After all of the build up that has happened for the Buffalo Bills leading up the season, it was a big time disappointment in their first preseason game. The Bills hosted the Chicago Bears in front of the passionate Bills Mafia in hopes of getting a fresh start after an overhaul of the roster this offseason. The biggest headline coming into this game was that for atleast the first quarter, it was going to be Caleb Williams vs. Josh Allen. However, the biggest story for the Bills should have been evaluating the players that played.
It is beyond tough to give a fair evaluation from this game because it seemed like no one showed up to play and no one showed up to coach. As soon as the Bills went three-and-out on their first drive, it was all downhill from there on the offensive side of the ball. Josh Allen was able to be on the field for one-and-half drives and once the first quarter ended, Allen was pulled.
Overall, the Bills were not able to find the endzone in this game. Tyles Bass was the only one who scored for the Bills with two field goals. This was not a great outing from the Bills, and now we take a look at the biggest takeaways from this game.
1.) The wide receiver battle is still on
The Bills are running out of time to decide on which receivers they will bring onto the final 53-man roster. The biggest takeaway from this battle is figuring out whether or not Marquez Valdes-Scantling or Tyrell Shavers will possibly be the final receiver. Shavers was targeted twice and had one reception for ten yards. On the other hand, Valdes-Scantling had only one target that he dropped and would go catchless on the day.
In these next two upcoming preseason games, as well as practices, the coaching staff is going to need both of these players to give it all of their best to see which one could beat out the other for a roster spot.
2.) Lack of discipline with penalties
It wouldn’t be Buffalo Bills football without the yellow flag being thrown throughout the game. While the preseason is the perfect time to make mistakes, committing 11 penalties for 75 yards is just pure lack of discipline. One of the most unnecessary penalties that hurt the Bills came against defensive back Kendall Williamson who leaned his shoulder into a defenseless Deandre Carter that moved the chains for the Bears in the first quarter.
Sean McDermott needs to find a way to correct these mistakes because penalties are one of Buffalo’s kryptonite. Lack of discipline leads to mistakes, which leads to losses.
3.) Mitch Trubisky needs to be challenged
Bills fans better hope that Josh Allen can stay healthy because Mitch Trubisky is not going to cut it at quarterback. The offense became very limited and Trubisky was throwing the ball all over the place to various weapons. He missed tight end Quintin Morris wide open in the endzone and he tried targeting Keon Coleman in a tight window.
Trubisky didn’t look like a serviceable backup for the Bills so he will need to find a way to keep earning his spot as the backup quarterback for this offense. If he is unable to do that, Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott need to strongly consider bringing in competition.
4.) It is just preseason
At the end of the day, this game is all about figuring out what the Bills need to work on (which seems like everything at this point). However, McDermott and his coaching staff have a better idea as to what worked and what needs improving on. That is what the preseason is all about. At the same time, the Bills need to atleast put up a little bit of a fight at some point in which they did not do today.