It is safe to say that coming into 2021, one of the Bills main focuses on offense was going to be their run game. A season ago, the team proved that they could do literally everything else on the offensive side of the ball, but may have shown that their inability to run the ball may be holding them back a tad. The Bills went out and signed RB Matt Breida in the offseason and actually had him active over second year RB Zack Moss in Week 1. They were both active in Week 2 (along with Devin Singletary), but since then Breida has been an inactive. That leaves you with a 1-2 punch: Devin “Motor” Singletary and Zack “Pres” Moss.
Dual Threats
One of the main reason the Bills really love both of their running backs is their ability to also provide a spark out of the backfield in the passing game. Both have proven to be reliable options for QB Josh Allen, and any quarterback will tell you how much easier life is when your running back can provide as a pass-game weapon.
Zack Moss has thus far tallied 35 carries for 147 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. That is good for an average of 4.2 yards per carry. Moss may be known more as the “short yardage” or power back of the two, being the guy they love to go to in and get the tough yards in key situations. In the pass game, Moss has tallied five catches for 36 yards in his three games, adding another touchdown as well. Of those five catches, two have gone for first downs on the play, proving the trust QB1 has in the RB as a receiver.
Devin Singletary has ran the ball 49 times for 249 yards through his first four games, averaging a whopping 5.4 yards per carry. He’s found the end zone once on the ground, a 46 yard scamper against the Dolphins in Week 2. As a receiver, Dev has caught seven balls for 24 yards and a touchdown. These running backs could be so much better in the pass game, but the truth is, when you have the WR room that the Bills do, you just don’t have to use them as much.
Where They Rank
Th Bills currently sit at 5th in the NFL in rushing yards per game at 145.3 yards per game. Sure, it helps that Josh Allen has the ability to add a boat load of yards on the ground himself, but fact of the matter is: a team that has a passing identity on offense sits as the 5th-best rushing team in terms of yards per game. That is an element that this team may have been missing a season ago. It is definitely a huge step forward from where the team was rushing wise last season, as the run game looks solid.
When it comes to rushing touchdowns, the Bills rank 4th in the NFL with already six scores on the ground through four games. Again, Josh Allen’s rushing ability helps inflate that stat, but they still are rushing scores nonetheless. The threat of Allen as a runner opens up a lot for the rest of the offense, and may be a big part in why the Bills RBs have had success. The team averages 4.5 yards per run play, sitting above the league average of 4.0.
It is no secret that adding an effective run game would only help this offense out in the long run. Josh Allen and the Bills had one of the league’s best passing attacks a season ago, and that was without much of any threat in the backfield. Add that threat, and teams really have to start to guard against both. It makes your play-action passes better, an element of the offense that Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll loves to use.
What’s Next?
The Bills will head to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs in an AFC Championship rematch on “Sunday Night Football”. The Chiefs defense has been pitiful this season, allowing 437.8 yards per game, the second most in the NFL. Of those yards allowed, 146 a game have come on the ground, so it will be interesting to see how this 1-2 punch will be handled on Sunday. The Bills should have no problem passing the ball on this secondary, but the inability to stop the run may be inviting and cause the Bills to use that run game.
- Happy Hour Hoops | Our NBA Playoffs Days 1-3 Reactions
- TWSRules | Vanderpump Rules S11E13 Reaction ‘Jax Attack’
- LINDY RUFF IS BACK, NFL Draft Preview, Scottie Wins Again | Trainwreck Tonight 338
- It’s a new week, time for a new Buffalo Sabres Connections
- Wrestling With Emotion ‘Establishing a Dynasty’ | Sponsored by Batavia Downs
One Response