Greg Rousseau was a freshman in high school the last time a Buffalo Bills defensive end earned postseason honors.
He was seven years away from being drafted by the Bills when Mario Williams terrorized opponents on his way to a second consecutive Pro Bowl selection. Williams tallied 14 ½ sacks in 2014, including a strip of Aaron Rodgers that resulted in a safety, the very same end zone A.J. Epenesa sacked Rodgers for a safety on Sunday.
In consistency and injuries were a common theme in Rousseau’s first three seasons with the Bills, but he’s having his best year in the NFL and making a late case to be a Pro Bowl pick.
Pass-rush consistency is still an issue, but Rousseau is seventh in the league in tackles for a loss (16), quarterback hits (24), knockdowns (15) and pressures (35) and developing into one of the best all-around edge rushers in the league,
Just ask the New York Jets.
Rousseau tallied ½ of a sack to match his career high of eight on the season, but also forced an interception and made a critical fourth-down stop as the Bills throttled the Jets 40-14. He also thwarted New York as it came away empty on its first two possessions.
“He’s one of our best players on defense and we spoke about that this week,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said. “And for us to play well on defense, he’s got to play well.Your best players have to play their best week in, week out and that’s how the league is.”
Part of being consistent each week is tying the mental part of the game to the physical. Rousseau is starting to see certain tips from the offense so that he doesn’t need to solely rely on his physical talent.
The Jets appeared on their way to answering Buffalo’s opening-drive touchdown when they were faced with a fourth and 1 from the Bills’ 24-yard line. Based on New York’s formation, Rousseau had a good idea of what was coming.
There were two receivers and a tight end lined up to the right, opposite Rousseau. Running back Braelon Allen was on Rodgers’ left in the shotgun, meaning a run play was either going right or a toss play to the left and a toss was unlikely because there was only one receiver to the left.
At the snap, the left guard and center and the right guard and right tackle executed double-team blocks, meaning left tackle Max Mitchell had no help inside. Rousseau was then able to beat Mitchell with an inside swim move and dropped Allen for no gain.
“I was like, ‘Hey let me get in there quick,’” Rousseau told GNN Sports. “I knew it was fourth and 1, so I just tried to use my quickness and make a play.”
On the next drive, the Jets were back at the Buffalo 12-yard line trailing 7-0. Again, New York’s formation offered a little insight. With four receivers lined up to the right and an empty backfield, there was a good chance the ball was going to the inside receiver, Davante Adams.
Once Rodgers received the snap, his eyes went directly to Adams and quickly motioned to throw. Rousseau knew the only way to defend it was by getting his hands in the air and he tipped the pass right into the hands of defensive tackle Jordan Phillips.
“The more you play in the NFL, and the longer the season goes, the NFL is trendy,” Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said. “… I think guys, if they do their job and study tape like they’re supposed to, and study the opponent you’re playing that week or that day, you should have a sense of what they’re trying to accomplish.”
What Rousseau lacks in a quick first step he makes up for with his relentless pursuit of ball carriers. And he often needs to pursue plays because opponents game plan for his presence on the field.
The Jets ran the ball eight times when Rousseau was on the field. Seven of them went the opposite direction and Rousseau stopped the one that didn’t for a 1-yard gain. The Bills knew the Jets would run away from Rousseau and they allowed just 13 yards on the other seven carries.
Rousseau’s pursuit was on display when he turned on the turbo boosters to track down San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy from the opposite side of the field in Week 13. And New York felt it throughout Sunday’s game.
On a third-quarter sack shared with defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, Rousseau made an outside rush, and even though right tackle Morgan Moses pushed him outside, Rousseau still won. He was able to disengage from the block, getting his hands underneath Moses.
Because Jones beat his man similarly, there was no help for Moses inside and Rousseau was able to track down Rodgers for a sack. It forced third and 19 from the Buffalo 41-yard line and Rodgers was intercepted by Christian Benford on the next play.
“Something we emphasize with our players is effort,” Babich said. “Everybody’s got a different level of talent, but the one thing that everybody can do the same is give great effort. That’s what we preach here. Certainly, we’re striving for that every play from all our players.”
NOTES: McDermott said Monday that some starters will play against the Patriots, including Josh Allen. … Allen will start the game, but won’t play long.