The Buffalo Bills' offseason was all designed to strengthen the defense with Josh Allen and the offense "fine" after No. 17 won MVP.
But the additions haven't been able to improve one area of the defense that many thought they would, and that is the run defense.
And against the Houston Texans, it reared its ugly head again, as Buffalo allowed 108 yards on the ground, making it the ninth time this season the Bills have allowed 100+ yards in a game.
For NFL.com's Jeffri Chadiha, the Bills' run defense could be their undoing as the season goes on.
"This also has been a problem all season, and it certainly looks like Buffalo's fatal flaw," Chadiha writes. "To understand how bad the Bills are at stopping the run, know that they came into Week 12 ranked 30th in the league in rushing yards allowed.
"This situation doesn't feel like it can be easily remedied. It could absolutely destroy a season that started with championship expectations."
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Bills' run defense leaves a lot to be desired
We mentioned above that the Bills have allowed 100+ rushing yards in nine games this season, but most of them haven't been "little" 100-yard games; they've been big ones.
Totals of 238, 130, 189, 210, 197, and 202 yards have been given up by Sean McDermott's defense, which is nightmare fuel for a team that has Super Bowl aspirations.
Is there a quick fix mid-season? I'm not sure, but it is clear the Bills struggle against the run, and that is the one thing teams try to do to keep Allen and Co. On the sidelines. And when they can run it as effectively as teams have this season, it's a great recipe for slaying Buffalo.
And as Chadiha states, it could be the thing that destroys the Bills' once-promising season.
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