The Buffalo Bills won their third preseason game of the year to get to 3-0 in fake games after their 24-20 victory. Unlike the first two games, where Buffalo’s starters looked great all around, there were definitely some warts on this game.
Run-heavy game plan is change of pace
The Bills had been calling a ton more pass plays with Josh Allen during the first two games but that all changed against the Detroit Lions. Lots of Twitter comments reinforced it felt like a run-run-pass game plan of old. Allen threw only six passes in a half of football and ran the ball twice on scrambles. He had a bad pass erased by a roughing-the-passer penalty, as well.
Of course, that was turned on its head in the third quarter under Matt Barkley. The backup threw 14 passes in the third quarter alone.
Tremaine Edmunds is a beast
Without being able to hear his pre-play calls and his ability to lead the defense, I’m still pretty comfortable getting excited about the second-year linebacker. He’s a physical freak and has such long arms and legs that his closing speed is great and he can get into passing lanes. He had eight tackles—five solo—in just the first half. That would put him in conversation for the league lead in the category.
Just like the lunch lady used to make them
You know you like your Joes sloppy, but how about your preseason games? Allen threw a near-interception he accurately referred to as “hero ball” in a late-game interview. The Bills and Lions combined for about 53,756 penalties for approximately 6,903,768 yards. Both coaches threw challenge flags on pass-interference calls that had no shot of being overturned. It was a mess of a game that lasted way longer than the three hours a normal game should.
Injuries scare McDermott
Sean McDermott has played the starters into the third quarter of the third preseason game in both of his previous years as the Bills’ head coach but not tonight. After Tre’Davious White, Frank Gore, and Quinton Spain left with injuries, McDermott didn’t tempt fate. Several Detroit Lions starters were also carted off the field with serious injuries.
Wide receiver 6/7 is wide open
Zay Jones played well into the game, even seeing time with Tyree Jackson in the fourth quarter, but he also started the game with the first team. Cole Beasley and John Brown aren’t going anywhere, either. Robert Foster received late special-teams gunner reps. Andre Roberts isn’t going anywhere. Duke Williams and Isaiah McKenzie both scored touchdowns while Ray-Ray McCloud III had a nice punt return that was called back. Will they keep six or seven? Who will the last one or two be? It’s all up in the air. Who is going to come down with it?
Odds and ends
- Despite Sean McDermott normally playing his starters into the third quarter in the third preseason game, the backups came out to start the second half.
- Devin Singletary found the end zone for his first preseason touchdown with a great block along the way from Cody Ford.
- Wyatt Teller taking second-team reps at right guard when he was mostly left guard so far in camp.
- Darryl Johnson has been great in the preseason and he even showed up on special teams this week. He’s a roster lock, it would seem.
- Corey Bojorquez did not solidify the job as punter with Cory Carter on the sideline injured.
- No Christian Wade tonight.