One of the biggest takeaways from yesterday’s game is that the Buffalo Bills finally have a true Wide Receiver 1 again. Since Stefon Diggs’ departure, Buffalo has been searching for that alpha presence on the outside, and DJ Moore stepped up to the task. In his Bills debut, Moore posted five receptions, 100 yards, and a touchdown. He wasn’t even the leading receiver on the team (Dalton Kincaid held that distinction), but Moore showed exactly why the Bills went out and acquired him this offseason.

Look, Josh Allen has the uncanny ability to make everyone around him look better. He is at that point in his career where he can do that every season. But you still need a top-flight guy on the perimeter in order to have championship level offensive success. The best offenses in the NFL have that number one guy. Seattle had Jaxon Smith-Njigba last year when they won it all. The year before that, Philadelphia had AJ Brown. 

The league’s top offenses all share that common thread, and it was critical for Buffalo to get it back. It certainly looks like they did with DJ Moore. 

Moore’s impact went beyond the stat sheet

The best part about DJ Moore’s Bills’ debut is that he put up those numbers and still left plays on the table. There were missed opportunities that could have made the stat line even better.

HC Joe Brady was asked after the game what he thought about Moore’s debut:

“Yeah, I mean, you see there’s a reason we brought him here and the ability that he can make plays down the field. And look, we had a pass interference that’s not even going to show up in the stat book, right? But that’s another added bonus, right? You saw the different types of weapons that we had, with DJ having a big game, Dalton had a big game. 

A lot of trust that Josh has in those guys is going to continue to just open up for everybody else,” Brady said.

That last part is what I love about Moore’s presence. When he’s not getting the ball, the threat of him opens things up for the rest of the Bills offense. GM Brandon Beane even highlighted that weeks ago. I don’t think Kincaid goes for 130 yards like he did yesterday without a guy like Moore on the field. Teams would key in on the tight end if Moore wasn’t out there drawing attention. The threat alone is going to create opportunities for everyone else.

We also saw Josh Palmer haul in a late touchdown. Plus, Khalil Shakir had a good game. Heck, maybe if Keon Coleman can get it going, he starts playing a bigger role and stepping up in key moments. Having Moore out there is huge for all of that.

The touchdown that told the whole story

Brady also had high praise for Moore finding the end zone:

“I was proud of him for getting in the end zone. I know he’s been working on it, and you know, obviously he’s going to have a little chip on his shoulder, you can tell, but I’m happy for him,” Brady said.

That touchdown at the end of the first half was incredible. A beautiful throw by Allen on the sideline, with great concentration by Moore, and then the ability to stay in bounds. It was exactly the kind of play that shows why this acquisition matters.

I know it’s just Week One. We tend to overreact after these games, and I’m aware we certainly can here. But I think this Bills offense can definitely take the next step with DJ Moore out there. He gives Allen the alpha receiver he’s been missing, and Buffalo looks like a more complete team because of it.