Joe Brady shines in his debut as Bills offensive coordinator, as Buffalo steamrolls the Jets (encouraged/concerned)

Few defenses have given the Buffalo Bills more trouble than the New York Jets, but you’d never know it watching Sunday’s game.

Buffalo scored on seven of their eleven drives against the Jets, easily moving the ball. Josh Allen looked like himself, the running backs were active, and Buffalo didn’t have to rely on their star players to score points. Simply put, the Bills offense had an answer for everything the Jets tried to do on defense.

While many players will be recognized in the encouraged section, new offensive coordinator Joe Brady will lead the charge.

Joe Brady was encouraged because he did not have time to install his own offense, but he tinkered enough with what he inherited to make it work.

Pre-snap movement? Check. Brady not only used pre-snap motion, but he used it effectively.

Brady was also successful with play action and utilizing the team’s backs, which Ken Dorsey struggled with on a consistent basis. He did an excellent job of setting up James Cook and Ty Johnson for touchdowns. It was a small sample size, but scoring 32 points against one of the NFL’s best teams is a good start.

Josh Allen: During the team’s rout, Buffalo’s quarterback declared that he was back, and he certainly looked it.

Allen finished the game 20-of-32 for 275 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. It’s difficult to hold the turnover against him because it happened on a Hail Mary before halftime. Buffalo’s franchise quarterback was decisive with the football and still showed off his rocket arm on an 81-yard touchdown pass to Khalil Shakir.

Allen did not have much success as a rusher (5 carries for 15 yards), but the threat of the quarterback running alone is a win for how future opponents must game plan.

Buffalo’s backs, James Cook and Ty Johnson, both scored in the win on Sunday.

Cook gained 73 yards on 17 carries (4.3 YPC) and added 29 yards and one touchdown on three receptions. In a sort of revenge game, Johnson rushed for 11 yards on three carries but showed off his speed and balance with three receptions for 47 yards. Johnson’s longest reception, a 28-yarder, saw him tip-toe the sideline all the way to the end zone on 4th and 1.

Against the Jets, Buffalo’s run game came alive with rushers and receivers.

Bills OL: The Jets defense is able to dominate teams because of the pressure they can generate along the defensive line. The offensive line of Buffalo, on the other hand, kept that unit in check. Josh Allen was sacked once and took four QB hits. The offensive line was also effective in run blocking, as the Bills gained 130 yards on the ground.

Dalton Kincaid: Kincaid had another strong outing as a pass-catcher (6 receptions for 46 yards), but it was his improvement as a blocker that propelled him to the top of our list. Kincaid made a few early blocks to get Buffalo’s backs down. Later in the game, his “doot,” as he described it, assisted Khalil Shakir in finding the end zone.

Khalil Shakir: Speaking of Shakir, the second-year wide receiver has emerged as one of Josh Allen’s favorite targets in recent weeks. Shakir continues to catch nearly everything that is thrown his way while gaining valuable yards after the catch. While his 81-yard touchdown provided the majority of his yardage, Shakir’s final stat line (3-115-1) led both teams on Sunday. His 81-yard touchdown reception is also the league’s longest of the season.

Leonard Floyd: Whether or not he returns in 2024, Leonard Floyd will go down as one of Brandon Beane’s top free agent signings. Floyd dominated the Jets’ offensive line in Buffalo’s win, finishing with 2.5 sacks and three quarterback hits.

Tyrel Dodson: Since entering the starting lineup this season, Tyrel Dodson has had some bad games and bad moments. However, he was outstanding against the Jets. Dodson led the team with seven tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble by Garrett Wilson. The linebacker had a great night.

Rasul Douglas: Rasul Douglas Against Garrett Wilson and the Jets, Douglas looked the part of a No. 1 cornerback. Douglas had tight coverage on Jets receivers all night and finished with two interceptions in Buffalo’s win. He also had a fumble recovery. Douglas will provide the Bills defense with a chance to compete against some of the top passing attacks on their remaining schedule.

Reggie Gilliam: Talk about getting the game started right. Reggie Gilliam tracked down Jets return man Xavier Gipson on the opening kickoff. With the returner in front of him, Gilliam used the proverbial hit stick to knock him down. Gilliam was able to free the ball from Gipson along the way. Quintin Morris recovered the fumble, giving the Bills great field position. It was the epitome of the complementary football that Sean McDermott has sought this season.

Third down defense: Although New York’s offense is among the worst in the league, preventing a team from converting on third down for the entire game is impressive. Faced with Sean McDermott’s defense, the Jets went 0-for-11 on third down.

WORRIED ABOUT 4TH DOWN DEFENSE: Although Buffalo’s defense was stellar on third down, the Jets were able to extend drives on fourth down. On fourth down, the team was 4-of-5 against the Bills.

Injuries: Buffalo’s injuries continue to mount, with the team suffering several blows in the secondary. Dane Jackson, Taron Johnson, Taylor Rapp, Micah Hyde, and Cam Lewis all suffered injuries in the win. Jackson and Johnson are both in the concussion protocol, which may make it difficult for them to be cleared in time for Sunday’s game.

With so many players already injured, Buffalo will have a difficult time finding players to step up on the defensive back end.