The Buffalo Bills Suffered a Brutal Offensive Blow That Threatens Their Super Bowl Chances
The Buffalo Bills are partying like it’s 1995 all over again. That is because they beat the Indianapolis Colts in their wild-card playoff game 27-24. Saturday’s win made it the first playoff win for Buffalo since 1995.
The Bills offense carried the team to victory, led by an excellent performance for Josh Allen. However, the Bills didn’t escape the game without any casualties. They suffered one massive blow to their offense that could end up costing them a chance at getting to the Super Bowl.
Zack Moss injures his ankle against the Colts
The Buffalo Bills running game isn’t one of the league’s best, but it gets the job done. The Bills use a running back by committee system, with David Singletary and Zack Moss getting most of the carries. Both have been played their roles well, providing a needed boost to the Bills offense when needed. Moss has been impressive as a rookie and got the start at home against the Colts Saturday.
In the fourth quarter, Moss was tackled on a play where multiple bodies landed on top of him. He injured his ankle on the play and had to be carted off the field. Moss had seven carries for 21 yards and four receptions for 26 yards. He has become more of an active part of the Bill’s offensive scheme, showing the coaches he has what it takes to be a No. 1 back in the NFL.
This injury comes just as Moss was starting to separate himself from Singletary. He has been getting more of the first-team reps and finding his way in this high powered Buffalo offense. He has been one of the more reliable options out of the backfield for Buffalo. Unfortunately for Moss, this ankle injury is going to keep him out for quite some time.
Zack Moss is out for the rest of the postseason
The ankle injury to Moss will keep him out for the rest of the postseason, per ESPN. The running back finished the regular season as the Bills’ second-leading rusher and had five touchdowns. Moss had 576 yards of total offense during his rookie season. Even though he will not suit up for the remainder of the postseason, Moss did avoid any significant injuries.
“While we are disappointed he will miss the remainder of the postseason, we are happy he [Moss] avoided major injury. Zack is in good spirits and excited for his teammates as they make a historic Super Bowl run,” Moss’ agent, Jamal Tooson, said in a statement. There is no official word detailing the specifics of Moss’ injury.
Moss’ injury is a big blow to this Bills offense. Despite them having a potent passing attack, their run attack was useful in key situations. They averaged 4.2 yards per carry during the regular season. With Moss out for the rest of the playoffs, how does that affect the Bills’ Super Bowl chances?
The Buffalo Bills’ Super Bowl chances
This Zack Moss injury is going to hurt the Bills’ offense. With him out of the lineup, most of the workload will go to Devin Singletary. Singletary has been the more durable back, playing in all 16 games this season. He rushed for 687 yards and two touchdowns this season. The Bills rushing attack isn’t their bread and butter offensively, averaging 107.7 yards on the ground this season.
Losing Moss might not seem like a big deal for Buffalo, but it is. He has been a reliable back for the majority of the season. Singletary will be ready to handle the increased workload, but the Bills’ offense is better when utilizing different running backs. That is what made the combination of Moss and Singletary so effective. Now they will have to rely on T.J.Yeldon or another rookie in Antonio Williams. Moss’ absence is going to be felt in the Bills’ offense.
When you have Josh Allen playing the way he is, it can make any injury look minor. Allen’s exceptional play continued against the Colts, throwing for 324 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a score on the ground. Buffalo’s passing game looks unstoppable right now, so they might be able to survive without Moss. Nevertheless, it isn’t going to be easy filling the shoes of Moss in the postseason.
The Bills will have to continue the Super Bowl Journey without one of their key offensive pieces. Buffalo is preparing for a physical matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, where the running game will play a huge factor in who wins the game. Zack Moss won’t be there to tote the rock, which could end up being the difference in the AFC Divisional round matchup.
All stats courtesy of ESPN
