Buffalo Bills Put Night Practice to Good Use
I don’t have anything to complain about. This sucks. The Buffalo Bills had to keep playing even though it was over before halftime. There’s never been a better reason to feel uneasy about the startling lack of negatives.
I’m sure I can find things that went wrong. Let’s see: Buffalo lost the third quarter while only scoring a field goal while squandering a precious timeout. And there was a second drive that only ended with a meager three points, which is simply unacceptable. The Bills didn’t win a World Series or an Oscar. On top of that, the CBS simulcast pre-empted NCIS. Man, that is one lousy night.
But I guess a few things went well in a 37-point win. It takes three to form a trend, which means the Bills have enough performances to establish that they’re capable of full efforts against opponents of varying impressiveness. Jacksonville didn’t help with anything resembling a challenge, so at least the game’s course reflected which half of competitors deserved a nationwide broadcast.
Winning without learning much is a byproduct of facing the other regrettable 1995 expansion franchise besides Carolina. And even the Panthers found someone in sadder shape this week. The next trio of games offer a more grueling trial of road outings against legitimate playoff aspirants beginning with Josh Allen’s MVP nemesis. Buffalo did the most with the opportunity by crushing both the Jaguars and lousy bettors who were certain they spotted a trap game.
A season provides so few examples that an overwhelming win becomes a huge part of the definition. By the time you’ve characterized a team, they’re pretty deep into a the schedule. And by then, they might be altering their behavior to keep pace. At least, the sharp ones are. Innovators doing fascinating things are already moving to their next visionary idea by the time others catch up. David Bowie would’ve been a good coordinator.
The adversary will realize which side the bullfighter prefers. After losing their first two games by a total of eight points, the Jaguars encountered a club that responded angrily with horns.
Let’s make this easier: who didn’t get the ball? Allen completed to 73 different receivers. Hold on: let me verify my memory. There were actually 10, which still sounds made up. I shouldn’t have exaggerated, as the real tally is still comically high. I hope you forgive me.
Now that I’ve learned my lesson, I’ll dedicate myself to penance by lauding the catching committee. It’s easy to defend receivers that are tough to defend. Who’ll be the biggest deal next? Guessers may as well play the lottery, as the chances of describing the future accurately is about as tricky. Ask who’ll lead in yardage for a Predict the Bills question that every participant would get wrong.
Khalil Shakir needs Emergen-C because he catches anything. He’s emerged as the A option in a Borg-like collective of players. And a baffled Jacksonville defense provided the perfect opportunity for Keon Coleman to really get going.
The next target winner isn’t predetermined. Joe Brady emphasizes responding to conditions, namely those initiated by the defense. There is no longer shoehorning in appeasement’s name.
Breaking up with Josh’s erstwhile BFF was a painfully necessary step. At this point last season, the offense revolved around someone who was the first option even if he wasn’t open.
Enjoy a game plan based around making sure the chief drama queen doesn’t throw a hissy fit mid-route. The top star rotates every game then every play. Who knows? The players aren’t even aware, which is maddening for other defensive coordinators. Rotating targets is like having actors go through a couple scenes so there are no spoilers leaked about a finale.
Wings always did Paul McCartney’s songs. Homer was right that he was the most talented one just like Stefon Diggs filled the same role in Buffalo. The Bills claiming they’ve improved without their best wideout sounds like praising Pyongyang because there’s not much traffic. But they’re all working together to move the ball on a randomized rotation.
The Bills predicted what was coming, maybe. Brandon Beane could have anticipated that this offense would be better served without a potential Hall of Famer just like Darcy Regier could claim he assembled an undersized roster in anticipation that the league was finally about to limit interference. They each got players who thrived whether they saw how the world would unfold or lucked into it.
You don’t need to script inspirational plays when Trevor Lawrence throws to the safety. Helping tell the Damar Hamlin story is the fading quarterback’s gift to the narrative. The worst throw in a game packed with them will be a key scene in Hallmark’s first football movie. As another quarterback who makes more than Josh, his laid-back bro style is actively bothersome in passivity.
The Bills are a prime time team. A schedule that’s as varied as the game plan keeps everyone alert. Fans should feel thrilled at unpredictability, whether in who’s going to be that outing’s primary threat to enemy quarterbacks or playing on a novel day and time. A Sunday morning routine that leaves partakers ready seven hours early is going to be closer to normal.
It’s tough to extract lessons from a game that became only technically a competition. The Bills are aware that upcoming foes are unlikely to stubbornly remain in a man-to-man defense that Josh could’ve called himself. But all they can do is deal with who’s scheduled. Being on the right side of a game where neither starting quarterback finishes is the most they could’ve gotten out a preseason game that counts.