Khalil Shakir – Page 9 – Syndication Server

Report card: Bills top Buccaneers, 24-18

Report card: #Bills top #Buccaneers, 24-18:

The Buffalo Bills were riding high for, what felt like, nearly the entire game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8.

Still, with only seconds on the clock, the Bucs (3-4) had a look at the win.

Thankfully for the Bills (5-3), a last-second Hail Mary attempt from Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield fell short–and in a bizarre twist wasn’t even touched by any player–in Buffalo’s end zone.

The Bills held on for the win, but did that unexpectedly close game harm their grades?

Check out Bills Wire’s Week 8 report card for the Bills following the team’s 24-18 win over the Buccaneers:

Stefon Diggs gave pre-game speech before Bills win: ‘That’s what leaders do’

The Buffalo Bills beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home in Orchard Park on Thursday Night Football, 24-18.

The team has struggled to find consistency primarily on offense in recent weeks, though their defense also struggled to get stops as well in their game last Sunday against New England.

This time around, however, Buffalo looked better on offense during a nationally televised TNF matchup.

While WR1 Stefon Diggs is known for bringing his energy to every game, he imparted that energy to the fans and his teammates as well before the game.

His head coach noticed a different energy level with his team right out of the gate, in part thanks to Diggs who gave a passionate pregame speech in the locker room after pumping up the home crowd in the end zone after pregame warmups.

“Well, I mean, I could feel the team. They came out with an attitude and it started in the locker room, really.” McDermott said to the press of Buffalo’s early intensity level. “Stefon Diggs, there’s a little motivational couple of words he said to the team before we went out there. That’s what a leader does. He did a phenomenal job of basically setting the tone.”

Diggs would go on to add nine catches on the day for 70 yards.

In the victory over the Bucs, the Bills improved to 5-3 and gained some needed momentum, as their offense finally had some consistency that’s eluded them.

Buffalo scored on three of their four possessions and put up 17 points in the first half alone, a departure from recent games in which they struggled to score in the first several quarters.

After the game, QB Josh Allen joined former Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and the TNF broadcast team where Fitz asked him about the change in pace of the offense.

“I love it, I love it. I don’t know if we’ll stay in it all season, but on a short week it worked for us,” Allen replied.

Allen went 31 for 40 (78%) with 324 yards, three total touchdowns and an interception in another historical outing in which he became the first player in the Super Bowl era with 17+ passing TDs & 5+ rushing TDs in his team’s first eight games, per Buffalo Bills PR,

He averaged a career-best 2.27 seconds throwing, per Next Gen Stats, which was notably lower than his 3.15-second average in his last several outings.

“It helps us all, so it’s a really good deal,” center Mitch Morse said on Allen getting the ball out quickly. “But it also gets completions going, and when you get in the rhythm at quarterback, it really helps.”

While OC Ken Dorsey’s playcalling wasn’t completely without question, the offense was well spread out, with Khalil Shakir leading all receivers with a career-high 92 yards on six catches.

“We just came to this game with a different mindset,” the second-year pro said during his postgame media availability. “Obviously, ups and downs, but McDermott tells us don’t ride the roller coaster. Stay consistent as a team and stay on the gas pedal.”

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Stock up, stock down following the Bills’ win over the Buccaneers

Here is Bills Wire’s stock report following Thursday’s 24-18 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

The Buffalo Bills squared off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Highmark Stadium on Thursday Night Football and won 24-18. Buffalo is now 5-3 overall and are 4-1 at home.

The Bills went into halftime leading the Buccaneers 17-10 before having a second half in which Tampa Bay was essentially playing catch up. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen as he went 31-of-40 for 324 yards and two touchdowns along with rushing for 41 yards and another score.

Buffalo’s defense made things hard on Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield and the rest of the Buccaneers’ pass-catchers as they frustrated wideouts Mike Evans and Chris Godwin all game long.

With that, here is Bills Wire’s stock report following the win:

Six points with David Dorey

Friday’s quick look at six fantasy items to know

The trade deadline is next Tuesday, Halloween, at 4 p.m. EST. It is a time when a few players get to recharge their careers elsewhere and leave opportunities behind for someone else. Most of the moves are not fantasy-relevant but a few can be. Mecole Hardman is back at the Chiefs, though his prospects aren’t any better than the first time he was there.

