Tag: Keon Coleman

Bills’ Sean McDermott ‘feels good’ about Lions win despite points allowed

Bills’ Sean McDermott ‘feels good’ about Lions win despite points allowed

The Buffalo Bills tamed the Detroit Lions on Sunday on the road 48-42, ending their 11-game win streak.

The Rust Belt squads clashed at Ford Field, with their hopes set on a trip to New Orleans this postseason to compete for and win the Super Bowl.

Two teams from their respective conferences, both playoff-bound with several games left to play in the regular season, and boasting two of the NFL’s best offenses.

The Bills faced one of their greatest tests of the 2045 NFL season in one of the league’s top squads and highest-scoring offenses led by Detroit QB and Connecticut personal injury law firm pitchman Jared Goff.

And while the Lions showed why they are one of the top clubs in the league by fighting to stay in the game on the scoreboard, the Bills piled on the points and never slowed down while their defense held its own.

And that feat has their head coach feeling good about leaving Detroit with the victory.

“Well, I feel good about it, I do, I feel good,” Sean McDermott said to the media postgame.

He is now the fifth coach in NFL history to win 11 or more games in five consecutive seasons, joining Andy Reid and Bill Belichick, Tom Landry, Tony Dungy,

“You gotta celebrate wins in this league,” he added. “I mean, it’s just hard to win, it’s hard to win here. This team… they haven’t lost anything since the second week of the season. We were coming off the (disappointing) game the week before and getting back late, having the snow day, I mean, good Lord. Extremely grateful.”

The Bills’ offense led by QB Josh Allen continued to put up historical numbers, and their defensive unit was looking to bounce back after struggling to stop the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive attack in a loss the week prior.

They did just that, applying pressure to Lions QB Jared Goff and logging three sacks on the day, with last week’s experience serving as motivation.

“I would just say we came out with an attitude and it showed,” said CB Taron Johnson after the game. “We learned from last week and tried to carry that chip on our shoulder. We need to do that every single week, just making sure we do that when it comes to the next games. Yeah, I feel like we took it personal last week and we showed it today.”

The effort on both sides of the ball did not go unnoticed.

“I thought the entire offense and offensive staff did a lot of good things,” McDermott noted. “Coming out and being able to run the football was important for us, credit to our offensive line. It’s everyone, tight ends, wide receivers blocking, and the running backs. I thought Joe did a good job changing some things up and Bobby as well. So great job by the staffs.”

The Bills will next host the Patriots and Jets at home in Orchard Park back-to-back weekends before heading to New England for their final game of the regular season and second against the Pats.

The team is in pursuit of the No. 1 playoff seed in the AFC and home-field advantage as well as a first-round bye.

Those achievements that have alluded them thus far in Allen and McDermott’s tenure may finally be within reach.

Despite 48 points vs. Lions, Bills’ Josh Allen wants to ‘find more’

Despite 48 points vs. Lions, Bills’ Josh Allen wants to ‘find more’

The Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions squared off Sunday in a meeting of two NFL heavyweights who are hoping to contend for the ultimate prize.

They would win this heavyweight bout with a final scorecard of 48-42.

Josh Allen and the Bills came out dominant, attacking on the ground with Allen adding two rushing touchdowns in the first quarter as he continued to solidify his case for the league MVP award.

Just like in their Week 14 matchup with the Rams, the Bills’ offense kept scoring, carving up the Lions’ defense as well.

Allen would go 23 for 34 with 362 yards two passing touchdowns to go with 68 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries rushing. He became the first player in NFL history with 35 or more passing and rushing TDs in four consecutive seasons.

He also threw what appears to be the fastest 50+ pass of the Next Gen Stats era.

“Still, offensively, I think, we need to find some more,” Allen said of the offensive performance after the game. “There’s too many plays we left out there. I know to nitpick a game like that in which we scored 48 sounds kind of dumb, but still feel like we left some out there.”

The Bills attacked the Lions’ poor short-field coverage on the ground and in the air, as Detroit ranked 30th in receiving yards allowed to slot receivers going into the game.

On a day in which the offense was spread out and distributed across the Bills’ offensive weapons’, slot WR Khalil Shakir had a receiving TD with 39 yards, RB James Cook added two rushing TDs and 133 total yards, rookie RB Ray Davis had 29 total yards and a receiving touchdown, and a former sixth-round pick (2019) by the Lions turned Bills RB, Ty Johnson, had a career day with 123 total yards including 114 receiving yards.

The Bills scored 30+ points for an eighth consecutive game to tie a league record, while also becoming only the fifth team to accomplish the streak and first since the 2013 Broncos.

They also scored 40+ points in consecutive games for only the third time in team history (1990 & 2021.)

Allen appears to be solidifying his MVP candidacy in the process.

