Buffalo’s campaign was quite a successful one.
By Justin DiLoro / Billswire.usatoday.com
Buffalo’s 2019 campaign was quite a successful one. The team won 10 games for the first time in two decades. The Bills buttoned up a playoff berth with three weeks remaining in the season.
For this group, it was a full-team effort to achieve their accomplishments, but a few of those players stood out above the rest.
With that, here are the Bills’ superlatives and awards for what was the 2019 NFL season:
Offensive MVP: John Brown
There were quite a few signature John Brown touchdown dances this year. Brown was easily the best free agent signing for the team this year. The veteran wide receiver gave quarterback Josh Allen a semblance of a No. 1 receiver, and it paid off for the team. Brown set career highs in receptions (72) and receiving yards (1,060). “Smoke” had been known for his speed, but his precise route-running was welcomed addition for the Bills aerial attack.
While Brown and Cole Beasley, another offseason addition prior to 2019, did have successes in their first seasons with the team, the Bills shouldn’t be shy about continuing to add around Allen once again.
Defensive MVP: Tre’Davious White
Being named an All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl is the culmination of a tremendous season. This pick isn’t even much of a hard one.
Tre’Davious White tied for the league lead with six interceptions, helping achieve those accomplishments last season. He also recorded his first career sack. He registered 58 total tackles and 17 passes defended while often facing off against the opponent’s No. 1 receiver. While his second half against DeAndre Hopkins in the Bills’ playoff game wasn’t a memberable one, White was consistently discussed among the best cornerbacks in the game.
Rookie of the Year: Devin Singletary
While early in the season it didn’t seem like this would be the case, it was very clean by the end of the year. Devin Singletary instilled a breath of life to Buffalo’s offense throughout the yea.
His initial emergence allowed for the team to move on from LeSean McCoy in the preseason. The rookie’s regular season did not disappoint. He led the Bills in rushing with 151 carries and 775 rushing yards. More impressively, he averaged 5.1 yards per carry, and moved the sticks 39 times for first downs on his rushes. He added 29 receptions for 194 receiving yards. He enters the offseason firmly entrenched as the team’s No. 1 running back.
Breakout Player: Jordan Phillips
Jordan Phillips was a force in the center of the Bills defensive line. He was second in the NFL among defensive tackles with 9.5 sacks, a total which also led the Bills overall, pass rushers on the edge included. Of his 31 total tackles, 15 were behind the line of scrimmage, second on the team behind only Shaq Lawson. In addition, he registered a forced fumble.
Phillips gave Buffalo a pass-rush presence from the interior of the line and he wasn’t ever noticeable in a bad way against the run. Of all of Buffalo’s “snubs” to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro lists, Phillips is certainly at the top of the list. Now the Bills must decide on to keep him around since he’s a free agent.
Unsung hero: Tremaine Edmunds
This one might be a bit of a stretch, but linebacker Tremaine Edmunds does not seem to receive the love from the national media that he deserves. The 21-year-old took another step forward on the defense, acting as the quarterback for the Bills defensive unit. He led the team with 115 total tackles. He registered 1.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and a safety.
Edmunds could be found all over the field, plugging gaps against the run, blitzing the quarterback, and covering receivers versus the passing game. He does a little bit of everything for the Bills but was overlooked for the Pro Bowl. He also became the first player in NFL history to have two seasons of 100-plus tackles by the age of 21.
Best Play: Josh Allen’s Thanksgiving fourth down & postseason TD
Josh Allen is involved in both of the best plays of the year for the Bills. On Thanksgiving, as he has done many times, he turned a near disaster into a triumph. Allen fumbled a snap on fourth-and-1 but had the wherewithal to push his way forward for the first down. It was a major moment, as many were shocked that he could recover from the fumble and move the chains. The play, with the game tied 7-7, helped fuel the Bills to a drive that ended with a touchdown and the team did not relinquish the lead for the rest of the Thanksgivign holiday.
The John Brown touchdown pass also receives an award in this category, as it was an amazing play that definitely got fans out of their seats. Allen faked a handoff to running back Frank Gore, then pitched the ball to Brown.
