Was Stefon Diggs the Problem in Buffalo?
Written by Vir Rawal
5/1/2024
After a heartbreaking end to the 2023-24 NFL season for the Buffalo Bills, marking the 3rd time the Bills have lost to the Chiefs during the playoffs in the last 4 years, it is clear that the Bills are going back to the drawing board, recrafting their team. This includes the departure of 4 time pro-bowl receiver, Stefon Diggs. Diggs played with the Bills for four seasons, and made a clear impact on the field holding the top four spots for receptions in Bills history. While Diggs was a core component of the Bills offense, it is clear that he became disgruntled with the coaching in Buffalo and his quarterback, Josh Allen. Diggs and Allen’s relationship had soured coming into the 2023-24 season after Diggs could be seen yelling at Allen during a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at the end of the 2022-23 season. This has led some to the conclusion that Diggs was a locker room cancer and was part of the reason for Buffalo’s woes during the past season because he is washed up. Others argue that Josh Allen regressed during the season and Diggs was justified in his feelings towards Allen. As of the writing of this article, Diggs has been traded to the Houston Texans for a 2nd round pick marking the end of an era in Buffalo.
In his four years with the Bills during the regular season, Diggs would have four consecutive 1000 yard seasons, earning himself a pro bowl appearance each year. On the surface it would appear that Diggs did not slow down his production, given that his stats were consistent during his four year tenure and he maintained a steady catch percentage and yards per reception. While his stats took a slight decline in 2021 and 2023, they still suggest that Diggs played at an elite level.
However, during the playoffs it appears that Diggs has been regressing since 2020 only having 33 yards per game in 2023 compared to 104 in 2020. We also can see a decline in his catch percentage and touchdowns from 2020. This suggests that a strained relationship between Diggs and Allen may have led Allen to lose trust in his pro-bowl wide receiver.
Critics of Bills quarterback, Josh Allen, may put the blame on him for the regression of Diggs stats in the postseason, however we actually see that the seasons in which Diggs performed better were the ones that Allen played worse in, and vice versa.
This leads us to believe that a good performing game for Diggs may lead Allen to make poorer decisions and force the ball to his receiver which supports the idea that Diggs may have been a “diva” and his team worse around him. We see no evidence of the same trend during the regular season, only during the playoffs which begs a closer examination of each playoff game and the performances from both Allen and Diggs.
Ultimately only people who witnessed the culture in Buffalo following the loss to the Bengals in 2023 can tell us the full story, however based on statistics we can see evidence of the souring relationship between the star wide receiver and his quarterback. Whether the same trend will continue in Houston or if a change in scenery is exactly what he needs, only time will tell. But it is clear that changes had to be made following the deterioration of Allen and Diggs relationship, and this looks to be a move to benefit both the Texans and the Bills.
