The Buffalo Bills’ offense on Sunday showcased a drastic shift from the first half to the second. Initially, they managed only one touchdown and five punts, but after halftime, they exploded with three touchdowns and two field goals, scoring on every drive.
The key to this transformation was the emphasis on a fast-paced passing game, spearheaded by versatile wide receiver Khalil Shakir. He had just one target in the first half and one in the third quarter, but saw the ball five times in the fourth, successfully catching all seven targets for 65 yards. Shakir felt the change.
“That second half was scary. Everything just started to click for us,” he observed. And indeed, things started to fall into place as the offense racked up 27 points after the break, with Josh Allen, who struggled early on, completing 15 of 20 passes for three touchdowns in the second half.
What changed? The effectiveness of their passing, especially on early downs, played a crucial role.
“First and second down efficiency in that second half was key,” Allen explained, noting that they managed to avoid many third-down situations unlike in the first half when they often faced tough third and long plays. While it took them time to earn a first down initially, they rebounded well in the second half.
At the start of the game, Allen completed only 4 of 11 passes, with several incompletions on deep attempts, including one drop from Amari Cooper and another due to a batted ball. While offensive coordinator Joe Brady’s play designs contributed to the initial struggles, Allen also held the ball too long and often aimed for deeper throws rather than safer options.
Although it’s important not to detract from Allen’s strengths, the short passing efficiency in the second half opened up opportunities for bigger plays downfield, marking a significant improvement.
Shakir is emerging as one of the most dependable wide receivers in the league, but he deserves more targets. His dual strengths — reliable catching and exceptional skills after the catch — should lead to more opportunities for him. Currently, he leads the league in EPA/target, boasts a remarkable catch percentage of 96.4%, and ranks eighth in the NFL with 7.8 yards after the catch per reception.
As Shakir said, it was indeed a thrilling performance. It would be great to see this offensive approach continue in the future.
