The Bills’ offensive prowess shouldn’t exactly come as a surprise. The team has ranked in the top six offenses in points per game in each of the last three seasons, winning the division and achieving double-digit wins each of those years.
Following his first two seasons, which saw more downs than ups, Josh Allen is now 7-2 in his career against the Patriots, an impressive accomplishment. In 2024, he accomplished something he had never done in his career, winning the MVP.
While Allen haters may argue that Lamar Jackson had better numbers, which is true; there’s no doubt Allen had more value to his team.
A receiver room devoid of a clear-cut WR1, Dalton Kincaid taking a major step back from his rookie production, and a defense that fell from the third to the twelfth best in the league were all obstacles he needed to overcome. Lamar, on the other hand, saw yet another top ten defense and the addition of a near 2,000-yard rusher, Derrick Henry.
Now in 2025, NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice projects the Bills to have the number one offense in the entire NFL.
Bills’ offense projected to improve despite lack of improvements
The Bills’ defense may have dropped off in 2024 compared to 2023, but it was still a competent unit. In free agency, they added Joey Bosa, Michael Hoecht, and Darrick Forrest to their defense. They also extended starters Greg Rousseau, Terrel Bernard, and Christian Benford. Additionally, they selected exclusively defensive players in the draft until the fifth round. There is little doubt that their defense should improve, but on offense, improvements were slim.
Josh Palmer was the marquee addition this free agency window, receiving a three-year deal worth $36 million. Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman will help make up the trio of wideouts, and Elijah Moore was signed on a one-year deal to be a depth piece. While the additions were minimal on offense, so were the losses. Mack Hollins’ departure to the Patriots was the only notable departure, and the aforementioned Palmer and Moore replaced him.
An underrated resigning for the Bills is Alec Anderson. Listed as a center, he operates primarily as a blocking tight end: 190 of his 335 snaps came in line. His work as a blocker has not gone unnoticed; he grades out as one of the top ten pass blockers and run blockers, according to PFF.
Despite the high hopes for the NFL’s second-ranked 2024 offense, the Patriots have made some major changes to their defense to help stop them. After holding the Bills to less than their 30-point average in both games, the team has a revamped coaching staff and marquee additions like Milton Williams, Robert Spillane, and Carlton Davis. They further added Harold Landry on the edge and saw depth options like Jeremiah Pharms, Christian Elliss, and Jaylinn Hawkins return.
While battling the divisional foes from the north is never easy, the Patriots have made some solid additions in the offseason that should help slow the reigning MVP and company down.
