EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.
It was finally time for the Buffalo Bills to take the field for a Thursday night football game. Sadly it was a game to forget, as the Bills were simply out performed by a questionable New York Jets team. The Bills were embarrassed in front of a national audience as the Bills fell by a final score of 34-21. Here are 5 reasons why the Bills lost.
5) Penalties
The penalty situation is starting to become an issue for the Bills; it especially has become noticeable over the last two weeks. Last week against the Raiders the Bills saw nine flags thrown their way for a grand total of 95-yards.
Thursday night wasn’t much different. Again, nine flags were thrown at Buffalo’s way with a total of 99-yards. So, over the last two weeks, Buffalo has seen a total of 18 penalties for almost 200-yards. Buffalo will have to focus on reducing its penalties against New Orleans next week, as Buffalo now has 60 penalties called against them for 518-yards through eight games.
4) Turnovers
Also in the same category as penalties, turnovers weren’t an issue through the first six games of the season. But lately, turnovers have been an issue. Coming into the game on Thursday night the Bills had lost two fumbles all season, on Thursday they lost three.
The Bills now have a total of six turnovers on the season. Previously Buffalo was seen as a team who doesn’t turn the football over, they’ve had four turnovers over the last three weeks. All three fumbles on Thursday by Jordan Matthews, Nick O’Leary, and Tyrod Taylor were put on the ground while the player was pushing for extra effort. But, they’re still fumbles, and the Bills players need to protect the ball at all cost like they’ve been accustomed to all season.
3) Tackling
When New York Jets running backs Bilal Powell and Matt Forte ran the ball on Thursday night, it just seemed like it was missed tackle after missed tackle for the Bills.
Powell had 9 carries for 74-yards and his longest was a 51-yard scamper, while Forte had 14 carries for 77-yards and 2 touchdowns. The Jets finished with 194-yards on the ground and 137-yards through the air.
Throughout the game, the Bills had Jets players wrapped up it seemed but would let them slip away. Ultimately the Bills defensive players just couldn’t bring them down when it mattered most. Resulting in the embarrassing performance.
2) Running Game
You would think that Bills running back LeSean McCoy would have 14 carries for 77-yards and two touchdowns going into the game, right? Nope. That stat line belonged to Forte. McCoy could not get anything going offensively for the Bills. It didn’t help that the Jets were stacking the box and blitzing almost every play, but the elusive McCoy we’re so accustomed to seeing every Sunday was a no show on Thursday night.
McCoy finished the game with 12 carries for 25-yards with his longest run being 13-yards. McCoy didn’t even finish the game as the Bills leading rusher, quarterback Tyrod Taylor lead that category. Taylor, who had 6 carries for 35-yards and one score had a fair game on the ground despite the pressure coming from the Jets all night long. The grand total for the running game was 63-yards on 22 carries. Forte and Powell had more rushing yards than the entire Bills run game. It also didn’t help that the Bills also lost backup running back Taiwan Jones near the end of the game, Jones suffered a broken arm on an onside kick attempt and is out for the year.
1) Defense
Now this is something we have only seen once so far this season from the Bills defense. No turnovers for the first time since week two against Carolina. It looked promising early on as the Bills almost forced an early turnover when Jets quarterback Josh McCown threw a pass right at Bills cornerback Leonard Johnson. But the pass slipped through the hands of Johnson as he couldn’t hold on.
The Bills could be in a defensive battle come next week as they take on the New Orleans Saints. The Saints have 9 interceptions on the year, 3 fumble recoveries and 4 defensive touchdowns. The Saints offense is also red hot; quarterback Drew Brees has thrown for over 260-yards passing in three straight games. The Bills will have to play a solid game on defense for them to get a much-needed win against the Saints.
The Big Picture
Yes, the 34-21 lost to the Jets on Thursday night was devastating and disappointing to say the least. But there are some positives going forward.
Buffalo now has ten days to rest up and prepare for the Saints. Buffalo could also get the anticipated return of tight end Charles Clay back next week as well as cornerback E.J. Gaines. It also seemed that rookie wide receiver, Zay Jones seemed to finally find his groove. Hauling in 6 catches on 7 targets for 53-yards and his first NFL touchdown.
Set to make his Bills debut against the Saints will be newly acquired wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin who will have a favorable matchup as he goes up against cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Marcus Williams.
Next: Buffalo Bills Fall to the New York Jets: What Went Wrong?
Both of which stand at 6’0” compared to Benjamin’s big 6’5” frame. Also the Bills still have a positive record of 5-3 and play half their remaining games at home.