Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills found their way to a heart-stopping victory in a back-and-forth affair with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at Highmark Stadium.
It was an impressive performance and a return-to-form game for the offense, which has seen its struggles for most of the season.
As for the Buffalo defense, the unit was able to come up with a few key stops throughout the afternoon, and was able to support the offense following a bit of a slower start.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott credits his players and staff for their adaptability in a 44-32 win over the Buccaneers.
"First half, the run game was not good enough. Second half, we did a better job winning first down, some of those first down runs, getting them into some 2nd-and-7-plus situations. And then it was winning third down after that. Baker [Mayfield] made a couple scramble plays, then we changed some things up again. So really, really happy with how both sides adjusted," said McDermott following Sunday's win in Orchard Park. "Staff wise, offensively, I think we were averaging 3.8 [yards] on first down. We end up with seven yards on first downs. And then defensively, they were averaging seven, and they end up at 4.6 [yards]. Obviously, something changed, which credit the staff and the players for that."
Bills quarterback Josh Allen was also back in MVP form on Sunday, as he was responsible for six touchdowns - three rushing and three passing. McDermott was pleased with Allen's play on Sunday, and how he was able to turn it around after a shaky start.
"He's hard to stop," McDermott said of the reigning NFL MVP. "We all know how last week went, and probably better question for him, but the Josh that I know, he will not be denied. That's the type of competitor, type of person, type of teammate he is. And it wasn't just Josh. All 11 guys on offense, and then guys that were rolling in there, I thought, did a phenomenal job. Joe [Brady] and the offensive staff, same thing. So it's a good team win right here, but we've got to learn from it, and continue to move and grow as we move forward here."
Second-year Bills receiver Keon Coleman was a healthy scratch in the contest after he was, once again, late to a team meeting on Friday. McDermott says that it was disappointing for it to come to that.
"I still believe in the young man," McDermott said regarding Coleman. "We get to a certain point, and I've got to do something. I try and give the guys kind of a strike approach. Hey, you get a chance to show your teammates, that's not really who you are. And when it happens again, then I step in. I believe he will learn from it. He takes it seriously, and he will move forward in a way of growing from this. That's the whole goal."
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