The Bills enter their Week 16 game against the Patriots with the second-ranked total defense in the NFL (292.2 YPG).

Analysis: Buffalo is middle of the pack in scoring defense (23.8 PPG), as they have been put in compromising situations by an inept offense throughout the season. When the Bills hosted the Patriots in Week 8, each team scored only one touchdown -- the Bills via an interception return -- in New England's 25-6 win. The Patriots have plenty to play for with playoff seeding on the line, so the Bills won't be given any favors in Foxborough. Buffalo has proven to be a solid defense in 2018 but New England…read more

Buffalo's defense forced two turnovers and kept the Jets to just 248 yards of offense despite Sunday's 27-23 loss.

Analysis: The Bills' defense was once again negatively impacted by offensive struggles. Three Josh Allen turnovers didn't help the cause, either. In total, the Bills limited the Jets to under 80 yards rushing and, aside from a game-winning touchdown drive, kept Sam Darnold in check all afternoon. This week's opponent, Detroit, hasn't scored more than 20 points in four straight affairs. Buffalo's No. 1 total defense (290.6 YPG) could be in line for a productive day if the offense holds up its end of the…read more

The Bills enter Week 14 with the league's second-best total defense (294.2 YPG).

Analysis: The Bills' defense has suffered from a tragic case of poor-offense syndrome for most of this season. Despite a clamping defensive unit, Buffalo ranks 18th in scoring defense (24.4 PPG). The disconnect is a product of Buffalo's offensive ineptitudes and inability to maintain balanced field position over the course of 60 minutes. Most weeks, Buffalo's defense has been hampered by this phenomenon. This week, however, the Bills may be able to sort out their issue with the Jets coming to town.…read more

The Bills enter Week 13's divisional contest against the Dolphins with the league's second-best total defense (305.0 PPG).

Analysis: The Bills have silently turned their season around following a tumultuous start to the 2018 campaign. Sitting at 4-7, Buffalo isn't a threat to contend for a wild card berth, but the Bills have reason for optimism and added momentum as they turn their sights towards next year. Over their last two games, the Bills have secured consecutive wins on the heels of strong defensive efforts that kept the Jets and Jaguars each below 22 points. Sunday's opponent, Miami, ranks 28th in total offense (313.6…read more

Buffalo ranks second in the NFL in total defense (302.2 YPG) ahead of their Week 12 game against Jacksonville.

Analysis: The Jaguars come into town on a six-game losing streak in which much of the blame lies with their scuffling offense, quite similar to the Bills four-game streak earlier this year. Jacksonville has topped 20 points in only one of those six games, and for the season rank bottom five in points (17.8 per game), giveaways (20) and passer rating (83.9). This game has low-scoring grindfest written all over it, as both teams feature mistake-prone quarterbacks that typically rely heavily on their…read more

Bills linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is dealing with a concussion as Sunday's game against the Jets looms in the distance.

Analysis: Edmunds' status for Sunday's contest seems to be largely up in the air at the moment. There's a chance he'll be able to dress, but for the sake of forecasting it's best to lay out a prediction without his presence factoring into the equation. While Buffalo is back in non-contention mode after a year in the playoffs, the team's biggest concerns rest on the offensive side of the ball. The defensive struggles the Bills have experienced this season have been exacerbated in large part to the…read more

Bills defensive end Trent Murphy is dealing with a knee injury ahead of Sunday's game against the Bears.

Analysis: The Bills enter Week 9's matchup against not only having to deal with major questions up front, but also on short rest. Despite the 25-6 home loss to New England last week, Buffalo's defense seemed to give Tom Brady and company some red-zone difficulties. Of the 25 points scored, the Patriots' offense netted just one touchdown against Sean McDermott's defense. It was somewhat of an impressive schematic display from the Bills considering how hot New England had been entering Monday's showdown.…read more

The Bills enter their Week 8 matchup with the Patriots ranked fourth in total defense (320.9 YPG).

Analysis: Buffalo's struggles have related to the offense whereas the defense has been actually impressive through the first seven games. The Bills have dropped three of their last four contests, but only once has an opponent eclipsed 23 points over that stretch. Looking ahead, it's tough to rely on Buffalo's defense with an abundance of offensive inefficiencies on the flip. Sean McDermott's defense is constantly fighting a field position war and, in doing so, the defense faces persistent pressure to…read more

The Bills enter Sunday's game against the Colts allowing only 311.7 yards per game, good for third in the league.

Analysis: Buffalo may have started the season by allowing 88 points over the first two games -- thanks in part to their awful offense -- but have given up an average of 15 points over the last four games. Quarterback Andrew Luck remains an elite passer for the Colts and it looks as though top wide receiver T.Y. Hilton is on track to play after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury. Indianapolis ranks third worst in the league with 13 giveaways while the Bills rank sixth with 14 takeaways, so…read more

The Bills enter their Week 7 game against the Colts allowing only 311.7 yards per game, good for third in the league.

Analysis: Buffalo may have started the season poorly by allowing 88 points over the first two games -- with an awful offense contributing to their demise -- but the defense has tightened things up ever since. The Bills have given up an average of 15 points over their last four games, allowing them to stay competitive in all but one of those contests. Quarterback Andrew Luck has been a prolific passer this season and should have top wideout T.Y. Hilton (hamstring) at his disposal after a two-game absence,…read more

The Bills enter their Week 6 matchup with the Texans ranked sixth in total defense (330.8 yards per game).

Analysis: The Bills have rebounded from a horrific start to the season with a rather impressive defensive turnaround of late. Over their last three games against the Vikings, Packers and Titans, Buffalo has limited opponents to just 13.3 points per game. In last week's win over the Titans, the Bills kept Tennessee below the 250-yard threshold and forced three turnovers. Their upcoming game against Houston should be more of a challenge with Texans quarterback DeShaun Watson having eclipsed 300-plus…read more

The Bills allowed 22 points to the Packers in Week 4. They'll play the Titans in Week 5.

