Do you really think the Bills are going to the Super Bowl?
By Chuck Pollock, Senior Sports Writer,
Yeah, they’re 5-1. But four of their victories were one-possession games in the fourth quarter and they trailed in three of them in the final period.
Former Pro Bowl defender J.J. Watt, CBS’ game analyst, after the Bills had survived for a 33-30 victory over the Raiders, Sunday afternoon at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, summed it up best.
“(Buffalo’s) offense is good enough to make the Super Bowl (averaging 33 points per game),” he maintained, “but the defense (surrendering over 28 ppg) needs some work.”
It has now given up 24 touchdowns in six games, one of the worst totals in the league and the Raiders wouldn’t let the Bills pull away as their two 10-point leads lasted a combined 8+ minutes.
BILLS QUARTERBACK Josh Allen had a big day going 23-of-33 passing for 255 yards with two touchdowns (Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman), no interceptions and a 112.6 passer rating. Running back James Cook, significantly, had no fumbles and rushed for 95 yards on 22 carries with a touchdown. Kicker Tyler Bass added four field goals.
Allen feels “We’re playing good football … just trying to help win football games.
“Our goal was to get to 5-1 and that’s pretty good (but) we realize some of those (wins) could have gone the othere way.”
Mostly due to the defense whose ugly 43 percentage of permitting third-down conversions was exceeded against Las Vegas which converted 7-of-12 (58%)
Worse, the Bills’ defense managed to embarrass itself on national TV.
Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, a serial source of misbehavior (seven teams in eight seasons), got into an argument with the Raiders Tyler Linderbaum. The Bills defensive back ended the disagreement by spitting on the Las Vegas center.
He was immediately ejected and was villified on the air by both Watt and play-by-play man Jim Nantz.
After the game, Gardner-Johnson maintained “I’ve got to be a better player. I let my emotions get the best of me and I hurt my team. I’ve got to be better and control my emotions and play in a big game like this. I made a mistake.”
But a mistake is leaving your keys in the car, not embarrassing yourself and your team before a national audience by spitting on an opponent … which, this jus in, qualifies as a major gaffe.
Given his resume and reputation, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Gardner-Johnson’s ill- considered expectoration bought him a ticket out of Buffalo, if only because it also reflected poorly on his coach.
After the game, first-year head coach Joe Brady, wearing a disappointed face, allowed, “The team is bigger than that. That can’t happen … we’ve got to be better than that. It’s going to be addressed.
“All I care about is finding ways to win … even if it isn’t pretty.”
Next up for the Bills is a bye week, then hosting the Ravens the afternoon of Nov. 1.
“Having the bye week where it is (gives us a chance) to getaway from it a little bit … let’s guys catch their breath,” Allen said.
“When we come back, we’ve got to play our best football. We’re fairly healthy and bye weeks are always great for getting guys back.”
NOTES from the Bills’ 33-30 win over the Raiders Sunday afternoon at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium:
— Buffalo used two of its three first-half timeouts in the opening 3 1/2 minutes of the game, a circumstance that clearly annoyed rookie head coach Joe Brady.
— Buffalo’s lone takeaway was an interception of Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins by linebacker Dorian Williams, his first.
— Las Vegas’ linebacker Quay Walker logged the first sack taking down Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen. The second went to Kwity Paye, his team-leading third.
— It took 5 1/2 games but Bills’ possession wide receiver Khalil Shakir scored his first touchdown of the season, a 9-yard sidearm throw from Allen. Allen’s second TD, a pitch to wide receiver Keon Coleman, was the 258th of the QB’s 9-year career and tied him with Bills Hall-of-Famer Jim Kelly.
— It was tight end Dalton Kincaid’s birthday and Allen wanted to get him a TD … and he did, until it was wiped out by a holding penalty.
— Five Bills were inactive for Sunday’s game. Wide receiver D.J. Moore was out with a shoulder injury and defensive tackle Ed Oliver (knee) also was unavailable. Outside linebacker Mike Danna and offensive linemen Ar’maj Reed-Adams and Jude Lowery were healthy scratches..
— Among the inactives for the Raiders were emergency quarterback Aiden O’Connell and defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway (concussion).
Chuck Pollock, a Wellsville Sun and Olean Star senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@wnynet.net.)
