It is a bit past the midseason mark, but during the bye week we thought it best to acknowledge some of the better individual performers and promising team achievements for the Bills thus far this season. Here are our just past midseason Bills superlatives.
Team MVP >> Josh Allen
Kind of hard to argue against the quarterback with the way his game has blossomed this season. Allen has far exceeded even the loftiest of expectations for him in his third NFL season. Leading the league in passing yards (2,871) with a completion percentage over 68 percent, a 3:1 touchdown to interception ratio and a fourth quarter passer rating of 115.4, the Bills QB has demonstrated time and again that he's a gamer. His play and decision making has given Buffalo a shot a victory in all but two games this season.
Offensive MVP >> Stefon Diggs
A major reason why Allen has been able to lift his game to new heights is because of his top target in the passing game. Much like Allen, Diggs has vastly outperformed what many Bills fans expected from the new arrival. Leading the league in receptions and receiving yards, Diggs has also turned in clutch plays with his 21-yard touchdown catch with 34 seconds remaining last Sunday as the latest example.
Defensive MVP >> Jordan Poyer
The defensive co-captain has been the most consistent player on the defensive side of the ball through the team's first 10 games. He's also been extraordinarily productive as he leads the team in tackles, interceptions, tied for second in tackles for loss, second in pass breakups and third in quarterback hits.
Special Teams MVP >> Andre Roberts
This was the tightest competition for a team honor. Tyler Bass has been getting better with each passing week after early season struggles and is a big reason the Bills rank high in several special teams categories. But Andre Roberts has been instrumental in providing Buffalo's offense with good field position as he ranks in the top five in both punt (4th) and kick (3rd) return average.
Unsung Hero >> Daryl Williams
The Bills offensive lineman has been steady as a new addition to Buffalo's front five. The right tackle position in 2019 was largely a platoon position between Cody Ford and Ty Nsekhe, but Williams has solidified the spot for the offensive unit. That stability has been critical knowing the state of flux that has existed from guard to guard due largely to injury.
Most Promising Player >> Gabriel Davis
He hasn't always had a role large enough to shine, but he has made a difference in a handful of games for the Bills with three touchdown catches on just 19 receptions. Knowing he had two other touchdown receptions nullified by penalties (at Tenn., at NYJ) makes the impact he has in the limited time he has had on the field even more impressive. It also serves as strong indication as to what he can be when he grows into a larger role for Buffalo's offense.
Best single-game performance >> Josh Allen
There is more than one player who could be named in this category. Cole Beasley's Week 10 performance is one that sticks out the most in recent memory, but it's hard to argue with the 415-yard passing performance of Josh Allen against Seattle where he completed over 81 percent of his passes and accounted for three touchdowns through the air and one on the ground in a 10-point win over Seattle. The performance earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Midseason Play of the Year >> Tyler Kroft touchdown catch
The game-winning touchdown pass from Josh Allen to Tyler Kroft with 15 seconds left in regulation to beat the Rams in Week 3 was the most impactful play to secure a victory this season.
Most impressive production >> Bills receivers
Last season John Brown and Cole Beasley were giant additions to Buffalo's passing game. Now we may as well call the group the 'Three Amigos' as the addition of Stefon Diggs has put this group among the elite contingents in the league. Buffalo's top three receivers have accounted for 62 percent of the team's receptions, 41 percent of their receiving touchdowns and 38.6 percent of the team's receiving yards.
Most valuable rookie >> Tyler Bass
The rookie kicker has really been coming on of late. He ranks third in the league in scoring with 86 points and he's a big reason why Buffalo's kick coverage unit ranks third in the league and first in the AFC in opponent average drive start (23.7-yard line). Bass also ranks first in the AFC in touchbacks with 40. He's made nine of his last 10 attempts with his only miss coming from 61 yards away. He's also a solid four for six on attempts of 50 yards plus, one of those misses again being that 61 yard attempt.
Most promising trend >> Pass pressure
It was a struggle at the start of the season, but Buffalo's pass rush appears to be rounding into form heading down the stretch. After logging just 11 sacks in their first six games, the Bills defensive front has racked up 16 sacks in their last four outings.
It has vaulted the Bills up to sixth in the league in sacks this season with 27. They're also sixth in sack percentage, and perhaps best of all is their production has been very balanced across the defense.
Mario Addison and Jerry Hughes lead the effort with four sacks apiece, but A.J. Klein, Trent Murphy, Quinton Jefferson and Jordan Poyer all have two or more each. Even the quarterback hits are well balanced as defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier has been dialing up a variety of pressures the last few weeks.
Most Improved Player >> Dane Jackson
He's only appeared in four games, but he's had to start in two of them in his rookie season. Despite the size of the assignment, Jackson has come a long way from the early days of training camp. He has flashed in almost every game he has played and has proven opposite Tre'Davious White that he's capable of handling a lot of work knowing most opposing QBs don't throw White's way.
Jackson has logged 12 tackles, three pass breakups, an interception and a fumble recovery in his time on the field as a practice squad call up.
