Comparing the Bills roster from 2023 playoffs vs. Chiefs to now
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The Buffalo Bills have been an NFL playoff mainstay and have reached the postseason for five consecutive seasons, and with the rest of the AFC East in disarray, the Bills will likely win the division and host a home game for the fifth straight season.
However, merely winning the division and exiting early in the playoffs is no longer acceptable in the eyes of most of Bills Mafia. To overcome the Bills’ recent playoff ineptness, they must beat their playoff nemesis, the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs have eliminated the Bills from the playoffs in three of the past four seasons, the most recent being a heartbreaking 27-24 loss in Buffalo in 2023. A loss where the Bills defense was decimated by key injuries that the Chiefs exploited.
The Chiefs come to Buffalo again this week, and although it’s not a playoff game, it does have giant playoff-seeding implications.
By position, here is how the Bills roster compares from last year’s divisional round to this Week 11 matchup.
Next to each 2023 player is the percentage of offensive or defensive snaps they took versus the Chiefs in the playoff game.
Quarterback: Better
2023: Josh Allen (100%)
2024: Josh Allen
Analysis: Josh Allen has a full year of offensive coordinator Joe Brady under his belt. Allen has made better decisions and allowed the play to come to him as opposed to abandoning script early and trying to make plays. Also, 2024 Josh Allen has a better weapons.
Running backs: Better
2023: James Cook (51%), Ty Johnson (27%), Latavius Murray (18%), Reggie Gillium (5%)
2024: James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Reggie Gilliam
Analysis: Ray Davis is a major upgrade to the aging Latavius Murray and the Bills offense still hums when he relieves James Cook.
Ty Johnson has had more time in the offense and is a viable third-down weapon.
James Cook had over 140 total yards versus the Chiefs during the regular season last year but was limited to 82 in their playoff game. If the Bills can have consistent success rushing the ball versus the Chiefs’ third-ranked rush defense, look for the Bills passing offense to further exploit the Chiefs secondary.
3 Headed Monster!!
— Built in Buffalo (@BuiltInBuffalo_) November 10, 2024
The combination of James Cook, Ray Davis and Ty Johnson may be the best backfield in the #NFL!#BillsMafia│#GoBills│#BuiltinBuffalo pic.twitter.com/GXQS0clLSk
Wide receivers: Better
2023: Stefon Diggs (90%), Trent Sherfield (86%), Khalil Shakir (70%), Deonte Hardy (12%), Andy Isabella (1%)
2024: Khalil Shakir, Amari Cooper (Questionable vs Chiefs), Keon Coleman (Out vs Chiefs), Mack Hollins, Curtis Samuel, Jalen Virgil
Analysis: The 2024 Bills wide receiver room is deeper than 2023 and it’s not close.
Lets face it—Stefon Diggs was a shadow of himself when the Bills and Chiefs played in the playoffs last year. Maybe Diggs was written out of the Joe Brady script, or maybe he was beginning to slow down, or maybe it was a combination of both. Either way, Stefon Diggs’ weight at receiving was slowing down an offense that was initially designed to go through him.
Although there have been injuries to nearly every wide receiver at some point through the first half of the 2024 season, the Bills receiving corps looks sharper than they did down the stretch and into the playoffs in 2023 and are without a doubt deeper.
Tight ends: Wash
2023: Dalton Kincaid (62%), Dawson Knox (40%), Quintin Morris (10%)
2024: Dalton Kincaid (Out vs Chiefs), Dawson Knox, Quintin Morris
Analysis: The Bills’ 2024 tight end room in 2024 is the same as in 2023.
However, Dalton Kincaid’s numbers have been slightly lower to this point in 2024 compared to in 2023. This may be because Josh Allen is checking down to running backs more, or it may be because there are more hungry mouths to feed overall in the offense.
Offensive line: Wash
2023: O’Cyrus Torrence (100%), Spencer Brown (100%), Connor McGovern (100%), Dion Dawkins (100%), Mitch Morse (100%), David Edwards (27%), Ryan Bates (0%)
2024: O’Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown (Questionable vs Chiefs), Connor McGovern, Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, Ryan Van Demark, Alex Anderson, Sedrick Van Pran-Grainger, Will Clap
Analysis: The departure of center Mitch Morse is the only face that isn’t the same for the Bills at offensive line in 2024.
