Bills defense taught a master class

Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Sean McDermott has been the Buffalo Bills' head coach since 2017. There have been numerous big wins and tremendous coaching jobs over his first seven seasons on the job. The 31-10 destruction of the Miami Dolphins has to be near the top of the list.

Take into account the following factors:

First, a offseason roster turnover on defense that included the losses of Leonard Floyd, Tre'Davious White, Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde.

Then there were injuries. First to linebacker Matt Milano (one of the best linebackers in the league) in training camp. Then cornerback Taron Johnson (one of the best nickel cornerbacks in the NFL) on the first series of the season-opening game.

On Thursday night, every down linebacker Terrel Bernard went down late in the first quarter and did not return.

On top of that add in a Miami team energized by a comeback win over Jacksonville in their first game and on a mission to finally wrestle the AFC East away from the four time defending champion Bills. I'm sure the memory of blowing the division last season to the Bills who celebrated their latest division crown with a victory on the Dolphins field in week 18 was fresh in the minds of the Miami players.

I was really nervous about the Bills defense matching up with a Miami offense that led the league in total yards last season and scored the second highest number of points. In a season where many(myself included) thought the Bills might take a step back, at least in the early portion of the schedule, they sure looked ripe for the picking. Instead the Bills handed the Dolphins a truly demoralizing defeat. The Dolphins have to be thinking if we can't beat the Bills now, when will we beat them?

Back to the outstanding showing from the Bills defensive coaching staff and the players. Here is what the Bills defense did on the way to Buffalo's 14th victory over Miami in 16 meetings since McDermott became head coach:

* Gave up one touchdown out of 10 Miami drives
* Three interceptions including one returned for a soul crushing touchdown
* Four stops on fourth down
* Two sacks and 10 tackles for loss
* Gave up just the one touchdown in four Miami red zone trips
* Held Tyreek Hill to three catches for 24 yards, his lowest total since 2022
* Hill and Jaylen Waddle combined for 10 targets, 7 catches and just 65 yards
* Held Miami to its lowest point total since Mike McDaniel took over in 2022
* Gave up just one pass play of 20+ yards(Waddle for 21)

They did all of that with a secondary that included two sixth round draft picks (Christian Benford and Damar Hamlin) and two undrafted free agents (Cam Lewis and Ja'Marcus Ingram). The Bills find talent wherever and whenever they can and then coaches develop those players on the job. That's how the best teams in the NFL keep winning.

Von Miller is also looking like himself. Seemingly all the way back from a torn ACL in 2022, Miller recorded a sack and four pressures on just 14 pass rushes. Miller has a sack in each of the first two games after getting none in 12 games last season.

Offensively the Bills numbers were not eye popping but they played error free football and took advantage of short fields provided by the defense. Josh Allen only threw for 139 yards but had zero turnovers while improving to 12-2 in his career against Miami. He led the Bills to points on four of their five drives in the first half (Three touchdowns, one field goal).

Second-year running back James Cook had three touchdowns (all in the first half) on just 12 touches. That included a terrific 49-yard score on a one play drive that put the Bills in command at 24-7 with three-and-a-half minutes to go in the first half.

We need to start calling wide receiver Khalil Shakir "Mr. Reliable". Over his last seven games, including last season's playoffs, Shakir has been targeted 33 times. He caught 31 of those targets for an incredible .939 catch percentage. He was 5-for-5 in this game and led the Bills with 54 yards.

There is a ton of football left in the 2024 season but the Bills aced their first big test of the season and they can thank McDermott, defensive coordinator Bobby Babich and all of the players on that side of the ball for the A+. Every single player on defense and every coach on the defensive staff deserve a game ball for their work.

Now we can all enjoy a nice, stress free Sunday of watching games.