Tag: Buffalo Bills vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL Next Gen Stats: Bills’ pass-rush defense sorely missing Matt Milano

NFL Next Gen Stats: #Bills’ pass-rush defense sorely missing Matt Milano:

The Buffalo Bills have been hit with the injury bug hard during the past couple weeks of the 2023 NFL season. The defensive side of the ball has seen key injuries across several starting positions.

Earlier this month, former All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White was placed on injured reserve and four days later, starting linebacker Matt Milano and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones joined White on the IR list.

Of the trio, Milano’s loss being felt the most according to NFL Next Gen Stats. According to the football analytics out, Buffalo’s pass rush is lacking without the linebacker.

Since Milano’s knee injury in Week 5, the Bills defense has been unable to defend the middle of the park. Not only has Buffalo stopped generating turnovers, but they are providing offenses ample time to find their open receivers to score touchdowns and performing at a league-worst rate:

Bills head coach Sean McDermott has his work cut out for him after taking over the defensive coordinator duties this season.

Rookie linebacker Dorian Williams is being given an opportunity to fill Milano’s shoes but it has not gone well. In two of three games, he’s been pulled for Tyrel Dodson.

If the first-year pro gets another shot, the is hope that Williams can make the jump up to a high-caliber level on Thursday against a strong, newly revamped Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3) offensive line.

He’ll have his work cut out for him.

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Bills’ Von Miller on Ed Oliver: ‘One of the best guys in the league’

Von Miller called Ed Oliver one of the best in the NFL:

The Buffalo Bills defense was missing some key pieces in their loss against the New England Patriots on Sunday.

With several defenders added to the injured reserve list in the last couple weeks, it was compounded with news that starting defensive tackle Ed Oliver would be out in Week 7 due to a toe injury.

Oliver has been one of the best interior pass-rushers in the NFL this season. It was a difference-making blow for the Bills (4-3).

Drafted in 2019, he has consistently pressured opposing quarterbacks into mistakes, and in 2022 had the second-highest pressure rate among his position in the NFL. As for this season, Oliver is on pace to set his career-best sack mark. He had five all the way back in his rookie year, but already has four in 2023.

Teammate Von Miller (knee) is working through his own injury situation. But he knows rushing the passer and he thinks Oliver ranks among one of the best in football at it.

“He’s the point guard – it goes as Ed goes. He’s one of the best guys in the league.” said Miller via video conference.

The All-Pro edge defender recently rejoined Buffalo’s defense after being one of the key injuries at the start of the season–but his stemmed over from 2022 which ended his year.

Such a serious injury takes time to get back in form, but Buffalo will hope to see peak Oliver and Miller firing on all cylinders as soon as possible this season.

But will that happen on Thursday?

First, one step at a time.

With such a short turnaround between the loss on Sunday and Buffalo’s next game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3), coach Sean McDermott said on Oliver’s return “it’s going to be close” in terms of Oliver being able to play.

So far this week, both Oliver and Miller have been listed as limited participants in practice on Monday and Tuesday, as Miller was held to only six snaps played last week.

With such a short timeline, they could go either way by Thursday.

Bills Wire will continue to provide all injury updates ahead of kickoff.

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Bills’ Dorian Williams on benching: ‘Have to do what they feel is best’

#Bills LB Dorian Williams is taking being benched in stride & what Sean McDermott said:

The Buffalo Bills have had a slew of injuries during the month of October which has put the spotlight on a few new faces, including rookie linebacker Dorian Williams.

The Bills’ injured reserve list has seen several players added to it such as linebacker Matt Milano (leg).

Bills’ third-round rookie linebacker Dorian Williams took on the role that Milano excelled in prior to his injury.

After Bills coach Sean McDermott assumed defensive coordinator duties the Tulane product has been trying to make the necessary jump to contribute. It made sense, as Williams was expected to be an instant impact player for Buffalo when he was drafted.

But the jump from college to the pros is tough, especially for defenders.

McDermott benched Williams during their 29-25 loss against the New England Patriots in Week 7. It was the second time Williams lost snaps to Tyrel Dodson, however, this time it was for the majority of the game.

In true McDermott form, he has done the expected since.

Following Pats loss, he expressed confidence in Williams. Even so, on Tuesday McDermott kept his secrets as usual.

When asked who would start between Williams and Dodson, the coach said “we’ll see.”

That we will, as the this position will catch the attention of many in Buffalo when the Bills defense take their first snap of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3) on Thursday.

Regardless of the decision, Williams is taking it all in stride. He’s going to try and learn and move forward, which is the best choice he can make as such a young player.

“It’s definitely tough,” Williams said. “I know it’s all out of love–all the coaches want the best for me– but I mean, they have to do what they feel is best to put the team in a position to win.”

For more from Williams, see the attached WROC-TV clip below:

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Bills have NFL’s worst record in one-possession games

Bills have NFL’s worst record in one-possession games:

The Bills have often made headlines over the last few seasons by being league leaders in various categories.

