Bills: One simple number shows why they can be one of the best NFL teams ever
The average play in the NFL goes for 5.5 yards in 2022. Last year, the number was 5.4. That's the reasonable gain you could expect from any team playing on Sunday. That goes for both great teams and bad teams. In 2022, the #1 offense in yards per play (Buffalo Bills) has gained 6.7 yards […]
The average play in the NFL goes for 5.5 yards in 2022. Last year, the number was 5.4. That's the reasonable gain you could expect from any team playing on Sunday. That goes for both great teams and bad teams. In 2022, the #1 offense in yards per play (Buffalo Bills) has gained 6.7 yards per play while the #32 offense (Los Angeles Rams) has gone for 4.8 yards per play.
The difference is noticeable but as you can see, it's not like there's a massive deviation between teams.
That's why something felt off when watching the Bills pile on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. In that game, Buffalo's average yards per play was 10.2!
Let me repeat myself in case you missed it, 10.2! On average, every time the Bills snapped the football, they moved the chains. They had 52 total plays. That just shouldn't happen in NFL football.
That number is the sixth-highest for a single game in NFL history, in case you were wondering.
These numbers show one particular thing about the Bills that isn't necessarily breaking news. They can generate explosive plays. One thing is to come up with a couple of big plays in high-leverage moments. But to do it as consistently as Buffalo did against the Steelers is just something out of Madden.
Take a look at their biggest plays from Sunday:
- 98-yard TD pass to Gabe Davis (Crazy that this literally was the game-winning play less than one minute into the game.
- 62-yard TD pass to Gabe Davis.
- 41-yard pass to Stefon Diggs.
- 31-yard pass to Khalil Shakir
- SIX other plays that went for over 20 yards.
That's some devastating stuff from the Bills' offense. Even the best of defenses give up explosive plays, which is what could lead this team all the way to the Super Bowl no matter who lines up in front of them.
I'm not going to pretend like we're surprised about it. After all, the 2022 Bills have been one of the most hyped teams in NFL history heading into this season.
But to watch it come to fruition has been awesome. This team is real and spectacular.
Next week, the Bills will face a team that can fire back, though. They will face the Kansas City Chiefs (who will have a short week) for the much-awaited rematch between the two teams that played in one of the greatest games in NFL history.
To beat Patrick Mahomes & Co., they'll need to generate these explosives next weekend.
Featured image via Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