Chase Claypool was sent to the Dolphins, and… No. I don’t know why, either. He was essentially free with the cost of swapping a sixth-round pick for a seventh. Cam Akers lands on the Vikings, where he’s probably going just to limit Alexander Mattison. Van Jefferson was sent to Atlanta, which is marginally better than being buried on the Rams depth chart.

What to watch on Sunday is for any different usage of a player – particularly under-using them to keep them healthy for a trade. It is time for bad teams to get some value for players who likely won’t be there next year.

Here are the Top-6 trade candidates I’d like to see moved.

Derrick Henry – This appears to be a lock according to most pundits and every anonymous poster on X-Twitter. He won’t be back in Tennessee next year, and they could get something for him. The Titans are 2-4 and looking worse. 2024 will be a rebuilding year anyway. Henry turns 30 next year, and while he’s only been injured once of note, there are a lot of miles on those tires. He’s a perfect fit for a playoff-bound offense lacking talent in the backfield. The Ravens are expected to be interested, but the Bills and Buccaneers could use a boost when they run.
Saquon Barkley – He says he won’t move, and the Giants said they won’t move him. He is never going to play in a Superbowl for the Giants, and he turns 27 next year. Barkley has one more good contract left (probably), but he isn’t driving up his value by staying. He signed a one-year $10M to stay this year, but the Giants will not commit to him long-term anyway. I’d guess he’ll stay, but he would be a difference-maker. Imagine the Bills with the dual-threat Barkley. Or the Cowboys or Eagles.
Darnell Mooney – He is in the final year of his rookie contract, and what little passing the Bears ends up with DJ Moore or Cole Kmet. At 5-11 and 173 pounds, he was miscast as a primary wideout in the past but makes a speedy complement (4.38 40-time). He turned in an 81-1055-4 stat line in 2021. The Chargers are a possibility since losing Mike Williams. The Chiefs would have been before taking Mecole Hardman back, and maybe are still a possibility since Mooney played with the Chiefs’ OC Matt Nagy. His fantasy value would skyrocket, swapping Justin Fields for Patrick Mahomes.
Marquise Brown – It would seem a surprise to get rid of the Cardinals’ No. 1 wideout right when Kyler Murray is getting nearer to return. But the 1-6 Cardinals are already done, and the rebuild should be in full force next season. The Cardinals may not move him though, and his departure strips the receivers of talent for the rest of the year. But if the right deal were offered, Arizona would have to consider it. And there’s speculation that the Cards might end up with a new franchise quarterback from the 2024 NFL draft because they are headed to a very early pick – if not the No. 1 pick.
Hunter Renfrow – The Raider slot receiver posted 103 catches for 1,038 yards and nine scores in 2021 when the Raiders ran out of receivers. For the two seasons with HC Josh McDaniels, Renfrow sees minimal use. But he’s only 27, and there is an out in his contract next year anyway. His relationship with McDaniels is described as “fractured.” One potential landing spot is with the Saints, where he could reunite with Derek Carr. He could also end up with the Bears as a replacement for Darnell Mooney if he was traded. Renfrow is too good and too young to waste away on a roster.
Jerry Jeudy – He’s been rumored to be traded since the start of last summer, and the 2-5 Broncos will not be busy in January. The former first-round pick could net the Broncos a middle-round pick for a team that needs to refresh their roster. He’s rumored to be another possible add by the Chiefs, but several NFL teams could be willing to upgrade their receivers because Jeudy needs a change of scenery and system. The Broncos will accept less for him than last summer.

About last night…

Buccaneers 18, Bills 24

The Buccaneers played tougher than expected, but the Bills also failed at the goal line in the first half and left with no points. Baker Mayfield ended with 237 yards and two scores between Chris Godwin (5-54, TD) and Mike Evans (3-39, TD), who caught his touchdown with only 2:44 left to play to salvage what had been an invisible game. Rachaad White didn’t score, but he ran for 39 yards on nine carries and led the receivers with seven catches for 70 yards in his best showing of the season. The Bucs still ended up with a Hail Mary pass into the end zone that somehow landed there without anyone touching it. Chris Godwin was the closest.

If the Buccaneers were to end up with Derrick Henry or another running back before the trade deadline, White would at least retain the third-down role. The 3-4 Buccaneers head to Houston for Week 9.

