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.
#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
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.”
Johnson helped to set the tone for the game on the defensive side of the ball with the big play, but also in his overall performance.
He had three tackles, a sack, one tackle for loss, and two pass deflections as well.
“I’m not sure what he was seeing,” Johnson said of opposing QB Joe Flacco’s read on the pick. “But I’ve seen that play before . . . against a different team, and I played it differently. I mean, we [were] in a different call too. In the game I’ve seen it, I played it differently, and I feel like they were expecting me to play it a different way. And, I took the ball. After that, I scanned the field and took it to the house.
I’ve seen that play before… I feel like they were expecting me to play it a different way and took the ball.”
They were also without receivers Keon Coleman and Amari Cooper on offense, so the defense stepped up.
“I know we’re banged up on offense, but the defense came out, and especially in that second half, made a lot of plays, and I feel like that helped us win,” Johnson added.
On the day, the Bills offense had three interceptions total, along with four sacks and two forced fumbles.
Much to the approval of head coach Sean McDermott.
“I thought that the defense and the takeaways was a big time difference in the game, and then also getting momentum back after our turnovers with some key stops and fourth down stops”, McDermott said. “We were able to make them (Colts) one-dimensional, which was important for us. It was a resilient win overall. Very resilient win.”
With Tyler Bass going a perfect six for six, special teams and defense held up their end.
“I think they’re just a very competitive group,” McDermott added. “They take a lot of pride in not letting each other down.”
Bills’ Keon Coleman will not play in Week 10 vs. the Colts
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott announced on Friday that rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman will not play in Week 10 vs. the Indianapolis Colts.
Although Coleman hasn’t been moved to injured reserve, McDermott says the injury is a week-to-week deal. “It will probably be multiple weeks,” he said.
Coleman has come along for the Bills in recent weeks, and his absence will be missed. He amassed 14 targets over Weeks 7 and 8, and he broke out with that opportunity, totaling 195 yards over those two games.
Coleman will especially be missed if Amari Cooper can’t play due to his wrist injury.
The full injury report will be released following Firday’s practice.
What we learned from the Bills’ Week 9 win vs. Dolphins
The Buffalo Bills continued their 2024 schedule with a Week 9 win over the Miami Dolphins, 30-27.
The Bills (7-2) needed a full-team effort to fend off a hungry Dolphins team (2-6) trying to turn their season around. Ultimately, it took a long field goal with just seconds on the clock for the Bills to get it done at home.
After two-straight blowout victories, Buffalo certainly were tested by their division rival. As the season unfolds, we are learning more and more about this year’s Bills team.
Here are five things we learned from Week 9’s win over the Dolphins:
Tyler Bass’ morale at an all-time high
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Kicker Tyler Bass played the role of hero for the Bills in Week 9. His 61-yarder with 5 seconds left proved to be the game-winner. It was not only a career-long for Bass, but it broke a Bills franchise record previously held by Steve Christie (59-yarder in 1993).
Given the inconsistency from Bass recently, the kick proved huge for his morale and the team as a whole. After receiving the game ball post-game, Bass got emotional when talking about his teammates having his back through the ups and downs.
Defense was gashed
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The Bills defense had a rough outing. Through the air, Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was 25-of-28 and only took one sack. And on the ground, running backs De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert averaged more than five yards per carry.
If it wasn’t for a couple of red zone stops and a crucial forced fumble from Buffalo cornerback Taron Johnson, we could have a different conversation this week regarding both the Bills and Dolphins.
After all, this was a desperate Dolphins team that has always had the potential to explode on offense. Expect Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott and defensive coordinator Bobby Babich to right the ship on defense going forward.
Ray Davis continues to flash
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Running back Ray Davis continues to make the most of his opportunities in his rookie year. On the ground in Week 9, Davis averaged five yards a pop on his four carries. But, his real impact was through the air.
He took two passes for 70 yards, one being a 63-yard catch and run for a touchdown. That’s 90 yards from scrimmage on just six touches.
His long touchdown gave the Bills a seven-point lead late in the third quarter:
Bills quarterback Josh Allen took a couple of big hits and missed a few throws, but ultimately controlled the game throughout. He was 25-of-39 passing for 235 yards and posted three passing touchdowns and one interception.
If it wasn’t for a drop by receiver Keon Coleman deep in the red zone that resulted in an interception, he would have had four touchdowns and zero picks.
