Bills Uncertainty

What to think of the Buffalo Bills this morning?

It’s not like they don’t have talent, experience and great coaching, and it’s not like this is a team that doesn’t know how to win. Yet on Sunday Night Football against the woeful New York Football Giants, a lousy team that didn’ t even have its No. 1 quarterback, the Bills were life-and-death to pull out a win in a low-scoring game. Plus, they need a missed pass interference call in the end zone on the final play of the game to seal their fourth victory of the season.

Something is just not adding up. Sure, there are injuries, and more came on Sunday night. But that’s a problem that bedevils all teams, and it’s a sign of a quality football club is its ability to withstand injuries to key players. The Cleveland Browns, for example, were without two of their three top stars, running back Nick Chubb and quarterback DeShaun Watson, on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, a team that just might be the NFL’s best. But the Browns won anyway in a messy, penalty filled, defensive slugfest.

You could also say that about Buffalo’s win, except the Giants aren’t the 49ers. As well, Buffalo’s high-powered offence was shut out in the first half and never really looked its old explosive self at any point in the game. Missing Matt Milano, the defence was fine. But the offence, despite improved passing efficiency numbers from quarterback Josh Allen and an improved offensive line, just looks less cohesive and less creative these days. Against Miami a few weeks ago, the Bills attack had that swagger back. But not against Jacksonville in England, and definitely not against the Giants.

Maybe it’s the cross-Atlantic travel. But something just doesn’t add up about Buffalo’s 4-2 Bills at the ,moment.