Buffalo Rumblings
If the Bills had to win a game today assembling an all-star team of defenders from the last 25 years, who makes the roster?
Reflecting on the Buffalo Bills teams of the last 25 seasons continues with the second article of the series, still focusing on defense. Having already made my choices for the front seven, with first-, second-, and third-team selections made, it’s time to turn to the play makers in the defensive backfield.
Below, I have players’ prime valued over longevity, as if we needed to pick a team to beat an opposing franchise for a quarter-century Super Bowl. So let’s go, here are my choices:
White’s 2019 All-Pro season (6 interceptions, 17 passes defended, 58 tackles) was a shutdown masterpiece, covering elite receivers like DeAndre Hopkins with precise technique and ball skills. His two-interception game against the Jets, including a pick on Sam Darnold’s first drive, swung momentum and showcased his clutch play making.
White’s ability to bait quarterbacks made him a turnover magnet. His prime lockdown coverage makes him the CB1 here, capable of neutralizing his side of the field and offering good run support.
Clements’ 2004 season (6 interceptions, 78 tackles, 14 passes defended) was a play-making peak, with physicality and ball-hawking instincts. He had the ability to dominate top receivers and flip games when in coverage, but also was a physical tackler, adding another dimension to his game.
His prime turnover-forcing ability pairs perfectly with White’s shutdown skills for an awesome combo outside.
Johnson is the reason I could choose to line up in a base nickel for this exercise — before him, there’s no way I’d trust a nickel corner to essentially be the weakside linebacker on run downs. That’s how good and unique Taron has become, as we could see in his 2020 season (94 tackles, 1 interception, 7 passes defended), where he dominated the slot with blitzing prowess and run support.
He’s grown as a coverage CB as well, and there’s no other player I could think of for this role.
I know I’ll take some heat here but nobody can convince me there was a better Bills’ safety in the last 25 years than Jairus Byrd in his prime. During the 2009 NFL season (9 interceptions, 45 tackles) Byrd led the NFL with unreal ball-stealing range, as seen in his two-interception game against Miami — where he shut down deep passing threats.
His ability to bait quarterbacks into mistakes made him a turnover magician, but he also showed during his Bills career how reliable of a tackler he could be. Byrd’s premiere talent is tailor-made for forcing critical errors, essential for every big game.
Poyer’s 2021 All-Pro season (93 tackles, 5 interceptions, 3 sacks) showcased his do-everything ability, from deep coverage to bone-rattling hits. His 2020 season was just...