Whether being among the top clubs in turnovers, defensive points, or in individual player stats, Buffalo has stood out under head coach Sean McDermott’s leadership.

While 2020 was a breakout season that culminated with an appearance in the AFC Championship game, 2021 has had some growing pains.

Some of which has involved alternating wins and losses week to week, and some that has involved another inauspicious distinction the team may wish they didn’t carry.

Entering into Week 15, they have the worst win-loss record in games that are decided by a single possession.

Tampa Bay, New England, Indianapolis, Tennessee, and Pittsburgh have all edged Buffalo in close contests in which the winner is decided by a single score.

The Texans, Colts, and Eagles follow them in short order on that list.

The Bills have put up lopsided scores against average clubs, but have been challenged when it comes to overtaking opponents who have one-score leads late in games.

While it’s worth noting that the team’s offensive execution has directly attributed to these specific losses, it’s also worth pointing out that they were simply the result of missed opportunities during various stages and drives in those contests.

One of which, Sunday’s Tampa Bay matchup in particular, even included some suspect officiating practices that cost them the win in regulation then the game in overtime. A glaring issue that once again brings how the league office views such calls differently between big and small market teams (or in Tampa’s case, Tom Brady’s team.)

Nonetheless, one additional successful red zone drive, pass completion, touchdown, or field goal in those games could have changed the Bills fortunes and their overall win-loss record.

So while this is certainly not a distinction the team wishes to carry, it’s a hurdle they are more than capable of overcoming, and will need to down the stretch.

However, they will need to find the rhythm on offense, consistency in winning week-to-week, and execute when it matters most if they wish to make another run into the postseason.

They’ll have a chance to do just that, with games against the Panthers, Patriots, and Falcons up next on the schedule before the regular season finale against the Jets.

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Bills’ Sean McDermott, Levi Wallace weigh in on officiating vs. Buccaneers

#Bills’ Sean McDermott, Levi Wallace weigh in on officiating vs. #Buccaneers:

Bills players and coaches joined their fans in scratching their heads following some puzzling officiating in a Week 14 overtime loss.

Despite a big second-half comeback in which they came back from a 24-3 halftime deficit to tie the game at 27 and go to overtime, Buffalo would ultimately fall to Tampa Bay 27-33.

One of the calls in question was pass interference flag thrown while CB Levi Wallace was defending a pass to Bucs WR Mike Evans during that overtime.

Tampa Bay was at its own 16-yard line, and the penalty gave them 19 more yards and a first down.

Several plays after that, Buccaneers wide receiver Breshad Perriman would win the game on a 58-yard touchdown.

So what went wrong with the play?

Wallace himself was looking to answer just that question after the game.

“I mean, I think it’s a bad call,” Wallace said while addressing the media. “I don’t know. You have to ask the ref. I think I played it as good as I could have.”

Here is the play in question so you can see for yourself:

One can clearly see that it is actually Evans making the contact, which former NFL referee turned NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay noted.

In fact, when Evans notices that Wallace’s head isn’t turning to the ball, he pulls the CB to him in order to draw the flag.

McAulay also references a third-and-2 play that took place with only 28 seconds left in regulation, in which Bills QB Josh Allen threw a TD toss to WR Stefon Diggs on the left side of the end zone. While it was ruled incomplete, Bucs CB Carlton Davis clearly got away with no-call pass interference.

Given that the no-call on the Diggs play may have cost Buffalo the win, and that the miss-call on Wallace set up Tampa for what would be the game-winning score only a few plays later, it carries only more weight in the gravity of the loss.

“That’s something we gotta overcome,” head coach Sean McDermott said during his postgame press session.”At the end of the day, we have to overcome it because we can’t control it.”

While the HC declined to comment on the penalty specifically, he did speak to making the play itself.

“Underthrown balls are tough, “McDermott added. “We continue to try and teach it and make sure our technique is good. That is the part that we can control.”

When asked whether they felt those flags were going both ways in the game, safety’s Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer were not in the belief they did.

“I don’t know man,” Poyer said during their media availability.

The Bills will look to bounce back next week as they are set to host the Carolina Panthers.

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Bills at Buccaneers: 3 keys to a Buffalo win

#Bills at #Buccaneers: 3 keys to a Buffalo win:

The Buffalo Bills roller-coaster season has taken its latest turn this past Monday, in a 14-10 loss to the New England Patriots that featured only three passes by rookie QB Mac Jones, and 222 yards by the Pats running backs.

Now it’s on to face the defending Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road.

The Bills still have a good shot at making the playoffs and going on a run. If they can get going and stay consistent, that is.

The team has been alternating wins and losses for the past eight weeks, and could use some more stability in the win column.

After some forgettable small-score losses this season to teams like New England, Jacksonville, and Pittsburgh, along with some blowout losses to squads like Tennessee and Indianapolis, a win over the defending champs would be a breath of fresh air.

So here are three keys to a win for the Bills (7-5) against the Buccaneers (9-3):