“It’s the best I’ve seen him play and not surprised,” head coach Sean McDermott said. “When he sets a goal for himself, for a team, I mean, he’s hard to stop.”

Still, the QB sees ways he can be better.

“I think we’ve got guys who are bought in,” Allen added. “And the run game, it sets up the pass game and vice versa. I felt like I missed a couple of throws tonight and we’ll always try to find a way to get better.”

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Bills’ Keon Coleman gives positive injury update pre-Lions game

Bills’ Keon Coleman gives positive injury update pre-Lions game

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman looks set to return from injury just in time to face the Detroit Lions.

Ahead of the Week 15 meeting with the Lions (12-1), the Bills’ rookie got a push in the right direction in terms of his injury status… and he gave a positive update himself.

On Friday, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott did not provide an injury designation for Coleman in Buffalo’s final injury report of the week. That means the first-year pro will likely be in the lineup against Detroit.

Coleman has not played since Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins because of a wrist injury. The Bills (10-3) were optimistic Coleman would not miss that much time considering he did not end up on injured reserve, but regardless, his addition back into the lineup will be welcomed ahead of a potential shootout in Detroit.

While Coleman is back, there could still be a scenario where he is limited in terms of playing time. He could also have some lingering issues.

However, Coleman himself insisted he’s “good,” but it’s still something worth monitoring against the Lions.

Coleman’s personal injury analysis can be found in the clip below:

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3 keys to a Bills victory vs. the Lions in Week 15

3 keys to a Bills victory vs. the Lions in Week 15

The Buffalo Bills will play the Detroit Lions on the road at Ford Field in Week 15.

The Bills (10-3) are looking to bounce back from a loss to the Los Angeles Rams last week, while the Lions (12-1) are riding an 11-game win streak.

The Lions are favored by 2.5 points in Week 15. The two teams haven’t met since Thanksgiving Day in 2022 when the Bills won in dramatic fashion, 28-25.

The Lions are at the top of most power rankings ahead of Sunday. Buffalo will need to execute its game plan to pick up its eleventh win of the year.

With that, here are three keys to a Bills win in Week 15:

Attack the Lions’ man coverage

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The Lions are a defense that stays true to who they are. According to Pro Football Focus, they currently rank first in the NFL in man coverage rate (42.4%) and dead last in zone coverage rate (53.2%). And, they rank in the top three in defensive success rate while in man coverage. They will line up man-to-man and make opposing receivers win their matchups.

Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady has provided quarterback Josh Allen with simple looks to beat man coverage this year. If Allen can take advantage of the one-on-one matchups, it will be a long day for the Lions’ secondary. Look for Allen to lean on Amari Cooper against man, and if Keon Coleman (wrist) can play, he is usually a mismatch one-on-one with his athletic ability.

Better performance from the D-line

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The Bills’ defensive line had a rough outing against the Rams They couldn’t generate a pass rush and they were getting pushed around against the run. They will need to step up considering their opponent. The Lions have arguably the best offensive line in football when healthy. Penei Sewell is their best player, as his 88.5 overall PFF grade leads all tackles this year.

Buffalo defensive coordinator Bobby Babich called out the defense following their lackluster performance in Week 14, saying it was a “conglomeration of people not doing their jobs at a high level.”

Babich did note that he has to be better, but it will be interesting to see how the defense responds in a tough environment at Ford Field.

Get out to a fast start

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The Bills are 6-0 in home games this year, but just 4-3 on the road. And, it mostly boils down to the fact that they have put themselves in a hole early in away games. In five of the seven road games, the Bills fell behind early and had to claw back into the game. The only road games where they started fast were blowouts at the Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks.

If the Bills can set the tone with some early stops on defense and scores on offense, it would be a huge momentum boost. Ford Field is a difficult environment to play in, and it would become much more difficult to play from behind.

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Why Bills-Lions promises to be offense explosion in Week 15

Why Bills-Lions promises to be offense explosion in Week 15

When the Buffalo Bills travel to Ford Field to take on the Detroit Lions in Week 15 they will face the only team in the NFL that scores more points than them.

The Lions (12-1) average 32.1 points per game, leading the NFL. The Bills (10-3) average 30.5 points per game, second in the NFL. They are the only two teams in the league that average over 30 per game.

Though both teams are well-rounded in all phases, their explosive offenses are the reason they are both among the favorites to win the Super Bowl.

But, they haven’t always produced these types of numbers. Both Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady made drastic differences recently for their franchises.

Johnson took over the reigns as OC in Detroit in 2022 and immediately enhanced the offensive output. The Lions improved from the 25th-most ppg in 2021 (19.1) to the 5th-most in 2022 (26.6). And in return, the team improved from a 3-13-1 record in 2021 to 9-8 in 2022.

