The Buffalo Bills won an electric game on Sunday against a tough Tampa Bay Buccaneers team to advance to 7-3 during the 2025 NFL season. Josh Allen went nuclear, scoring six touchdowns and breaking an NFL record in the high-scoring victory.
But somehow, that is still not the story of the game. The story of the game, actually, has been someone that happened before kickoff: the benching of second-year wide receiver Keon Coleman, who was made a healthy scratch by Sean McDermott and Co. for the first time in his young career.
After Buffalo mortgaged a second-round pick on him in the 2024 NFL Draft, Coleman has certainly had his moments, but he has lacked consistency. The Bills desperately needed him to grow into a big contributor this season, and grow up a bit off the field, but apparently neither of those things have happened.
Dion Dawkins hit the nailon the head with his Keon Coleman statement
Offensive tackle Dion Dawkins, an undisputed powerful voice in the locker room and the heartbeat of the Bills’ offensive line, was asked about Coleman’s benching after the game. Dawkins had the perfect response; one that Bills fans will love.
"I already spoke to him. I spoke to Keon before this game. I told him, 'Bro, look. Don't even worry about it. Everybody goes through a differnet journey. Let's just say that this is the last time, and let's move forward.' He said, 'I'm with you.' That's all we need," Dawkins said. "Nobody's perfect, but in this league, we need guys that come on. Keon knows (that) now he's in the hot seat, and he needs to come on and show up for us. Pats on the back are over with, and it's time for him to grow up, and he knows it. ... We got his back, but the time is now."
Dawkins couldn’t have made a better statement in this scenario. He expressed his support for the young player while also holding Coleman accountable and giving him a bit of tough love, which he needs. It was truly the perfect blend of words to say.
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Bills fans also appreciate that Dawkins took them behind the curtain for this, instead of saying something bland like, “the team is handling it in house,” or “that’s between me and Keon.” While that would be understandable, for most things, fans also deserve answers, and Dawkins provided just that.
Coleman already made a statement about his benching, but his actions will matter a lot more than his words. There is no rest for the weary, as Buffalo travels to take on the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football in Week 12, so they have a quick turnaround.
Houston has, arguably, the league’s best secondary, and the Bills will need Coleman to take the proper step and be a contributor. This is a bit of a trap game for Buffalo, or at least a contest played under ill-advised circumstances, so every bit will help.
It sounds like Dawkins is going to be there every step of the way for Coleman, and Bills Mafia knows how critical that will be.