This is an offensive tendency for the Buffalo Bills worth monitoring throughout the season.
A week ago, [I presented the philosophy](/buffalo-bills-analysis/140414/buffalo-bills-should-continue-to-lean-into-early-down-passing) — and explained the thought behind it — mostly because the Bills came in sixth in the early-down (neutral situation) passing metric after all of Week 1’s action concluded.
While just one game, it was a stark contrast from Buffalo’s 20th-place finish in what was an overtly ground-game centric attack in 2025.
Therefore, I’m likely going to be providing an update on this topic, with some commentary, every week. I think it’s _that_ important for the Bills offense (every offense, really).
Here’s where the Bills sit through two weeks in early-down passing frequency in non-garbage time situations:
Still pretty darn good! Buffalo is eighth in early-down pass frequency in non-garbage time situations at north of 55%. I will continue to push for the Bills to inch closer to — and even eclipse — the 60% mark, but I also realize game script has its impact each week.
The Bills led the Lions 27-7 at one point in the first half and 34-17 in the third quarter, so it was reasonably sensible for the offense to drain clock with the ground game. However, Detroit’s valiant effort that inched the score to 34-24 in the fourth quarter should serve as a reminder that — within reason — teams can’t take their proverbial foot off the gas in the modern NFL. Essentially no lead is safe. Not in this day and age of the sport.
Anyway, Buffalo looks well on its way to staying in the upper fourth of the league in this advanced metric.
With Josh Allen at quarterback, that is precisely where the Bills should live offensively all season.
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