There were several numbers from Buffalo's Week 1 performance that jumped out and demanded attention. There were others that sat just below the surface despite the fact that they had an impact in Sunday's victory. Here's a look at some of the more noteworthy numbers from Buffalo's win over the Jets.
5 >> John Brown's season opener TD total
John Brown has played in seven season openers in his NFL career. In those seven appearances, the receiver they call 'Smoke' has five touchdown receptions. Sunday's 18-yard touchdown catch and run from Josh Allen, was his fifth in a Week 1 game.
It was also the second Week 1 scoring play in his Bills career as he had the game-winning touchdown catch in Week 1 of 2019 against the Jets in their 17-16 victory last year.
The one prior to that was against the Bills when as a member of the Ravens he scored an opening week touchdown in 2018.
13.8 >> Andre Roberts punt return average
Buffalo's ace return man was eager to play his former team, after missing both games against the Jets last year. Roberts had a spring in his step on each of his five punt returns Sunday as he averaged an eye-popping 13.8 per return.
To put that figure in perspective, a punt return average of 12.4 led the league last season. Roberts on Sunday was almost a yard and a half better, and his average wasn't ballooned by one long return. His longest return on a punt Sunday was 23 yards. But his consistency helped put Buffalo's offense in advantageous field position.
"Yeah, that was a big piece of that field position," said head coach Sean McDermott. "Field position was significantly in our favor."
Buffalo's average drive start in the game was their own 40-yard line. For the Jets, it was their own 27.
The Bills scored touchdowns on three of the five drives started by a Roberts return.
31-15 >> First downs advantage for the Bills over the Jets
Although the 10-point win by the Bills could've been even larger, Buffalo's production on offense was significantly more productive than the Jets. Josh Allen and company rolled up 31 first downs in the game more than doubling the total of Sam Darnold and the Jets.
New York did not get a first down until less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
81 >> Bills total offensive plays
Buffalo ran more than 80 offensive plays for just the second time in Sean McDermott's tenure as Bills head coach. Their 81 plays from scrimmage against the Jets on offense was the first time they ran that many since they snapped the ball 81 times in a loss at Chicago in 2018 (41-9).
Their 81 total plays on offense dwarfed New York's 53 plays from scrimmage on Sunday.
1 >> Buffalo's number of punts in the game
Sunday marked just the 25th time in team history that the Bills punted once or fewer in a game.
The Bills converted seven of their 14 third down opportunities and one of their fourth down opportunities, which was one of the main reasons they were able to maintain a sizable edge in the time of possession in Sunday's game.
Buffalo gave the ball up more off turnovers (2) and missed field goals (2) than they did by having to punt.
52 >> Jets total rushing yards
The Bills defense has been largely known as a unit that is adept at stopping the pass. On Sunday they proved just as capable at stopping the run. Granted, getting up on the scoreboard early forced the Jets to throw the ball more over the course of the game.
Still, the Bills run defense was stout as the longest run from scrimmage for New York came in garbage time after Frank Gore replaced an injured Le'Veon Bell and had an eight-yard carry. The Jets managed just 3.5 yards per rush.
38% >> Bills red zone TD percentage
No one has to tell the Bills that they left points on the board on Sunday. They went three-for-eight in the red zone against the Jets and had the opportunities to turn a 21-0 lead into a blowout.
Josh Allen was lamenting his two fumbles lost near or in the red zone right after the game and there were two other instances late where Buffalo was inside the five-yard line, but couldn't punch it across for six.
Everyone needs to breathe here though. There was going to be rust to knock off in Week 1 after no preseason. Buffalo did more than enough to win and will clean up some of the areas that kept them from operating at peak efficiency.
312 >> Josh Allen's first career 300-yard passing game
Though Allen was more concerned about the victory, the Bills QB posted his first career 300-yard passing game. It was the first 300-yard passing game by a Bills quarterback since Tyrod Taylor had 329 in 34-31 loss vs. Miami on Christmas Eve in 2016.
It was the first 300-yard passing game in a win since Kyle Orton's 308-yard passing day against Detroit in 2014 and the most passing yardage in a victory since Ryan Fitzpatrick's 369 passing yards in the notable Bills Week 3 upset of the Patriots in 2011.
