A three-word slogan was stitched Bobby Babich's black baseball cap.
The Buffalo Bills' second-year defensive coordinator wore it throughout training camp, and it summarized the message he has repeated to his players since he became their play-caller last year.
Take it away.
“Turnovers are the lifeblood of our defense,” said Michael Hoecht, one of the Bills’ newest edge rushers. “It’s going to be all year. We emphasize it every day.”
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Cornerback Christian Benford (center) was one of seven Buffalo Bills to intercept two passes during the regular season in 2024. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
No NFL team in 2024 did a better job than the Bills at taking away the ball on defense and protecting it on offense. Their plus-24 turnover differential led the league and propelled them to a 13-4 record in the regular season. The offense remained clean in the playoffs: Josh Allen was interception-free for a second consecutive postseason, and the defense took away the ball four times – including three in the Bills' 27-25 win over the Ravens in the AFC divisional round.
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But it will be nearly impossible for the Bills to replicate that type of success. History proves it.
Across the past 20 seasons, no team led the NFL in turnover margin in back-to-back years. Only six teams who ranked first in turnover margin in one season wound up in the top five the following season – and seven teams regressed to 20th in the NFL or worse. Most teams were closer to the middle of the pack.
Taking the ball away is the objective of the Bills’ defense each time it takes the field, but even general manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott recognize that regression may be inevitable.
Sometimes, even if the coaches, executives and players do their jobs every bit as well, the numbers tend to even out. The football bounces the other way.
Last season, the Bills were 11th in points allowed and 17th in yards allowed. It was supposed to be a transition year for the defense, which had a first-year coordinator and younger, less experienced players moving into prominent roles.
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Beane and McDermott saw that personnel changes were necessary this year. In addition to drafting six defensive players, Buffalo used free agency to fortify perceived weaknesses. Since spring workouts began, McDermott and his defensive coaches have emphasized several areas that must improve.
“You would love to get that many turnovers and have so few on offense, but you also have to be honest about where you are,” Beane told The Buffalo News. “We felt on defense that we needed an infusion of youth in various spots. We wanted to start up front. We believe strongly here in being strong up front on offense and strong up front on defense.”
Protecting the football
The Bills' league-best turnover margin in 2024 was possible in large part because of Allen’s development into an elite, responsible quarterback. His six interceptions last year were 12 fewer than the previous season, when the Bills’ defense ranked fourth in points allowed and ninth in yards allowed. They have ranked in the top five in takeaways in each of the past five seasons.
Allen learned how to take fewer risks by throwing the ball away, rather than forcing passes into coverage or playing “hero ball” – but Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady also tweaked the playbook to prioritize a strong rushing attack and create more “easy buttons” for the face of the franchise.
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Although the deadline to do so was 4 p.m. Tuesday, it wasn't until two hours later, shortly after 6 p.m., that the team announced it had released 27 players and placed two on injured reserve to make their roster compliant.
The Bills offense can expect a similar performance this fall. They returned five starters on an offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks last season and the three running backs who helped Buffalo rush for the ninth-most yards. Allen has his top two tight ends, Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, plus a receiving corps that looks stronger with the development of second-year receiver Keon Coleman and the signing of Joshua Palmer.
Defense was the Bills’ priority this offseason, beginning in free agency with the signings of Hoecht and edge rusher Joey Bosa, as well as the returns of cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Dane Jackson (cut and signed to the practice squad). Hoecht and Bosa came to Buffalo to improve a pass rush that didn’t make enough of an impact last fall.
The Bills were 18th in sacks (39) and 12th in quarterback pressure rate. Hoecht will be a situational rusher once his six-game suspension ends. He totaled 13½ sacks, including a career-high six in 2023, during his three seasons as a regular on the Rams’ defense. A native of Oakville, Ontario, Hoecht has the strength of a defensive tackle and athleticism of a defensive end. The combination may earn him more snaps on early downs.
