Bills news: Assessing Buffalo’s defensive issues at the bye week

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 12: Terrel Bernard #8 of the Buffalo Bills tackles Blake Corum #24 of the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter of the game at SoFi Stadium on October 12, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In the first season of the Joe Brady era, Josh Allen, James Cook and the Buffalo Bills once again feature one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL.

But on the other side of the ball, there have been plenty of issues with Jim Leonhard's defense, and it seems week after week, the Bills are forced to score as many points as possible and hope the defense can hang on for the win.

The formula has worked...so far. The Bills are 5-1 through the first six weeks, are in sole possession of first place in the AFC East and currently are alone as the N0. 2 seed in the AFC heading into their bye.

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But sooner or later, Buffalo's defense is going to need to need to show marked improvements in several phases of the game, most pressing being Buffalo's issues getting off the field on third-and-long scenarios.

With the Bills currently on their bye, today's edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off by examining how Leonhard, Brady and co. are still searching for answers on a defense that ranks 28th in points allowed (28.5 ppg.), and is 31st in yards allowed (398.2), 30th in passing yards allowed (264.6), and 28th in rushing yards allowed (133.6).

Check out the news items below and then let us know your thoughts on what needs to be done to fix the defensive issues plaguing the Bills.

DC Jim Leonhard still searching for answers

Bills fans knew the 2026 team was going to be different on defense. That was expected as soon as former head coach Sean McDermott was fired and former Bills safety Jim Leonhard was brought in to oversee a complete overhaul of Buffalo's defensive scheme. The team switched from a 4-3 scheme to a multiple 3-4 base defense under Leonhard, with mixed results.

So far, citing terrific research compiled by Buffalo Rumblings writer Bruce Nolan, the only tangible improvement on defense has been against the run, as Buffalo is 25th in Expected Points Added (EPA) per rush, a metric that measures the net point value a running play adds to an offense. That's up from last year, when the Bills were 31st in EPA per rush.

Besides that slight improvement, everything else about Buffalo's defense has significantly declined from last year to this year. With the Bills once again possessing legitimate Super Bowl aspirations, and with Josh Allen once again orchestrating a dynamic offense that leads the league in scoring average, Bills fans are hoping the team will emerge from the bye week with a better understanding of what adjustments Leonhard is going to make to fix the many issues on defense.

We examine what has gone right on defense-from the stellar play of Deone Walker, Greg Rousseau and the rest of the defensive front-and what has gone wrong-from poor play from the middle linebackers and safeties to an inability to get off the field on third down and contain the passing game; explore how the defense remains the crucial weakness that could derail those Super Bowl dreams; and hear from Leonhard on what changes could be coming as the team uses the bye week to scheme ways to address its deficiencies.

• Three questions after the Buffalo Bills outlast the Las Vegas Raiders - Buffalo News (subscription required)
• Why the Buffalo Bills' defense is the flaw that could sink a Super Bowl run - The Athletic (subscription required)
• Jim Leonhard Says Some Changes' Being Made to Bills' Defense - Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
• Bills notebook: Leonhard on the biggest thing' for defense over bye week - Buffalo News (subscription required)
• Will Bills' rookies make or break the defense? Here's what the film says - The Athletic (subscription required)
• Four Critical Changes That Bills Must Make During Bye Week - Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills

Even more Bills news

Discussing the recent reunion with former All-Pro cornerback Tre'Davious White. Plus, find out the key numbers that powered Buffalo past the Las Vegas Raiders; learn how defensive tackle Deone Walker was once again a disruptive force in the middle of the Bills defense; and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson gets suspended for a game after spitting at Raiders tight end Brock Bowers.

• Source: Buffalo Bills to bring back Tre'Davious White via practice squad - Buffalo News (subscription required)
• Former All-Pro signs with Buffalo Bills for third stint with team - Democrat & Chronicle
• Buffalo Bills fans get Tre'Davious White reunion news on Victory Monday - newyorkupstate.com
• Tre'Davious White signed to Bills' practice squad - WGR 550
• Bills sign CB Tre'Davious White to practice squad, release CB A.J. Woods - BuffaloBills.com
• Bills sign veteran CB Tre'Davious White to practice squad - WGRZ
• Tre'Davious White Returns to Orchard Park, But This Old Bills' All-Pro Won't Be Back - Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
• The advanced stats behind the Bills' Week 6 win in Las Vegas - BuffaloBills.com
• Buffalo Bills' Deone Walker dominated $81 million Raiders center Tyler Linderbaum - newyorkupstate.com
• C.J. Gardner-Johnson suspended 1 game for spitting at Brock Bowers - The Athletic (subscription required)
• NFL suspends Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson without pay for one game - WGRZ
• Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson suspended one game by NFL for spitting - Buffalo News (subscription required)
• C.J. Gardner-Johnson suspended one game for spitting incident - WGR 550
• Bills' Gardner-Johnson suspended one game for spitting at Raiders players - ESPN.com Buffalo Bills blog

Buffalo Bills articles recently featured on Buffalo Rumblings

• Josh Allen has once again become incredibly hard to sack - Buffalo Rumblings
• Drives that feature a sack are different for Josh Allen and Bills offense - Buffalo Rumblings
• Deone Walker wrecked Tyler Linderbaum in Week 6 - Buffalo Rumblings
• Tre'Davious White signing with Bills, per report - Buffalo Rumblings
• Grade the Tre'Davious White signing - Buffalo Rumblings
• CJ Gardner-Johnson hit with suspension for spitting incident vs. Raiders - Buffalo Rumblings
• Bills Shout!outs records and milestones from Week 6 - Buffalo Rumblings
• Can you guess this Bills running back in today's in-5 trivia game - Buffalo Rumblings

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