Buffalo Bills are heading onto Easy Street

Christopher Price, WEEI:

One of the more interesting developments as it relates to the Buffalo offense over the course of the first five games is the fact that the Bills aren’t moving as fast as they were last season.

Using situation-neutral pace — a formula via Football Outsiders that eliminates second-half plays when one team is far ahead or behind to get a truer idea of the offense's intentions when it comes to offensive pace — the Bills have slowed their frantic pace from the previous season.

It isn't very hard to change the pace of the game when the quick tempo results in a 6-10 season. Buffalo worked the clock and put pressure on the defense last year by running a play every 24.9 seconds. This was second in the league to the playoff bound, Philadelphia Eagles. The 2013 Bills allowed 57 sacks with a mobile QB in E.J. Manuel at the helm so the speedy play put the offense in reverse.

The new approach in 2014 to slow the game down has worked wonders, so far. The Bills are 3-2 in a tie with the New England Patriots in the AFC East. The offense runs a play every 27.3 seconds. Buffalo has cut down on its penalties, and is 28th in the NFL in this flag happy season. The Bills have already won two road games which equals their total from 2013.

Following a winnable road game against the Houston Texans in Week 4, the Bills made a change at QB. Veteran Kyle Orton took over and led the Bills to a victory over the Detroit Lions on a miraculous 58 yard field goal by Dan Carpenter as time expired, 17-14. The Bills have taken the safe approach in easing second year QB E.J. Manuel into the role of franchise QB. The other AFC East team in New York could probably learn something from the patience the Bills have displayed, and their success in doing so.

In the military, it is always "hurry up and wait." For the Buffalo Bills, it is "slow down and get it right."


The "K-Gun" offense is commonly thought to be named after quarterback Jim Kelly, but was actually named for the Bills tight end, Keith McKeller. Head coach, Marv Levy and offensive coordinator, Ted Marchibroda installed this offense in the early 1990's when Buffalo made four consecutive trips to the Super Bowl.

Patriots head coach, Bill Belichick should be pretty familiar with this hurry-up offense. Bill was the New York Giants defensive coordinator when the Giants upset the Bills in Super Bowl XXV, 20-19.

Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.

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