For the first time this season, the Buffalo Bills are heading into a new week coming off a tough loss against the New England Patriots, losing 29-26.
The Bills had the chance to take a big lead in the AFC East (especially since the Jets and Dolphins had both lost), but the Patriots have climbed back up to being right behind the Bills and owning the tiebreaker. Now the Bills are on the road the next two weeks (both out on the west coast) before their bye week near the end of October.
The Bills will be taking on a tough Los Angeles Rams team that is coming off a 24-20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. If they want to bounce back in primetime against the Rams, they have to make 5 non-negotiable improvements to do so.
5 improvements Bills must make ahead of Week 5 showdown against Rams
-Let Josh Allen be Josh Allen
It felt like Josh Allen was off his game against the Patriots. There were a handful of times when the play wasn’t developing, and Allen had the opportunity to just run it himself but didn’t. It wasn’t the same Allen that we have seen time and time again.
Allen finished Week 4 with 253 yards and 2 total touchdowns, but also a game-costing interception when he should have just thrown it out of bounds. Allen also had jsut 5 carries for 4 yards, ending the game with an 89.4 rating. What happened to the Allen that played lights out in Weeks 1 & 2?
It's time for Allen to play like the superstar he is and make those plays with his arm and his legs, not just one or the other.
-Create the gameplan around Dalton Kincaid
Just like Allen in the first two games, Dalton Kincaid was emerging as a star now that he is fully healthy. This past Sunday against the Patriots, he had just two (that's right, two!) targets, resulting in one catch for seven yards.
That is unacceptable game planing by Joe Brady, and he fully admitted it in his post-game press conference, per Ajay Cybulski. A healthy Dalton Kincaid is a dangerous one. Brady has to get him more involved against the Rams.
-Give Kani Walker a chance (if Christian Benford is out again)
With Christian Benford being out with a toe injury, that put the spotlight on Davison Igbinosun and Maxwell Hairston to step up. When it came to Hairston, he was the biggest liability on the field when Buffalo’s defense was playing. Romeo Doubs controlled that matchup from start to finish.
Going into Week 4, the Bills had elevated CB Kani Walker who was a preseason standout but Brady didn’t put him in the game. He very should have, but he instead is showing trust towards Hairston.
If Benford is unable to go again in Week 5, the Bills have to give Walker a chance because the way that Hairston performed against Doubs, he is in for another a nightmare matchup against either Davante Adams or Puka Nacua.
-Work on protecting the football
In Week 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Bills had 5 turnovers which is completely inexcusable. Even though they came away with the victory, they ultimately shouldn't have.
Against the Patriots, the Bills had two fumbles from James Cook and Khalil Shakir. Shakir's was the only one that was lost. Had it not been for Dee Alford picking off Drake Maye on the very next play, that would have been a bigger topic of discussion.
Buffalo's ball security has been a problem the last two weeks. Typically, if you lose the turnover battle, you end up losing the game. Going up against a Sean McVay offense, the Bills can't afford to give them turnovers to make their lives easier.
-Improve the protection upfront in the trenches
There were plenty of times when the pocket collapsed for Allen as his offensive line couldn't seem to find their rhythm against New England's defense. Whether they were rushing 3 or 5, Buffalo seemed confused upfront.
For as great as Allen is, this unit has to give him to let the play develop and find his guy down the field. Without that, the passing game can't get going at all.
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