Ryan O'Halloran: What Bills have learned about themselves through two games
Canvassing the winning locker room late Thursday night after a 31-10 win over the Miami Dolphins, Ryan O'Halloran asked several players the same question: What have you learned about this team so far?
They have seen injuries to their three best defensive players – linebacker Matt Milano (torn left biceps, Aug. 15), nickel corner Taron Johnson (right forearm, Week 1) and linebacker Terrel Bernard (pectoral strain, Week 2).
They fell behind the Arizona Cardinals 17-3 in Week 1, unable to get out of the blocks early mostly due to penalties.
They saw their best offensive skill player, tight end Dalton Kincaid, catch one pass in the season-opener.
They had to play two games in five days, capped by a division game on the road.
And yet here the Buffalo Bills are with a 2-0 record, a plus-27 point differential, four takeaways and six sacks.
“A lot of ups and downs and a roller coaster game last week, but it’s a resilient bunch,” tight end Dawson Knox said.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen celebrates with center Connor McGovern, right, and fullback Reggie Gilliam after running back James Cook’s 49-yard touchdown against Miami on Thursday night.
Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
Canvassing the winning locker room late Thursday night after a 31-10 win over the Miami Dolphins, I asked several players the same question: What have you learned about this team so far? Yes, there are 15 games remaining, but the tone of a successful season can be established early.
Left guard David Edwards: “I think we’re really a team. Guys care about each other. It feels like a really tight-knit, close, cohesive team and that’s exciting.”
Center Connor McGovern: “There are just so many weapons (offensively). Defenses can try and take guys away and we find ways to get guys open and the running backs are doing a great job finding the holes. It feels like, as an offense, we’re on the same page.”
Defensive end Von Miller: “I’m neither surprised nor satisfied. I think the confidence was flowing from the second half (against Arizona) and we just believed in ourselves.”
Is it too early to declare the Bills’ sum is greater than their individual parts? No, this is just the right time to declare that. What this team lacks in star power is making up for it with the kind of camaraderie that fuels belief. The injuries are a concern, the latest being Bernard, because it has put the Bills on the razor’s edge depth-wise. Imagine saying a month ago, “Linebackers Dorian Williams or Baylon Spector better stay healthy.”
That’s what the players have learned. What have I learned?
Offense: Quarterback Josh Allen’s 42 pass attempts through two games represent the fewest of his career, a nod to offensive coordinator Joe Brady’s run-game commitment. … Everybody is figuratively eating – seven players have at least two catches. … Receiver Khalil Shakir has a team-high eight catches and displays fearlessness working the middle of the field. … Rookie running back Ray Davis is the No. 2 option after James Cook. … They need to be better on third down (6 of 18).
Defense: They need to be better on third downs – opponents are 14 of 28. … The Bills have been on the field too long (135 plays compared with 103 for the offense). … They are lights out on fourth down (opponents are 1 of 6). … Miller is off to a fine start with two sacks and other solid plays. … Defensive tackle Ed Oliver was terrific against Miami. … Cam Lewis and Ja’Marcus Ingram look at home as the nickel and dime backs, respectively.
The Bills now get a long wait before hosting Jacksonville on Sept. 23 to regroup and reenergize. There are bound to be dips – the schedule is difficult and they will miss Bernard – but for a team full of unknowns nine days ago, this has basically been an ideal start.
Quick Kicks
1. Clean game. The Bills committed nine penalties for 65 yards – lowlighted by three false starts on one dive – against Arizona in Week 1. They responded with the cleanest game of the McDermott Era. The Bills were called for one penalty for five yards, a false start on right tackle Spencer Brown, against Miami, the fewest of any McDermott-coached regular season/playoff game. The Bills had two penalties apiece in wins over Indianapolis in December 2017 and January 2021 for 10 and 7 yards, respectively.2. Ryan on Allen. Former NFL cornerback Logan Ryan was in town this weekend to broadcast the Massachusetts-Buffalo game for CBS Sports Network. He went 6-4 against the Bills in his career.
“They didn’t have (Allen) when I was first (in New England) and we’d beat Buffalo every year,” Ryan told The Buffalo News’ Rachel Lenzi. “Josh Allen comes into play (in 2018) and I didn’t think he was the best quarterback as a rookie, but he’s made so much growth and has made so many jumps (to) where he’s an MVP candidate. You have a quarterback like that, your team always has a chance to win the division and make the playoffs. He’s a big reason why this is the Bills’ time.”
Ryan went 6-2 against the Bills pre-Allen (all with the Patriots) and 0-2 against Allen (as a member of the Tennessee Titans).
3. Torrence rebounds. Right guard O’Cyrus Torrence committed three penalties in the game against Arizona, but had a clean sheet penalty-wise against Miami and I booked him for only one quarterback pressure allowed.
About responding/learning from the Cardinals game, Torrence said: “You get back grounded into the fundamentals and playing your game. Mostly, it was just technique things. I didn’t let it linger too long.”
4. Record audience. Amazon Prime announced the Bills-Dolphins game attracted an average audience of 14.96 million viewers and a peak audience of 18.09 million from 9:15-9:30 p.m., an all-time high for the streamer’s Thursday night package. The pregame show drew a record 1.88 million viewers.
5. Extra points. The Bills ran only 45 offensive plays against Miami, tied for the fewest of the McDermott Era with a 47-10 loss to New Orleans in November 2017. … The franchise record for fewest plays in a game is 39 in a 9-7 loss to Miami in September 1979. … Miller on defensive coordinator Bobby Babich: “Bobby’s doing a great job. I don’t think it should be any surprise. We faced a dynamic offense last week and a dynamic offense this week and he dialed it up for us.” … Miller’s sack against Miami was in 2.13 seconds.