ORCHARD PARK — Taylor Rapp had some extra energy as he ripped off his red No. 9 practice jersey after practice Thursday.
The non-contact jersey he was wearing the last few weeks was a necessity as he nursed an ailing neck and shoulder injury. Rapp declined to discuss the exact nature of his injury, but it was enough to keep him out of the last two games.
When Rapp dressed for practice Friday, he didn’t put the red jersey back on, instead returning to the defensive white uniform. Officially listed as questionable, Rapp’s return would provide a boost to the Buffalo Bills secondary — as should the return of cornerback Rasul Douglas — as the safety has emerged as the conductor on the back end.
To decipher Rapp’s value, look no further than the games the Bills have allowed the most passing yards. Rapp was playing injured or out in four of the five games Buffalo allowed more than 250 yards through the air, including the last three games.
It’s a flip from where Rapp was a year ago, serving as the team’s third safety on third downs after signing with the team on a prove-it, one-year $1.77 million contract.
“From a safety perspective, across the league, this is definitely one of the harder systems and schemes,” Rapp told GNN Sports. “Just being able to get that first year under my belt to learn from guys like Micah (Hyde) and (Jordan Poyer), some of the best to ever do it in this system. Just having that first year under my belt to get comfortable and keep it moving.”
Last week’s 253 passing yards allowed to rookie quarterback Drake Maye and the New England Patriots marked the first time the Bills have allowed 250 yards in three consecutive games since 2020. They have never had four such games in Sean McDermott’s eight seasons as head coach.
Now the Bills get the New York Jets and quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who despite dropping 10 of their 12 games, has thrown for over 250 yards in three consecutive games, the first time he’s done so since December 2021.
Rodgers threw for 294 yards in the teams’ first meeting Oct. 14, Rapp’s first game back after leaving with a concussion sustained against the Baltimore Ravens two weeks earlier. Having Rapp in the lineup gives the Bills a playmaker who has two interceptions, two tackles for a loss and a forced fumble.
Typically the Bills are among the best in the league in limiting opposing playmakers. The brand of defense Buffalo plays is designed to limit long passing plays and the Bills have allowed just eight passes over 30 yards, second in the NFL to the Green Bay Packers.
But the Bills have given up three passing plays over 50 yards after allowing one in the previous two seasons combined and two over 60 for just the second time (2021) under McDermott. But the Bills view it as a communication issue rather than a decline in talent.
All five Week 1 starters in the secondary have missed at least one game due to injury, with cornerback Christian Benford being the only player not to miss more than one. The Bills played without three starters in back-to-back weeks, while slot cornerback Taron Johnson missed parts of last week’s game while being assessed for a concussion and safety Damar Hamlin (rib) is questionable to miss a third consecutive game after wearing a red non-contact jersey all week.
“Just hone in on the details,” Rapp said. “It always starts with the details. … Honing in on the game plan, knowing what you’re supposed to do and knowing your job.”
Dealing with Rodgers’ quick release
The 41-year-old Rodgers is tasked with facing the Bills defense with his blindside protected by New York’s third-string left tackle. It may seem like a game for the Buffalo pass rush to feast, but the Jets will surely have a plan.
Rodgers already has the fourth-quickest release in the NFL this season, getting the ball out in 2.64 seconds on average. Buffalo held him to 2.71 seconds in the 23-20 Week 6 win, but the Jets have added receiver Davante Adams since then.
The Bills have struggled with quarterbacks with quick release this season. Opposing quarterbacks are unloading in 2.68 seconds this season, faster than the league average of 2.8.
Nearly half of passing attempts against the Bills have left the quarterback’s hand in 2.5 seconds or faster and they are completing 76.7% on those throws.The Bills are allowing 7 yards per attempt on those throws, up from 6.3 on throws over 2.5 seconds.
Buffalo hasn’t been able to get to the quarterback on quick-release throws, with seven of its 34 sacks coming on attempts longer than 2.5 seconds. Often the only hope on those plays is to knock passes down, but the Bills don’t have any batted balls on quick throws this season.
“We’re expecting a lot of quick throws, a lot of timing things to get him in rhythm and try to get us to second-guess ourselves,” Bills defensive end A.J. Epenesa said. “But if we can keep a one-track mind and keep getting after him, I think we can get to him.”
Keeping running back Breece Hall in check should help the Bills put Rodgers in more positions to hold the ball a little longer. But an offense that ranks 31st in the NFL with 88.7 yards rushing per game put up 121 on the Bills in the first matchup.
And even if the Bills can make the Jets pass reliant, they must do a better job closing out games defensively. Buffalo has one fourth-quarter sack since Week 10 — it came last week on a bad snap — and they have not had an interception in the final frame since picking off Patrick Mahomes to seal a Week 11 win.
Opposing quarterbacks have gone 31 of 38 for 357 yards and four touchdowns the past three games. Not only does the defense know it’s going to be a passing play when playing from behind late in the game, but the offense knows the defense is rushing four and dropping seven in coverage to prevent big plays.
“It’s not like we’re hiding what we’re doing,” Epenesa said. “They do certain things to help protect, whether it’s chipping, mixing up protection plans, bringing people in and out from different formations to block. It’s just us trying to get on our stuff and get after it.”
What’s at stake
The Bills have no chance at the No.1 seed in the AFC after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Houston Texans on Wednesday. They are now focused on the No. 2 and just need a win over the Jets to clinch it for the third consecutive season.
If the Bills don’t beat the Jets, it likely puts them in a position to have to play the Patriots without resting starters in the regular season finale. It would also squander an attempt to go 6-0 in the AFC East for the first time since 2020 and finish with an unbeaten home slate for the first time since 1990.
“That’s a precedent that (McDermott) sets early on from everybody that gets here of defending our dirt and making sure that that’s one of the best ways to help yourselves get in the playoffs, is being a good team at your home field,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said.
NOTES: S Damar Hamlin (rib), DB Cam Lewis (shoulder), S Taylor Rapp (neck/shoulder) and WR Curtis Samuel (rib) are questionable to play Sunday.