In 2021, quarterback Jared Goff posted the 17-highest passer rating in the NFL (91.5) and with Johnson in 2022, he shot up to 7th-best in the NFL (99.3). It was his best passer rating since the 2018 season in which he went to the Super Bowl under the offensive-minded Sean McVay with the Rams.

Goff earned a Pro Bowl appearance in 2022 and posted a career-low interception percentage (1.2%). Fast forward a couple of years and the combination of Goff and Johnson continues to get better. He is currently second in the league in passer rating (109.1).

Brady had had a similar effect on Josh Allen. From 2021 through 2023, Allen averaged a passer rating of 93.7, and so far in 2024, Allen has a rating of 101.9.

In 2024 (Brady’s first full year as OC), the Bills are averaging the second-most points per game in a season in Bills history. Their 30.5 ppg trails only the 2020 team (31.3 ppg).

Since Brady took over as the interim OC in Week 11 of 2023, the Bills are 16-4. But, both Johnson and Brady would tell you that they wouldn’t be as effective as coordinators if they didn’t have the special talent that they do on offense. And it’s not just the talent of the players they have but rather the versatility of their guys that can allow their offenses to win in many different ways.

In the 2024 offseason, Brady coined the phrase “everybody eats” as he was sharing his vision for the Bills offense. In July, he said, “We’re kind of in the process of trying to see what all of our guys can do, their different skill sets. I’m so excited about the group that we have, the tight ends and the receivers, because it’s so many different skill sets. You hope that the versatility allows it to play a little harder for defenses to defend.”

His vision has come true. The Bills have multiple weapons at running back, tight end, and receiver that can all hurt a defense in different ways. As for Johnson and the Lions, they are taking a similar approach due to their plethora of playmakers at the skill positions.

Following a Week 5 win over the Cowboys in which they scored 47 points, Johnson talked about the ways he can get creative as a playcaller and give a defense different looks due to the variety of talent he has to work with. Not only can he spread the ball around, but he can mix in trick plays, too.

“The well is deep,” Johnson said regarding his playbook. “We can run a million different types of plays. With that, I don’t like to run the same one twice.”

Over their last four games, the Lions have four pass-catchers averaging at least 35 receiving yards per game: Amon-Ra St. Brown (84.8 ypg); Jameson Williams (74 ypg); Tim Patrick (43 ypg); Sam LaPorta (36.3 ypg). And, they have two running backs averaging at least 60 rushing yards per game over that time: Jahmyr Gibbs (72.3 ypg); David Montgomery (62.8 ypg). Add in the fact that both Gibbs and Montgomery can hurt you in the passing game, and that St. Brown and Williams can take a jet sweep, and you can see why defenses have been in a bind all year against them.

As for the Bills, they have a strong possibility to get WR Keon Coleman and TE Dalton Kincaid back into the lineup after they have both missed time. They would join an offense that just scored 42 points last week without them, scoring six touchdowns and committing zero turnovers.

The Bills are looking to get the sour taste of last week’s loss to the Rams (44-42) out of their mouth. With Week 15 being another game in cozy dome between two high-powered offenses, this one may be a second-straight shootout for Bills.

Both teams still have a lot to play for, with the Bills chasing the one-seed in the AFC and the Lions trying to fend off an 11-2 Vikings team in the NFC North.

Bills at Lions: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 15

Bills at Lions: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 15

The Buffalo Bills will travel to face the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Week 15.

For this cross-conference battle between Sean McDermott’s Bills (10-3) and Dan Campbell’s Lions (12-1), it will be the games, within the game, that will make all the difference.

Here are three key matchups to watch during Sunday’s Bills-Lions contest:

CB Taron Johnson vs. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown

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This is going to be a battle of the slot heavyweights. Johnson and St. Brown are two of the best in that area and this will be a top-tier matchup.

WR Keon Coleman vs. CB Terrion Arnold

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Coleman is looking like he’s going to return from his wrist injury against the Lions. While Carlton Davis III has performed well as Detroit’s top cornerback, Pro Football Focus has Terion Arnold as their 102nd ranked corner among 118 qualifying players. Coleman could thrive.

OL Dion Dawkins vs. DE Za’Darius Smith

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While the Lions are down Aiden Hutchinson, they are not down Smith. He could end up being lined up against the Dawkins and… Dawkins has performed at an elite level this year.

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Bills have two players in red non-contact jersey at final pre-Rams practice

Bills have two players in red non-contact jersey at final pre-Rams practice

Ahead of facing the Los Angeles Rams (6-6) in Week 14, the Buffalo Bills (10-2) have looked like a very healthy team.

The Bills are only two weeks removed from their bye, but in their latest outing, a 35-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers (5-7), they remained healthy.

Throughout the past few days leading up to their clash with the Rams, Buffalo has not had anyone missing practice.

However, a few have worked out in a limited fashion.

