Foxborough, Mass. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills lost 23-16 to the New England Patriots on Sunday, finishing the regular season with a 13-4 record.
Here are my Arrows Up and Down from the game, starting Down after the loss:
ARROW DOWN:
Defense on Joe Milton
Patriots rookie quarterback Joe Milton looked like an All-Pro on several plays against the Bills defense. He ran, scrambled and broke tackles, and was very good throwing the ball.
Milton finished the game going 22-of-29 (75.8%) for 241 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 16 yards and a touchdown.
Keon Coleman (and his connection with the quarterbacks)
Coleman was targeted 10 times, but only had two catches.
It didn't matter if it was Mitch Trubisky or Mike White, the lack of chemistry between the quarterback and Coleman was not there.
Some of that was on the quarterback and the pass. Some of that was on Coleman for not making the grab.
The safeties
Whether it was Taylor Rapp, Damar Hamlin or Cole Bishop, who all played significant snaps, there were too many blown assignments and missed tackles.
Tyler Bass
Although Bass made a 49-yard field goal, he missed an extra point, which kept the Bills down four points instead of three late in the game.
Mike White
White completed just 3-of-11 passes (27.2%) for 28 yards, and missed several open throws.
ARROW UP:
No significant injuries
The Bills appear to have come out of this game with no new or significant injuries, as they head towards the AFC Wild Card Round next weekend against the Denver Broncos.
Related
James Cook’s milestones
Cook carried the ball 10 times on Sunday for only 28 yards, but all he needed was 19 to finish with 1,000 yards on the season. He finished with 1,009 yards rushing for his second-straight 1,000-yard rushing season.
He also scored a rushing touchdown, tying the Bills' franchise single-season record of 16 with Hall-of-Famer O.J. Simpson.
Von Miller’s one sack
Miller came into the game needing one sack to trigger a $1.5 million bonus. He got it on the first series.
Sean McDermott for aiding incentives
McDermott could’ve elected to not play either Cook or Miller in this one, but instead, gave them both a chance to reach their milestones and incentives.
That goes a long way in a locker room with other players, not only currently on the team but around the league.
DE - Javon Solomon
Solomon was in the Patriots backfield quite a bit, and finished the game with seven total tackles, including one for a loss, a quarterback hit, and a fumble recovery.
LB - Eddie Ulofoshio
Ulofoshio got his first NFL start, and showed great awareness and instincts on several plays. He finished the game with five total tackles, including one for a loss, and a pass breakup.
No sacks allowed by backup offensive linemen
The Bills started an entirely backup offensive line, and they played the entire game. They did not give up a sack of either White or Mitch Trubisky.
CB - JaMarcus Ingram
Ingram collected six tackles, including one for loss on defense, but it was his one play as a gunner on special teams that landed him on the Arrow Up list.
He somehow stayed out of the end zone, while batting the ball back from the 1-yard line to where it was downed at the Patriots' 6-yard line.
Sam Martin’s incentive
By downing just that one punt inside the Patriots' 20-yard line, it allowed Martin to earn a $100,000 incentive.
Curtis Samuel's involvement
Samuel was targeted eight times, and he caught seven of those passes for 52 yards, his second-highest output of the season.
Third down defense
The Patriots converted just 4 of their 12 third down chances (33.3%).
Red zone offense and defense
The Bills converted both of their red zone opportunities into touchdowns, and held the Patriots to just 1-for-3 (33%) once they got inside the Buffalo 20-yard line.
Keeping the Patriots from the No. 1 overall pick
No, I don’t believe the Bills did anything to intentionally lose this game. Now that it’s over, though, we know the Patriots are not going to pick first overall in this upcoming NFL Draft.
A loss that didn’t mean anything to the Bills' record, at the very least, hurt their division rival's future just a bit.
Related
