Buffalo heads to Seattle: the good, the bad and what needs to be improved

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The chants of “Cooooop” that echoed at Highmark Stadium last Sunday during the Buffalo Bills' first home game since Week 3 underscored the excitement surrounding the team's splash move made days earlier.

Trading wide receiver Amari Cooper improves the Bills' roster. Cooper expresses optimism about this team's potential receiving group.

The Bills are 5-2 and have a commanding lead over the rest of the AFC East. But their trip against the 4-3 Seattle Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX) – quarterback Josh Allen's first career start in Seattle – raises unanswered questions in all three phases.

Buffalo has shown improvement toward the end of the season in recent years — the Bills went an NFL-best 14-2 in the regular season in December and January from 2021 to 2023 — which is a positive sign. However, the team has also shown some discouraging tendencies this season – cause for concern given the difficult fixtures still to come.

Let's take a look: the good, the bad, and what needs to improve for the Bills to stay atop the AFC East.

attack

Positive: The Bills lead the league in turnover margin (plus-10), and that's in large part because Allen has yet to throw an interception.

From 2018 to 2023, no one threw more interceptions than Allen (78), partly because of his playing style. There were a few questionable games this year could Allen has converted into picks and shown improvement in that aspect of his game.

“I just became a great decision maker,” coach Sean McDermott said. “(Allen) has made it very conscious and it’s important to him. He knows how important it is to play clean football in this way and protect the house.”

Allen's seven straight games without interceptions is the fourth-longest streak without a pick (at least 15 attempts per game) to start a season since 1970.

Since last season, Allen has thrown 217 consecutive passes without an interception, the longest streak of any active quarterback with a start this season.

Improvement in this area has been a focus for Allen in recent years.

“Make better decisions,” Allen said. “Understanding the game plan. I know where my answers are and use my legs when I need to. But again, just better decisions – I think that comes with coaching and (offensive coordinator Joe Brady) and (quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry). ) and the quarterback room… to go there with the mindset of playing smart, solid football and taking advantage of opportunities and shots when they're there.”

Seattle's defense only has four interceptions. Continuing his streak (with 11 more pass attempts) would make Allen the 12th quarterback since 1978 to begin a season with at least 200 passes and no interceptions.

“I would say it really shows his growth in the offseason, that maturity,” center Connor McGovern said. “Don’t always try to force the ball where it shouldn’t always go, just check it or throw the ball out of bounds. People say, 'Oh, what is he doing?' But he only lets us fight for another day.”

To edit: Over the last four weeks, slow starts have become a theme on offense. It was also a problem for the defense, as the team averaged its worst yards per game in the first half since Week 4 (113.3). No team has a lower completion rate in the first half of the game during this period (50.9%). The Bills have trailed at halftime four times this season and won two (Cardinals, Titans).

“Sometimes it’s one side of the ball. Sometimes it's both sides of the ball. If I had the exact answer, I would have changed it by now,” McDermott said. “… I don't have much hair left on my head and I want to keep what I have. So we’re just trying to get off to a better start.”

The Bills could get some help in that area with Cooper. Most of his snaps against the Titans came in the second half. The offense came to life, scoring 27 unanswered points on five consecutive shots on goal.

“Definitely ready for a bigger role, definitely ready for more opportunities,” Cooper said. “And I’m ready to pounce on it.”

Cooper has already shown how he can create opportunities for other players: rookie Keon Coleman had the best game of his career and Dalton Kincaid made several big plays. It would help not to get hurt by penalties — the Bills lead the league in first-half false starts (nine) and are 27th in first-half declines (six).

“I really think that except for one or two plays, we really didn't click right out of the gate, and it took us a few tries to feel what the defense was doing and get into a rhythm,” Allen said. “… There are a lot of self-inflicted things. These are misinterpretations. These are pre-snap penalties.”

defense

Positive: Survive the injuries. The Bills showed they can play well despite being without several starters due to injuries. Although the unit has similar problems as the offense in the first and second halves, the numbers don't fall off the page. This unit has been able to make key stops and plays when needed lately.

The return of nickel cornerback Taron Johnson to defense is significant. The defense will face another challenge this week as both linebacker Terrel Bernard (ankle) – who was also released during the week due to a personal matter – and rookie defensive tackle DeWayne Carter (wrist) will be out. Carter's injury will require surgery. Limiting this Seahawks offense, especially without Bernard, will once again test the scheme and depth of this defense, especially on the road where the team has suffered both of its losses this season.

The fact that Greg Rousseau has continued to have a solid start to the season is also a significant boost for this unit. He is in fourth place in the first division (26).

To edit: Stop the run. Limiting Seattle's Kenneth Walker III – who has the third-most touchdowns this season – will be crucial for the Bills against the Seahawks. The Bills have given up the fourth-most yards before contact per rush (3.40) and eight rushing plays of 20 yards or more this season (tied for sixth).

“We've had a lot of players come in and out, so you really have to focus on each individual player and see exactly where they need their individual improvement and growth,” defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said. “And big congratulations to our boys. We knew (the Titans) were going to come in here and try to establish a run-in for the most part, except for a few in there, we did a heck of a job.”

Special teams

Positive: The trade with the New York Jets for returning Brandon Codrington has been successful so far. There were a few bad decisions, but he also helped put the Bills' offense in a good position. Codrington has the sixth-most yards per punt return (10.5) and Buffalo as a team has the fourth-most yards per kick return (31.2).

The Bills also have the highest average starting field position after a kickoff return or touchback (opponent's 31.3 yard line).

To edit: Kicker Tyler Bass is on thin ice after making two of five field goal attempts from 40-49 yards this season while making all of his other field goal attempts. He missed two PATs.

Last week, the team added Lucas Havrisik to the practice squad to provide competition for Bass, and he made field goals of 28 and 30 yards against the Titans. Real tests await Bass, but his spot seems secure for now.

“We want nothing more than Tyler to be our guy,” general manager Brandon Beane said last week. “But it’s a production business and he knows he has to make those kicks. … And so at the same time he didn’t do as well as he or we had hoped.”