The Buffalo Bills have consistently made headlines on offense this season, for better or worse. Between quarterback Josh Allen’s turnovers, tight end Dalton Kincaid’s rise, and changes to the coaching staff, the skill positions are soaking up attention.
As a result, a strong offensive line has flown under the radar. Pro Football Focus has Buffalo as the sixth-best pass protection team in football, and their run blocking, ranked 11th, doesn’t fall far behind.
The Bills, as a result, are allowing the fewest sacks in football (1.3) per game and have been able to better evaluate its running backs, providing a mixed bag of results. This offensive strength is in part tied to right tackle Spencer Brown, who has blossomed into a legitimate starter in this third season.
Head coach Sean McDermott elaborated on his growth on Friday.
“His development, I think you’ve got to credit Spencer himself No. 1, and then Coach [Aaron] Kromer and Coach [Austin] Gund No. 2, and the resources that we have in developing a player,” McDermott said. “He’s been rather consistent, I would say, and that has grown through the course of the season.”
Brown has allowed just two sacks this season, and just one since a poor performance in the season opener. Since the Week 1 loss to the New York Jets, Brown is allowing about a pressure per game. He’s been called for a fairly high six penalties, but Buffalo appears to be grateful for the steps he’s taken.
Those steps have been made possible by Brown’s health. He is yet to miss a snap this season after playing in 78 percent and 88 percent of offensive snaps over his first two seasons, respectively. According to McDermott, that credit can be shared between both Brown and the training staff.
Ultimately, McDermott was confident in the Bills’ infrastructure for player development.
“There’s fertile soil and fertile ground for us to develop players … I think this is one great example of us doing that,” McDermott said. “I think that starts with the player, you gotta be coachable and open to making adjustments that you have to make and I think he’s done that.”
Brown will have the opportunity to be an anchor on the right side of Buffalo’s line once again on Sunday when the Bills (6-5) visit the Philadelphia Eagles (9-1) and their vaunted defensive line. Keeping Allen clean and the run game on schedule will be critical to the complementary football Buffalo aims to play and, subsequently, its playoff hopes.
Week 12’s action will kick off at 4:25 p.m. (ET) in Philadelphia.
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