In light of a wide receiver corps that continues to disappoint, the Buffalo Bills have started to use more 22 personnel this season — that’s two running backs and two tight ends on the field at the same time.

They have three viable tight ends in Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox and Jackson Hawes, with whom they can mix and match, as well as one of the nastiest fullbacks in the league in Reggie Gilliam.

Coupled with elite offensive line play, the Bills have been able to weaponize those heavier formations to wear out defenses in the run game before surprising them over the top in the passing game.

The Bills made a point in the first half against the Chiefs to run the ball effectively out of 22 personnel. And in doing so, they drilled into the Chiefs’ heads that the fullback should take them to the ball — a thought that will haunt the Chiefs later in the game.

The Bills present a unique threat to defenses by putting two backs and two tight ends on the field at the same time. They operate like a machine when they run the ball behind Gilliam, but also know how to punish defenses for selling out to stop their run game once they get tired of getting beat up. Very few offenses have the personnel to get into those formations, and even fewer have star players to get the most out of it.

Nov 8, 2025

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Derrik Klassen is a Staff Writer for The Athletic covering the NFL and a co-host on The Athletic Football Show. Prior to The Athletic, he worked at Bleacher Report, Reception Perception and the 33rd Team. He is based in California.