Analysis: Buffalo unsurprisingly regressed to the mean in their loss to Green Bay. The Bills have now conceded 20-plus points in all but one contest this season. The Week 5 showdown will come against a scorching-hot Tennessee squad. Sure, the Titans have relied on their defense in the early portion of the year, but Tennessee's offense has eclipsed 20 points in three of their four contests. Based on the numbers, it seems more probable than not that the Titans will be able to reach that 20-point mark…read more

Bills defensive end Trent Murphy (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at the Packers.

Analysis: What a difference a week makes. Buffalo's first two weeks coupled with some in-house troubles began stirring up notions of a complete rebuild. Nobody could have predicted the Bills 27-6 beatdown over the NFC offensive-juggernaut Vikings in Week 3. It's a bit too early to start circling the wagons and anointing the Bills as "back," but the star-studded performance leaves a fair amount of questions on the table. Is this Buffalo defense better than what was shown over the first two weeks? Or, was…read more

Bills cornerback Taron Johnson (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Vikings.

Analysis: The disastrous start to the Buffalo season took a plummeting turn toward rock bottom in Week 2 when 10-year veteran Vontae Davis announced his retirement mid-game. An embarrassing circus seems to be inevitably evolving in Buffalo with no end in sight. It's unfair to cast blame on the offense or defense, as both have been, nicely put, underwhelming through the first two games of the season. The Bills rank dead last in NFL in scoring defense having surrendered 78 points thus far. With a…read more

The Bills surrendered 369 total yards during Sunday's 47-3 loss to the Ravens.

Analysis: The Bills' deficit seemingly increased during each broadcast game-break in Week 1. Buffalo's defense was carved up through the air and on the ground en route to the dismantling defeat. While an offensive breakdown surely didn't help ease the pressure placed on the defense, the Bills defensive effort was far from even decent last Sunday. Unfortunately for the Bills, a Week 2 matchup against the Chargers doesn't figure to bode well for Buffalo. Los Angeles has more weapons on offense than…read more

Cornerback E.J. Gaines has returned to practice but is not yet fully clear of his knee injury.

Analysis: The Bills come off a predictable performance against the Patriots in Week 16, but have a much more favorable matchup against the Dolphins in the final week of the regular season. Buffalo registered three takeaways, three sacks and forced four additional fumbles in their Week 15 win over Miami and will aim for a similar performance to close out the season. The Dolphins have the third-most turnovers in the NFL (28), the 26th ranked scoring offense (17.7 points per game) and rank 28th in total…read more

Defensive tackle Kyle Williams is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Patriots with a groin injury.

Analysis: Williams returned as a limited participant Friday and is likely to play in Week 16 with a potential playoff berth on the horizon. The Bills head to Foxboro in Week 16 after a three-takeaway performance against the Dolphins last Sunday, and have allowed an average of 14 points in their last four games (although the game before that they allowed 54 to the Chargers). Buffalo's defense has been quite inconsistent in 2017 and facing Tom Brady and the Patriots on the road isn't a recipe for success.…read more

Defensive tackle Kyle Williams is clear of his groin injury and won't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

Analysis: The Bills are coming off a solid yet uneventful performance against the Colts in Week 14, but the lake-effect snowstorm makes it tough to glean anything meaningful from the contest. Buffalo's defense got off to a hot start this season but currently ranks 23rd in the league allowing 351.2 yards per game, and really struggles against the run (123.7 yards per game). The Dolphins offense has struggled throughout the season but has scored 62 points over the last two games, led by Kenyan Drake who…read more

Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson is dealing with an ankle injury ahead of Sunday's game against the Colts.

Analysis: Regardless of whether Lawson plays, the Bills should garner a fair amount of consideration this week given their opponent. Through 13 weeks, Indianapolis boasts the 27th-best total offense (296.0 YPG) and the 28th-best scoring offense (17.1 PPG). Put nicely, the Colts are no offensive threat. While it might be noted that Buffalo has struggled defensively since its hot start, a rebound from last week's 23-3 drubbing courtesy of the Patriots seems likely.

The Bills currently rank 25th in the NFL in total defense allowing 354.9 yards per game.

Analysis: The Bills defense has cooled off quite dramatically following their hot start to the season. Although at the end of the day you can't take away a chunk of the season, if it wasn't for a horrid stretch over the last month, Buffalo's defense would rank near the top of most defensive statistical categories. This week, the Bills welcome in a familiar foe from Foxborough to town. Conventional wisdom suggests the Pats will have their way with the schizophrenic Bills. But, given the history of…read more

Safety Micah Hyde (knee) will not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Chiefs.

Analysis: Hyde exited last Sunday's blowout loss to the Chargers with the knee ailment but was a full participant at practice this week. The Bills defense -- and the team as a whole, really -- has been in a bit of a downward spiral the last few weeks, and have given up 135 points over their past three games after not giving up more than 20 points through the first five weeks of the season. Until they illustrate that they have regained their early season form, the Buffalo defense should not be relied upon…read more

The Bills defense is allowing 21.8 points per game this season.

Analysis: Buffalo's defense had a strong start to the 2017 season allowing only 14.8 points per game through five weeks, but in the last two games they have given up a whopping 81 combined points to the Saints and Jets. The Bills rank tied for second in the NFL with 18 takeaways, but had only one in the last two losses. The Chargers host the Bills this week, and starting QB Philip Rivers is currently in the concussion protocol. The Los Angeles offense has been inconsistent this season at best, but…read more