Bills showcase impressive depth in 2 blowout wins
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — One of the remarkable things about the Bills starting the season at 2-0 is the manner in how they’ve steamrolled opponents while missing several key players in addition to the lopsided margins of victory.
The Bills’ secondary, minus star cornerback Tre’davious White, contained Matthew Stafford to 240 yards passing in a 31-10 season-opening win over the defending Super Bowl champion Rams.
On Monday, a defensive front without starter Ed Oliver and his backup Tim Settle, stonewalled Derrick Henry, who was limited to 25 yards on 13 carries, while scoring on a 2-yard dive in a 41-7 rout of the Titans.
And let’s not forget a Josh Allen-led offense which needed less than three quarters to generate 317 yards passing and four touchdowns despite missing No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis.
“We got our (butts) kicked, plain and simple,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel said following the largest margin of defeat in his four-plus years in charge.
The Bills entered the season with what was regarded as their deepest roster since the franchise’s Jim Kelly heydays in the early 1990s.
And nothing, so far, has provided any indication of a weakness.
That depth could be tested Sunday, when a potentially injury-thinned Bills team travels to play the suddenly resurgent division rival Dolphins (2-0).
The retooled Dolphins made a splash of their own in rallying from a three-td, fourth-quarter deficit in a 42-38 win over the Ravens on Sunday.
Already missing White, who isn’t expected to return until late October from a left knee injury, the Bills’ secondary could be down two more starters.
Cornerback Dane Jackson, filling in for White, is questionable to play after spending a few hours in the hospital, where tests showed no serious damage to his neck or spine after he was struck by a teammate against the Titans. Veteran starting safety Micah Hyde was also carted off after sustaining a neck injury in the second half.
That leaves the Bills potentially having to lean heavily on rookie cornerbacks, Kaiir Elam and Christian Benford, to defend the Dolphins’ dynamic duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who combined for 261 yards receiving and scored two touchdowns apiece against the Ravens.
Oliver’s status is uncertain because of an ankle injury, which could hamper the Bills’ ability to pressure Tua Tagovailoa, who has lost all three career starts in the series, but had career highs with 469 yards passing and six TDS against the Ravens.
The Bills certainly took notice of what the Dolphins did by quickly turning their attention to them immediately in the aftermath of their win over the Titans.
“The quickest way to make the playoffs is winning your division,” Allen said. “I know it’s early on in the season, but this Dolphins team is playing very good football, and we’ve got to be ready for it.”