On Sunday, the Buffalo Bills offense arrived at Gillette Stadium with high expectations for the game.
As the Bills were finishing off their two-game winning streak at seven points in the first three quarters, the New England Patriots defense entered Week 7 allowing 25.3 points per game (ranked 24th). In the previous seven encounters, quarterback Josh Allen had a QBR of 81.6, eight touchdowns, two interceptions, and a thriving career versus the Patriots.
However, safety Jabrill Peppers easily intercepted an Allen ball meant for tight end Dawson Knox on Buffalo’s first offensive play.
The play presaged the offensive woes that would follow, as the Bills ended up losing 29-25 after scoring only three points in the first half and ten in the first three quarters. With 15 points in less than four minutes in the fourth quarter, the offense gave it some life, but it was too late to save the game.
“No matter what, we’re going to get [the opposition’s] best shots,” said defensive tackle Jordan Phillips. “We have to quit playing down to particular groups of people because we are a squad that everyone wants to defeat. We had to play Buffalo Bills football and do our thing. Despite winning last week, we haven’t done it in a few weeks.”
The Bills have more questions than answers after their defeat on Sunday. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit town on Thursday (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video), capping a short week.
How can a club that wants to win the Super Bowl address its offensive problems? It is necessary to handle these four difficulties.
A dramatic departure from the league-best +54 first-half point differential from the Bills’ first four games of the season has occurred as they have been outscored 24-0 in the first quarter of their previous three games and have lost the points differential in the first half of those contests by 20 points.
“I hope I could explain to you. Regarding the early offensive problems, coach Sean McDermott said, “I really do.” We discuss being more thorough, establishing a rhythm early on, playing complimentary football, and having all three phases operate in tandem. It’s evident that we struggled to establish a solid rhythm in the first quarter.
According to McDermott, establishing a rhythm entails being “on schedule” and producing on first down in order to prevent third-and-long scenarios. The Bills were mostly successful on first down against the Patriots, averaging 6.3 yards per play. Weeks 5 and 6 saw the Bills average 8.1 yards per play on first down, so it wasn’t a major problem either.
Second down was the issue instead. Against the Patriots, Buffalo’s second-down average of only 3 yards per play was the lowest of any club in Week 7. The Bills were averaging 4.5 yards per play on second down in the previous two games.
Getting things done on third-and-long is a problem. Over the previous three games, the Bills have gained 45 yards on 18 plays while facing third-and-7 or longer, with Allen completing 31.3% of the throws, which is the lowest team completion rate in the league in such circumstances.
“That’s when it gets to be hard to call a game against two-dimensional offense,” McDermott said. “Winning first downs, eschewing third downs, or even forcing us into a third down-and-short to medium at most are signs that you’re on track. Too many instances of being delayed.”
Playing complementary: After falling down early in the game, the Bills avoided rushing the ball and did not attempt to rekindle the momentum in the second half. Two of Latavius Murray’s four carries and eight of running back James Cook’s thirteen came in the first half.
“We aren’t playing consistent enough or starting fast enough,” Murray said. “We turned it around toward the end, but you can’t just turn it on, it’s a little too late.”
Big plays: Allen’s long passing ability has been inconsistent, which has hindered the offense. This season, he has already intercepted seven passes for more than fifteen air yards. He has only thrown more in one season of his career, which was his rookie year (9).
Allen has tried more passes of 15 yards or more than any other player this season (59). However, against New England, those passes were unsuccessful as he ended with the lowest completion percentage (2-of-10) in the previous two seasons on passes of that length, dropping his season percentage to 46%. Still, he has completed six touchdown throws on passes with at least fifteen air yards.
Pre-halftime adjustments: Ken Dorsey, the playcaller and offensive coordinator, and Allen are partly to blame for the poor beginnings, as they failed to adequately adapt the offense to the defense’s tactics.
Allen saw season-high percentages of blitzing (42%) and pressure (40%) against the Patriots. The offense eventually adjusted in the second half, as he completed 7-of-11 attempts with two touchdowns when blitzed.
Defenses have discovered strategies to offset the attack. The Bills need to come up with stronger ideas before halftime.
When questioned about the sluggish beginnings, Allen said, “I wish I knew the exact answer because we’d have it fixed by now.” “We’re going to see this movie and, whatever the means, figure out how to get there. We are still in our season. The season is lengthy. It seems a little hopeless right now, but we will make it work.”
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