Beane parted ways with Von Miller and signed Bosa, who was limited to 28 games over his last three seasons with the Chargers. Bosa, 30, had double-digit sacks in four of his first six NFL seasons, but he has been plagued by injuries. Buffalo’s preference to rotate defensive linemen should help Bosa stay healthy. It's too soon to know, however, if he’ll be productive and fit into McDermott’s defense.
At defensive line, the Bills also brought back Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, DeWayne Carter (out for the season after tearing his Achilles tendon), Javon Solomon, A.J. Epenesa and Greg Rousseau, the latter of whom received an $80 million contract extension this offseason.
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Though turnovers and sacks are the goal, there are other ways for this group can make an impact.
“Big plays, splash plays – anything that can change momentum, whether that’s tipping a ball, the occasional TFL and big hits," Epenesa said. "Stuff that really demoralizes the offense. It’s a mental game as much as anything. They can scheme up all they want, but if you hit someone and break that confidence they have, it can be just as impactful as some other things. Takeaways are obviously the No. 1 thing, but playing hard and making them feel you is as good as anything."
Upgrading the line
The defensive line was a focus of the Bills’ scouting efforts leading into the draft. After selecting cornerback Maxwell Hairston in the first round, Buffalo chose defensive tackle T.J. Sanders, edge rusher Landon Jackson and defensive tackle Deone Walker. Sanders is unlikely to be an every-down player as a rookie, but he’ll play next to Oliver in obvious passing situations. Jackson showed speed, power and length at Arkansas in college. He is still developing nuanced pass-rush moves, and he is adjusting to how much more a defensive end needs to think in the NFL, with more responsibilities than a tackle.
Walker is a 6-foot-7, 331-pound tackle who was projected as a first-round draft pick until a back injury limited his impact and production during his last season at Kentucky. The issue became so glaring that the Bills’ scouts reported to Beane that Walker shouldn’t have been on the field at the Senior Bowl. It caused him to fall to the fourth round, and the Bills’ strength staff created a plan to help Walker recover. He flashed his potential throughout training camp, and looks like he can help their interior pass rush.
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Third-down success
The Bills need to get off the field more often on third down. Since ranking first in conversion rate in 2021, Buffalo dropped to seventh (37.5%) in 2022, 19th (38.6%) in 2023 and 29th (43.8%) in 2024. The Chiefs and Ravens went a combined 12 for 20 on third down against the Bills in the playoffs.
According to Next Gen Stats, Buffalo’s third-down defense allowed the sixth-most touchdowns (14) while ranking 29th in EPA per play allowed, 28th in blitz rate, tied for 20th in sacks (15) and allowed the 12th-most yards. The Bills’ stuff rate in those situations was second-best, despite using the fewest stacked boxes, but they allowed the seventh-most runs of 10-plus yards.
Beane drafted Hairston to bring speed and playmaking to the secondary. He competed for the first-team cornerback job opposite Christian Benford until an LCL sprain ended the rookie’s training camp. The Bills also selected safety/nickel cornerback Jordan Hancock and cornerback Dorian Strong, bolstering their depth after it was a glaring weakness in their playoff loss to the Chiefs.
The defense also returns nickelback Taron Johnson and its two starting linebackers, Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano.
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“One of the main things we’ve focused on is our third-down defense,” Bernard said. “We weren’t good enough last year, and we know that. It’s a combination of things, but it’s an area that if you improve that, you’ll see a huge number in our overall victories and wins for us on defense. That’s the main thing. We know how important it is to take the ball away, but getting stops on third down and getting the ball back on offense make big difference.”
More playoff changes?
McDermott refuses to discuss the Super Bowl before the season even begins. Mentioning those expectations is unfair to players, he explained, and his preference is to remind his team that they must be playoff caliber in everything they do. Entering his ninth year as coach, McDermott acknowledged he has re-watched moments in those recent playoff losses to identify and clarify patterns that have prevented the Bills from reaching the Super Bowl. There are several through lines, he said, but he isn’t going to reveal them publicly.
