Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills lost, 33-6, to the Chicago Bears in their opening preseason game of 2024 on Saturday afternoon at Highmark Stadium.
Here are my first Arrows Up and Down of the new season, starting with the ones facing down after a loss:
ARROW DOWN:
Run game
The Bills got stuffed most of the afternoon, gaining a total of 77 yards on the ground and averaging just 3.0 yards per-carry. Outside of quarterback runs, they totaled 36 yards and 1.89 yards per-run.
QB - Shane Buechele
It looked like things were happening too fast for the Bills' third-string quarterback, who was sacked six times and threw a pick-six.
Pass protection
The Bills gave up eight sacks, and the Bears were credited with an additional 11 quarterback hurries.
WR - Marquez Valdes-Scantling
With the Bills trailing just 6-3 late in the second quarter and running a two-minute offense to try and score, Valdes-Scantling dropped a pass right in his hands that might have resulted in a first down.
Penalties
The Bills committed 11 penalties for 75 yards. Far too many, and too costly.
RB - Ray Davis
It was tough sledding for Davis when he was given the ball. Much of that was due to a lack of holes. But he also seemed to get stopped too easily on a couple of runs, finishing with five carries for two yards, a 0.4 yards per-carry average.
K.J. Hamler dropped kickoff
After the Bears' second field goal to make it 6-0, Hamler muffed the next kickoff. He picked it up and gained just two yards, forcing the Bills offense to start at their own 17-yard line.
Third down defense to start game
Over the Bears' first two offensive drives, the Bills gave up a 3rd-and-12, 3rd-and-9, and committed a penalty on 3rd-and-6 that gave Chicago a first down.
Outside runs on defense
The Bills gave up far too may yards on the edges. The Bears attacked the outside, and were successful doing it.
Third down offense
The Bills were just 6-for-17 on third downs for the game (35.3%).
Red zone offense
The Bills had the ball inside the Bears' 20-yard line twice and didn't score a touchdown either time.
----------
ARROW UP:
Early red zone defense
On the Bears' first two drives, they got the ball to the Bills' 12- and 13-yard lines, respectively. Buffalo's defense held, and Chicago settled for a pair of field goals.
RB - Frank Gore Jr.
Gore ran seven times for 21 yards, breaking some tackles, and also caught three passes for 16 yards, finishing with a total of 37 yards from scrimmage. It was the highest total for any Bills player in the game.
WR - Khalil Shakir
"Mr. Steady and Reliable" was targeted three times, and caught all three passes for 28 yards.
K - Tyler Bass
In a stiff wind, Bass connected on his only two field goal attempts of the day, from 24 and 49 yards.
Challenges
Bills head coach Sean McDermott does not have a good record when it comes to throwing the challenge flag. However, he was 2-for-2 when he challenged a 3rd-and-11 completion in the second quarter and a 3rd-and-9 completion in the fourth quarter.
Both were reversed in the Bills' favor.
