Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - I tuned in to the Buffalo Bills Postgame Show on WGR following Sunday's last-second, 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Not surprisingly there were plenty of callers who wanted to discuss game management, and to vent their anger towards head coach Sean McDermott.
I totally understand that, but there is a bigger issue to discuss: What has happened to the Bills' passing offense?
It wasn't a big deal when the Bills opened 3-0 and scored 112 points in victories over the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars. But when they stepped up to a much better level of competition, the Bills offense was largely ineffective, while scoring 30 combined points in losses to the Baltimore Ravens and Texans.
Watching the offense operate in the first half on Sunday, it reminded me of those painful to watch performances last season towards the end of Ken Dorsey's time as offensive coordinator.
At halftime, the Bills had managed just 103 net yards on six drives. Those drives produced five punts and one field goal.
Josh Allen was a rather unsightly 6-of-18 for just 56 yards. Yuck!
The offense was definitely better in the second half, but that bar was set so low in that first 30 minutes it was barely off the ground. The greatest limbo dancer in the world wouldn't have gotten under that bar.
Coupled with the Bills defense playing their butts off in that second half (after struggling mightily in the first half), the offense showed signs of life and brought the Bills all the way back to a 20-20 tie.
But after scoring touchdowns on back-to-back drives in the third quarter, the struggles returned in the fourth.
The Bills went punt, punt, field goal and punt. The field goal came when they were given a golden opportunity thanks to the defense. A fumble recovery gave the Bills the ball at the Texans' 15-yard line.
Unfortunately, Allen wasn't on the field for the first play, having been shaken up on the previous drive. With Mitch Trubisky in charge, the Bills wisely opted to run the ball, but James Cook was stuffed for no gain.
Allen then returned, but Cook couldn't stay in bounds on a pass inside the Houston five-yard line, and then Allen's pass on third down for Keon Coleman fell incomplete. Allen had scrambled to his right, and there was no one open on that side of the field.
The Bills missed their best chance to take a lead, and settled for a game-tying field goal.
No one being open is a developing theme for the Bills offense.
It isn't just one issue, when it comes to what's plaguing the passing offense. Players are definitely not getting separation often enough.
Allen has also been under pressure from the opponent's pass rush, and has been getting flushed or leaving the pocket too often. In addition, Allen has been off target on some of his throws.
I'm beginning to wonder if he is pressing, as the weapons around him struggle.
The Bills are not connecting on downfield throws, let alone hitting on a bomb.
Mack Hollins had a step on his defender on one of the Allen bombs, but the wide receiver looked lost as he tried to track the ball and it went off his finger tips. Dalton Kincaid got behind the defense for, what would have been, a big play, but Allen under threw him.
Here is the truly scary part: Leading receiver Khalil Shakir missed the game with an ankle injury, and it appears the Bills are in big trouble without him on the field. I like Shakir and his development, but him missing a game shouldn't wreck the passing game.
Bills wide receivers had 18 targets on Sunday, but caught just four balls. Four! That is absolutely horrible.
Coleman, who did make a nice play on his 49-yard touchdown catch, is going through growing pains, and is having trouble getting open.
Hollins, just from a receiving weapon standpoint, should be no better than fourth on the wide receiver depth chart, but he tied for the team lead with six targets.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling has done next-to-nothing, and why is Curtis Samuel even here? I thought that was a good signing, but it seems any pass to Samuel is either at or behind the line of scrimmage. I can't figure that one out. That might explain why he has a measly 48 yards receiving in five games.
Coleman, Hollins, Samuel and Valdes-Scantling are averaging a combined five catches a game. Everybody is supposed to be eating, but the Bills' passing offense is starving to death right now without a stud to help their quarterback.
Related
The good news is the rest of the AFC East stinks.
The Bills are still alone in first at 3-2, followed by the New York Jets and Dolphins, who are both 2-3, and then the New England Patriots bringing up the rear at 1-4.
If the Bills can salvage the finale of this stretch of three-straight road games and beat the Jets next Monday night, they will be in good shape in the division race.
However, I would suggest to general manager Brandon Beane and the front office to do everything in their power to try and acquire a No. 1 wide receiver by the November trade deadline.
Related
