The Bills beat the Cardinals on Sunday 34-28 in a sloppy affair that showed the team’s real warts and also showed they still have a level that few other teams in the league can touch. Mostly because of #17 Josh Allen. Here are my 3 biggest takeaways of the game.
Josh Allen is the MVP frontrunner.
Josh Allen was a superhero. Aside from the season-opening fumble which surely had everyone in Western NY and around the country losing their minds, Allen was ruthless and efficient. He had a 78% completion percentage, hit 9 different targets on the day and when he needed to, delivered the back-breaking scrambles we have all been accustomed to over the years.
All of the national talk in the offseason was that Allen would struggle without a true #1 WR. Even with Dalton Kincaid poised for a breakout, the Bills would have trouble finding ways to move the ball on defenses.
It didn’t come true. And Kincaid didn’t even have to have a day for it to come true. The Cardinals took away Kincaid and possessed the ball for most of the first half. Heading into the last drive of the half, Josh Allen had thrown two passes.
Then he took over.
Josh Allen was MVP worthy yesterday. For the Bills to reach the heights they hope to, he needs to be everyday.
Greg Rousseau.
Greg Rousseau. That’s it. That’s the sentence.
Taron Johnson injury affected Babich gameplan
We won’t know the full extent, but the Taron Johnson injury had to have affected Bobby Babich’s first gameplan calling plays for the defense. Johnson is the single most important piece on the Bills defense, specifically for the back 7. The D Line showed they can dominant (see above) but for everything McDermott and Babich want to do in coverage, Johnson is VITAL.
So losing him after one play? Less than ideal.
The Bills adjusted by playing super soft zone coverage for the first half. While Kyler Murray was 0/6 on throws 10+ yards down the field, he was taking layups and moving the ball effectively. James Conner was cooking and Dortch had success against Cam Lewis and Ja’Marcus Ingram.
In the 2nd half, Babich adjusted and brought pressure, through sims and exotic blitzes. It worked and stifled Arizona. This week will be more challenging against Miami and Johnson has already been declared out, but Babich and co. showed a propensity to adjust and it worked in week 1.