Grading the Buffalo Bills Special Teams At The Bye Week

The Buffalo Bills' special teams unit has been one of the team's most reliable groups through the first half of the season, thanks to strong kicking, effective punting, and productive returns.

Tyler Bass has been perfect this season on field goals, while rookie punter Tommy Doman Jr. continues to help Buffalo win the field-position battle by pinning opponents inside the red zone. The Bills have also received strong kick returns from Ray Davis, who is once again among the league leaders in average kick return yardage.

Those contributions have helped make special teams a strength for Buffalo, with few glaring issues to address heading into the second half of the season.

Doman's performance has been particularly encouraging. The Bills punt on just 19% of their possessions, meaning his opportunities have been limited. However, when he does take the field, he has made those chances count by helping pin opponents deep in their own territory.

Buffalo has also gotten a major contribution from its special teams in the form of Greg Rousseau's blocked kick, highlighted as the unit's biggest play of the season. That kind of game-changing moment adds to an already strong overall performance.

There is one question mark, however, when it comes to Greg Dortch. The expectation was that Dortch would bring more to the team than punt returning, but his contributions have been limited to that role. While he has been an adequate returner, there is still room for him to make a greater impact.

Ultimately, that concern isn't enough to outweigh everything else the unit has done well. Bass has delivered consistently, Doman Jr. has made the most of his opportunities, and Davis has provided a reliable spark in the return game.

When a kicker is quietly getting the job done, a punter is performing well without becoming a concern, and the team is winning the special teams battle, it's difficult to find many reasons for concern.

The Bills will need that consistency to continue after the bye week as they look to make a push toward the playoffs. So far, though, special teams has given them little reason to worry, making it one of the team's strongest units heading into the second half of the season.

The verdict: An A for the Bills' special teams at the bye week.