It was a standard night for Josh Allen. He ran for 41 yards and a touchdown on his seven rushes. He passed for 324 yards and two scores between Greg Davis (9-87, TD) and Dalton Kincaid (5-65, TD). Khalil Shakir almost doubled his 2023 stats when he led the team with 92 yards on six catches. Stefon Diggs started slowly but ended up with nine catches for 70 yards. The Bills never trailed, but the Bucs tied the score 10-10 in the second quarter before the Bills pulled away. They rise to 5-3 and head to Cincinnati for next week’s Sunday night game.

Instant analysis, recap of Bills win vs. Buccaneers

Instant analysis, recap of #Bills win vs. #Buccaneers:

The Buffalo Bills found their way back to the win column with a 24-18 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Buffalo (5-3) moves to one-half game behind the Miami Dolphins in the AFC East.

Buffalo’s offense moved the ball quickly and efficiently in the first half. The Bills utilized no-huddle playcalling to keep the pace of the game fast. The offense had the smoothest rhythm since the Week 4 matchup against the Miami Dolphins.

The Bills opened the scoring with a 37-yard field goal by Tyler Bass after a few tough weeks for the kicker. Buffalo drove the ball into Buccaneers (3-4) territory but could only settle for the kick. Wideouts Gabe Davis and Khalil Shakir each caught two passes on the drive.

Tampa Bay tried to answer on their next drive. Tampa Bay kicker Chase McLaughlin attempted a 50-yard field goal. Defensive lineman Shaq Lawson got a finger on the kick, disrupting it and keeping the Bills in the lead.

Buffalo continued to work their quick-strike offense. Once again, the Bills drove deep into Tampa Bay territory. However, the Buccaneers kept Buffalo out of the end zone, as the drive stalled at the one-yard line.

The Buccaneers responded with a field goal to return the game to a one-score deficit.

Buffalo’s special teams unit came up large once again, as Deonte Harty returned a low line drive punt into Buccaneers territory. Quarterback Josh Allen, who was utilized as a runner more so in this game than in the past week, scurried 13 yards to secure a touchdown.

Tampa Bay’s defense also came up big, as Antoine Winfield deflected an Allen pass. Buccaneers defensive end William Gholston came down with the interception. The Bucs scored on a quick two-play drive, culminating with a three-yard touchdown pass to receiver Chris Godwin.

Buffalo’s offense continued to plug away. The Bills mixed in a no-huddle attack with primary shotgun snaps to move the ball swiftly and take the lead again. Allen found Dalton Kincaid for a 22-yard touchdown reception. Buffalo would enter halftime up 17-10.

After halftime, the Bills offense was in control. Buffalo sliced through the Tampa Bay defense in nine plays, adding another touchdown to their ledger. This time, Davis was the recipient of a four-yard pass from Allen.

The offenses cooled off a bit, as both teams’ defenses forced punts on six consecutive drives. Buffalo’s Sam Martin has a great outing, leaving multiple punts inside Tampa Bay’s five-yard line.

As the game progressed, the Bills forced Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield to make poor decisions. With Buffalo’s secondary dropping deep, they prevented Mayfield from picking up any substantial yardage through the air. Allen was forced to check down to his running backs all night.

The Buccaneers tried to make a charge late in the game, but Buffalo’s defense largely kept Tampa Bay from finding any sort of rhythm. The Buccaneers were inefficient, moving the ball slowly down the field. Buffalo kept the drive alive with two fourth-down penalties. Even so, the Bills were content to allow the time to tick away against the floundering Tampa Bay offense.

Bucs receiver Mike Evans reeled in a late touchdown to bring the Buccaneers within a touchdown. Cade Otten caught the deflected two-point attempt to make the score Buffalo 24-18.

The Buccaneers went on to miss a late Hail Mary pass attempt, which weirdly was not touched by anyone. Buffalo held on for the victory.

PFF: 5 highest-graded Bills players on offense in Week 6

A surprise highest grade for the #Bills:

The Buffalo Bills defeated the New York Giants, 14-9, in Week 6.

Following the game that was, here are the five highest-graded Bills players on offense from the outing against the Giants according to Pro Football Focus:

PFF: 5 highest-graded Bills players on offense in Week 5

PFF: 5 highest-graded #Bills players on offense in Week 5:

The Buffalo Bills lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 25-20, in Week 5.

Following the game that was, here are the five highest-graded Bills players on offense from the outing against the Jaguars according to Pro Football Focus:

Following the game that was, here are the five worst-graded Bills players on offense from the outing against the Jets according to Pro Football Focus:

Tag: Khalil Shakir