Buffalo's offense in 2025 was so balanced, it was like something out of an Avengers movie, perfectly symmetrical. Seriously, 40.67% of their regular season offensive plays, out of a total 1082 charted snaps, used a 2x2 formation, meaning two eligible receivers on the left and two on the right. That was the plurality of their entire offensive scheme. But here's the deal: with former head coach Sean McDermott gone and superstar wide receiver DJ Moore in the building, that "perfectly balanced" act is about to get a whole lot wilder for 2026.
The "Balanced" Bills Are Dead, Long Live the Unbalanced Attack?
Last season, the Bills were basically allergic to unbalanced formations. Their combined rate for 1x3 and 3x1 formations? A measly 33.54% of their offensive plays. That put them 23rd and 31st highest in the NFL for those specific looks. Think about it: they were dead last for one of them! You've got Joe Brady still at the helm as head coach, the man notably responsible for the offensive design, and he's called himself a "Sean Payton disciple." Now, Payton's Denver Broncos ran unbalanced formations 40.02% of the time in 2025. That's a huge gap from what Buffalo was doing. The question isn't if things will change, it's how much they'll explode.DJ Moore Is The Game-Changer Everyone Missed
Why the sudden shift? It all comes down to DJ Moore. This guy is the truest X receiver the Bills have had since Stefon Diggs bounced. And that matters, big time. Teams get super hesitant to run unbalanced formations if they don't have a player isolated on the backside they trust to win one-on-one matchups, especially downfield. Think about those 3x1 or 1x3 formations: coaches often start the read on the front side combination before working back across to a backside dig route. If you don't have an X receiver who can consistently win that horizontal intermediate battle, you just won't call those plays. While Buffalo's passing game was still a top unit in 2025, even the most die-hard Bills fan would admit they lacked that high-quality, true X perimeter guy who could consistently fill that role. They were probably crossing their fingers hoping Keon Coleman would become that guy, but now with Moore, they don't have to hope. He's slotting into that X role from day one, though you know they'll move him around too. So, will the Bills hit that 40% threshold for unbalanced formations in 2026 and see a massive uptick? You better believe it's going to be one of the most fascinating things to watch with Moore in the lineup and Brady calling the shots.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.