Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott credited his team for fighting until the final whistle of their disappointing 24-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. However, as he acknowledged, "there's no such thing as moral victories" in the NFL.
McDermott spoke earnestly when addressing the media following the Bills' dispiriting Monday Night Football defeat in Atlanta. He point-blank admitted that Buffalo was "not good enough" despite their valiant effort, then vowed that they'll strive to be better moving forward.
Fortunately, for McDermott and the Bills, a Week 7 bye awaits. He understands Buffalo must improve in all areas of the game to reach their ultimate goal -- being crowned Super Bowl LIX champions. And by the sound of it, the time off will serve as a massive inflection point for the five-time reigning AFC East winners.
Sean McDermott emphasizes Bills' need to recalibrate during bye week
" ... figure out things on offense, defense and special teams," McDermott said regarding the importance of the Bills' upcoming rest period. "We've got to start over and start from ground zero and figure this thing out and work our tails off to do it."
That's a strong choice of words from McDermott in the immediate aftermath of the Bills dropping their second straight contest to fall to 4-2. Perhaps emotions and adrenaline were still running high, considering he just finished a tight clash with the Falcons. Nevertheless, his ominous comments allude to deep-rooted problems that go beneath the surface in Buffalo.
There's a clear sense of urgency from McDermott; he wants to stop the bleeding and right the ship before it's too late. A rough collective effort against the Falcons that exposed Buffalo's warts, specifically when it comes to limiting opponents, was ostensibly a wake-up call. How the Bills respond coming out of the break will speak volumes about their title aspirations, and it seems they could have a different approach.
The Bills must end their skid, especially with the New England Patriots and ascending quarterback Drake Maye making the divisional race more competitive than expected. McDermott seemingly feels Buffalo's rival, who currently hold first place in the standings due to the head-to-head tiebreaker, breathing down their neck.
Between the well-timed respite and a consequent matchup with an exploitable Carolina Panthers stop unit, the Bills are primed to bounce back. It's on McDermott and Co. to make the proper adjustments and nip the ongoing problems in the bud.