Connor McGovern has done an admirable job stepping in for Morse at center and David Edwards has been average at McGovern’s former right guard spot. The Bills offensive line has been healthy and continues to be among the best in the NFL.
Defensive tackle: Better
2023: Ed Oliver (80%), DaQuan Jones (60%), Tim Settle (26%), Linval Joseph (22%)
2024: Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, Austin Johnson, Quinton Jefferson, Jordan Phillips
Analysis: Yes, Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones aren’t playing to their potential so far in 2024, but at least there is solid depth behind them this season.
And depth is one thing that the 2023 Bills defense was missing against the Chiefs last season.
The addition of Quinton Jefferson mid-season to complement Austin Johnson, who the Bills picked up in the off-season, provides defensive front depth that was an issue down the stretch and into the playoffs for them.
Defensive end: Better
2023: Greg Rousseau (64%), AJ Epenesa (50%), Leonard Floyd (38%), Shaq Lawson (26%), Von Miller (30%), Kingsley Jonathan (0%)
2024: Greg Rousseau, AJ Epenesa, Von Miller, Casey Toohill, Javon Solomon
Analysis: Greg Rousseau’s 2024 campaign so far may be his best. Although his sack numbers are underwhelming, he is putting consistent pressure on the quarterback and he may be the best defensive end against the run in the NFL.
Von Miller’s shortened 2023 season was hard to watch. His 2024 season is night and day in comparison and his pass rush is as good as it was in 2022 before going down with the knee injury.
Linebackers: Better
2023: AJ Klein (98%), Tyrel Dodson (78%), Dorian Williams (12%), Tyler Matakevich (2%)
2024: Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, Nicholas Morrow, Baylon Spector, Joe Andreessen, Edefuan Ulofoshio
Analysis: Plain and simple—the Bills lost to the Chiefs in the playoffs last year because of their linebacker depth.
Terrel Bernard was injured, Matt Milano was injured, Dorian Williams was a rookie who hadn’t found his way yet, and the Bills were forced to call AJ Klein. The same AJ Klein who had retired and was hours away from going on a winter vacation with his family.
The Bills should be a lot healthier at linebacker Sunday versus the Chiefs.
Cornerbacks: Better
2023: Dane Jackson (100%), Taron Johnson (100%), Rasul Douglas (100%), Siran Neal (6%), Kaiir Elam (0%)
2024: Christian Benford, Rasul Douglas, Taron Johnson, Kaiir Elam, Ja’Marcus Ingram
Analysis: Perhaps the Bills’ best corner, Christian Benford, was injured for the game last year, forcing Dane Jackson to start.
Benford will be back for Sunday’s game along with his counterpart Rasul Douglas and All-Pro Taron Johnson.
“I have seen an increased level of consistency, focus and maturity this offseason.”
— Built in Buffalo (@BuiltInBuffalo_) September 6, 2024
Coach McDermott on #Bills CB Christian Benford. #GoBills
Safeties: Wash
2023: Micah Hyde (100%), Jordan Poyer (100%), Cam Lewis (8%), Damar Hamlin (0%)
2024: Taylor Rapp, Damar Hamlin, Cam Lewis, Cole Bishop
Analysis: Yes, Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer are both gone for the Bills this season. And guess what? This year’s Bills starting safeties, Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin, are holding their own while Poyer is struggling in Miami.
Sean McDermott is a “safety whisperer” and this year’s duo of Rapp and Hamlin backs this philosophy up.
Special teams: Wash
2023: K Tyler Bass, P Sam Martin, LS Reid Ferguson
2024: K Tyler Bass, P Sam Martin, LS Reid Ferguson
Analysis: The special teams trio remains in tact from last year.
Total tally:
Counting all position groups on this list, there are seven areas where the Bills improved and four where they remained the same. They haven’t gotten worse in any area.
