Buffalo Rumblings
It was anything other than pretty at times, but the Bills are now 8-2
The Buffalo Bills rolled up to Lucas Oil Stadium with a battered and reshuffled roster, set to show the Indianapolis Colts they meant business on Sunday afternoon. By all important measures, business was booming. Unheralded players stepped up to keep things rolling for a Bills team looking to build momentum toward a playoff push.
In winning 30-20, Buffalo is now 8-2 and well on their way to another successful regular season under head coach Sean McDermott. The Bills put up a season-high 416 yards on 69 offensive plays (before kneel downs) — without starting wide receivers Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman, and after losing tight end Dalton Kincaid.
There’s plenty to like about Buffalo’s Week 10 win, but I also have some concerns. It was a great victory, one full of resiliency in the face of miscues. I also can’t help feeling like we’re still watching a work in progress, on offense and defense.
Let’s dive into a bit from both sides of the ledger, but be forewarned I may take a more critical tone than one would expect from this win.
I’ve lost count how many games this season head coach Sean McDermott has led his team to the locker room trailing at the half after playing a mostly sloppy and forgettable opening 30 minutes of football. Also true has been the Bills’ ability to strike when damage potential is highest, like Mike Tyson in his heyday. Unlike Tyson, these Bills are seldom quick and deadly.
We’ve all heard the expression that “it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” and that’s been a constant theme for these Bills in 2024. Things have obviously gone well for Buffalo, but the regular season is often very different from the postseason. Right now, that doesn’t matter and you have to win the regular season to play deep into January and beyond.
It was surprising to see how little rookie running back Ray Davis was involved, carrying just three times for six yards. Cook was given a featured role, especially in the second half and finished with a stout 80 yards on 19 carries and a late touchdown that Allen called from five yards out to seal the win.
Though it frustrates me to meander back and forth a bit about Buffalo’s Jekyll & Hyde defense, it’s noteworthy that they pitched a shutout in the second half, surrendering mostly meaningless points only in the closing seconds.
Is something broken with Buffalo’s run defense — is it a general approach to the run game, a lack of difference-makers and those players built to withstand a decent or better running attack? Whatever it is, it very well may be their undoing in the postseason. And no, it’s not too early to say such things.
Yes, the most important stat of note...
