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New England Patriots: Eye on the AFC East — Buffalo Bills

By Hal Bent

FOXBOROUGH, MA - DECEMBER 23: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots and head coach Sean McDermott of the Buffalo Bills meet on the field after the New England Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills 24-12 at Gillette Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - DECEMBER 23: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots and head coach Sean McDermott of the Buffalo Bills meet on the field after the New England Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills 24-12 at Gillette Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots
ORCHARD PARK, NY – OCTOBER 29: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots is brought down by Tre’Davious White #27 of the Buffalo Bills on a quarterback keeper during the first quarter at New Era Field on October 29, 2018 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

DEFENSE:

Statistically, the Bills do not jump out as a juggernaut on defense, but part of that was due to the offense being so bad. Frankly, the defense wore down being on the field so often, and getting forced into defending short fields after turnovers.

The secondary was solid, with second-year cornerback TreDavious White a true shut-down player, and rookie free agent Levi Wallace one of the biggest surprises of the 2018 season (that no one talks about, because, well, it’s Buffalo).

Veterans Micah Hyde, Rafael Bush, and Jordan Poyer form a solid group at safety. At linebacker, rookie Tremaine Edmunds is young and raw, but flashes serious potential to be a game-changer. Matt Milano (from Boston College) is proving a mid-round steal after two seasons, and edge rushers Trent Murphy, Jerry Hughes, and Lorenzo Alexander can very much still bring the heat.

The Bills are losing legendary defensive tackle Kyle Williams to retirement unfortunately. Former Dolphins interior defender Jordan Phillips showed little this season to make the team want to keep him around in 2019. Rookie Harrison Phillips needs to improve against the run inside, alongside run-stuffer Star Lotulelei.

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