Payments protection stays sizzling regardless of accidents, however Dolphins pose stiff problem – Buffalo Payments Weblog

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Down two defensive tackles towards the Tennessee Titans and 2020 speeding champ Derrick Henry on Monday, the Buffalo Bills regarded like they could possibly be in for a problem. A season earlier, the Payments protection had given up 143 yards and three touchdowns to Henry in a 34-31 loss.

However issues had been completely different this time round. The Payments protection confirmed for a second straight week simply how good this group might be, by limiting Henry to 25 yards and the Titans’ offense to 187 whole in a 41-7 win.

The Payments’ offense is understandably getting a lot of the eye by way of this season’s first two weeks. Quarterback Josh Allen is receiving early MVP buzz and leads the league in whole QBR (87.1). However the protection is doing its fair proportion of the work, rating within the high three of virtually each main defensive statistical class, together with No. 2 in whole protection (215 yards per sport). The unit hasn’t allowed any factors in second halves regardless of being with out a number of starters.

“I believed [defensive coordinator] Leslie Frazier and the defensive employees put collectively an awesome plan [against the Titans],” coach Sean McDermott mentioned. “The gamers executed. Simply basically robust, actually greater than something.”

Henry had simply 7 speeding yards earlier than contact towards the Payments, his fewest since being held to five in 2019 at Denver. He was contacted at or behind the road of scrimmage on 5 of his 13 rushes. Not solely did the Payments stop the Titans from scoring after their first drive, the Titans reached Buffalo territory just one extra time all sport.

That was with out beginning defensive deal with Ed Oliver (ankle) and rotating defensive deal with Tim Settle (calf) up entrance, along with shedding cornerback Dane Jackson (neck), who had to be taken off the field in an ambulance on the finish of the second quarter. Follow squad defensive tackles Brandin Bryant and C.J. Brewer had been requested to contribute, alongside veteran Jordan Phillips, who leads the workforce in stress proportion (15.4%). Phillips (hamstring) and security Micah Hyde (neck) didn’t observe oj Wednesday.

“It’s important to belief the blokes that would doubtlessly step into roles, if somebody just isn’t capable of play, that they will have the ability to deal with the sport plan,” Frazier mentioned.

With Jackson’s harm and cornerback Tre’Davious White nonetheless on the reserve/PUP as he recovers from a torn ACL in his left knee, rookies Christian Benford and Kaiir Elam will possible be requested to play much more snaps with each projected to start out after rotating on the No. 2 nook spot the primary two weeks.

“It comes right down to on the finish of the day, simply communication,” security Jordan Poyer mentioned. “Simply ensuring that us on the again finish, we’re all on the identical web page. [The rookie corners], I belief them. I do know that if I get a name, I can inform them a name they usually’ll have the ability to execute it.”

The rookies will likely be challenged in a giant means towards the Dolphins passing assault led by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Tagovailoa handed for 469 yards Sunday in a win over the Baltimore Ravens.

Because the begin of 2021, the Payments have been the very best within the league at taking away the deep ball. They rank first in opponent QBR and have given up no touchdowns on passes 20 or extra yards downfield. In 5 video games towards Hill, the Payments have been capable of restrict the previous Chiefs receiver to 12.05 yards per reception and scoring one landing.

“[Hill] is a wonderful receiver and the most effective in our enterprise,” Frazier mentioned. “However for us, the best way we play protection, it is a collective effort between our secondary and our rush and our linebackers.”

That’s partly because of the Payments’ means to get after the quarterback with out blitzing (5.2%, second-lowest within the NFL), whereas being second within the league in sacks (9.0) and fifth in quarterback contact proportion (28.7%). It helps that one of many latest Payments, Von Miller, is second within the league in go rush win charge (46.4%).

“We now have an perspective of domination,” Miller mentioned. “We’re not enjoying the sport to only win the sport, we’re enjoying the sport to dominate the sport. And we have a workforce filled with killers.”