“Josh Allen and a bunch of guys” – the brave NFL team that could do it, has done it again, to the shock and awe of every casual observer watching the premiere of 2024 Football on Sunday eveningThe Buffalo Bills made a lot of headlines early in the offseason, especially because of the trade that saw a disgruntled Stefon Diggs head to his new home, the Houston Texans.

Those headlines gave rise to countless theories about why Josh Allen and the Bills would take a step or two back this season. Yet over the course of the last five days, Buffalo has scored over 30 points in two convincing wins.

While it’s dishonest to say that this year’s Bills team is just Josh Allen and a few other guys, I’m well aware that there was a concerted effort to remove ego and some energy from the locker room with the goal of allowing Allen to become a more complete leader.

For most, it felt like the Buffalo Bills had peaked at the end of the 2023 NFL season. That might explain why so many were quick to sow doubts about their performance before anything significant even happened in September. How in the world could anything be better than what everyone saw from the Bills from 2020 to 2023 – especially when so many key players on those teams were cut?

And yet here we are. Buffalo has surprisingly won 2-0 after just embarrassing their division rivals in their own stadium. The most diehard fans will tell you they’ve seen it before, but it’s impossible to predict the success Buffalo had in two games in a work week.

Perhaps most surprising is the manner in which the Bills won. Buffalo entered the third quarter with a two-point lead and didn’t let up until Miami waved the white flag. That 14-point lead grew to a three-touchdown lead after cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram caught a pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and returned it the other way for six touchdowns.

Of course, there was a lot of concern early on about how the Bills’ night would turn out. When linebacker and team captain Terrel Bernard exited with a pectoral injury, fans were outraged, as they had already lost linebacker Matt Milano and nickel cornerback Taron Johnson. As we may find out in time, defensive coordinator Bobby Babich had a plan all along. Of course, a team is never fully prepared to lose key starters, but as the 2024 season begins, it’s worth discussing whether Babich’s strategy is better than relying on individual performance.

Granted, individual efforts lead to game-winning plays — like defensive end AJ Epensea’s brilliant pressure on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa that led to Ingram’s second interception and touchdown celebration. We’ve heard all offseason that everyone on offense is under pressure. After two games, doesn’t that seem to be true of defense as well?

Aside from running back James Cook and the aforementioned Ja’Marcus Ingram, not a single Bills player had a statistically impressive night. Allen finished the game 13 of 19 passing for 139 yards and a touchdown (and a 107.1 rating). As a runner, Allen’s biggest impact was as a scrambler behind his offensive line, where he managed just two rushing yards on two runs.

In front of about 40 family members, Cook had a memorable night. He finished the game with 11 carries for 78 yards and two touchdowns (including a 49-yard sprint on the final play) and a catch for 17 yards. Yet somehow Cook’s stats don’t seem to paint an accurate picture of how dominant he and the offensive line were against Miami.

Looking at the Bills’ Week 2 stats against the Dolphins, it’s hard to believe Buffalo was able to dismantle a strong Miami team so thoroughly. But one only had to look at the throws from wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle, who sat on the bench while their backups tried to salvage a 21-point deficit. Hill and Waddle finished the night with mediocre numbers, combining for seven catches for a mediocre 65 yards. Hill caught three of his six target passes for 24 yards, while Waddle caught all four of his target passes for 41 yards.

Buffalo did a masterful job of shutting down Miami’s two best offensive players. Moreover, the Bills didn’t need Allen’s heroics, only calling on his arm at crucial moments and coming through the trenches to claim their 13th win in 14 games.

As Rumbler points out Bird#20 From the open discussion in the second half, it is clear that the Dolphins “won” every statistic that mattered – including more rushing yards, more total offense and more first downs. They had a 2-1 lead in time of possession. But they also failed to convert their drives into points, losing the ball to three interceptions and turnovers on downs on failed fourth down attempts.

It was the most atypical win over the Dolphins in the Josh Allen era. On a night like Allen’s in Week 2, the most telling stats to associate with him revolve around his on-field efficiency and flawless football metrics. Although the totals don’t immediately give it away, Allen targeted nine different receivers and reached six of them.

For those looking for receiver patterns, it seems like wide receiver Khalil Shakir enjoys Allen’s trust more than anyone else. Shakir has had the most passes (5), caught the most balls (5) and gained the most yards (54). Since last season, he has caught almost every pass thrown to him.

Many would like to see more from rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman and even tight end Dalton Kincaid. But Coleman has only played two games and had a great performance in Week 1. Thankfully, Kincaid was able to return to the field after taking a nasty knee to the head that can only be described as a friendly whistle. We can’t say for sure if that changed Kincaid’s trajectory for the rest of the game.

Viewers are witnessing how much can change in the blink of an eye for a player who gives his all on the field. Thursday night games are notoriously challenging for teams dealing with injury concerns, and many have wondered if playing in these games significantly increases players’ risk of injury. In Kincaid’s case, it’s likely just a streak of bad luck that could have been much worse. Meanwhile, Bernard’s situation remains unclear until we hear otherwise.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case for Tua Tagovailoa, who suffered another concussion in the third quarter. Tagovailoa gave it everything he had and decided to dive headfirst near the end zone. As he lay on the field, it was immediately clear what had happened to him. Concussions are a far more serious matter than many realize. Traumatic brain injuries can have a lasting impact on a person’s quality of life.

For Tagovailoa, now is the time for serious talks, regardless of any contract considerations. Life is more important than football, no matter how much players or fans disagree. Everyone wants the best for Tua Tagovailoa and wishes him the best as he navigates what is sure to be an incredibly difficult situation and decision.

While Tagovailoa’s current and long-term health should rightly take up a lot of space in the discussion of the Bills’ road win in Week 2, there is also room for consideration of how to evaluate the Buffalo Bills themselves.

At 2-0, the Bills currently have the best record in the NFL, having played the game early in Week 2. It’s time to start wondering how good the Bills could be in 2024, rather than getting lost in thoughts about what’s wrong with the teams that lose to them. It’s a long season, and there will surely be plenty of low points between the best fan bases. Still, a 2-0 start is important for a team full of young talent and a franchise quarterback looking to silence his critics.

People may be waking up to the fact that what One Bills Drive has put together is at least as dangerous as the previous versions. The difference? Maybe this version of the Bills has a higher potential that can be achieved by building on-field chemistry and real camaraderie.

With a cast of the most unlikely characters, it definitely feels like fun is back on the agenda with One Bills Drive, and it will have the whole Bills Mafia raving about it.