In the Bills’ last five playoff losses, they’ve allowed an average of 33.2 points and 426.4 yards. The defense has forced just three turnovers – a reminder that they cannot necessarily count on turnovers in the biggest moments.
They will make subtle schematic changes, whether it’s different techniques on the defensive line, different blitzes or an increased use of base personnel. The Bills may want to use a third linebacker more often instead of a nickel cornerback to try to limit explosive runs.
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McDermott added two coaches to his staff, former Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen and former Patriots cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino, to provide additional insight and instruction. Players will also have more familiarity with Babich in his second season as the coordinator.
For eight seasons, the Bills’ defensive players were accustomed to hearing from McDermott or Leslie Frazier. Some had Babich as a position coach, but it is a different dynamic when he is the one leading meetings, calling plays and relaying the head coach’s message to the group each day.
Time will tell whether the new faces and subtle changes will be enough to raise the floor of a defense that has underwhelmed in the biggest moments. Can Cole Bishop and Taylor Rapp provide at safety what the Bills got from former starters Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer? Will a reliable second cornerback emerge? Is Milano going to return to and maintain his pre-injury form? Are the edge rushers going to get to the quarterback often enough? How quickly can the young players get up to speed and contribute? The points of emphasis are repeated to the defense daily, Babich said, but the result is what matters most.
“When you look at the specifics of our defense, it's known: We took the ball away like crazy, and we weren't as good on third down, where we needed to be, at all,” Babich said. “And we've addressed that. The guys are well aware of that. … I'd say we talk about the No. 1 stat that we need is a letter, and that's a 'W,' week in and week out. That's the No. 1 stat we need. (It) comes down to winning. We certainly have a standard.”
Turnover margin leaders, 2005-24
Year and Team Differential Record Next year Differential/rank Record
2005 Cincinnati +24 (44/20) 11-5 2006 +7 (31-24), t-6th 8-8
2006 Baltimore +17 (40/23) 13-3 2007 -17 (23/40), Last 5-11
2007 Chargers +24 (48/24) 11-5 2008 +4 (24/20), t-11th 8-8
2008 Miami +17 (30/13) 11-5 2009 -8 (21/29), t-26th 7-9
2009 Green Bay +24 (40/16) 11-5 2010 +10 (32/22), 4th 10-6
2010 New England +28 (38/10) 14-2 2011 +17 (34/17), 3rd 13-3
2011 San Francisco +28 (38/10) 13-3 2012 +9 (25/16), t-8th 11-4-1
2012 New England +25 (41/16) 12-4 2013 +9 (29/20), 8th 12-4
2014 Green Bay +14 (27/13) 12-4 2015 +5 (22/17), t-10th 10-6
2015 Carolina +20 (39/19) 15-1 2016 -2 (27/29), t-21st 6-10
2016 OAK/KC +16 (30/14, 33/17) 12-4 2017 -14 (29th), +15 (2nd) 6-10, 10-6
2017 Baltimore +17 (34/17) 9-7 2018 -3 (17/20), 22nd 10-6
2018 Seattle +15 (26/11) 10-6 2019 +12 (32/20), 3rd 11-5
2019 New England +21 (36/15) 12-4 2020 +3 (22/19), t-13th 7-9
2020 Tennessee +11 (23/12) 11-5 2021 -3 (22/25), t-20th 12-5
2021 DAL/IND +14 (34/20, 33/19) 12-5, 9-8 2022 DAL, +10 (2nd). IND, -13 (Last) 12-5, 4-12-1
2022 San Francisco +13 (30/17) 13-4 2023 +10 (28/18), t-5th 12-5
2023 BAL/NYG +12 (31/19) 13-4, 6-11 2024 BAL, +6 (t-10th). NYG, -8 (26th) 12-5, 3-14
2024 Buffalo +24 (32/8) 13-4 2025 TBD TBD
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