Cincinnati, Ohio (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Bills lost, 24-18, to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night at Paycor Stadium, and now drop to 5-4 on the 2023 season.
With the loss, it means we start with Arrows Down again:
ARROW DOWN:
Linebackers in coverage
From the beginning of the game, the Bengals offense attacked the Bills' linebackers in pass coverage. It was mostly easy pitch-and-catch when they did.
First two defensive drives
The Bills defense started far too slowly, not stopping the Bengals in the first quarter where their first two drives resulted in 20 total plays for 130 yards and two touchdowns.
LB - Tyrel Dodson
It wasn’t just in pass coverage. Early on, Dodson was also late getting into a couple run fits, and went to the wrong gap on the Bengals first touchdown run.
First half offense
After the first drive when they went 85 yards in seven plays and scored a touchdown, their next four drives totaled 14 plays for 37 yards and resulted in two punts, an interception, and the end of the half.
Only 18 points
While the second half went much better for the Bils offense, they still only managed 18 points for the game. Not nearly enough, or what they are capable of.
Running game/offensive line blocking
The offensive line had trouble blocking in the run game most of the night. Outside of Josh Allen, The Bills ran just eight times for 24 yards (3.0 yards per-carry) with their running backs.
Josh Allen’s interception
With the Bills trailing 14-7, 9:07 left in the second quarter and the ball at their own 12-yard line, Allen tried to fit a ball into a tight window to wide receiver Gabe Davis. However, his pass attempt was intercepted by Cameron Taylor-Britt.
It was a bad decision by Allen.
Dalton Kincaid’s fumble
Down 21-7 early in the fourth quarter, the Bills were marching and looked to cut the into their deficit when rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid fumbled the ball as he was trying to leap over a defender.
The Bengals recovered at their own 13-yard line.
P - Sam Martin
Martin’s first two punts were not good. Both were low line drives with little hang time, with the first punt traveling just 38 yards.
No catches for Gabe Davis
Davis had no catches in the game, and was targeted only twice.
Von Miller’s contain
On the final Bengals drive right at the two-minute warning, the Bills faced a 3rd-and-3 from Buffalo 36-yard line. A stop and the Bills may have gotten the ball back with a final chase to win.
Bengals running back Joe Mixon got outside of Miller for a first down, and the veteran lost contain on the play.
Third down defense
The Bengals were 8-for-15 on third down, which is a 53.3% success rate. That's far too high of a conversion rate.
Intentional grounding?
The officials blew it when they called intentional grounding on Allen after a miscommunication with Davis that forced an overthrow. That call took them out of field goal range after Bills head coach Sean McDermott was going to have Tyler Bass attempt a 56-yard field goal right before halftime.
ARROW UP:
Josh Allen in crisis
Allen is often at his best when he has to be, and when things are breaking down around him. That was the case late in the game, where he was 6-of-8 passing, and added another 18 yards rushing on a got-to-have-a-touchdown drive that resulted in a touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs, followed by a two-point conversion to Diggs, as well.
Allen finished the game 26-of-38 (68%) for 258 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also ran eight times for 44 yards and a touchdown, accounting for 302 total yards.
TE - Dalton Kincaid
Although he had the late fumble, Kincaid was terrific overall, finishing with a game-high 10 catches for 81 yards.
WR - Stefon Diggs
Diggs was his usual, solid self, catching six passes for 86 yards and a touchdown.
CB - Dane Jackson
Jackson had three impressive pass breakups, including one on a deep ball and another that would have resulted in a touchdown.
The fourth-year cornerback also finished with three total tackles.
CB - Rasul Douglas
Douglas came in after just two days of practice and had two total tackles and a pass breakup in limited action.
Job on Ja’Marr Chase
Chase was held to just four catches for 44 yards, which included one 32-yard catch.
Third down offense
The Bills were a very good 7-of-12 on third down (58.3%) on Sunday night.
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