Offensive.
Vic Fangio’s defense eviscerated the Nate Peterman-led Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon, crushing all hope from Buffalo’s offense en route to a 41-9 blowout by the Chicago Bears. Peterman threw three interceptions on the day, though each one was the result of a bobbled pass by his receiver. The Bills also coughed up a fumble. Two of those turnovers were returned for touchdowns. Peterman must have angered an ancient Aztec god, because his offensive career is quickly shaping into one of the worst in NFL history. He now has 3 passing touchdowns against 12 interceptions in his young career.
The Bills offense finally scored a touchdown, 40 possessions after their last touchdown, from week six. That’s as many as four tens. And that’s terrible. Before that, they managed a field goal early in the second half, when the team was down 28-0 and shouldn’t have settled for field goals anymore.
The Bills spent plenty of time experimenting with player reps today. Wyatt Teller and Jeremiah Sirles played some time in place of Vlad Ducasse and Jordan Mills. Terrelle Pryor and Logan Thomas ran routes and were targeted a few times. Marcus Murphy and Chris Ivory took a significant number of reps over LeSean McCoy.
It didn’t really matter what they did. The players on this roster don’t have NFL-caliber talent as a unit. There are no difference-makers, there are no consistent winners. They cannot block. They cannot pass. They cannot get open. They cannot run.
The Bills are lucky they won two games earlier in the season. They might not win another. This offense looks lost. The players walk around with thousand-yard stares. They can’t even be trusted to win three yards when they need three yards.
The Bills defense played okay at times. They struggled to bottle up the five-foot-six dynamo Tarik Cohen, and allowed two touchdowns by Jordan Howard, but also forced a fair number of punts. They continued forcing fumbles, but weren’t able to create a turnover for an offense that desperately needs them.
Notes
These are the players that the Bills should replace on this roster. And some suggestions for who could take over.
- Nate Peterman should retire after this season to become a priest (or minor league baseball player). Josh Allen needs to be the starting quarterback, and someone else should stick around as the backup when Derek Anderson inevitably retires. Just reach a hand into a hat of names.
- Russell Bodine isn’t good enough, and Ryan Groy already proved he can’t anchor. The Bills could sign Matt Paradis or Mitch Morse in the offseason, one of the few good offensive linemen in free agency this year. It’ll cost nearly $10 million per year, but it’ll be worth it.
- Both offensive guards need to be replaced. It would be a challenge, but offering big bucks to D.J. Fluker, currently in Seattle, would be a great way to boost the run blocking inside. Chris Lindstrom and Garrett Bradbury, from BC and NC State, respectively, would be great choices in the second round of the draft.
- Jordan Mills has helped nothing at right tackle. There aren’t great options at right tackle, except Bobbie Massie. In the draft, Jonah Williams is the best offensive player available, and was an All-American right tackle for Alabama in the past.
- Kelvin Benjamin is public enemy number one. The Bills really need a receiver who can actually “Moss” someone, not pretend to. Iowa State’s Hakeem Butler is that player. 6’6” 220 pounds, and stopping him in the open field is like tackling an eighteen wheeler.
- Terrelle Pryor could be a contributor if he re-signed with the team, but the Bills also need real playmaking speed they can trust every down. John Brown is a free agent next year, one of the few speedsters who can hit the open market. Marquise Brown and Anthony Johnson are two vertical threats in college football.
- Charles Clay has no value for this team anymore. Jason Croom earned a trial through the end of 2018. Noah Fant, TJ Hockensen, and Irv Smith (if they declare) are great athletes with way better clutch genes.
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