In the end, after all the questions about timeouts and their use, after breaking it down to ten-seconds or five-seconds of time left, Sean McDermott had a pretty simple explanation of the Bills 44-42 loss to the Rams.
“It’s the line of scrimmage. It’s being able to run the ball with two running backs. It’s the line of scrimmage on defense. It’s special teams giving up big plays,” he said.
It’s hard to admit, but he’s right. It’s hard to admit the Bills failed in a test of “big boy” football. It wasn’t a colossal failure but a significant one that may signal problems ahead in the playoffs.
“When you lose two of three (defense and special teams) and the line of scrimmage overall, you make it really hard,” McDermott continued. “You gotta score 40 points and even then, you’re holding your breath to win.”
Holding your breath was a good way to watch. It was a nail-biter from start to finish and the game featured MVP favorite Josh Allen in his most heroic display of the season. He produced SIX touchdowns, three passing and three rushing, in a one-man effort to keep the Bills in it.
“Incredible. Incredible,” McDermott said. “We have to do a better job around him.”
That includes the coaching staff. McDermott was at a loss to explain how the Bills wound up with only nine men on the field for a desperation punt block on the last play of the game. And Special Teams Coordinator Matt Smiley was not available to explain how Los Angeles came right up the middle to block a punt in the second quarter. Hunter Long returned it 22 yards for a touchdown and a 10-point lead.
It also includes the defense which gave up 457 yards, had no sacks on 30 pass attempts, and allowed 11-of-15 on third downs.
The Bills gave up a score on five of the first six drives for the Rams and only forced two punts.
The Bills defensive line was invisible. Ed Oliver and Greg Rousseau had no tackles.
And while we’re at it, referee Craig Wrolstad and crew lived up to the pregame scouting report about being flag-happy and assessed 16 penalties, seven against the Bills.
But for the Bills, redemption is only six days away.
Ford Field is a comfortable home-away-from-home for the Bills, even if the Lions provide a stiff test. This Super Bowl preview is the Bills last test before finishing the season with three divisional also-rans.
The Bills must use the Detroit game to rediscover their hustling, under-sized defense, figure out the problem on special teams, and have more discussion about end-of-game scenarios.
Oh yeah – and stay out of Josh Allen’s way. Who knows what he’ll do next.
John Murphy, the longtime Voice of the Bills, is writing columns for WIVB.com this season. Find more of his work here.
