Selflessness Is the Engine Powering the Buffalo Bills
Credit: Tina MacIntyre via Imagn Images
To be an elite team in the NFL, it’s important to have quality coaching and skilled players, but a great collection of talent isn’t enough. When you think of the New England Patriots dynasty, you think of how their top players would make personal sacrifices with stats and contracts to do anything to improve the team.
Over the last few years for the Buffalo Bills, it hasn’t always felt like they had the players that wanted to do that. In 2024, however, their actions on and off the field have proven that this team is selfless, and that’s raising their ceiling more than ever before. The entire 53-man roster is bought in on one common goal: to win the Super Bowl.
The most recent of the many displays of selflessness happened on Sunday Night Football in the middle of the snowstorm at Highmark Stadium. Midway through the third quarter with the Bills already leading 21-3, Josh Allen lined up for a 1st & Goal. He completed a pass short to Amari Cooper, who looked like he would be wrapped up for a short gain. Instead, Cooper showed his unselfishness and high football IQ to pitch it back out to Allen, who ran out around the end for a touchdown.
AMARI COOPER PITCHES IT BACK TO JOSH ALLEN FOR THE TD 😱
WHAT A PLAY!!🔥#NFL pic.twitter.com/3ZwCqVjiVC
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 2, 2024
This wasn’t some rookie trying to earn his spot in the NFL. This was a 10-year veteran and five-time Pro Bowler, thinking outside the box to do whatever he needed to help the team score. This is the same Cooper who started this season on the disastrous Cleveland Browns, but after a handful of weeks in Buffalo, he has already adapted the Bills’ selfless attitude.
Can you imagine someone like Stefon Diggs last year trying to do something so selfless, giving Allen credit for a passing and receiving touchdown? Knowing Diggs, he would have gotten mad that Allen’s throw didn’t get him put him in the end zone and blown up at Allen or the coaching staff. Don’t believe me? We have many instances where that exact thing happened.
Stefon Diggs appeared upset with Josh Allen on the sideline. 👀 pic.twitter.com/R4CkPbD0j1
— JayOnSC (@JayOnSC) January 24, 2023
Back in August, Sean McDermott might not have called out Diggs by name, but there was one comment that sure seemed pointed when talking about his new-look WR room.
“I mean, I think, more than anything, I like where the where the kind of the unselfishness is in terms of that position,” McDermott said. But whether or not you think Diggs deserved that kick out the door, the wide receiver room has lived up to exactly what the coach billed them as.
Beyond Cooper, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Mack Hollins, Curtis Samuel, and others aren’t stars in their own right, but as a team, they make up quite the room. Cooper got No. 1 targets in Cleveland — almost nine per game — but he has come in since the trade and filled a much lesser role (13 targets in four games) without complaint.
Samuel is another perfect example of a guy who has had a team-first approach. After signing a three-year, $34 million deal, the expectation was that Samuel would be an impact player for Allen. Injuries have plagued him, and he hasn’t always had the most playing time, even when healthy.
Against the 49ers, Samuel played just 22 snaps, but there hasn’t been one peep from him about his playing time. He’s just stayed ready. When Allen called his number two games ago against the Kansas City Chiefs, he delivered, catching five passes for 58 yards and a touchdown. Shakir has been another one who bides his time and steps up whenever he’s needed.
“He’s a frickin’ football player — emphasis on football,” Allen said of Shakir back in September. “He’s so selfless about the approach. Throughout the week, he may get two passes during practice and, again, he’ll just find ways to be in the right place at the right time. And he makes plays. That’s just been his M.O. I fricking love him.”
We still have a couple of months to go to see if this selflessness is going to result in a Lombardi Trophy, but one thing is sure about this team, this is the closest they have been to the selflessness of the Patriots of old that won Super Bowl after Super Bowl.
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