3 questions for Bills vs. Jets, Week 2

The Buffalo Bills kicked off the 2025 NFL season with a heart-stopping 41-40 comeback victory over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, a game that highlighted both their resilience and areas where improvement is needed. As they prepare to take on the New York Jets this afternoon at MetLife Stadium, the Bills face a divisional rival eager to exploit any lingering issues.

The Jets, coming off a 34-32 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in their opener, boast a ground-heavy attack led by running back Breece Hall (107 rushing yards on 19 carries in Week 1) and a mobile quarterback in Justin Fields, who could try to replicate a bit of what the Ravens did that created problems for the Bills’ defense. This matchup offers Buffalo a chance to build momentum, but three pressing questions loom large. Let’s dive in…

1. Will Joe Brady adjust his scheme to let Josh Allen dominate early?

In Week 1, the Bills’ offense mirrored patterns from recent high-stakes games against elite defenses, starting conservatively before having to erupt late. Against the Ravens, Buffalo managed just 158 total yards through three quarters, averaging a paltry 4.7 yards per play — well below their 2024 season average of 6.2 yards per snap under Brady.

This run-first mentality, with 18 carries for 62 yards (3.4 yards per carry) in the first half, echoed struggles in the 2024 playoffs, especially in the 32-29 AFC Championship defeat to Kansas City, where Buffalo’s offense stalled early, scoring just three points in the first quarter despite Allen’s 2024 MVP-caliber efficiency (league-leading 9.5 yards per attempt).

Brady’s philosophy since taking over in 2024 hasn’t been one of the team’s biggest issues, since the Bills ranked second in scoring (31.8 points per game) and top-10 in total offense (384.2 yards per game) last year. However, this more balanced approach hasn’t worked every time, and Josh Allen’s improvisational genius has hidden a lot of the unit’s struggles to operate efficiently within the structure of the offense.

In the Week 1 opener, we were able to see this familiar approach yet again. Allen attempted only 12 passes in the first half, completing 9 for 98 yards (8.2 yards per attempt), while the Ravens’ defense could keep Buffalo’s ground attack under control.

Falling behind in the box score and running out of time, we saw Brady turn to his MVP quarterback and call a more pass-friendly offense with the game on the line. The result was the absolute best player in the game taking over and becoming unstoppable. Allen’s full command shines when given freedom at the line of scrimmage; in 2024, he audibled into 28% of play calls, boosting the offense’s expected points added (EPA) per rush by 0.15 when throwing early.

This offense is at its best when #17 is in total command of it, not limited by early downs failures on snaps where he’s simply asked to hand off the football. Let him read defenses and do that when the looks are...