ORCHARD PARK — The Buffalo Bills were months from playing a game when fullback Reggie Gilliam sat with offensive line coach Aaron Kromer.
Gilliam, who agreed to return on a one-year deal, wanted to talk about how the team might use different personnel in 2025. Whether it was two-back sets and multi-tight end formations, the Bills hadn’t used them as much over the years and Gilliam felt it was important to get more time on task.
The Bills were among the NFL leaders in fullback usage, but they were at the bottom of the league in multi-tight end sets. The Bills ranked 27th in 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) at 11.2%, while ranking 16th in 13 personnel (one running back, three tight ends) at 4.6%.
But that’s largely because the Bills use so many packages that they don’t rank among the league leaders in any personnel grouping. And there have been games when the Bills leaned heavily on their tight ends.
More importantly, they have been excellent when they do use those players. The Bills have run 403 yards and a touchdown on 5.7 yards per carry in 12 personnel and 225 yards and a touchdown on 6.3 yards per carry in 13.
After officially placing wide receiver Tyrell Shavers on injured reserve with a torn left ACL Wednesday, the Bills only have three receivers on the 53-man roster. And facing the Denver Broncos, who blitz at one of the highest rates in the league, it could be another instance of the Bills using heavy personnel.
“We still trust whoever steps up,” Gilliam told GNN Sports. “We’ve had a next-man-up mentality all season. But … we’re a ground-and-pound team now.”
The Bills used multi-tight end personnel heavily against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns to neutralize star pass rushers T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett, respectively. Because the Bills don’t just run well with those players, they throw it well.
Quarterback Josh Allen is 36 of 45 for 309 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while only being sacked four times in 12 personnel. In fact, Allen completed his first 12 passes of the season and didn’t throw an incompletion until Week 11.
Allen hasn’t been sacked while throwing out of 13, going 7 of 11 for 83 yards and a touchdown. Both personnel packages allow Allen to play under center, something he’s doing at the highest rate in his career.
The Bills have played under center at a league-high 50.8% of the time this season, with Allen throwing for 952 yards, five touchdowns and an interception on 69% completions. And most critically, he’s only been sacked seven times.
Playing under center (and running the ball well) forces defenses in neutral situations because it could be a run or a pass. Using heavier personnel typically leads defenses to doing the same to prevent being overwhelmed in the running game.
Not only can pass rushers not rush without concern of the run, but both situations limit the likelihood of blitzing. All this is imperative against the Broncos.
Denver tallied 68 sacks this season — four shy of the NFL record set by the 1984 Chicago Bears — and it was led by defensive end Nik Bonitto’s 14. Each member of the Broncos front four has at least seven sacks, but they also blitz at the sixth-highest rate in the league (28.5%).
“Usually more sacks happen when you’re keeping extra guys in protection or you’re sending three guys on routes and that fourth guy’s taking a little longer,” Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady. “… As long as you’re keeping your quarterback comfortable — especially early — I think that was important. It’s so important for our guys to keep our quarterback clean.”
But in order for the Bills to be effective throwing the ball in any capacity, they are going to need to run the ball better than they did against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The NFL’s No. 1 rushing defense held the No. 1 rushing offense to a season-low 79 yards last week.
The Broncos have the No. 3 run defense, but they haven’t been as dominant as the Jaguars. Denver has surrendered over 100 yards seven times this season.
“We never want to go into a game feeling like we’re invincible,” Bills rookie tight end Jackson Hawes said. “For most part we never do that. Games like (last week) are kind of a good reminder that we have to come out with the same intensity and just keep raising our level.”
NOTES: CB Maxwell Hairston (ankle), RB Ty Johnson (ankle) and S Jordan Poyer (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday. … LB Terrel Bernard (calf), DE A.J. Epenesa (neck), TE Dalton Kincaid (knee/calf), LB Matt Milano (ankle), DT Ed Oliver (biceps), DE Greg Rousseau (back) and LB Shaq Thompson (neck) were limited. … K Matt Prater (right quad/right calf) and WR Curtis Samuel (elbow) were full participants.