The numbers look good, and the film is downright sexy
The Buffalo Bills overall had a very good day against the Indianapolis Colts, but one area where they seemed to excel was with third-down conversions. Going 7-of-14, their 50% rate is pretty great just on the surface. Of their seven conversions, four were done with a serious amount of panache. Let’s take a look at their successful third downs and get amped up once again over this spectacular win.
Play 1 — James Cook for 20
I’m not sure how much analysis is needed here. James Cook gets the ball on a 3rd & Short. Cook has to cut into the pile to avoid an open-field tackle and it looks like the play is dead right around the line to gain. Rather than force the chain gang to measure, Cook stays upright and gains another 18 yards while showing off some fantastic contact balance.
Play 2 — Khalil Shakir for 6
While a good chunk of these conversions fall into the panache category, this one arguably is closer to methodical. It’s a good play call for short yardage and Khalil Shakir gets in perfect position to grab it and convert.
Play 3 — Ty Johnson for 8
Here’s another quick throw in a short-yardage situation. Nickel cornerback Kenny Moore nearly slips trying to adjust to Ty Johnson running toward the edge but recovers and is able to make the tackle. If it weren’t for that incredible recovery, Ty Johnson is gaining more than eight. The conversion was already a big play, but it was nearly a huge one.
Play 4 — Mack Hollins for 44 and a stopped clock
The 3rd & Long doesn’t tell the whole story as there’s only 18 seconds left in the half. Buffalo would like to add a few more points before the break, but there’s a lot of room to cover. Indianapolis is able to flush Josh Allen out of the pocket but as we’ve routinely seen that’s not always going to stop the play when it comes to Allen.
Allen delivers a long strike to Mack Hollins for a big gain, and even better Hollins is able to get right back to his feet and out of bounds to stop the clock. The heads-up move by Hollins is a major reason that Buffalo was able to drop another three points on the Colts.
Play 5 — Khalil Shakir for 30
Sometimes a play call is counting on some finger crossing and that’s what we have here. On 3rd & 8, the Bills are looking to get the ball out quick and pray for some RAC. There’s good blocking for Shakir but it’s also notable that he’s just unwilling to be tackled on some plays, and this one shows off some of that tendency with good vision to find a viable path forward.
Play 6 — Ty Johnson for 17
Ty Johnson leaks out for a quick hitter and has a little trouble catching the ball on his first attempt. The double clutch is at the line to gain and Johnson makes up for the quick bobble by adding an extra 14 yards for the Bills.
Play 7 — Josh Allen for 7
This isn’t the flashiest play, but Allen sells the handoff well enough to gain the edge and help this run succeed. I’d also like to highlight how Allen rolls at the end of the tackle. I point it out for two reasons, both of which are related to the fact that this is a consistent move of his. I like this move because:
- The use of a roll to minimize impact is a good way to reduce injury risk
- It’s stylish AF
The Final Straw
The Buffalo Bills struggled with third downs early this season but have turned things up a notch lately. The latest 50% outing against the Colts is good evidence of their turnaround. What makes it remarkable (aside from the wealth of extra yards I just showed off), is that they were efficient converting down two of their top receivers.
Bills fans should cross their fingers this efficiency continues as Buffalo’s offense continues to evolve over the course of the 2024 season.