Key Stats Explaining Why the Buffalo Bills Are 2-0

The Buffalo Bills are one of just eight 2-0 teams in the NFL, with the gap between them and the Super Bowl-favorite Rams shrinking as September progresses. 

Why are the Bills off to such a strong start? 

The league's top-ranked offense is doing a lot of the heavy lifting, but let's dig into the numbers during this mini-bye between Week 2 and Week 3.

Six

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Dalton Kincaid

What It Represents: The number of plays that have resulted in gains of 35 or more yards for the Buffalo offense this season. 

Where It Ranks: First in the NFL. Only one other offense (Baltimore, with four) has recorded more than three.

Why It Matters: Buffalo is winning with home runs. They have 13 20-yard gains, which is four more than the next-best team in the AFC in that category. And it's not merely a fluke born from beating up on a vulnerable Lions defense; six of those 13 big plays came against Houston.

6.4

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

Josh Allen

What It Represents: The average number of completed air yards per attempt from Bills quarterback Josh Allen. 

Where It Ranks: First by a wide margin. Only one other qualified passer (Trevor Lawrence, 5.9) is above 5.5. 

Why It Matters: Allen might be playing the best football of his career. Fifteen percent of the touchdowns scored on deep completions in the entire league this season have come on Allen passes, and he has posted a 141.4 passer rating on throws that have traveled at least 15 yards downfield.

Nine

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

Josh Allen

What It Represents: The total number of combined passing and rushing touchdowns scored by Allen so far (five passing and a tied-for-league-high four rushing). 

Where It Ranks: First in the NFL. Two ahead of Bryce Young, who has six passing touchdowns and one rushing score. 

Why It Matters: It's evidence that Allen is carrying this team on his back in every way. No wonder he's a huge favorite to win MVP.

Zero

AP Photo/Adrian Kraus

James Cook

What It Represents: The number of turnovers committed by the Bills this season. 

Where It Ranks: Tied for best in football, of course. Only the Bills and Jets have yet to commit an offensive turnover this season. 

Why It Matters: As noted, Buffalo has been airing the ball out often and has generally been far from conservative. In Week 1, the Bills faced one of the most talented defenses in the NFL. While Allen has dodged a couple of near-interceptions and the offense has recovered all three of its fumbles, the bottom line is they are playing turnover-free football without sacrificing aggression. With several turnovers, they could easily be 0-2 instead of 2-0. 

27.9%

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Greg Rousseau

What It Represents: The defense's pressure rate, which means they're getting at least a hurry, knockdown or sack on more than a quarter of their opponents' dropbacks. 

Where It Ranks: Fourth in the NFL, which is up from 11th in 2025. 

Why It Matters: Jim Leonhard's defense has generally struggled in pass coverage but is absolutely getting more pressure. The defense is also on pace for 59 sacks after generating just 36 under the tutelage of Sean McDermott in 2025. Greg Rousseau and Deone Walker have both taken major steps forward in this new defensive system, and it's paid off. 

3.7

AP Photo/Adrian Kraus

What It Represents: The average yards per rush allowed by the Buffalo defense against Houston and Detroit. 

Where It Ranks: It's the eighth-best mark in the NFL thus far, which beats the heck out of the 2025 Bills, who ranked 30th with 5.1 yards per carry allowed. 

Why It Matters: Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the best running backs in the NFL. And while he was quite effective as a receiver against Buffalo in Week 2, Gibbs was held to just 52 rushing yards on 16 attempts. The tackling could have been crisper overall, but the push from Leonhard's run defense was stellar. Critically, Gibbs gained just five yards on eight second-half carries.