Bend But Not Break Mentality of Bills Defense is Paying Dividends

To be seemingly dominated twice in a season and you hear mumbles. In back to back weeks? Well that would demand outcry. But what about if losing in the stat line does not calculate to a loss? Well that is exactely what happened to Buffalo in weeks six and seven as the western new yorkers found a way to win against the reeling Jets and Panthers.

In the past two weeks, the Buffalo Bills have been outgained by 280 yards (743 to 463). Okay so maybe the offense's numbers would show in their ability to complete third downs? Wrong, as the Bills went 31% and 21% the past two weeks on third downs. It should come to no one's surprise then that Buffalo ranks near the bottom of the league in points (24th) and yards (27th).

So if they are so bad..how can the Bills be finding ways to win. Some would say the overall play of the defense. In response I ask...have you seen the yards they have given up? What the stats do not reveal is that most of these yards were being given up before the offense was in scoring range. The bend but not break mentality of the Buffalo defense has been the team's saving grace. Able to rely on the big play for a stop (9 interceptions the past two weeks), Buffalo has yet to see their opponents convert their yards to points.

So how long can this last? Signs actually point to the trend continuing. With eleven players inactive for Sunday's game in Carolina including Kawika Mitchell, Donte Whitner, and Byran Scott, the Bills are finding ways to make the most with the players on the field. Scott's replacement, Jairus Byrd, has four interceptions the past two weeks (tops in the NFL in that timespan) and has come up big to get the defense off the field.

While the offense has continued to sputter, Fitzpatrick is making an effort to revitalize Buffalo's downfield threats: Evans and Owens. The quaterback frequently looked downfield, connecting with Evans on several occasions including a thread the needle pass for a touchdown. While Owens continues to struggle, he is beginning to draw the attention of defenses as Fitzpatrick has looked his way more often.

It was announced today that Fitzpatrick will be the quaterback against the Texans in week 8