He didn’t have to put the cape on and be Superman much, but he did when the offense needed it. He slipped away to scramble for 14 yards on a 3rd and 12 at the end of the first half, and he also made a remarkable touchdown throw to tight end Quintin Morris as he was being tackled by two defenders:
This wasn’t an easy day for the Bills by any means. The Dolphins had their backs against the wall while preparing for it, albeit was just Week 9. It was nearly a must-win game for them, and they played like it.
They had more first downs than the Bills (26-24), more total yards (373-325), more yards per play (6.2-5.5), more time of possession (31:53-28:07), and they converted better in the red zone (3/4-2/5).
Buffalo has grown accustomed to overpowering teams on offense and defense. In this one, they won differently. They only had four penalties, forced a crucial turnover when they needed it, and special teams came through in a big way.
Dolphins’ Jordan Poyer calls hit on Bills’ Keon Coleman ‘clean’
The Bills were charging downfield on offense in the final minutes of their matchup against the Dolphins Sunday, aiming to score the winning points to break a tie and win the game before the end of regulation.
Buffalo did just that, winning 30-27, and a former Bill even helped them get the opportunity for the victory, albeit at a cost.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen and the offense were making their way downfield in the final minutes of the contest after Miami tied the score at 27 when Allen threw a deep pass toward the left sideline targeting rookie receiver Keon Coleman.
While the pass was incomplete, Dolphins safety and former Bill Jordan Poyer, who returned to Orchard Park for the first time since his seven-year run with Buffalo ended, was whistled for a personal foul as he made helmet-to-helmet contact on the play. The flag kept the drive alive and led to Buffalo winning the game on a 61-yard field goal by kicker Tyler Bass.
Poyer’s helmet crown made contact with Coleman’s facemask, and his helmet also came into contact with the rookie’s right hand during the hit as well, and he appeared to motion toward his arm on his way to the sideline after the play.
Per Syracuse.com, Coleman had a brace on his right wrist and left the game late after the injury.
Poyer said postgame that he believed at the time that the play was clean.
“I’m just playing football. I thought it was a clean play, felt like I put my helmet right into his chest,” he said to the press. “I’m just playing football, it’s tough. … What can you do? I don’t know. I had a great post-break, he went up for the ball and I literally didn’t stop my feet. I felt like I hit him where I was supposed to hit him. Apparently, the ref didn’t think so.”
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel acknowledged that their goal is to play aggressively, though he did not disagree with the penalty call.
“It takes it out of everyone’s hands when you go helmet to helmet,” McDaniel said. “I didn’t see it live, but if there was helmet-to-helmet contact, it is what it is. You have to go strike zone, which is below the neck. So they’ll call that every time if that’s the case.”
Buffalo was down a receiver as recent trade acquisition Amari Cooper had been ruled out ahead of Sunday’s game with an arm injury of his own.
Coleman has been a top receiver for the Bills this season with 22 catches for 417 total yards and two touchdowns.
What Bills’ Josh Allen said after Tyler Bass hit 61-yard game-winner vs. Dolphins
The Buffalo Bills sunk the Miami Dolphins in Orchard Park Sunday by a final score of 30-27.
The Bills won a close-fought battle in the final regular season meeting between the two clubs thanks to some late-game heroics by their offense and special teams.
That effort was headlined by kicker Tyler Bass, who delivered a game-winning kick for the ages and the longest in Buffalo Bills history at 61 yards.
Immediately after the win, quarterback Josh Allen became emotional during an on-field interview speaking about Bass: “I love that man.”
“So proud of him. So happy for him,” he added during his postgame press conference. “Got emotional in my little postgame speech out there – just the trials and tribulations that he’s been in throughout this year. … A 61-yard field goal to win a game against a division rival, it’s what stories are made of. I love him. I respect him so much. Everybody in that locker room’s so happy for him, and he’s our guy.”
Since the end of last season, Bass has experienced his ups and downs, including this game. He missed an extra point, hit an upright on an extra point, and then delivered the long knockout punch to get the victory.
“That’s why we all love sports, right?” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said to the press after the game.
Bass’s extra point miss came in the third quarter after the Bills took a 12-10 lead on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Allen to WR Mack Hollins on fourth-and-goal. And as it was his third missed PAT of the season, fans may have been concerned if the kicker with some clutch kicks in his career could deliver again.
The Dolphins perhaps knew better, as they’ve seen Bass beat them in the final seconds of a game before.
And in a site that’s become all too familiar, Bass did just that and Buffalo continued its dominance against Miami.
