‘Perhaps those feelings are still there, but the tone inside the visiting locker room at Paycor Stadium late Sunday night was a whole lot different. If there were an overarching theme, it was this: Players are simply trying to execute the play that’s called the best they can.’
Archives for November 7, 2023
Gabe Davis, Deonte Harty contribute little for Bills in loss to Bengals
‘Despite playing 93% of the offensive snaps in his team’s 24-18 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium, Gabe Davis finished without a catch on two targets for the Bills. That came a week after Davis caught a career-best nine passes in a victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.’
Position grades: Bills’ defense not getting off field on third downs
‘The Bills’ defense has sunk to 23rd in the NFL in third down defense, allowing a conversion rate of 43%. The Bills’ defense was seventh best on third downs in 2021 and No. 1 in the league in 2022.’
Ken Dorsey Watch: Bills sticking with 11 personnel group
‘The Bills are almost exclusively an 11 personnel offense in the wake of the injury to tight end Dawson Knox. Rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid played all but six offensive snaps and led the team with 11 targets and 10 catches. Guard David Edwards came on the field for four plays to serve as a blocking tight end with three wide receivers in the game.’
Alan Pergament: Collinsworth dishes out praise, sympathy to Bills while pessimistic fans sing a different tune
‘Cris Collinsworth, the NBC analyst who usually gets about as much criticism from Bills fans as coach Sean McDermott, acknowledged the bad calls on roughing the passer and grounding and a non-call on an obvious trip by a Bengals cornerback. He also noted a Bengals cornerback pulled the face mask of Bills receiver Gabe Davis in the end zone on an incomplete pass and it wasn’t called.’
McDermott says he understands Bills fans’ frustration but has confidence in Ken Dorsey
‘“Well, I get it. I understand everyone’s frustration, I absolutely do,” he said regarding the criticism that has been lobbed at Dorsey at times this season, and certainly the screaming that took place Sunday night and then in the Monday aftermath. “And we’re working extremely hard to make the adjustments we have to make. And Ken is doing the same. So I remain confident in Ken and our offensive staff, and we continue to work hard at improving and getting the results we need.”’
Bills in prime time again as they take on Broncos on Monday Night Football: What to know
‘However, as the Bills wrap up a string of three consecutive prime-time games when they host the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, America’s football fans may be rolling their eyes and saying “enough of the Bills already.”’
The Buffalo Bills are broken, but team has star in Dalton Kincaid (Encouraged/worried)
‘If you are still trying to figure things out on offense at the midpoint of the season, you may be in over your head at offensive coordinator. And that is exactly where we find Ken Dorsey through nine games in his second season as Buffalo’s offensive coordinator.’
Grading the Buffalo Bills in Week 9: How bad is the damage after loss to Bengals?
‘Although Buffalo’s defense played a respectable game and the offense did not play complimentary football, the defense has not had an interception since Oct. 1 when Jordan Poyer had a pick against the Dolphins. The Bills have no takeaways in the last three two games and have only managed three since Week 5.’
What are the Buffalo Bills’ playoff odds following loss to Cincinnati Bengals?
‘“Realistically, if you want to look at from a real view, you need 10 maybe 11 wins to get into the playoff picture in the AFC. We’ve got eight games left. We’ve got five wins so the math there, it’s not pretty. It’s not going to be easy, but if there’s a locker room that can handle this it’s this locker room right here.” The math certainly is not pretty.’
Bills players are advocating to play faster on offense, the coaches don’t seem to be listening
‘The Bills went without a huddle on 11 of 21 plays during their two touchdown drives and four out of nine plays on a drive that reached the Cincinnati 11 before tight end Dalton Kincaid fumbled. Those three drives netted 212 yards, while they went no-huddle on seven plays over seven other possessions, accumulating 105 yards.’
A healthy Bills’ Damar Hamlin returns to the field where he suffered cardiac arrest
‘“We all go through tough times. We all go through adversity,” Hamlin said in a “Today” show interview that took place before the game but aired Monday. “And being able to get knocked down and having a problem in front of the entire world and then come into that same stadium and stand in whatever role that I have and support my team, I think that shows a lot of strength, a lot of courage, a lot of pride, a lot of confidence.”’
Sputtering Bills resemble pretenders more than contenders at the midpoint of the season
‘And there are few indications things will get easier based on a schedule that still features games against Philadelphia (8-1), Kansas City (7-2), Dallas (5-3) and a season-ending finale at Miami (6-3).’
Linebacker Terrel Bernard enters concussion protocol
‘Meanwhile, said “we’ll see” when asked about injuries to safety Micah Hyde (stinger) and cornerback Christian Benford (hamstring). As for cornerback Dane Jackson, McDermott says he is fine.’
Opinion: Forget worrying about Buffalo’s offense, it’s time to worry about Bills missing playoffs
‘The story continues to read the same way for the Bills, as it has for the last month. The offense doesn’t look right, and it has to be great, because the undermanned defense can’t be counted on to win games on its own, or even close out a game the Bills are leading.’