Report card: Bills lose to Jaguars, 25-20
The Buffalo Bills traveled across the pond to London to face off against the Jacksonville Jaguars in NFL Week 5 and left with a 25-20 loss.
It wasn’t a tip-top performance by the Buffalo, who entered the contest on a hot streak in their last several games, as their scoring in this one only took place in the first and last quarters.
The Bills return stateside to regroup and turn their attention to a matchup against the Giants next Sunday.
Here is the Bills Wire’s Week 5 report card for the Buffalo Bills (3-2) following the game:
Quarterbacks: B
While Bills QB Josh Allen put up 359 yards passing, the most meaningful offensive execution only took place in the first and fourth quarters.
And though he did lead a comeback bid late in the game adding a rushing touchdown to go with two scoring tosses on the day, it fell short in the end.
He also turned the ball over, throwing an interception to Jacksonville’s Darious Williams.
He had good protection throughout the day but only converted 18 first downs to then Jags 29, and also a shorter overall time of possession (21:48) to Jacksonville (38:12).
The consistency in executing seen in recent weeks simply wasn’t there throughout the game.
Running backs: F
Allen led the team in rushing with 14 yards on four carries with a touchdown.
He was followed by Damien Harris (13 yards on three carries), Latavius Murray (13 yards on 3 carries), and James Cook (-4 yards on five carries.)
It’s unclear whether the hard turf field of the Tottenham stadium was a factor, but the running backs were a non-factor in this game.
The last time the Bills played on a hard “cement-like” field it was grass in Chicago last season, and the team turned to the run game for success.
Cook contributed in the passing game more, but in all the running backs group wasn’t a focal point of use in the offense on Sunday.
Wide receivers/ tight end: A-
Bills WR1 Stefon Diggs had 121 yards on 8-for-11 on targets with a touchdown and a turnover fumble, and WR2 Gabe Davis went 6-for-8 and 100 yards and score.
Deonte Harty was 2-for-2 adding 62 yards and a fumble, James Cook added 25 yards receiving, and TE Dalton Kincaid followed him going 2-for-2 with 19 yards, and Dawson Knox added 17 yards going 3-for-6.
There are obvious highs and some efficiency numbers there, as well as room for improvement and contribution, but the receiving performance was strong with the exception of the fumbles.
Offensive line: A-
The Bills offensive line gave Allen and company the protection they needed.
Though the run game wasn’t productive behind them on Sunday, the O-Line otherwise continues to have a good season thus far.
Defensive line: B-
Aside from allowing Travis Ettiene’s breakthrough for 136 yards rushing on 26 carries, the defense had a strong performance.
They also helped log five sacks and eight quarterback hits for the pass rush.
Linebackers: B-
In terms of quarterback pressure it was a good day, in terms of run defense it was not.
And the latter was costly.
Ettiene’s big day included two touchdowns in addition to the total yards on the ground. Had he been more contained it could have impacted the outcome of the game.
That being said, DE A.J. Epenesa had another big outing with a strip sack fumble, and recovery amidst the pass rush’s aforementioned five sacks, and eight QB hits.
Special teams: B+
P Sam Martin had only around 100 fewer yards kicking (258) in this game than the Bills offense had passing/receiving (359).
Deonte Harty managed only nine yards on two punt returns, but on the other side the Bills contained any meaningful returns from Jacksonville.
Coaching: B-
The defense played well and the passing/receiving game was productive, and beyond that are questions.
Head coach Sean McDermott is shouldering both the success of his defensive playcalling as well as the questions about the choice as to when the team traveled to London, as doing so earlier in the week would have allowed them to adjust more and sooner to be fresher and sharper for Sunday’s game.
Offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey is shouldering the success of the receivers group’s numbers on the day as well as QB Josh Allen’s total passing yards and touchdowns, along with questions as to why the running game wasn’t seemingly in the game plan.
The team struggled to get it done on offense throughout much of the contest and will need to regroup and refind its form before next Sunday’s game against former Bills offensive coordinator-turned-Giants head coach Brian Daboll and his squad.