Brown then air-mailed a pass to the reverse side of the field, hitting Allen inside the five-yard-line. Allen went end-over-end into the end after being met by a Houston defender. The play was impressive for its execution and the guts it took for offensive coordinator Brian Daboll to call such a play. The touchdown opened the scoring in the Wild Card game against the Texans. Brown completed another touchdown pass to running back Devin Singletary earlier in the year, too.
Most improved player: Josh Allen
This one is a bit tough since defensive end Shaq Lawson also deserves a mention for his big season, but Josh Allen gets the nod instead. In the end, his numbers can still stand to improve, but there was certainly a jump in the right direction.
Jumping from 52.8 percent, Allen completed 58.8 percent of his passes this season and his passing yards per game was on the rise, from 172.8 to 193.1. Where Allen, eventually, made his biggest stride was turnovers. While doubling his touchdown passes from 10 to 10, Allen only had nine interceptions, down from 12 last season, in four more games played. In fact, after tossing three in one game in Week 4 against the Patriots, Allen only had three more interceptions the rest of the season.
If Allen wants to win this award again next season, or overtake John Brown for his, he must stop fumbling the ball and clock his completion rate above 60 percent. But good signs were seen in 2019.
Room to Grow Award: Cody Ford
Cody Ford made five-straight starts for the Bills because of the injury Ty Nsekhe. His season was not riddled with terrible play. Early on against a once elite and still pretty damn good pass rusher in Von Miller, Ford held his own. At times, eeek.
Overall, Ford graded as a 51.8 player via Pro Football Focus’ grading system for this season. That was good for the 73rd best tackle in the NFL and was by far the worst on the Bills. Quinton Spain was next closest at a 55.9 overall grade. Plus there’s some factors outside of Ford’s control which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Aside from Ford, Buffalo’s other top-rookie picks, defensive tackle Ed Oliver, Deving Singletary and tight end Dawson Knox, all had more positive moments this year. Again, that’s not bad, the bar was just set high, so the youthful Ford certainly has room to grow after his rookie season with the Bills.
Biggest Disappointment: Tyler Kroft
While Ford we can see some successes, aside from a touchdown catch against the Steelers, the Bills didn’t get much of anything from tight end Tyler Kroft.
His year started off with injuries and you really hate to see that. But that was a knock on Kroft a bit coming to the Bills from the Bengals. The tight end had a problem staying on the field. In 11 games with the Bills, Kroft had six catches for 71 yards and that touchdown. In his final season in 2018 with the Bengals, Kroft only appeared in five games and had four catches for 36 yards. Nearly what he had with the Bills in less than half the amount of games.
Kroft could be a cut candidate next season. Really the best thing that came out of his year is the playing time that Dawson Knox got thanks to the games Kroft missed early in the year.
Of course, let’s not pile on one guy, though. If Zay Jones were still a candidate/ member of the Bills, it’d be a tough choice.
Special teamer of the Year: Andre Roberts
Completely under the radar this season, the Bills had one of the NFL’s best returners in Andre Roberts. Here’s the thing, you want him to score. He didn’t as a special teamer all year. When that happens, a big gainer adds to their totals, right? Well even though Roberts never had a big spike from a touchdown, he still was among the NFL’s leaders.
At 26.56 yards-per-kickoff return, Roberts was the fourth best returner in the NFL. At a 7.96 return average on punts, Roberts was the ninth-best in that category. No scores, but good, solid numbers.
And remember, the Bills are only about a year removed from Isaiah McKenzie being back there and most just hoping for anything but a fumble.
Coach of the Year: Leslie Frazier
Honestly, thank you NFL.
It’s bizarre that Buffalo defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier didn’t get brought in for any head coaching interviews this offseason. Sure, he had already been fired as coach of the Vikings, but a lot of guys get second chances, just ask Mike McCarthy.
And maybe you’re thinking wait, isn’t this Sean McDermott’s defense? Well, yes, but Frazier has plenty of input into it and you can see it every game. Frazier is the Bills’ defensive play-caller and… do we need to explain that the defense is good on this team? McDermott is edged out by Frazier for that reason in this award because of that and frankly as a head coach, he’s a great evaluator of talent but McDermott really has to work on his situation clock management skills as a bench boss.