Bills are 9-0 this year when Jordan Poyer plays

“All-Pro Po” is an instant game changer on the backend of the Bills defense

So far in 2022 the Bills are a perfect 9-0 with safety Jordan Poyer on the field, and without him on the field and lurking in the secondary, they are 1-3.

Without Poyer, the Bills have lost every game against teams .500 or better this year (Dolphins, Jets Week 9, Vikings). Their lone win without Poyer came against the Steelers who were both missing TJ Watt and starting rookie QB Kenny Pickett for the first time. With Poyer in the lineup, they are 5-0 against teams .500 or better (Titans, Ravens, Chiefs, Patriots, Jets Week 14).

Against teams .500 or better, the Bills have allowed 13.8 points per game to the opposition with Poyer, and 24.7 points per game without Poyer. That’s more than a combined touchdown and field goal difference.

Despite missing four games, Poyer ranks first on the team in interceptions (4), second in passes defended (8), and sixth in solo tackles, assisted tackles, and combined tackles. Poyer is currently tied for fourth in the NFL in interceptions, and he nearly had a fifth in the Patriots game but it was ruled not a catch.

Since he joined the Bills in 2017, he has had a knack for flying around and causing turnovers. Over the past six NFL seasons, he has the fourth-most interceptions in the NFL, with 22. He trails just Xavien Howard (28), JC Jackson (25) and Kevin Byard (24) over that timeframe.

Poyer has had a laundry list of injuries this year. First, he injured his left elbow in early August, sidelining him until the start of the regular season. Then, he injured his foot against Tennessee, forcing him to miss Week 3’s loss to Miami. Next, he injured his ribs in the game-sealing interception vs Baltimore in Week 4 (the rib injury forced him to drive a van 15 hours each way for the Week 6 game at Kansas City). Next, Poyer injured his elbow once again in the Sunday Night game at Green Bay. He missed two games following the elbow injury (losses to Jets and Vikings) and now he’s back on the field playing in an elbow brace. With or without the brace, the Bills need him on the field.

Missing games hasn’t been common for Poyer since joining the Bills. Although he has already missed four games due to injury this year, he only missed two total games over his first five years in Buffalo. So far in 2022, he has definitely proved his worth to the front office. With his safety running mate Micah Hyde out for the year, Poyer continues to make a noticeable impact on the defense each week he plays, even if it means battling through through the elbow injury.