Offense may cost in the postseason, but maintaining the intensity could be a challenge

Buffalo’s defense remains a question mark after doing next to nothing against the Rams last week and making many big plays against Detroit on Sunday. However, the Bills’ offense has appeared to be the best in the NFL since around mid-October.

The last time Buffalo didn’t reach the 30-point mark was in Week 6.

It’s a credit to quarterback Josh Allen and offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who have figured out exactly how to get the most out of players like James Cook, Khalil Shakir, Ty Johnson and rookie wideout Keon Coleman.

The Lions had no answer to Buffalo’s offense on Sunday, especially when Allen escaped the pocket. The Bills will be a problem for virtually everyone they face in January, especially if they find a way to cover up their defensive deficiencies.

We may have gotten a glimpse of Buffalo’s playoff approach on Sunday. Head coach Sean McDermott had an aggressive game from start to finish – he went all out on fourth down in Bills territory in the second quarter and continued his shooting late in the fourth quarter for a two-point lead.

By stepping up offensively and making a few well-calculated plays, the Bills ensured that the Lions couldn’t keep up. The question, however, is whether Buffalo can maintain that intensity over the final three weeks.

The Bills have struggled in their last three games – against the Chiefs, Rams and Lions. They’ll finish against the lowly Patriots (twice) and Jets.

Buffalo has already won the AFC East and will need at least two losses to Kansas City to steal the No. 1 seed from the AFC. Can the Bills keep their offense going in largely meaningless games against inferior opponents? That will be Buffalo’s biggest remaining challenge heading into the postseason.

Defensive and injury issues could derail the Lions’ Super Bowl push

For most of the season, the Lions looked and played like the best team in the NFL. They had knocked off weaker teams and prevailed against rivals, their only loss coming in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

However, injuries have caused problems on the defensive side of the ball in recent weeks. Last Thursday, Detroit edged the Green Bay Packers, but it took a gutsy four-down call and a walk-off field goal to secure a 34-31 win.

Unfortunately, injuries continue to be a problem. Defensive linemen Josh Paschal and Levi Onwuzurike returned to play against Buffalo, but cornerbacks Khalil Dorsey (leg) and Carlton Davis (jaw) left the game with what appeared to be serious injuries.

According to the CBS broadcast, Dorsey was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Davis was quickly ruled out.

Star defensive tackle Alim McNeill also left the game with a potentially serious injury. He was visibly upset when he left the pitch and was quickly forced out with a knee injury.

Even before the injuries began piling up on Sunday, Detroit’s defense was struggling. Coordinator Aaron Glenn’s people-based plan couldn’t keep Allen in the fold, failing repeatedly in the secondary.

The Lions have already secured a playoff spot and have enough offensive talent to advance deep into the playoffs. However, this defense – which may or may not return star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson in time for the Super Bowl – is simply not championship-ready in its current form.

Equally alarming for the Lions is the fact that they haven’t even locked up the NFC North yet. With three weeks to go, there is still a chance that Detroit will be forced to start the postseason on the road.