Here are five things we learned from the Buffalo Bills’ 41-15 loss to the Indianapolis Colts:
Crossing the goal line
Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Jonathan Taylor looked like he was back at Wisconsin playing a Division II team. Instead, he was playing the Bills.
The second-year running back had five touchdowns. Four rushing, and one receiving. Buffalo’s running backs Devin Singletary (2), Zack Moss (4), and Matt Breida (1) have seven total touchdowns this season.
Taylor added over 150 yards on the ground and three catches.
Buffalo learn what a real No.1 running back looks like.
Down in the division
(AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
At 6-4, the Bills drop to second place in the division behind the 7-4 New England Patriots.
Buffalo still has seven games remaining but their schedule looks a little more daunting with a short week coming up against the New Orleans Saints and a troublesome matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Patriots play the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts but finish the season with games against Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins.
The Bills and Pats are scheduled to play Week 13 and 16. If they split it 1-1, Patriots wins over common opponents like the Titans, Colts, or Jaguars, could push them over the Bills for the division in an event of a tie.
Gashed on the ground
(Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images)
If you want to beat the Bills, you have to do it on the ground. In the losses to Tennessee and Indianapolis, the Bills allowed Jonathan Taylor and Derrick Henry, respectively, to have their best weeks of the season.
Taylor finished with 32 carries, 185 yards, and four rushing touchdowns. Henry had 20 carries, 142 yards, and three rushing touchdowns. In the Titans game, Ryan Tannehill added a fourth rushing touchdown.
It’s time to reconsider the Bills’ defense. Maybe they’re not the best in the league but one who beats up on bad teams. They’ll be tested more as the season comes to a close.
Get healthy
(AP Photo/John Amis)
A positive Covid-19 test held starting right tackle Spencer Brown out as well as nose tackle Star Lotulelei. Middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds missed Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury.
It’s clear the Bills offensive line is in complete disarray when Brown is out. It displayed itself once again with Josh Allen getting increasingly frustrated as the game went on.
Lotuleli is Buffalo’s best run stopper. Edmunds has been a tackling machine all season. Without them, Buffalo is more prone than usual to big games against running the ball.
Edmunds has a chance to play Thursday night against the Saints. Loutulelei will be out due to being unvaccinated against Covid and the NFL’s protocol, Brown could miss as well depending on his vaccination status.
Another rough day at QB
It hasn’t been Josh Allen’s best stretch of football. Outside of slicing up the lowly Jets secondary, Allen has been a bit away from the MVP candidate he’s supposed to be.
Allen tossed two touchdowns to Stefon Diggs but threw two bad interceptions trying to force the ball to unopen receivers. He finished 21-of-35 for 209 yards.
Allen went 21-of-47 for 264 yards and two interceptions against the Jaguars before going 21-of-28 for 366 and two touchdowns and one interception against the Jets.
Up and down is the best way to describe it.
