PFF's Preseason Punch: Unpacking the Bills' Offensive Struggles Against the Bears

The NFL preseason is a crucial proving ground, a stage where players fight for roster spots and teams fine-tune their strategies. For the Buffalo Bills, their recent exhibition against the Chicago Bears offered a mixed bag of performances, and Pro Football Focus (PFF) has now shed light on some of the offensive struggles, identifying the lowest-graded players from the matchup.

Leading the list of players who found themselves on the wrong side of PFF's analytical microscope was offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark.

Earning a disheartening 33.6 overall offensive grade, Van Demark’s outing was particularly challenging in pass protection. His 28.5 pass-blocking grade was among the team's lowest, indicating significant difficulties in handling the Bears' defensive pressure. While preseason often sees depth players getting extended snaps, these performances are vital for coaches evaluating their offensive line depth.

Van Demark's struggles highlight areas that will undoubtedly be a focus for improvement in practice sessions moving forward, especially as the Bills look to solidify their protection for quarterback Josh Allen.

Joining Van Demark on the list of lowest-graded offensive players was wide receiver Elijah Moore, who registered an overall offensive grade of 45.4.

While Moore did manage to haul in two of his four targets for 17 yards, his overall PFF grade suggests a performance that lacked consistent impact beyond just his receiving numbers. PFF's grading system meticulously evaluates every snap, considering elements like route running, blocking assignments, and overall execution, not just catches and yards.

For a player like Moore, who is looking to carve out a significant role in the Bills' high-octane offense, these early preseason reps are essential for showcasing versatility and reliability. His grade points to areas where he can elevate his game to become a more complete and formidable threat.

It's important to remember that these are early preseason grades.

For players like Van Demark and Moore, these reps provide invaluable film study and opportunities for growth. The ultimate goal of the preseason is evaluation, and while these low grades highlight areas of concern, they also pinpoint specific aspects for coaching staff to address. The Bills coaching staff will undoubtedly be working closely with these players to refine their techniques and improve their performance as the regular season rapidly approaches.

Every snap, good or bad, serves as a stepping stone on the path to readiness.