Bills' depth can carry them to a Super Bowl
The NFL is designed for parity, but there's no denying that injuries play a big role in what happens throughout the season, as well. I mean, just look at the New York Jets and Aaron Rodgers. Case closed. The Buffalo Bills have been no stranger to injuries in 2023. The roster has been hit hard, […]
The NFL is designed for parity, but there's no denying that injuries play a big role in what happens throughout the season, as well.
I mean, just look at the New York Jets and Aaron Rodgers. Case closed.
The Buffalo Bills have been no stranger to injuries in 2023. The roster has been hit hard, especially on the defensive side of the ball. That didn't stop on Sunday night against the Miami Dolphins, either. The Bills saw WR2, Gabe Davis, backup running back Ty Johnson, starting linebacker Tyrel Dodson, and starting cornerback Rasul Douglas leave the game early and not return. Veteran left tackle Dion Dawkins had to miss the go-ahead touchdown drive because of a hand/wrist issue.
Even Taylor Rapp, the safety that snagged the game-sealing interception, was hurt after that specific play.
Yet, the Bills not only managed to beat the Dolphins – they are also the No. 2 seed in the AFC after winning the East for the fourth straight year. Oh, and, they're on a five-game heater heading into the Wild Card Round.
A big reason why is because of this team's depth, which was on full display Sunday night. Dudes stepped up and made plays in all three phases and they aren't former first-rounders with gobs of talent or big-time names. They are dudes who work their asses off to play the game they love and will do anything to help their team win a football game.
"It says a lot about the depth that we have but it talks a lot about the type of character that we have in this locker room," Bills quarterback Josh Allen said after the game. "[It's] guys that haven't been asked to do a whole lot and maybe at times being frustrated or not happy with, you know, the role that they have on this team. But, not complaining, not getting upset, finding a way to help this team make win games and make football plays. And you saw that tonight."
Obviously, there's Deonte Harty's electrifying, 96-yard punt return touchdown that flipped the game on its head. We saw Trent Sherfield catch a second-quarter touchdown to tie the Dolphins after they took a seven-point lead. Dane Jackson made plays all night long. Ryan Van Demark, the Bills' backup left tackle who played 39 career snaps before Week 18's game, replaced the injured Dawkins and played really well while Allen drove the offense down the field for the eventual game-winning score.
"I think it just it speaks volumes of those guys and who they are [and] their DNA," Bills head coach Sean McDermott said after the game. "They're not household names. And they haven't been all season, but they continue to work and they're ready to go when their number is called and that's been true all season long. And that's how you win. I mean… the MVP is not always the star, right?
"… The MVP is sometimes hidden in the in the locker room, somewhere, and it's been a different person just about every week."
Depth is important, to begin with, but it's absolutely crucial to Super Bowl runs. The Bills roster is one of the deepest rosters in the league and it will help lead them to the promise land that is the Las Vegas desert. It's a distinct advantage that not a lot of teams have and it has the Bills in a great spot – especially now that Buffalo will host at least two playoff games (if they win on Saturday, obviously).
"Those players are the players that make teams and that's where the strength comes from," said McDermott. "… Credit the players [and] credit the coaches [for] having those players ready. It doesn't happen like that everywhere… especially [at] this time of year. You never know who's going to be out there playing for you and they've got to be ready…
"So those coaches continued to show that they're getting those players ready and then they're paying attention, as well… When you're not able to get all the reps, but you're paying attention, so when your number's called – you got to be ready to go."
The Bills are truly overcoming a lot of adversity in 2023 and it's clearly making the team stronger at the perfect time of the year. If they can continue to develop the deeper portions of the roster, then it's hard envisioning them anywhere else but Sin City come February.
