Through four games of the Buffalo Bills’ season you can sum up their efforts with one word; “last”. They’re last in passing yards, averaging a whopping 131.8 yards per contest. They’re last in run defense, having allowed a colossal 696 yards on the ground thus far. They’re last in opposing quarterback rating, surrending an average of 111.3. They’re last in interceptions with 0.
They’re near the bottom of a few other important categories, too; 29th in completed first downs with 54. 30th in 3rd down conversion percentage (26.1%). Tied for 25th having allowed eight touchdown passes.
The list goes on.
Those stats aside, one area of the Bills’ embarrassing start has been the discrepancy between their tight end performance and the production they’ve given up to opposing tight ends.
Through the Jets game, the Bills have accumulated the below figures from their tight end position. (Johnathan Stupar and David Martin)
6 catches, 45 yards, 1 TD
Stupar has five of those grabs for an Antonio Gates-like Bills-like 41 yards, and David Martin had the other catch for four yards and the touchdown last week.
Think that has anything to do with the Bills’ offensive deficiences? I do.
Let’s look at how opposing tight ends have fared when playing the Bills.
Against Buffalo, the Dolphins, Packers, Patriots and Jets’ tight ends have combined for these offensive statistics: (Anthony Fasano, Jermichael Finley, Aaron Hernandez, Rob Gronkowski and Dustin Keller) These teams are a combined 11-5.
20 catches, 285 yards, 3 TDs
Can you say…huge difference?
I’m not trying to state that this is the sole reason why Buffalo has been ravished in nearly all the 16 quarters they’ve played, but the disparity is mind-blowing.
With more double coverages rolling to the “super-star” wideout and defenses putting an onus on stopping the deep pass down the sideline these days, the tight end has become a more vital position than ever before.
Every other team in the NFL has at least one tight end who’s totalled more receptions and yards than the Bills “dynamic duo”, besides the Cardinals’ Ben Patrick who has five catches and 54 yards on his own.
The Lions, Saints, Cowboys, Texans, Patriots, and 49ers have two tight ends who’s individual receptions and yards eclipse the Bills’ tight end’s totals.
They say Buffalo has the worst quarterback situation in the NFL. How about the worst tight end situation?
Just another area the Bills are “last” in.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
