Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills laid the egg of all eggs last week, losing 30-13 at the hands of the Miami Dolphins. It was a game that Buffalo trailed from the jump, and yet, it didn’t feel like it was entirely out of reach until halfway through the fourth quarter.
The Bills did everything they could to ensure a loss, as they looked confused on offense, turning the ball over three times, and struggling to maintain any sort of flow or rhythm. Quarterback Josh Allen alternated between running for his life and displaying mass confusion at whatever defensive alignment Miami gave him, passing up open wideouts on early, shorter routes in some instances before scrambling, and waiting desperately for someone to uncover in other cases. On defense, the Bills tried to keep their mates in the game, but injuries, the South Florida heat and humidity, and a knack for missing run fits at inopportune times ultimately cost them.
There weren’t many bright spots in this one, but we did have some interesting moments from our five players to watch. Here’s how they performed.
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RB Ray Davis
James Cook entered the game without an injury designation, so it’s no surprise that Davis played sparingly on offense. He only appeared on seven snaps in total as his lost second season continues. Davis received two carries as the sacrificial lamb late in the game once the ending was essentially decided. He lost a combined two yards on those carries.
What I didn’t have on my bingo card was Davis being the kicker on an onside kick attempt after Buffalo scored to bring the game a little closer. After Allen hit tight Jackson Hawes for a score to make it 23-13 in the fourth, Davis came out to try an onside kick where he would be the intended player to recover. The kick didn’t go 10 yards, the Dolphins recovered it, and even if Buffalo had succeeded, it wouldn’t have mattered, as Hawes was whistled for an illegal formation penalty. That was his second penalty on special teams, with the first coming to negate a big kickoff return from Davis to open the second half. Davis caught one pass for zero yards, carried twice for -2 yards, and returned three kickoffs for 74 yards.
WR Curtis Samuel
Samuel’s one target resulted in a 21-yard catch on what was an insane play. Allen dropped back to pass on 3rd & 16, finding no one open. He scrambled left, circled back to his right, and fired across the middle. Samuel leapt, made the catch, and picked up a first down. It was on this play where I sighed and said, “here we go…this is where the comeback starts.” Alas, that drive ended with a bad interception in the end zone where Allen fired inside to Dawson Knox, who was shoved off his route, gave up, and turned to the outside.
Samuel’s usage, or lack thereof, continues to mystify, especially as the Bills’ receiver group draws increasing criticism....
