All-Pro quarterback Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills captured the AFC East title and advanced into the AFC Championship despite a ground game that ranked 20th in the NFL during the 2020 season, as Buffalo’s air raid offense ranked third in passing en route to a franchise record 501 points scored.
In today’s edition of the Bills daily links, we discuss whether it is important for the Bills (or any team) to have a strong running game in the modern day NFL. Consider: the Super Bowl was played between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (28th in rushing) and the Kansas City Chiefs (16th).
We also do a deep dive into the Buffalo backfield to see who will emerge as the top running back between Devin Singletary, Zack Moss, Matt Breida and Antonio Williams.
Coming off the best regular-season campaign in franchise history, we explore what Allen, the NFL MVP runner-up in 2020, needs to do this year to claim the league MVP award, comparing Allen’s performance to the last three MVP winners: Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers, Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens, and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs.
We speculate on which Bills could find themselves earning Pro Bowl honors this year, continue our training camp roster previews, breaking down Buffalo’s cornerbacks and defensive ends, run down our list of the most talented Bills players age 25 and under, learn how quarterback guru Jordan Palmer has incorporated high-tech equipment to help Allen transform into one of the league’s best QBs, and more!
Recently featured on Buffalo Rumblings
Comparing Josh Allen’s 2020 season to recent MVP seasons - Buffalo Rumblings
How does it stack up?
Which Bills players could be Pro Bowl bound this season? - Buffalo Rumblings
Who’s most likely to represent the Bills in the 2022 NFL Pro Bowl?
Buffalo Bills training camp roster preview: Cornerbacks - Buffalo Rumblings
Is CB2 a problem or not? What to do at slot corner. They have Tre and competition.
Top 10 Buffalo Bills 25 and under—No. 6: RB Devin Singletary - Buffalo Rumblings
The running back played well as a rookie, but not as well in 2020.
Buffalo Bills training camp battles: Defensive end - Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills have spent heavily on the position in recent years, using their top pick in 2020 and their top two picks in the 2021 NFL Draft to secure three pass rushers.
90 Bills scouting reports in 90 days: wide receiver Gabriel Davis - Buffalo Rumblings
After a strong rookie year, the former UCF standout looks to take the next step.
The Bruce Exclusive: The Pie of Winning ft. J Spence the King - Buffalo Rumblings
On this episode of “The Bruce Exclusive” Bruce outlines a thought experiment: take 13 different factors that go into winning and losing in today’s NFL and put them on a pie graph, with bigger pieces representing more significance in winning.
90 Buffalo Bills scouting reports in 90 days: offensive tackle Tommy Doyle - Buffalo Rumblings
The second of Buffalo’s drafted offensive tackles is a huge man with huge upside.
BBR: What a weird week for Bills Mafia - Buffalo Rumblings
Training camp can’t start soon enough.
Additional Bills news from around the web
How important is a strong running game for the Bills?
With so much success throwing, how important is it for Bills to run the ball? | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“The Buffalo Bills were 20th in the NFL in rushing last season. They were third in passing,” writes Vic Carucci.
Breaking down Buffalo’s backfield
Bills training camp 2021: Will Zack Moss or Devin Singletary emerge as starting running back? - newyorkupstate.com
How will speedster Matt Breida fit into the backfield?
The state of Buffalo’s cornerbacks
Bills training camp positional preview: Will Buffalo add another cornerback before the season? – The Athletic
“McDermott’s defense wasn’t bad in 2020. It just wasn’t one of the elite units in the league,” writes Matthew Fairburn. (Subscription required).
Thoughts on the Bills leading up to training camp
With season opener 50 days away, 50 Bills thoughts | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“Here are 50 thoughts on the upcoming season as the Buffalo Bills’ roster readies to report for the first practice of training camp Wednesday.”
The value of Dion Dawkins to the offensive line
Training Camp countdown: Dion Dawkins projects as 4th Most Valuable Bill - Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills News, Analysis and More
“Their prized left tackle is widely believed to be coming off his finest season and approaching his athletic peak at age 27,” writes Nick Fierro.
How Josh Allen and other QBs benefit from high-tech equipment
This technology could give Bills QB Josh Allen and Bengals QB Joe Burrow a big boost in their NFL careers – The Athletic
3D motion capture is helping Jordan Palmer and his colleagues coach developing QBs that core strength can be as important as arm strength. (Subscription required).
Previewing the New York Jets
AFC East camp preview: New York Jets hit reset button again | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“New quarterback. New coach. With those foundational pieces, the New York Jets are taking yet another stab at climbing out of the basement of the AFC East,” writes Vic Carucci.
Odds and ends
Former Buffalo Bills OC reportedly out of job after refusing COVID-19 vaccine - newyorkupstate.com
Rick Dennison served as Bills OC for one season.
Bills’ Cole Beasley questions teammate Jerry Hughes’ tweet on Covid vaccine - syracuse.com
“Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley has been the most outspoken NFL player on social media about his stance on the Covid 19 vaccination,” writes Matt Parrino.
O.J. Simpson calls out Buffalo Bills’ Cole Beasley: “Don’t play!” - newyorkupstate.com
Simpson had advice for Beasley while praising defensive end Jerry Hughes on Saturday.