Each week, I dive into the film of the Philadelphia Eagles’ upcoming opponent to get a feel for who they really are. Think of it less as a stats preview and more as an overview of what shows up repeatedly on film, and what the Eagles will be facing.
Defense
Pass Defense
The Buffalo Bills’ pass defense is not dominant, but it is intelligent and increasingly effective as games progress. Their identity revolves around split-field zone coverages designed to muddy quarterback reads and force patience. They want to cap explosives, funnel throws underneath, and trust their linebackers and safeties to rally to the football. There is a lot of post-snap rotation. Sometimes, the rotation works, but sometimes they seem to get confused themselves.
One of this defense’s defining traits is how much better it becomes after halftime. Early in games, Buffalo can look disjointed. The numbers back this up, too. But once adjustments are made, they dramatically tighten windows, reduce explosive plays, and force offenses to sustain long drives. This second-half surge reflects strong coaching and a willingness to change approach based on what offenses are showing. The Eagles must have success early because the game will get harder.
That said, there are structural limitations to this defense. Buffalo avoids heavy blitzing and relies on disguise rather than pressure to win downs. This puts strain on coverage if quarterbacks are given clean pockets. Against offenses that can stress them vertically, they can struggle. The cornerbacks are not that good.
A major reason for those cracks is the imbalance in Buffalo’s pass rush. The edge defenders (Joey Bosa and Greg Rousseau) are disruptive and consistently win one-on-one, but the interior defensive line struggles to collapse the pocket. Quarterbacks are often able to step up and deliver throws even when tackles are under duress. If the Eagles’ offensive line controls the interior, Buffalo’s coverage-first approach becomes far less effective.
I wasn’t particularly impressed with the talent level of the Bills’ defense, and the Eagles’ offense should have success if they play well. They are certainly more talented. However, I enjoyed watching second-year safety Cole Bishop. Keep an eye on him!
Run Defense
Buffalo’s run defense is the defense’s weakest part, and the issues are both schematic and execution-based. They play with light boxes, prioritize coverage integrity, and trust their linebackers to fit aggressively. When those fits are late or missed, which happens far too often, runs turn into explosives. This isn’t just a volume problem; it’s a consistency issue. Buffalo has allowed an alarming number of long touchdown runs.
On film, you’ll see defensive linemen washed out of gaps, linebackers taking poor angles, and safeties forced into emergency tackle situations. Missed tackles compound the problem, turning modest gains into big gains. This makes Buffalo particularly vulnerable to downhill runners who can press the hole and explode through arm tackles.
If the Eagles commit to the run game the way they have over the last two weeks, this is a matchup that should tilt firmly in their favor. The Eagles should lean on under-center runs, inside zone, double teams on the interior, and consistent downhill carries. Against a Bills front that struggles with gap integrity and tackling once blockers get to the second level, sustained commitment matters more than early efficiency. The Bills will make mistakes if the Eagles keep attacking them.
Final Thoughts
Buffalo’s defense is not great. The talent level is OK, but it is structurally fragile. They rely on discipline, communication, and post-snap disguise to survive, and when those elements break down, the unit can unravel quickly. The Eagles have a clear opportunity here. If they commit to the run early and force Buffalo out of its preferred light-box structures, the entire defensive approach will be in trouble. The key for the Eagles’ offense will be urgency. Buffalo improves dramatically as games go on, so early success matters. The Bills’ coaching staff is clearly very good at adapting to what the offense is doing. So, we’d better start fast…
Thank you for reading! I’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to comment below and ask any questions. If you enjoyed this piece, you can find more of my work and podcast here. If you would like to support me further, please check out my Patreon here!
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