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The Buffalo Bills are off to a 3-0 start for the second straight season and have scored 30+ points in all three games. Despite that, many Bills fans are frustrated with the offense. They want to see more big plays downfield, but instead, the Bills have relied heavily on short, quick passes.
Josh Allen hasn’t completed a single pass of 20+ air yards in the past two weeks. On the flip side, he leads the league in passing yards and expected points added (EPA) on quick throws. Fans noticed the conservative approach, especially during Thursday’s win over the Dolphins, where Allen threw only one deep ball over 20 yards and one more over 10 yards.
The reason is simple: Buffalo’s receivers aren’t creating separation downfield. Josh Palmer, brought in to be a deep threat, averages just 2.3 yards of separation. For comparison, the league leader is KaVontae Turpin at 5.3 yards. Khalil Shakir is doing well as a slot receiver, averaging 4.3 yards of separation, but he’s not a perimeter threat. Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid average 3.4 and 3.5 yards of separation, respectively, with Kincaid serving more as a reliable seam target than a true deep threat.
These numbers explain why the Bills are running a quick-pass offense. Allen is making the smart, efficient choices, taking what the defense gives him, and letting playmakers like Shakir and Kincaid do damage after the catch.
Allen put it simply after the game: “I just wanna win football games… We’re just trying to win football games. Whatever that may be.”
At the end of the day, the Bills are winning and scoring points. The offense may not look flashy, but with Josh Allen at the helm, they have the ability to stretch the field whenever necessary. Fans can relax knowing the team’s best plays are always available if the situation calls for it.