Opening Night of the 2022 NFL Season is in the books, and there’s a lot to take away from the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Rams. For one, we can see how both squads, at least defensively, will be a force to be reckoned with. At the same time, both sides had struggles offensively, specifically Buffalo, with three in the first half. Los Angeles, meanwhile, merely had trouble moving the ball against a strong front by the Buffalo defense.
Then again, though the games count now, the first week of the regular season is always an arduous task for any team, let alone a preseason favorite to win the Super Bowl or a team that is the league’s reigning champions.
Takeaway No. 1: Cooper Kupp needs help from his fellow receivers
13 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown is not a bad stat line to have. But when the scoreboard is as lopsided as it was, the work goes for naught. Ultimately, the Rams need to find an option outside of Cooper Kupp. Having Odell Beckham Jr last year certainly helped, but Beckham was not on the field. He was at the game but not on the roster, and that certainly had an impact on the game.
OBJ’s presence last season allowed defenses to speculate consistently about who to cover. This time, it was Kupp all by himself, and he certainly balled. But the Super Bowl MVP can’t be the only receiving option for a team that is looking to repeat as champions. Week One or not, it will be up to Sean McVay and the rest of the staff to find ways to spread the ball around instead of being one-dimensional.
Takeaway No. 2: The Buffalo Bills will go as far as Josh Allen takes them
Holy smokes. One game in, and it is evident that Josh Allen is still pissed about what happened in Arrowhead Stadium, particularly the 13 seconds. Given what he did against the Los Angeles Rams on opening night in their house, no one can say that Allen is not in the discussion for league MVP even after one game. Three passing scores and a rushing touchdown? That’s all four touchdowns that the Bills scored, and he played a role in all of them.
That begs the question. What are the Bills going to do about their running game? If you take out Allen’s 57 yards from Week One, Buffalo as a team recorded just 65 yards on the ground. That’s not exactly good. Eventually, teams will try to focus on stopping Allen completely, and that can prove costly down the line. Still, it’s one game, and the running game can improve. Maybe the Bills will try to incorporate it more in their game plans in the future. For now, it’s the Allen show in Orchard Park, and it’s a jolly good show.
Takeaway No. 3: Von Miller is precisely what the Bills need to get over the hump
Two sacks against your former team? Not a bad way to make a good first impression in new colors against your former team. Von Miller is just that guy. Turns the motor into high gear and never stops being relentless. For much of his career, Miller has made the life of offensive tackles a walking nightmare.
Just ask Mike Remmers what Miller did to him in the Super Bowl. Ask Jonah Williams and Isaiah Prince last year. Now, go ask Joe Noteboom what Miller was able to do. Granted, replacing a guy like Andrew Whitworth is hard enough, but replacing Whitworth and having to block Von Miller on opening night? Ouch. Still, this is about Miller and what he brings to Buffalo’s defense.
Had they not wet the bed with 13 seconds on the clock, Orchard Park would have hosted the AFC Championship, and maybe Buffalo could have gone on to Super Bowl LVI instead of the Bengals. Still, last year is in the past, and now the Bills have someone that will demand attention from opposing offenses, allowing the rest of the guys up front to hunt—a win-win for all.