Matthew Byham from Buffalo Rumblings joins BRB for five questions
We know that Stefon Diggs had this date circled on his calendar. it is Buffalo Bills week and the game is coming in as hot as advertised. Both teams have commanding leads in their division and come in with identical 3-1 records. One will leave 4-1 while the other will slink away 3-2.
Meanwhile, Diggs takes on his second former team in three weeks time. Even though the Texans lost to the Minnesota Vikings, Diggs turned in a good performance. He is hoping for another one today so he can silence the naysayers that say that the Bills are better off without him. However, both things can be true simultaneously. We sat down with Matt Byham of Buffalo Rumblings to talk about that dynamic and more in advance of today’s game.
Battle Red Blog: Obviously the biggest story of the game has been Stefon Diggs and his absence from Buffalo. How has the Buffalo offense changed following the trade to the Texans?
Matthew Byham: It’s become a bit of an earwig within Bills media coverage, but the offense has adopted the mantra of “everybody eats” under the guidance of offensive coordinator Joe Brady. It’s worked well enough to this point, given their 3-1 record.
Quarterback Josh Allen no longer seems locked in on one receiver (aka Diggs) to the detriment of the offense. Whether Allen felt obligated looking his way every play, preferred operating that way, or Diggs demanded it, things deteriorated quickly last season where they were successful in the past.
The offense is more nuanced in scheme, with a wide variety of skill players catching passes. This means weekly leaders are more in the four- to five-catch range instead of 10 and above. It’s probably frustrating for a lot of people from a fantasy perspective, but now there are some who wonder if the receiving core has what’s needed to take up some of the mantle left behind by Diggs.
I’ll spend a few more words on the man, since the reunion is such a big part of this week’s game. Look, it was time for the Bills to move on from Stefon Diggs. He made it abundantly clear during his GQ interview that he needed to shake things up. He grew outwardly frustrated with the offense as far back as the 2022 playoff loss at home to the Cincinnati Bengals, and he handled it in a manner unbefitting of a team captain.
Diggs is an enigmatic and profoundly talented football player. He also became a malcontent willing to give up all he’d been a part of in four very successful and productive seasons with the Bills. The best version of Stefon Diggs the wide receiver is among the best of any NFL player. At his professional worst, he’s an epidemic waiting to spider out.
We’re told that all good things come to an end. That was certainly true of Diggs’ time with the Bills. At the same time, I’ve little doubt that he still thinks the world of Josh Allen and most of his former teammates.
The biggest criticism I had of Diggs was that he flat out disappeared too often during playoff games. His drop of a perfect throw of nearly 70 yards by Josh Allen against the Chiefs is a play no one will ever forget. It’s possible the general manager Brandon Beane decided it was time to move in a different direction after that play.
BRB: Von Miller was just suspended for four games? How will this impact the Bills defense on Sunday?
MB: Well, that’s anyone’s guess at this point. Undoubtedly, Miller has been far better this season now almost two full years removed from his latest ACL injury. He’s more resembled the pre-injury Miller of old, and he’s had success getting to the quarterback. The Bills have transferred Miller’s role to more of a situational pass rusher, so he’s seeing far less snaps. Against the Ravens Miller was in for just nine plays.
I don’t expect drastically different things, if I’m being honest. That’s not to say Miller isn’t still a dangerous player. It’s more about Buffalo’s defensive scheme utilizing a very heavy D-line rotation that prioritizes fresh legs.
Without Miller, it’s possible teams will pay even more attention to defensive end Greg Rousseau. Filling in for Miller will be defensive end A.J. Epenesa. He’s nowhere near the player Miller is, but he has shown a knack for getting his hands up and knocking down passes at the line. Sometimes, those passes end up as interceptions.
BRB: What are some names of players that we might not have heard of but should make a big impact on Sunday?
With fantasy football, it’s almost impossible being unfamiliar with too many players on the offensive side of things these days. If players are primed to make big impacts, they’re usually a poorly kept secret. That said, I’d offer up wide receiver Mack Hollins as a name to remember. Hollins has seen seldom involvement in the passing game so far, hauling in just four grabs. It’s more about how he’s used to help open things up for the Bills’ other receivers, and how often he’s on the field (most snaps of any wide receiver on the team).
You may have heard of wide receivers Curtis Samuel and rookie Keon Coleman. Samuel carries the most potential in the receivers room, but the way he’s been utilized through the first month is head-scratching at best. With Allen’s latest go-to in wide receiver Khalil Shakir sidelined with an ankle injury, it’s possible Samuel swallows up those looks and plays a more featured role against the Texans.
