What a crazy week it was for the Buffalo Bills. After getting buried with 5-6 feet of snow, the NFL was forced to move the Browns/Bills game from Orchard Park to Detroit (Ford Field). Bills players and coaches were all snowed in, but some good samaritans from “The City of Good Neighbors” helped with shoveling or snow-plowing a path for them to get to the airport (check out some of the player’s IG pages). Everyone made it to Detroit and the Bills shifted their attention to Cleveland… But the toll of real life was evident in the first half for the Bills. The offense looked out of sync and cold, whereas the defense played decent after allowing an opening drive TD.
The Bills had to settle for (2) Tyler Bass field goals in the first half and would get the ball back with 2:00 minutes left in the first half (down 10-6) with a chance to get points before the break.
Josh Allen would lead Buffalo on an 11-play drive resulting in a 5-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs, giving Buffalo a 13-10 lead at the end of the first half.
The Bills would receive the opening 3rd quarter kick and would drive into Cleveland territory, but after a few costly penalties, they would have to settle for a third Tyler Bass field goal (16-10 lead). The Browns would have a nice drive going on their next possession, but would go for it on fourth down and be unsuccessful… Buffalo would take over on their own 27-yard line, but in just 4 quick plays Devin Singletary would score the second Bills touchdown of the game with a 5-yard run. Buffalo would go for the two-point conversion to push their lead up to 14 but would fall short (22-10 lead).
The Browns would once again put together a nice drive on the ensuing possession, but the Bills special teams would block a 34-yard Cade York field goal attempt.
From here, the Bills would add (3) more field goals on their next (3) possessions, giving Tyler Bass (6) total for the game… Tying the Bills franchise record for most in a single game.
The Browns fought until the end, actually scoring 2 touchdowns on their final 2 possessions, and would be in a position for an onside kick recovery after the Bills hands team (Gabe Davis in this case) bobbled the kick… Luckily for Buffalo, the kick bounced out of bounds and the Bills could just knee out the clock.
My takeaway… The defense needs to get healthy, QUICK! Too many mediocre players filling in at critical positions. We also need help from our playmakers. Gabe Davis has had a bad case of the drops this last month and isn’t establishing himself as a true WR2… Maybe Buffalo really does need to go sign OBJ after all!
The Bills will have a short week as they have to get ready for their Thanksgiving game against the Lions. After Detroit, the Bills will have three straight division games that will be monumental!
-Jason Harris