The bigger concern has persisted for years: the defense. After back-to-back disappointing showings against the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo faces a lighter test against the Las Vegas Raiders. Former NFL MVP Rich Gannon suggested the Bills’ defense remains vulnerable and could be exploited by a Raiders offense that is capable of moving the ball.
The Bills have been working to bolster a defense that can properly support Allen and the offense, especially after another postseason exit. While Allen isn’t flawless in the playoffs, a more reliable defensive unit could significantly aid a potential Super Bowl push. Yet this unit still looks underwhelming. Besides Gregory Rousseau, who has six sacks, the rest of Buffalo’s defenders have recorded just five sacks combined, and offenses are beginning to target Rousseau as the primary pass-rush threat. The secondary has also struggled, with the coaching staff still searching for a solid group of starters.
Both the Patriots and Rams demonstrated the vulnerabilities in Buffalo’s defense, and although Buffalo escaped with a favorable outcome against the Rams last week, they can’t rely on luck every week. In discussing the upcoming matchup with the Raiders from a betting perspective, the assessment was clear: the Bills’ defense is unlikely to pose a major threat to the Raiders’ offense.
“I think offensively the Raiders can move the ball against this defense,” one expert said in an interview. “The Rams showed they could move the ball up and down the field against this unit. The Bills don’t have a dominant defense, but they can be solid when it matters, especially when they grab the lead.”
Buffalo’s defense clearly needs to figure things out. The Raiders may not boast the same firepower as the Patriots or Rams, but they can still pose problems. Brock Bowers has started the year strong, and if Ashton Jeanty gets going on the ground, Buffalo could be in trouble.
Allen and the offense should be able to do enough to win games, but the lingering defensive issues feel like a recurring theme. Until the Bills’ defense stabilizes, Allen may need to carry a heavier load, or the criticism of the unit could become increasingly prophetic.