Head coach Sean McDermott noted that the Bills would have everyone on the field at practice once again on Friday, their final workout before heading out to Los Angeles. But there were still two players to keep an eye out for.

According to ESPN, wide receiver Keon Coleman (wrist) and safety Taylor Rapp (neck/shoulder) were both wearing red non-contact jerseys during that session.

The team has yet to release their final injury designations for Sunday’s game.

Bills Wire will provide those updates from both teams when information is made available.

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Bills will already be without a wide receiver vs. the Chiefs

Bills will be without a wide receiver against vs. the Chiefs

The Buffalo Bills will be without their top rookie wide receiver in their huge outing against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11.

On Monday, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott made an early-week announcement, stating Keon Coleman will not play once again.

“I’m being told by the trainers, we still feel like he is improving,” McDermott said via video conference. “It’s just not a situation where we expect him back this week.”

Coleman has been one of two Bills wideouts dealing with wrist injuries.

The other, Amari Cooper, still does have a chance to play per McDermott. His status will be monitored throughout the upcoming week. Cooper, like Coleman, did not play in Buffalo’s 30-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts last week.

On top of the two receivers, McDermott provided a slight update on another playmaker in tight end Dalton Kincaid.

However, it wasn’t much of one. Kincaid left the contest against the Colts because of a knee injury, tried to return, but did not. McDermott said: “We’ll see how he fares the next couple of days.”

Bills Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the week until kickoff against the Chiefs.

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Bills rule out explosive rookie WR for Week 11 matchup vs. Chiefs

#Bills rookie WR Keon Coleman has been ruled out for Buffalo’s Week 11 showdown against the Kansas City #Chiefs.

The Buffalo Bills will be without rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman when they face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11.

Coleman, who is dealing with a wrist injury, has been one of quarterback Josh Allen’s favorite targets this season, and his absence is sure to shake things up for the 8-2 Bills.

While Buffalo has managed to find success without Coleman on the field, Kansas City will have a much easier time containing Allen and the Bills’ offense with the rookie pass-catcher on the sideline.

Chiefs fans may remember Coleman due to Kansas City’s draft-night trade with Buffalo that helped the defending Super Bowl champions select Xavier Worthy with the No. 28 pick, which was originally held by the Bills.

 

Though fans won’t get to see the rookie wideouts face off against each other in Week 11, the game between Buffalo and the Chiefs is expected to be among the most exciting matchups on Sunday’s slate and could have huge implications on the AFC playoff picture.

Bills’ Josh Allen says teammates ‘stepped up’ vs. Colts

Bills’ Josh Allen says teammates ‘stepped up’ vs. Colts

A win is a win.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Bills won in all three phases 30-20 on the road against the Colts in Indianapolis.

Buffalo got the job done despite turning the ball over multiple times, which left much to improve upon.

Few knew that better than quarterback Josh Allen.

“We’ve got to have a faster start. We didn’t play our best today, but we’ll take the win,” the QB said. “Four forced turnovers — we’ve got to hold onto the ball a little bit better. We’ll take them how we can get them, and we’ll turn the page tomorrow.”

Allen would go 23 of 37 for 280 yards in the air with 50 yards on the ground.

He also threw a pair of interceptions, putting him at four in the span of the last three games after a stellar start to the year in which he didn’t throw any at all in his first seven contests.

“Guys stepping up, knowing they’re knowing their job, knowing their assignment, and going out there and executing can be cleaner,” he added. “That’s that’s me. So again, just making sure we’re communicating well, and just try again, just trying to hold on to the football. And, you know, we got to play better on offense.”

Playing in front of so many Bills fans in attendance it was practically a home game in the stands, Buffalo was missing receivers Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman. Their scoring got done by way of kicker Tyler Bass’s field goals, along with rushing touchdowns by Allen and starting running back James Cook, and a pick-six interception by corner Taron Johnson.

 

“Just all hands on deck,” head coach Sean McDermott said to the press postgame. “I mean, what else can you say? I would say (offensive coordinator) Joe (Brady), the (offensive coaching) staff, they didn’t flinch. They just kept dialing it up, trying to adjust. I thought the communication at halftime was great by the entire staff.”

This ahead of one of their biggest tests of the season next Sunday, a home game hosting the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs in Orchard Park.

For four-straight games and in seven of their 10 games this season, the Bills have scored 30 points or more, which could matter next week against a Kansas City team that’s only scored that much once this season.

The win against the Colts was the Bills’ first in Indianapolis since 1998, their fifth consecutive win, and they improved to 8-2 overall, their best start since 1993.

And they might possibly have been at 9-1 if not for clock management and playcalling near the end of the club’s matchup against the Houston Texans.

Nonetheless, things remain in perspective for Allen.

“It’s awesome to get eight wins through 10 games. Still got a lot of season left, so we’re not really looking at it as that. It’s just really on to the next one.”

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