Buffalo Bills: 5 reasons why the Bills suffered another one-sided loss

The Buffalo Bills came into Green Bay riding the high of a big victory in Week 3. Unfortunately, the team couldn’t even score due to a variety of factors.

After a huge upset victory of the Vikings last week, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills came into Lambeau Field with a boatload of confidence.

Sadly, it didn’t matter how confident the Bills were as former Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, now the Packers defensive coordinator, shut Allen and the Bills down immediately.

Buffalo couldn’t get anything going right from their opening series, as the Packers bullied the Bills, shutting them out 22-0. Here are five reasons why the Bills suffered another one-sided loss.

5. Injuries

It was very disappointing to see safety Micah Hyde go down and leave the game with a groin injury, especially in his return to Lambeau Field. Once Hyde was injured and downgraded to out, the mood was lifeless on the field and sideline.

The injury sucked the life out of the Bills and it was all downhill from here. To go along with Hyde, Charles Clay, Tre’Davious White, Phillip Gaines and Taron Johnson were all battling through injuries.

Running back LeSean McCoy came into this game already banged up with a rib injury but played through it. To make matters worse, wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin left the game after being injured by Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.

4. Wide Receivers/Kelvin Benjamin

It’s staggering to believe an NFL team can have a wide receiver group as unproductive as the Bills. It’s now time to consider drastically making a move for a receiver before the trade deadline, or even exploring the option of free agency with available players such as Dez Bryant, Jeremy Maclin and Dontrelle Inman.

It’s been so frustrating to watch Benjamin this season. The former first-round pick looks totally disinterested and is lacking urgency and assurance. So far on the year, Benjamin has a grand total of seven catches for 92 yards and one touchdown.

On Sunday, Benjamin completed one catch on six targets for 34 yards. The concussion injury to Benjamin is no excuse for his productivity in Sunday’s game, as Benjamin saw targets and he saw them early.

During Buffalo’s second drive that lasted a quick 20 seconds, Benjamin saw two balls come his way, and both of them were incomplete resulting in a second straight three-and-out to start the game.

It was also another dull performance from receiver Zay Jones and tight end Charles Clay. The two combined for 78 yards on eight receptions, and both have yet to find the end zone in 2018.

3. Everyone on offense

Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field was easily one to forget, as scoring was hard to come by against a mediocre Green Bay defense.

Coming into this game, the Green Bay defense was ranked 21st in the league. That seemed to be a different story on Sunday as Clay Matthews and Blake Martinez shut down everyone. Buffalo’s total yards came out to an atrocious number of 145 yards compared to Green Bay’s 423. The 145 total yards Green Bay allowed was the fewest since 2014. Sunday’s shutout loss was the first goose egg defeat since 2008 loss against the Patriots.

Running back LeSean McCoy looked to be the game’s key component going into Sunday, and that was quickly not the case. McCoy only carried the ball a measly total of five times for 24 yards and hauled in three catches for 13 yards.

McCoy now has a miserable 85 yards rushing and 41 yards receiving on 28 total touches. If you’re offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and head coach Sean McDermott, you have to immediately find a way to get McCoy the ball more.

 2. Aaron Rodgers

After a few shaky starts in the first three weeks, it seemed Aaron Rodgers was back to his old self against the Bills. Rodgers was mobile, maneuvering his way within the pocket which allowed him to run the ball five times for 31 yards on a “gimpy” leg.

He was also certainly back to his prolific self through the air, finishing the game going 22 of 40 for 298 yards, one touchdown, and averaged 7.4 yards per pass. Jerry Hughes and company could absolutely do nothing to disrupt Rodgers, as he was only sacked twice for 16 yards.

This ultimately hurt the Bills as Rodgers converted 11 of 19 third downs. Within the last two weeks, it shows how vital a pass rush can really be.

1. Pass protection/Josh Allen

It was a tough start for Allen right from the opening kickoff, going three-and-out two series in a row. It was a much different first half from a week ago, as Allen went 5 of 19 for 58 yards and one interception.

To finish the game, Allen went 16 of 33 for 151 yards. Allen’s numbers would’ve been much worse if it wasn’t for some garbage time yards in the fourth quarter.

Allen also finished the game with two interceptions, one lost fumble and was sacked seven disturbing times for a staggering 64 yards. It was certainly a tough day for the rookie, as he only achieved 11 first downs whereas Rodgers doubled that amount.

It’s been a difficult start to his rookie season as Allen and the Bills have played three out of their first four games on the road. But Buffalo does get to come home next week where they host the red-hot Tennessee Titans, who are riding a three-game winning streak.

Their last two games are just as impressive as they knocked off the Jacksonville Jaguars last week and on Sunday they upset the defending Super Bowl champions in overtime.