Offensive Combination propels Bills to No. 1 ranking in key category

The Buffalo Bills protected their quarterback more effectively than any NFL team in 2023.

Ralph Ventre | Jul 6, 2024

Nov 26, 2023; Philadelphia, PA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates his touchdown with guard Connor McGovern (66) and offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field / Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

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Buffalo Bills | News, Scores, Schedules & Standings

The Buffalo Bills featured the ideal recipe for adequate pass protection last year and the numbers are there to prove it.

Buffalo enjoyed continuity along its starting offensive line, trotting out the same five players for all 17 regular season games. Meanwhile, Bills' quarterback Josh Allen is as mobile as they come and performs well when pressured.

Those two factors made it possible for the Bills to lead the league in fewest sacks allowed (24). The back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs finished second to Buffalo, permitting 28 sacks in 2023. Analyst Warren Sharp shared the numbers in a July 3 post on the social media site now known as X.

The New York Giants allowed a league-high 85 sacks last year, 20 more than the next-ranked team.

The Bills topped the NFL with a league-low sack percentage, taking sacks on only 4.15 percent of pass attempts. Their 7.17 yards per pass play average was fifth highest on the circuit.

The 28-year-old Allen has been highly effective throwing on the run. His ability to tuck it and take off on the ground makes him a difficult quarterback to defend. The low numbers of sacks against Allen seemingly correlates with his elite mobility.

sacks allowed last year

85 - NYG
84
83
82
81
80
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
69
68
67
66
65 - WAS, CAR
64 - TEN, NYJ
63
62
61
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53
52 - DEN
51
50 - CHI, CIN
49
48 - NE
47 - HOU, MIN
46
45 - CLE
44
43 - LAC
42 - ARI
41 - IND, BAL, JAX
40 - TB,LV, ATL, DAL
39 -…
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) July 3, 2024