The Buffalo Bills aren’t in first place in the NFL, but there’s no debate the team has improved in recent weeks. A new found confidence exists in Orchard Park.
After a bit of an up and down start, the Bills (9-6) just reclaimed first place in the AFC East thanks to their win over the New England Patriots last week, 33-21.
While that’s the top of the mountain in terms of successes the team has had so far in 2021, it’s not the contest some players are looking at as the reason for the bit of a turnaround.
Rather, it’s a few losses that have played a part.
Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs pointed toward a more recent one. Buffalo lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a few weeks back but made it a heck of an afternoon. The Bills roared back and forced overtime before losing in the end.
Diggs still thinks the Bills won in the long term.
“I feel like that Tampa Bay game got us back to where we needed to go as far as like… having confidence, playing free, playing like we know we can play,” Diggs said via video conference. “When things don’t go right, let’s make it right.”
“I feel like that’s the kind of team we had last year. This year, we kind of had ebbs and flows and a roller coaster. You don’t want to ride that roller coaster and we rode it a little.,” Diggs added.
For quarterback Josh Allen, this same mindset goes further back. Buffalo fell late to the Tennessee Titans in Week 6, but again in losing, the QB took a W in a way.
“I know we didn’t win the Tennessee game but I think I learned a lot from that game,” Allen said via video conference.
“How teams were playing us from there on,” Allen explained. “If there is one game where I learned the most this year, it was that game.”
Personally, Allen mentioned getting the ball out a bit quicker since the Titans loss and getting running backs more involved. As of late, that has clearly been on display.
Not only has Devin Singletary emerged as a capable No. 1 rusher, that explanation mirrors exactly how Buffalo took it to New England last week. Allen got the ball to his playmakers and was surgical in doing so.
Despite all these positive vibes, it will go all for naught with a loss down the stretch. To secure the division crown, Buffalo has to win their final two games starting with the Atlanta Falcons (7-8) on Sunday.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott assured that keeping focus on the task at hand won’t be hard to do.
“I think you turn the tape on and watch this Falcons teams and you know what you’re getting yourself into this weekend,” McDermott said via video conference.
“They’ve got a veteran quarterback that will probably be a Hall of Famer some day. They’ve got speed all over on offense, matchup issues,” McDermott added. “I think you just turn the tape on, for those of us in the building, and you have to look no further.”
Follow the Bills Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts
[lawrence-related id=94361,94357,94355]