A new season brings a new wrinkle for the Buffalo Bills offense, and the biggest question is how much Joe Brady will change a unit that was already one of the NFL’s most efficient.
Last year, Buffalo finished fourth in points per game at 28.3 and fourth in total offense at 376.3 yards per game. Josh Allen was at the center of it all, and the ground game was a major weapon too, with James Cook and the league’s best rushing attack piling up 2,714 yards and 30 rushing touchdowns.
Now Brady has been promoted to head coach for the first time in his coaching career, but he’s still the one calling the plays. That leaves Bills fans looking for clues about what the offense will actually look like this time around.
One of the clearest markers from last season was Buffalo’s commitment to the run on first down. No team ran the ball more often in those situations, and Cook was a big reason why.
He ripped off 38 carries of 10-plus yards on first down, then went on to win the league rushing title with 309 carries for 1,621 yards and 12 touchdowns in the regular season. Buffalo also finished second in the NFL in first-down rushing success rate.
Cook should remain central to the plan, but the pieces around him are shifting. Left guard David Edwards is gone to the New Orleans Saints in free agency, and either Alec Anderson or Austin Corbett is set to step in at that spot. Brandon Beane also added veteran receiver DJ Moore and drafted Skyler Bell, giving Allen more options alongside Khalil Shakir, Dalton Kincaid, Joshua Palmer and Keon Coleman.
That creates the real offseason debate: does Brady keep leaning on the run game the way Buffalo did last year, or does he give Allen more freedom to attack earlier in downs and open things up through the air?
The discussion also includes how much Cook might be used as a pass catcher, what kind of ceiling Moore has in this offense, and what role the fullback could have.
Elsewhere around the Bills, there’s a look at whether linebacker Dorian Williams is ready for a bigger role in Jim Leonhard’s defensive scheme. ESPN also weighed in on Allen’s supporting cast of offensive playmakers, ranking it among the worst in the NFL, and placed left tackle Dion Dawkins outside the top 10 in its list of the league’s best offensive tackles.
In Other News...
DJ Moore Is Giving Bills Fans Real Hope At WR1 Again
The Bills paid a steep price to bring in DJ Moore, sending a second-round pick to Chicago, but the move was made with a clear purpose: give Josh Allen a receiver who can settle into the kind of featured role Buffalo has been missing. Moores reunion with offensive coordinator Joe Brady only adds to the intrigue, and early offseason work has already started to show why the front office was willing to make the deal.
During OTAs, Sal Capaccio highlighted Moores versatility as the trait that stood out most, noting how smoothly he can handle the full job description of an NFL receiver. For a Bills offense that has been searching for a reliable top option, that kind of all-around skill set is exactly what keeps the optimism around Moore from feeling like wishful thinking. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Beane Faces A Bills Decision Fans Wont All Agree On
The Bills already made a major move to help Josh Allen by bringing in DJ Moore, and that alone changed the conversation around Buffalos receiver room. With Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Dalton Kincaid, Joshua Palmer and Skyler Bell also in the mix, the front office has reason to believe the passing game has enough pieces to keep growing without forcing another addition before camp.
Brandon Beane still has a choice to make, though, and it may not be the one fans are debating most. Buffalo could decide its next move belongs on defense, where an edge rusher or veteran linebacker would fit a roster that is still being shaped for Week 1, while the team also waits to see whether Coleman and Kincaid can take the kind of steps that would make another receiver feel more like a luxury than a need. [Read more 🡒]
Alec Anderson Faces A Defining Bills Battle Up Front
With David Edwards gone to New Orleans, the Bills head into 2026 with a familiar-looking offensive line in front of Josh Allen, but one opening that could shape how the front settles in. Four of the five starters are back, and Alec Anderson is right in the middle of the conversation for the left guard spot after spending last season showing he can move wherever the team needs him.
That versatility is part of what makes Anderson such an interesting case in Buffalo. He played in every game last year and has already logged starts at multiple positions, which gives the Bills a flexible option as they sort through center and guard competition involving several linemen. The question now is whether that adaptability gives Anderson an edge, or simply keeps him in the mix while the line battle plays out. [Read more 🡒]