As for Keon Coleman, he’s just four games through his rookie season but showing promise as a big target willing and able to win contested catches. If things go the Bills’ way in Houston, it wouldn’t surprise me discovering that Coleman played a key role.
On defense, the one player to really pay attention to is cornerback Christian Benford. He’s hardly a household name outside the fan base, but he’s playing incredible football right now. Just how good has he been? This good:
Aside from Benford, keep an eye on rookie safety Cole Bishop. He’s making his first NFL start in Week 5, this following an injury to Taylor Rapp. Bishop will pair with safety Damar Hamlin. We still don’t know who’s going to play nickel cornerback for the Bills. If usual starter Taron Johnson is able to make his return from a broken forearm, that would provide them a huge boost in defending Stefon Diggs. If Cam Lewis is asked to once again fill in, he’s proven very capable so far in 2024 — but Diggs may stand to benefit from facing him.
BRB: The Bills seem to be in control of the AFC East. Do you see that continuing or do you think the Jets will provide a challenge? Which of the three teams do Bills fans enjoy beating the most?
MB: The Jets have proven a tough opponent for the Bills since Josh Allen’s arrival. Yet somehow, the Jets always find a way to Jet things up along the way each season. Perhaps some of it’s due to their being a team from New Jersey, yet calling themselves the New York Jets. Maybe Joe Namath cursed the franchise after guaranteeing a Super Bowl win and pulling it off.
As for the Jets being a real threat? I just don’t see it. Aaron Rodgers isn’t the same quarterback he was even three seasons ago. He’s lost a ton of mobility post Achilles tear. Furthermore, the current regime appears to have a real mess on it’s hands.
They gave too much power to Rodgers in personnel decisions (including his offensive coordinator), and they’ve completely fumbled things with Haason Reddick. Now, they’re heavy favorites to land wide receiver Davante Adams?
I believe that so long as the Bills keep winning, they’ll control their AFC East destiny — even if they split games with the Jets. As for the team Bills Mafia enjoys beating the most? It’s probably the New England Patriots simply because of recency bias. Tom Brady dominated the Bills his entire career, going 33-3 against them and enjoying a comfortable average margin of victory over 16 points. I vividly recall each of those losses because it was such a rare feat. Buffalo didn’t even win against Brady in New England until 2014 — and they might have never done so had he not sat the entire second half in a meaningless game.
When Jim Kelly was forced to retire after the 1996 season, Bills fans had no idea it would take 22 seasons to find his true successor. With all due respect to anyone who plays quarterback for the Patriots moving forward, there are plenty of people who wouldn’t mind if it took New England more than two decades to find the heir to Tom Brady’s throne. It has nothing to do with whoever that quarterback ends up being, and everything to do with Brady and Bill Belichick.
You could say similar things about the Miami Dolphins, but younger Bills fans are less likely to feel the same bit of disgust about Miami simply because they’re too young to remember how the Dolphins similarly dominated the Bills decades ago. Anyone who grew up during the Kelly-Marino era probably holds that above all over rivalries.
BRB: Fanduel was the Bills favored by 1.5? How do you see the game going? Are there any prop bets you feel comfortable recommending?
MB: This is a tough game to figure out. Both teams are dealing with substantial injury. That will certainly play a key role. It’s going to come down to the trenches. If the Bills struggle to make Stroud uncomfortable, it could be a very long day for Buffalo’s defense. This feels like a game where Josh Allen needs to take advantage of the Texans’ secondary issues, but whether the receivers are up for that challenge remains to be seen.
I must be honest and reveal that I avoid gambling, especially as it relates to the Bills. We do publish a best bets piece before every game, so you can head over to Buffalo Rumblings closer to game time to see what’s being recommended.
Historically, Josh Allen has been among the best options to exceed his predicted stats, but this season we have yet to see him throw for 300 yards in a game. With Allen, touchdowns are the better play. Keep in mind he didn’t score a touchdown of any kind last week, but understand that was just the third time in his career — and first since 2021 — that Allen was held out of the end zone.
There’s of course one other factor to consider: Stefon Diggs. We know that Stroud wants to help Diggs defeat his old team, and we know the Bills are eager to prove they’re just fine without him — especially while he’s playing against them. It’s up for debate whether the Bills really are okay without Diggs, and it’s also true that the Texans would be similarly potent without Diggs.
We want to thank Matt for taking the time to answer our questions this week. We are looking forward to a tough game this afternoon with Diggs’ former team. We want to wish Matt and the Bills the best of luck for the remainder of the season. Of course, as always, we hope that luck begins on Monday morning.