With expectations at an all-time high, the Buffalo Bills kicked off their 2021 campaign with a disappointing 23-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
While a 0-1 start could feel like the end of the world, BIlls players themselves have a different perspective.
Following the end of the defense’s postgame press conference, Bills safety Micah Hyde yelling, “plenty of games left” as fellow safety, Jordan Poyer responded with, “no panic,” according to The Athletic.
Of course losing one game in a 17-game season, does not spell doom. But it is also certainly not how the Bills wanted to kick things off following their magical run to the AFC Championship Game, the season prior.
Quarterback Josh Allen, who had a mediocre day in his first game since signing a massive $258-million extension in the offseason, knows the team let the fans down. However, he also isn’t ready to hit the panic button.
“I wish we could have put on a better show for the fans,” Allen said to the media after the game. “That’s not how they wanted it, nor us. Hopefully that next game we’ll be able to go out there and give them something they’ll like.”
“We’re gonna learn from this and we’re not gonna panic,” Allen continued. “There’s 16 games left and we know what we need to do and again we’re gonna look at the film and we’re gonna work and strive to get better.”
Bills running back Devin Singletary, who flashed late in the game when the team desperately needed an offensive spark, also emphasized things not being as dire as they appear.
“We gotta execute better, that’s what it comes down to,” Singletary told reporters. “It’s never as bad as it seems, it’s never as good as it seems, it’s just week one. We’ve gotta learn and grow from it.”
While the Bills players certainly seemed to unite on the message that it’s just one game, one person who wasn’t as quick to just dismiss the loss was Bills head coach, Sean McDermott.
McDermott was asked following the game if it was important to emphasize to his team that one loss isn’t something to overly dwell on.
“I’m really just focused on making those adjustments that we need to make,” McDermott said. “That’s what my job is and whatever message… I certainly appreciate the atmosphere today, I thought the fans were phenomenal. Our goal needs to be to get ourselves right so we can recreate that every week here at home.”
The Bills don’t have much time to feel sorry for themselves. The team has another tough test, this time in the division, as they head down to Miami to face the Dolphins in Week 2.
The Bills will need to be better in all three phases of the game, as they look to avoid a 0-2 start.
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