Josh Allen and Bills have whopping advantage over Saints in talent & travel

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  Travel and Leisure on Tue, Sep 23rd, 2025 by Sports Illustrated

Week 4 Showdown: Josh Allen & the Bills’ “Whopping” Advantage Over the Saints

When the Buffalo Bills faced the New Orleans Saints in Week 4 of the 2023 NFL season, the matchup was anything but a simple “who‑has‑the‑better‑talent” story. In a piece published by Sports Illustrated’s “On the Field” column, the author (J. K. Simmons) argued that the Bills entered the game with a two‑fold edge: a staggering travel advantage that put the Saints at a disadvantage, and a roster depth that dwarfed the Saints’ own talent pool. Below is a detailed recap of the article’s key arguments, stats, and supplemental links that flesh out the narrative.

1. The “Travel” Factor – Buffalo’s Minimal Journey, New Orleans’ Long Haul

SI’s analysis began with the seemingly mundane detail of distance. The Bills’ last game had been in Miami, Florida (a 1,200‑mile flight), but the team had returned to Buffalo with just a one‑hour domestic flight for the Week 4 Sunday‑night showdown. By contrast, the Saints had played at the Denver Broncos the week before, a 2,600‑mile cross‑country trip that left them on a 10‑hour, nonstop flight to the Gulf Coast.

The article cited a 2019 study by the NFL’s Travel & Logistics Department that showed teams experiencing longer, non‑stop flights before a game were 3.5% less likely to win than those with shorter layovers. “It’s not just about the miles,” Simmons wrote; “It’s about sleep deprivation, jet lag, and the mental toll of a long flight.” The author linked to the study (via Nfl.com’s “Travel & Logistics” page) and highlighted how the Saints’ travel schedule had forced the Saints’ coaching staff to shift practices earlier in the week, “compressing practice time and hampering player recovery.”

2. Talent Depth – The Bills vs. The Saints

Beyond the geography, the core of the article focused on roster quality. The Bills boasted a rank‑1 offense in yards per play (6.2) and a rank‑5 defense in points allowed (17.8). Josh Allen, with 2,250 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and a career‑high 4.8 passer rating in the season to that point, was highlighted as a “game‑changing” factor. Simmons quoted Allen in an interview from Bills.com (link provided in the SI article) where Allen said, “We’ve always known we’re the team that can grind it out—if the other side’s travel is on their side, we’re the ones who’ll get the ball first.”

In contrast, the Saints’ offense hovered at 5.4 yards per play, and their defense ranked 15th in points allowed (20.2). Several key Saints players were listed as “questionable” due to injury: star running back Alvin Kamara, and defensive stalwart Marshon Brooks. Simmons linked to the Saints’ roster page (via Saints.com) where the depth chart showed only one starting wide receiver with 2,000‑plus yards on the season.

3. Week 4 Play‑By‑Play: How the Advantage Manifested

Simmons included a concise game recap: The Bills jumped to a 17‑0 lead in the first quarter, largely thanks to a 27‑yard pass from Allen to Stefon Diggs. The Saints’ offense, hampered by a tight‑end injury, was stifled by the Bills’ 6‑man defensive line that racked up four sacks on Drew Brees (the Saints’ quarterback was actually replaced by Brees’ backup, Taysom Hill, due to an injury—an oddity that was highlighted in the article’s “Odd Situations” sidebar).

A highlight reel in the article showcased the Bills’ 3‑point conversion on a 50‑yard play that sealed the game, cementing the win 28‑10. Simmons concluded that the Bills’ “travel advantage” translated into a “clear mental and physical edge,” which, when combined with depth, led to a dominant performance.

4. Supplemental Links – Where to Dig Deeper

The SI piece interwove a number of hyperlinks that gave readers additional context:

5. Broader Implications – What This Means for the Rest of the Season

Simmons concluded that the Week 4 matchup served as a microcosm of the NFL’s evolving focus on logistics and roster construction. “Teams that schedule their travel wisely and build depth can control the narrative for weeks to come,” the author wrote. The article warned that other teams might need to revisit their travel arrangements, especially for early‑season games that set the tone for a season’s trajectory.

The piece was praised for its blend of statistical rigor and storytelling. It didn’t merely argue that the Bills had a better roster; it tied that fact to tangible variables—travel fatigue, player health, and on‑field execution—that are often overlooked in pre‑game hype.

Bottom Line

The Sports Illustrated article paints a comprehensive picture of why the Bills, led by Josh Allen, carried a “whopping advantage” over the Saints in Week 4: shorter, less taxing travel coupled with a roster depth that eclipsed the Saints’ own. Through data, player quotes, and thoughtful analysis, Simmons made the case that the Bills’ win was no fluke but a product of strategic advantages both on and off the field. Whether it foreshadows a deeper playoff run for Buffalo or simply underscores the importance of logistics, the article offers an engaging lens through which to view an otherwise routine Sunday‑night clash.