The Buffalo Bills improved to 6-2 with a commanding 31-10 road victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. While the win increased the team’s lead in the AFC East to 3.5 games, it also showed there are still areas of concern that must be addressed to seriously contend for a Super Bowl title.
Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane already made one splash before the 2024 NFL trade deadline when he acquired wide receiver Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns. Eight days remain if he wants to upgrade the roster with another high-profile deal before the Nov. 5 deadline.
The Bills’ need for improvement extends beyond what can be helped via trade, though. In fact, the most pressing issue must be addressed internally by head coach Sean McDermott.
Buffalo Bills’ Biggest Issues Before NFL Trade Deadline
1. Penalties
McDermott has endlessly stressed accountability since he arrived at One Bills Drive eight years ago. Yet, the franchise still goes through stretches where internal mistakes are a bigger problem than anything an opponent can present. That’s been the case as of late.
Buffalo has reached double-digit penalties twice in the past three games. It recorded 11 in a 23-20 win over the New York Jets and tallied 13 in Sunday’s triumph over the Seahawks. If not for Seattle’s own self-inflicted errors, the game would have been far closer.
As always, wins cause issues like that to fly under the radar. It’s also helped the Bills that their opponents have been called for 64 penalties, the most in the league, per NFLPenalties.com. That’s often overshadowed own Buffalo’s problem with flags.
The Bills’ offense was repeatedly in 1st & 20 and similar situations due to penalties and just shrugged it off like it was nothing.
Terrifying unit now that Shakir is healthy and they’ve added Cooper
— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) October 28, 2024
The Bills have been called for 53 penalties through eight weeks, which is 10th in the NFL. The recent uptick has them flying up the rankings, however.
Buffalo’s starting offensive tackles have been the biggest offenders. Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown have been called for seven penalties apiece. No one else on the roster is above three. That includes nine combined flags for false starts, a chronic issue that must be fixed before the playoffs.
Sure, the roster could use a few reinforcements, but reaching a championship level starts with not giving away yards on such a frequent basis moving forward.
2. Bills’ Safety Play Looms Large Ahead of Trade Deadline
The Bills hoped a competition throughout training camp would yield two clear starters at safety. Instead, the no one from the quartet of Taylor Rapp, Damar Hamlin, Mike Edwards and rookie Cole Bishop has been overly impressive. Rapp and Hamlin drew the starting assignments in large part because of their previous work within Buffalo’s defensive scheme.
Below are the group’s Pro Football Focus grades through eight games. Edwards and Bishop have played limited snaps as backups.
