Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Let me first say, there was no way I thought the 2024 Buffalo Bills would be 9-2 at their bye week, and just a half game out of the top spot in the AFC standings.
I figured there would be some struggles over the first month or two of the season, and like previous Sean McDermott-led Bills teams, they would be playing their best football as the playoffs approached.
But here we are, talking about the possibility of home field advantage through the conference postseason schedule.
When it comes to assessing the Bills' offense at their in season break, I'll start by refreshing your memory. This past offseason, the Bills moved on from their top-two receivers (Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis) and their starting center (Mitch Morse).
When Morse was released, it meant left guard Connor McGovern would be shifted over to center, a position he hadn't played in the NFL, and David Edwards would be the new man at left guard.
But the Bills still boast one of the NFL's best offenses. The Bills are averaging 29 points a game, which is third-best in the league behind only the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens.
Thank you, Joshua Patrick Allen.
Don't all of you sleep better knowing the Bills have Allen locked in as their franchise quarterback? Even though the wide receiver group was almost completely overhauled (more likely because of it), Allen looks to have his best shot at winning the NFL's Most Valuable Player award this year.
Allen is leading one of the most efficient offenses in the league, and has improved in the one area that most people thought was his biggest weakness: A lack of patience.
When a check down is the best option, Allen has gone that route.
Allen has thrown just five interceptions over the first 11 games. The 1.5% interception rate is the lowest of his career.
Allen isn't running as much as he has in the past, but still has 2,859 total yards of offense and 23 touchdowns.
Running back James Cook's numbers are slightly behind last season's pace, except when it comes to getting in the end zone. Cook already has 10 rushing touchdowns, which is the most for a Bills running back back since LeSean McCoy had 13 in 2016.
Cook has a good shot at the franchise record this year, which is held by O.J. Simpson with 16.
Rookie Ray Davis has been a solid addition to the running backs room, while Ty Johnson has been effective in a limited role.
The Bills went into the season talking about everyone having a chance to eat, when it comes to the passing game. That has certainly been the case.
Eight different players have 10 or more catches, with Khalil Shakir leading the way with a career-high 56. 11 different Bills have caught a touchdown pass, which is the most in the NFL.
Shakir has taken his game to another level. In addition to leading the team in receptions, the third-year pro is tops in yards with 599. If Allen's pass is anywhere near Shakir, he will catch it, as his 84% catch rate will attest.
The 24-year-old is also dangerous after getting the ball. He has the second-most yards after catch among NFL receivers (460), only trailing Cincinnati Bengals star wideout Ja'Marr Chase.
Rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman was hitting a nice stride before he was sidelined by a wrist injury. The Bills' first pick in last April's draft has 22 catches for 417 yards and three touchdowns. His 19 yards per-catch average is best on the team, but his 61% catch rate is second-lowest among Bills wide receivers.
You have to be encouraged by what you've seen so far from Amari Cooper. In his first three games with the Bills, the veteran wideout has 124 yards and a touchdown.
Cooper came up with a pair of big grabs in the first half of Sunday's win over the Kansas City Chiefs. I would expect Cooper's production to increase as he gets more familiar with the playbook, and works in more reps with Allen.
The numbers for tight end Dalton Kincaid are behind what he put up as a rookie last season. Kincaid has 34 catches for 356 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His yards per-catch (10.5) is actually up from last season (9.2), but he is on pace for about 120 fewer yards, and his catch rate has plummeted from 80% in 2023 to just 57% this season.
The Bills need to find/get the rookie version of Kincaid back for the rest of the season.
Some of the other numbers that stand out for the offense include their performance in the red zone.
Allen and company have the sixth-highest touchdown percentage on drives that get inside the opponent's 20-yard line. The Bills have the most red zone drives in the NFL (47), and they are second in touchdowns scored to just Baltimore.
The Bills have the fewest sacks per-pass play, which is a combination of solid pass protection and Allen's ability to escape sack attempts. They are tied for first in success on fourth down, so keep going for it, McDermott.
The Bills can tie a franchise record when the season resumes on Sunday, Dec. 1 against the San Francisco 49ers.
Buffalo has scored, at least, 30 points in five-straight games, and 8-of-11 games thus far. The franchise record for consecutive games of 30-or-more points was set by Drew Bledsoe and the 2004 team.
Don't ask about the final game of that season, though.
