The Buffalo Bills defense has had its ups and downs during the teams’ past few contests.
Despite back-to-back wins against Detroit and New England and a strong start and successful run to start the 2024 NFL season, they gave up consecutive 40+ point games to the Rams and Lions, then struggled to stop a first-half offensive attack by a 3-11 Patriots team on Sunday.
In their absence, other players had to step up, and in the third quarter, defensive back Cam Lewis did just that, hauling in his first career interception on an endzone pass from Pats QB Drake Maye.
Cam Lewis tallied his first career interception for Buffalo tonight,
We 👀 you Cam! 🤘#ForeverABull https://t.co/O7vrJWh2Ts
— UB Football (@UBFootball) December 22, 2024
Lewis saw playing time filling in as the Bills were without starters in safeties Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp, corner Rasul Douglas, and linebacker Baylon Spector who left the game, as well as nickel cornerback Taron Johnson who missed part of the second half.
Buffalo’s head coach spoke well of the 2020 undrafted free agent signing’s ability to play the safety position even though it’s not normally his role.
“He hadn’t played a lot of safety for us, even in practice,” Sean McDermott said. “With the injuries, you know, all of a sudden he’s starting at safety, as opposed to just, you know, Cam be ready to go as the backup safety, and also the backup nickel, starting dime, and then four core special teams player. He gets pushed into the starting role with safety the last two weeks, and I think he’s done a real nice job.”
After one of the longest, most successful runs in NFL history under former head coach Bill Belichick and longtime quarterback Tom Brady, New England finds themselves amidst a rebuilding process and their first season with a new head coach, Jerod Mayo, at the helm.
The Pats also have a new face under center as well, in the 2024 NFL Draft pick and Josh Allen fan, Maye.
While rolling the new-look Pats headlined by rookie Maye and Mayo, proved to be a challenge as Buffalo looked messy early in their first meeting as the Bills fell behind early on and had to fight their way back.
The Buffalo defense caused three turnovers total as they also recovered two New England fumbles.
Lewis missed a tackle on Rhamondre Stevenson’s touchdown run earlier in the game, adjusted to get in the right frame of mind moving forward.
“Yeah, just a little technique (mistake), especially on that tackle,” Lewis said. “I feel like I got good contact on him, gotta keep my head on the outside and just get a better rep … You just have to move on. You can’t dwell on the past. You do that and it’s going to affect your game moving forward.”
Lewis’s interception made an impact in shifting the momentum of the game, he slid in the endzone to stay in bounds and make the play, giving Buffalo a possession change when they only had a three-point lead.
Fellow Bills and University of Buffalo teammate Ja’Marcus Ingram, who along with Lewis received praise from McDermott for filling in for Johnson earlier in the season, celebrated the pick as well.
“Man it was live, shoot, I was turnt up,” Ingam said. “He is benefitting from the fruits of his labor.”
Cornerback Christian Benford joked with Lewis in the locker room as well, asking “Now that you got your first career interception, you paying for DB dinner now?” Lewis smiled and replied “100 percent, nah. I got two kids man, that’s expensive.”
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