the offense switch up what they were going to do, being that they were backed up. Then Tre'Davious (White) came with the pick, which set the crowd on fire and gave us the momentum and the offense took advantage of it."
In his second season as the quarterback of the defense, Edmunds feels like he is playing better ball but still sees areas he can work on.
"I think just seeing everything out there and being more confident," Edmunds said. "I'm just settling down and letting the game come to me. I think sometimes I don't see things as quick as I want to see it, but I have a longways to go. I'm nowhere close to being where I want to be at, I still have a lot of things I need to work on. Each and every day my teammates challenge me, we have good competition here at practice. I'm going to continue to get better and just be the best version I can be."
Heading into Week 8 the defense continues to rank highly in several categories, but Edmunds wants more.
"I think it's still early for this defense and we just have to continue to grow together," Edmunds explained.
