Olean Times Herald

‘But don’t let the odds — the Bills, 7-3, are favored by 9½ points — fool you. Detroit, 4-6, is one of the NFL’s most deceptive teams. Coach Dan Campbell has the long-struggling Lions playing hard. Four of their losses — Philadelphia, Minnesota, Miami and Seattle, all division leaders — have been by a collective 14 points.’

‘“It’s great any time you can establish the run and be effective there,” he said. “We’re always trying to make sure we’re attacking defenses in multiple ways. It’s always a balancing act. All it takes is one mistake to affect an entire play.”’

‘Buffalo, coming off two straight tough losses, including last Sunday’s 33-30 overtime gift to the Vikings at Highmark Stadium, desperately needed to stop the bleeding.’

‘Quarterback Josh Allen has struggled through the worst 2½-game stretch since his rookie season (related story this page) but what was supposed to be a home game tomorrow afternoon at Highmark Stadium has suddenly become at neutral site meeting with the Cleveland Browns at Detroit’s Ford Field (1 o’clock CBS-TV, 95.7 FM, 100.1 FM, 550 AM).’

‘“I just want to be the best quarterback I can be for the Buffalo Bills … every time I step on the field, that’s my goal,” he said. “There’s a play here or there where maybe I did cross the line (on decision-making), I wouldn’t say it’s all the time, but there might be a situation where it’s like, ‘Hey, I shouldn’t have made this decision.’’

‘And, oh yeah, the Bills haven’t scored a second-half TD since last month in Kansas City, three games ago.’

‘That flawed decision to scrub the field goal on fourth down and Allen’s ill-considered heave into the end zone on the opening possession of the fourth quarter changed the momentum of a game the Bills had in hand.’

‘The Vikings, 8-1, have the second-best record in the NFL and have now won seven-straight games, all by one-possession scores. Buffalo, now 6-3, has fallen from first to third in the AFC East, trailing Miami, which beat Cleveland to improve to 7-3, a half-game up on the Bills and owning a head-to-head win. The Jets, meanwhile, though on a bye at 6-3, moved past Buffalo, due to their head-to-head win.’

‘From alone atop the AFC standings with a one-game lead over runner-up Kansas City and a head-to-head win in hand, the Bills and Chiefs now have the same record. Meanwhile, nine conference teams are within 1½ games of the top as the campaign passes midseason.’

‘His career stats also have one glowing season. In 2017, he was 11-3 as a starter for Minnesota after an injury to Sam Bradford — 22 touchdown passes, seven interceptions, 98 passer rating — taking the Vikings to the playoffs. In the postseason opener against New Orleans, Keenum connected with current teammate Stefon Diggs for the Miracle in Minneapolis. On the final play of regulation, trailing 24-23 and under heavy pressure, he heaved a 61-yard touchdown pass to Diggs to snatch victory from the Saints.’

‘It starts Sunday when Buffalo hosts the Vikings, who have won five straight and, at 7-1, have the NFL’s second-best record. And, oh by the way, Las Vegas, in the early line, still favors the Bills by 8½ points … presumably based on their performance previous to the past six periods.’

‘The Bills’ run defense was MIA again, this time surrendering 174 yards on 34 carries — over five per try — helping the Jets to a 6½-minute edge in time of possession.’

‘To which Buffalo defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier added, “They’ve done a really good job of running the football (though star rookie back Breece Hall is lost for the season to a knee injury) and with the play-action pass. Their receiving corps is really improved, they’ve upgraded through the draft and some select free agents and it seems they’re much-improved on offense.”’

‘Bean’s real strength is an instinct for making key trades — acquiring wide receiver Stefon Diggs (2020) brought in the missing piece for Buffalo’s potent offense — and signing — with the exception of high-profile edge rusher Von Miller — salary cap-friendly veteran free agents who contribute.’

‘But the reality for Buffalo’s administration, coaching staff and players is that this team’s goal is not merely MAKING the playoffs, it’s advancing as far as those legendary squads in the early 1990s that made four straight Super Bowls.’