Buffalo Bills

Less sacks may equal a better Bills defense

Published Jul. 1, 2015 4:27 p.m. ET

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The Buffalo Bills have one of the best defensive lines in the entire NFL. Over the last two seasons the Bills have sacked the quarterback a total of 111 times, 54 of which came last season when they led the league in sacks. 

Even though the defense has ranked first and second respectively in sacks the last two seasons, that doesn't mean the defense has always been playing it's best. As defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman alluded to, sack totals may be misleading.

"It's not necessarily the number," Thurman said. "A lot of it has to do with the timing of the sacks, when they come. Just like turnovers, there are teams that get a lot of turnovers, a high number but how crucial are they? At what points in the game do they come?"

Thurman brings up a good point because sacks can often occur during a blowout where an opposing offense is always passing the ball, therefore it is easier to anticipate the play that is being called.

While the sack numbers may not be important, the pressure still needs to be there as it could cause quarterbacks into incompletions, or even better, turnovers. While the Bills defense may not lead the league in sacks this year, they may be a better overall defense by improving on their turnover total in 2015.

(h/t NFL.com)

Photo Credit: Bob Levey/Getty Images

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