Bills unveil ingenious strategy to dethrone Chiefs
The Buffalo Bills played tough football on Sunday versus the Kansas City Chiefs. Von Miller consistently won in the trenches, Devin Singletary pounded the rock, and as a team did a good job tackling. But mostly, they played smart football. And there's no better way to prove that than the following stat noted by Nate […]
The Buffalo Bills played tough football on Sunday versus the Kansas City Chiefs. Von Miller consistently won in the trenches, Devin Singletary pounded the rock, and as a team did a good job tackling.
But mostly, they played smart football. And there's no better way to prove that than the following stat noted by Nate Tice from The Athletic:
That's right, the Bills executed the anti-Patrick Mahomes plan to perfection. They blitzed the Chiefs' quarterback only nine times during the game and instead stuck with a healthy dose of dime defense (six defensive backs on the field) and Drop 8 coverages (36% per the tweet above).
But the best part about this was the fact that Leslie Frazier's unit rolled out with a personnel group not shown before during the season. That meant the Chiefs saw a look they couldn't have scouted in over 10% of their plays. That might not sound like a lot but it's game-changing when called upon in the right situations.
The Chief's very last play of the game – which sealed the win for the Bills – is the perfect example. Below you can find a picture of the defensive alignment, which features six defensive backs (four cornerbacks and two safeties).
In that same play, LB Matt Milano (#58) doesn't rush the passer and instead drops back into coverage. Rushing three means Milano can spy on Mahomes while taking away the shallow route run by WR Skyy Moore (#24).
Of course, dropping eight is a dangerous game as the lack of quarterback pressure can kill you. But that's why the Bills brought in Von Miller, who pressured Mahomes on that play and forced him to throw with Milano in his face.
This sort of game plan wrinkles is what separates great teams from champions and the Bills passed the test with flying colors. If the coaching meets the level of talent on the roster, there's no stopping Buffalo.
Featured image via Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
