Five good Texas questions with Buffalo Rumblings

We know that Stefon Diggs had this date circled on his calendar. it is Buffalo Bills week and the game is coming in as popular as advertised. Both teams have commanding leads in their divisions, coming in with identical 3-1 records. One leaves at 4-1, while the other sneaks away at 3-2.

Meanwhile, Diggs will take on his second former team in three weeks. Even though the Texans lost to the Minnesota VikingsDiggs put in a good performance. He’s hoping for another one today so he can silence the naysayers who say the Bills are better off without him. However, both things can be true at the same time. We sat down with Matt Byham from Buffalo rumble to talk about that dynamic and more ahead of today’s game.

Battle Red Blog: The biggest story of the game is obviously Stefon Diggs and his absence from Buffalo. How has the Buffalo offense changed after the trade with the Texans?

Matthew Byham: It’s become a bit of an earworm in Bills media coverage, but the offense has adopted the mantra of “everyone eats” under the leadership of offensive coordinator Joe Brady. It’s worked well enough so far, considering their 3-1 record.

Quarterback Josh Allen no longer seems tied to one receiver (aka Diggs) to the detriment of the offense. Whether Allen felt obligated to look his way on every play, preferred to operate that way, or Diggs demanded it, things quickly deteriorated last season where they had been successful in the past.

The offense is more nuanced in design, with a wide variety of skill players catching passes. This means that weekly leaders are more in the four to five catch range rather than 10 and above. From a fantasy perspective, it’s probably frustrating for a lot of people, but now there are some who are wondering if the receiving core has what it takes to pick up some of the mantle that Diggs left behind.

I’ll spend a few more words on the man since the reunion is such a big part of this week’s match. Look, it was time for the Bills to move on from Stefon Diggs. He made that abundantly clear during his speech GQ interview that he had to shake things up. He became outwardly frustrated with the offense as early as the 2022 playoff loss at home to the Cincinnati Bengalsand he handled it in a manner unbecoming of a team captain.

Diggs is an enigmatic and very talented football player. He also became a disgruntled individual who was willing to give up everything he had been a part of in four very successful and productive seasons with the Bills. The best version of wide receiver Stefon Diggs is among the best of any NFL player. At his professional worst, he is an epidemic waiting to break out.

We are told that all good things come to an end. That was certainly true of Diggs’ time with the Bills. At the same time, I have no doubt he still thinks the world of Josh Allen and most of his former teammates.

The biggest criticism I had of Diggs was that he disappeared too often during playoff games. His drop of a perfect throw from nearly 70 yards by Josh Allen against the Chiefs is a play no one will ever forget. It’s possible that after that move, general manager Brandon Beane decided it was time to move in a different direction.

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 much better this season, now almost two full years removed from his last ACL injury. He looks more like the old Miller before the injury, and he has had success getting to the quarterback. The Bills have transitioned Miller’s role to a more situational pass rusher, so he sees far fewer snaps. Against the Ravens, Miller made just nine appearances.

I don’t expect drastically different things, if I’m honest. That’s not to say Miller isn’t still a dangerous player. It’s more about Buffalo’s defensive scheme, which utilizes 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 is defensive end AJ Epenesa. He’s nowhere near the player Miller is, but he has shown a knack for raising his hands and knocking down passes at the line. Sometimes these passes end up as interceptions.

BRB: What are some names of players we may not have heard of but should have a big impact on Sunday?

With fantasy football these days, it’s almost impossible to be unfamiliar with too many players on the offensive side. When players are ready to make a big impact, they are usually a poorly kept secret. That said, I would offer wide receiver Mack Hollins as a name to remember. Hollins has rarely been involved in the passing game thus far, racking up just four grabs. It’s more about how he’s used to opening things up for the Bills’ other receivers, and how often he’s on the field (the most snaps of any wide receiver on the team).

You may have heard of wide receivers Curtis Samuel and rookie Keon Coleman. Samuel has the most potential in the receiver room, but the way he has been used in the first month has been baffling at best. With Allen’s latest go-to in wide receiver Khalil Shakir sidelined with an ankle injury, it’s possible Samuel swallows those looks and plays a more prominent role against the Texans.

As for Keon Coleman, he is only four games into his rookie season but is showing promise as a big target willing and able to win contested catches. If things go well for the Bills in Houston, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that Coleman played a key role.

On defense, cornerback Christian Benford is the only player you really need to pay attention to. He’s hardly a household name outside the fan base, but he’s playing incredible football right now. How good has he been? This good:

In addition to Benford, keep an eye on rookie safety Cole Bishop. He will make his first NFL start in Week 5 after an injury to Taylor Rapp. Bishop will work with safety Damar Hamlin. We still don’t know who will play nickel cornerback for the Bills. If usual starter Taron Johnson can make his return from a broken forearm, it would give them a huge boost in Stefon Diggs’ defense. If Cam Lewis is asked to fill in again, he has proven himself to be very capable so far in 2024, but Diggs could benefit from facing him.

BRB: The Bills appear 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 are Bills fans most excited to cover?

MB: The Jets have proven to be a tough opponent for the Bills since the arrival of Josh Allen. But somehow, every season, the Jets always find a way to turn things up. Maybe part of it is because they are a New Jersey team, but still call themselves the Jets from New York. Maybe Joe Namath cursed the franchise after guaranteeing and pulling off a Super Bowl victory.

As for the Jets being a real threat? I just don’t see it. Aaron Rodgers is not the same quarterback he was three seasons ago. He has lost a lot of mobility after an Achilles tear. Moreover, the current regime seems to have a real mess on its hands.

They gave too much power to Rodgers in personnel decisions (including his offensive coordinator), and they completely messed things up with Haason Reddick. Now they’re heavy favorites to land wide receiver Davante Adams?

I believe as long as the Bills keep winning, they will control their destiny in the AFC East – even if they split games with the Jets. As for which team Bills Mafia would most like to beat? It’s probably the New England Patriots simply because of recency bias. Tom Brady dominated the Bills throughout his career, outscoring them 33-3 and enjoying a comfortable average margin of victory of over 16 points. I remember each of those losses vividly because it was such a rare achievement. Buffalo didn’t beat Brady in New England until 2014 — and that might never have happened if he hadn’t spent 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 in the future, 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 who that quarterback ends up being, and everything to do with Brady and Bill Belichick.

You could say similar things about the Miami Dolphinsbut younger Bills fans are less likely to feel the same disgust for 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 believes this has mostly to do with rivalry.

BRB: Fanduel was favored 1.5? How do you see the game going? Are there any prop bets you like to recommend?

MB: This is a hard game to figure out. Both teams are struggling with serious injuries. That will certainly play a key role. It will 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 to that challenge remains to be seen.

I must be honest and reveal that I avoid gambling, especially as it relates to the bills. We publish a best bets piece before each game, so you can head over there Buffalo rumble closer to game time to see what’s recommended.

Historically, Josh Allen has been one of the best options to exceed his projected stats, but this season we haven’t seen him throw for 300 yards in a game. With Allen, touchdowns are the better play. Keep in mind that he didn’t score a single touchdown last week, but understand that this was only the third time in his career — and the first since 2021 — that Allen was kept out of the end zone.

Of course, there’s another factor to consider: Stefon Diggs. We know Stroud wants to help Diggs beat his old team, and we know the Bills are eager to prove that they’ll be just fine without him – especially when he plays against them. It’s up for debate whether the bills are really okay without Diggs, and it’s also true that the Texans would be just as powerful without Diggs.

We would like to thank Matt for taking the time to answer our questions this week. We’re looking forward to a tough match 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 the happiness starts on Monday morning.