Buffalo’s Offense Is Finding Its Groove - and It Starts on the Ground
In the NFL, “identity” is one of those buzzwords that gets thrown around a lot - and for good reason. Teams that know who they are tend to win more games, especially when the weather turns cold and the postseason looms.
Some squads hang their hat on a high-flying aerial attack, others lean on a brick-wall defense. But for the Buffalo Bills, their identity is starting to look a little different - and maybe that’s exactly the point.
With Josh Allen under center, the Bills have long been known for their ability to light it up through the air. Allen’s arm talent, mobility, and improvisational skills make him one of the league’s most dangerous quarterbacks. But this season, there’s been a noticeable shift in how Buffalo is choosing to move the ball - and it starts with James Cook and the ground game.
A Versatile Identity, By Design
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady isn’t interested in labeling the Bills as a run-first or pass-first team. His philosophy is more nuanced: win the game however you need to. That might sound like coach-speak, but there’s substance behind it.
“I always want our identity to be finding the way to win that game,” Brady said. “I don't want our identity to be only one thing because if you only can do one thing and they take that one thing away, are you going to be able to win the games not having that one thing?”
He’s got a point. In today’s NFL, being one-dimensional is a recipe for getting figured out - fast.
Defenses are too smart, too fast, and too well-coached. If they know what’s coming, they’ll take it away.
That’s why Brady points to games like the one against Tampa Bay, where the run game wasn’t the focal point, but the Bills still found a way to win through the air.
The Run Game Is the Engine
Still, while Brady might not want to box the offense into a single identity, the numbers - and the eye test - tell us that Buffalo is at its best when the run game is humming. James Cook has taken a noticeable step forward this season, showing burst, vision, and the kind of patience that allows the offensive line to do its job. And when the Bills commit to the run, it takes a lot off Allen’s plate - which isn’t a bad thing.
There’s been a clear effort to have Allen play more of a controlled role in recent weeks. Less “Superman,” more “bus driver.”
That’s not a knock - it’s about efficiency and limiting mistakes. Over the last four games, the Bills have turned the ball over 11 times.
That’s a red flag, and it’s no coincidence the team went 2-2 during that stretch.
When Allen isn’t forced to do everything himself - when he can lean on a productive ground game and pick his spots - the offense flows better. It’s more balanced, more sustainable, and frankly, more dangerous.
Multiple Ways to Beat You
What makes this version of the Bills offense intriguing down the stretch is its versatility. If the run game is working, they’ll ride it.
If a defense sells out to stop it, Allen still has the tools - and the weapons - to carve them up through the air. That kind of flexibility is what playoff teams need.
You don’t win in January by being predictable.
Buffalo’s identity might not be etched in stone, but maybe that’s the whole point. They’re not trying to be one thing. They’re trying to be whatever they need to be - and that adaptability could be the secret sauce that carries them deep into the postseason.