“What a story, man. What a story,” McDermott proudly declared. “I just think overall that here’s a young man that has been going through it and the journey that he’s been on week to week, the questions that have been asked of him, of me … it’s natural, it’s the business we’re in. It’s a great example of mental toughness. I think it’s a great example of perseverance, resilience for young kids out there. Here’s a player that was under the microscope pretty darn hard.”
Bass has endured a challenging season of misses, one in which the teams signed kicker Lucas Havrisik to their practice squad after an Oct. 14 win against the Jets in which Bass missed a field goal and an extra point. The Bills veteran kept the job and had a chance this week to show off the big leg that the club drafted him for in 2020.
“Just reminding myself that, you know, I love this, I love the sport,” Bass said about his mindset and approach. “This is what I’ve dreamed of and when I was out there, I honestly wasn’t thinking about anything. Just went through my process and trusted my preparation. That was it.”
That perspective paid off when it mattered, for the team and the player.
“It means everything,” Bass added about the kick. “Very emotional. Haven’t really processed it yet, but just putting in a lot of work, man, and was just focused on right here, right now, the present and being patient with everything, man. You’re going to go through ups and downs, but just continue to put your best foot forward. We did that today. So just very emotional, I would say.”
McDermott presented the game ball to Bass in the locker room afterward as well, deferring any credit when asked about standing by his kicker.
“He did it. I didn’t do it,” the coach said about the gesture. “I know why you’re asking, but he’s the one who did it. … The questions that were starting to pop up and more and more this year, and then we bring in a kicker to compete with him. He just stayed true to who he is and he stayed true to his process. Even today, (with the) early miss on the extra point. He stayed true to his process. I think that’s very powerful.”
Bills vs. Dolphins: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 9
The Buffalo Bills (6-2) will host the Miami Dolphins (2-5) in their upcoming Week 9 matchup.
In this divisional clash, the games within the game will make all the difference.
Here are three key matchups to watch during Sunday’s Bills-Dolphins contest:
Keon Coleman/Amari Cooper vs. Miami CBs
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The Dolphins have one of the better cornerback duos in the NFL. Jalen Ramsey is still performing like one of the best in the NFL and Kendall Fuller is no slouch either. According to Pro Football Focus, Ramsey grades as the 13th-best corner in the league while Fuller grades 42nd-best.
They are going to make the Bills’ boundary receivers work for their catches. Insert Coleman and Cooper. We know what Cooper is capable of at wideout, and in the last couple of weeks, Coleman has emerged as well. These two can make catches with the best of them, and with Ramsey and Fuller in coverage, they might need to come down with some contested catches.
De’Von Achane vs. Bills’ front seven
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Running back De’Von Achane is performing well despite Miami’s recent offensive struggles. He has averaged 87 rushing yards and almost seven yards per carry in their last two games. And, when the Bills visited Miami in Week 2, he was the lone bright spot for the Dolphins on offense.
In Week 2 he accounted for 165 yards from scrimmage and scored their only touchdown. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry and caught all seven of his targets.
The Bills have had an up-and-down season defending the run. They’ve had some games where they can’t defend it and some games where they can. In all, they rank middle of the pack in the NFL, allowing 120 yards per game on the ground. Last week, they completely shut down one of the better runners in the league, Kenneth Walker III, so it will be interesting to see which form of the Bills’ run defense shows up in Week 9.
Bills offensive line vs. Dolphins defensive line
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Despite losing standout edge defender Jaelen Phillips to a season-ending injury earlier this year, the Dolphins still have a solid group on the defensive line. Calais Campbell, described by PFF as an “ageless wonder,” is still wreaking havoc on the interior of the line. Zach Sieler is another guy who can move bodies on the interior, but he is questionable with a facial injury.
On the edge, Emmanuel Ogbah and 2024 first-round pick Chop Robinson have shown flashes at times. The Dolphins’ defensive line currently ranks 13th-best in the NFL according to PFF. They have dropped seven spots in the rankings after back-to-back disappointing efforts.
The Bills offensive line is looking elite at the moment, coming off of a one-sack performance against the Seattle Seahawks. They have given up only ten total sacks in 2024 which ranks best in the NFL. According to PFF, the offensive line as a whole currently ranks seventh-best. There will be a lot of talent fighting in the trenches when the Bills are on offense.
Buffalo Bills players recently took some time to have some fun in their practice facility.
The team was able to enjoy one of the City of Buffalo’s finest treats. No, we’re not talking about buffalo wings with blue cheese or beef on weck. We’re talking about pizza logs.
Players such as Dawson Knox, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and others spun a wheel to determine which flavor of pizza log they would try.
