Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - We've seen this happen before. The Bills hit a bump in the road and we wonder what is going wrong. The Bills hit the bye week dragging back to back losses to New England and Atlanta with them. The offense was in a mini funk scoring just 34 points combined in the two defeats. This after averaging more than 30 points a game in a 4-0 start.
Think back to the last two seasons. Last year there were back to back losses at Baltimore and Houston in weeks four and five and the offense managed only 30 points. In 2023 it was actually a six game stretch where Josh Allen and company looked off their collective game. The Bills went 2-4, averaged 20 points a game and Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey was fired.
But this time it feels different to me and it comes down to a passing game that isn't great. The six game review of the offense looks like this. Josh Allen is still one of the top quarterbacks in the league. But after throwing just six interceptions last season, Allen has been picked off four times in the first six games. Allen has also been sacked 12 times. That is just two off his total from last season. I think those numbers are more about players not getting open as opposed to major issues along the offensive line.
James Cook has been very good and his usage numbers are up. Cook averaged 12 carries and 14 touches a game last season. This season he's getting 17 carries and 20 touches on the average. But they need to increase those numbers because Cook is the spark that gets the offense going. His role is even more important while the Bills attempt to figure out a way to get explosiveness back in their passing game. Cook is averaging 5.0 yards per carry and 5.2 per touch.
Third year tight end Dalton Kincaid has looked like he did in his rookie season. His absence in the Falcons game was a big blow. Kincaid, in five games, has 20 catches, 287 yards and three touchdowns. He is second on the team in yards after catch (125) to Khalil Shakir.
Shakir has been his usual solid self but that's where it ends. The rest of the weapons have not contributed enough, especially at wide receiver. Keon Coleman has not taken a step up in year two. Curtis Samuel has been a bust of a free agent signing. Same story for Elijah Moore. Joshua Palmer has made occasional big plays but now he is injured and is week to week according to Sean McDermott.
Coleman had a terrific game in the week one comeback against Baltimore but has been mostly quiet since then. He is second on the team in receptions (24) and yards (237) but he averages just 9.9 yards per catch. The Bills have put an emphasis on yards after the catch in recent seasons and Coleman just doesn't provide that. He has just 32 total yards after catch on those 24 receptions.
The explosive pass plays (25+ yards) have almost disappeared from the Bills offense. They rang up five of those in the season opener against the Ravens. There have been a total of six over the last five games.
The last two games, New England and Atlanta made it a priority to keep Cook from going wild. The game plan was to load the box, limit the ground game and challenge the Bills to beat them with the passing game. The Bills were unable to do that which should be stunning. But it isn't because the talent in the passing game just isn't there. Since the trade of Stefon Diggs, the Bills have lacked a target that could scare the you know what out of opposing defenses.
I don't want to hear about everyone eating ever again. It makes it seem like its a bad idea to have a stud receiver who hogs all the food. Look at the back to back losses and think about what Diggs and Atlanta's Drake London did to the Bills defense. Diggs is a big reason why Pats quarterback Drake Maye has taken a big jump up in his second season. London was the Falcons passing attack.
I still think the Bills will be fine. They will make the playoffs. I think they will still win the division. When you have Josh Allen you are instantly better than almost every other team in the league. But the problem is the Bills might be going back to the days of Allen having to put on the red cape and be Superman. He needs a dangerous weapon in the passing game.
That is hard to add during the season but the Bills aren't in the business just to make the playoffs. They are supposed to be chasing that elusive Super Bowl title. General Manager Brandon Beane has to be aggressive and do everything in his power to find that game changing receiver by the November 4th trade deadline. Yes, there are multiple issues on defense. The Bills need help at every level on that side of the ball. But the offense is what has carried and will carry this team and gives them their best shot at a championship. It is screaming out for help at one spot.
Bills notes:
- In terms of strength of schedule, the Bills first six opponents are a combined 9-25 (.264) going into week eight. The remaining opponents on the schedule are 31-36 (.462).
- Six of the next nine games will be on the road
- The Bills are 8-0 in their first game out of the bye under McDermott
- Since 2019 the Bills have gone 39-17 (.696) before the bye. Their record after the bye is 36-13 (.734)