Each morning following a Buffalo Bills game you’ll find a column on my Substack filled with random thoughts and observations. I can’t remember the last time the Bills looked lifeless as they did early on against an inferior Cleveland Browns roster and nearly re-signed myself to them losing a third straight and all the chaos/panic that’d ensue. However, Buffalo got their proverbial shit together, took a lead near the end of the first half and were never seriously threatened again. Here’s my notes from the game:
As great a talent and human highlight reel Josh Allen may be, it’s imperative for supporting role players to take at least some burden off his shoulders if they’re to realistically have a shot to get to the Super Bowl much less win it. Sunday showed they’re capable. With Allen hampered the last few games physically and perhaps a bit scared emotionally from six interceptions (four in the red zone) in his last 10 quarters, Bills running backs stepped up huge against the Browns. Devin Singletary (18 carries) and James Cook (11 carries) ran for 86 yards each and the Bills ran for 171 net yards as a team. It’s far and away the best performance of the season from their backs. Singletary did something he hasn’t done much of this season---break tackles after initial contact while Cook showed he’s more than ready for a bigger role going forward. The rookie’s game was particularly promising, including a 29-yard yard run and he looks like a player than can make the defense pay big if they make a mistake. It’s no coincidence the Bills didn’t surrender a turnover Sunday—impressive considering they entered the game committing a turnover a NFL worst 19% of their drives.
Allen was hardly the budding MVP we saw early in the season but it’s significant for the offense to have success even when he’s not at his best. Josh was uncomfortable and seemingly on edge early but certainly settled in near the end of the first half with a touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs and was rock steady in the second half, completing 9-of-11 throws for 113 yards and most importantly, not even an interceptable pass to the defense. Allen will come around and often again be the best player on the field, he's too good not to---but it’s promising to see four quarters of taking what the defense gives him without a major brain fart.
Hi, my name is Matt Milano and I just might be one of the best three or four linebackers in the NFL. Ok, I’m actually Patrick Moran but you get the point. Milano will and should be in the conversation for AFC Defensive Player of the Week after his 12 tackle (8 solo), 3 tackles for a loss, sack and fumble recovery showing against the Browns. Seriously, few guys are playing defense as well as Milano and if he stays on the field for the rest of the season, not a given, he’s headed towards All-Pro honors.
Can’t underestimate how much Jordan Poyer means to the defense. He had a big pass breakup and tackle early on that helped set the tone defensively and I promise it’s not coincidence the Bills are 6-0 this season with Poyer in the lineup and 1-3 without him. The drop off from him to Cam Lewis or Jaquan Johnson replacing him is insane. Some guys are just difference makers and Poyer’s that dude.
Bills defense held Nick Chubb to 19 yards on 14 carries, just like we all predicted.
Ed Oliver was absolutely fantastic and is looking like he did near the tail end of 2021. Five tackles on Sunday, including three for a loss and a few pressures on Jacoby Brissett.
Dawson Knox started the season slow but he’s becoming the weapon he was last year. Knox tied a career-high with seven catches on Sunday for a season-best 70 yards. All seven targets to Knox went for completions. Stefon Diggs can’t do it all himself in the passing game (he still had four catches for 48 yards and a score) so it’s on Knox and Gabe Davis (four catches, 68 yards) to step up. They have been recently and that’s good news for Ken Dorsey.
Specials teams was a big difference. Tyler Bass booted six field goals including two from 56 and 49 yards respectively. They also blocked a Cleveland field goal, Nyheim Hines had a 29-yard punt return to set up a Bills field goal and an alert Tawain Jones knocked an outside kick attempt out of bounds that Gabe Davis mishandled to prevent any potential Cleveland miracle.
I like Dane Jackson but he’s been absolutely abysmal at cornerback of late, especially the past two games. Granted Amari Cooper and Justin Jefferson are among the game’s best receivers but you got to make a play here and there---Jackson isn’t. He’s struggling, badly and it makes getting Kaiir Elam and Tre White back soon all the more meaningful, especially since rookie sixth-rounder Christan Benford hasn’t been much better.
You see the value of Tremaine Edmunds when he’s not playing. Tyrel Dodson ain’t it, man. Cleveland dropped several passes on plays Dodson was beat on, especially in the first half or this conversation could be a lot more heated. Edmunds isn’t the impact player Milano is but he’s every bit as important to this defense because of his speed, ability to cover in schemes and make quarterbacks alter decisions in the pocket. If he’s not ready to go in Detroit on Thursday I’m expecting AJ Klein to be active and starting ahead of Dodson.
Amari Cooper is really good. I hate Deshaun Watson as a human as do most of you, but the Browns offense may be something to see once Watson is soon back. it’ll be too late to matter in 2022 but still, they’ll be exciting.
Blasphemy to many Bills fans I’m sure, especially on Twitter because he’s a popular player, but fullback Reggie Gilliam was mistake prone Sunday and hurt the offense. He whiffed on a few blocks, including the failed two point conversion run attempt by Isaiah McKenzie and got called for holding on a Singletary run that wiped out a first and goal from the one yard line. He’s a useful player, nice story and hopefully Gilliam’s return to Detroit on Thanksgiving goes better than it did against the Browns.
Much of this year the Bills biggest problem has been self-inflicted wounds. Sunday they witnessed the shoe on the other foot. Cleveland was up on Buffalo, 10-3 and it could’ve been worse, maybe much worse. The Bills couldn’t get anything going on offense and missing plenty of tackles on defense but dropped passes, odd play calling and missed opportunities prevented Cleveland from blowing Buffalo out early. The Bills were lifeless through most the first half and while I don’t like excuses, it’s fair to say Snovember and events in WNY over the previous few days may’ve played a role in their sluggish start.
Lastly, there’s great reason for optimism. While recent criticism is surely deserved, the bottom line is the Bills are 7-3 after 10 games with a slew of winnable games on the horizon. The running game finally looks locked and loaded, they’ll hopefully get healthier real soon and Allen is capable of going drive for drive with Patrick Mahomes or anyone in the league. Nothing is even the slightest out of reach right now for Buffalo, including the AFC east and number one overall seed. In fact they’re a mere Kansas City loss from literally being in control of their own destiny. There’s plenty of football left, enjoy it. Cheers.