Two Bills Drive

‘“Defense bailed us out at times,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen added. Not all the way out, though.’

‘Winless in four career games in Houston, Allen completed 24 of 34 passes for 253 yards. He threw two interceptions, his eighth and ninth this season, and the Bills have turned the ball over nine times over their last three games. This is the first time they’ve had three or more turnovers in three consecutive games since 2006.’

‘“They played good defense. They fly to the football,” Shakir said. “(Expletive), doesn’t help that I’m turning the ball over. So, that’s a big part in the game that I’m reflecting on right now that’s kind of killing me, but just got to keep pushing on.”’

‘Benching Coleman again Thursday is another message from McDermott that all will not be forgotten as quickly as it was the last time the Bills had to discipline him. The team will be down three pass-catching options because of injury: tight end Dalton Kincaid (hamstring), wide receiver Curtis Samuel (neck/elbow) and wide receiver/return specialist Mecole Hardman Jr. (calf).’

‘The Texans’ defense is formidable, no doubt, but the bills’ offense hurt itself throughout the sloppy loss. The bills were 5 of 16 on third down, and they could not translate 326 yards of offense into more points. The defense has plenty of injuries to tend to as they also work to clean up.’

‘“Just frustration on my part,” Allen explained following the Bills’ 23-19 loss in NRG Stadium. “In a situation like that, probably should have banged a time out. We got the play in late and didn’t give ourselves a chance there.”’

‘The Bills have typically handled these short-rest games well, but that was not the case Thursday. The defense once again got off to a slow start. The offense couldn’t come up with the in-game adjustments necessary to protect Josh Allen. The special teams were mostly a tire fire outside of Davis’ touchdown. There was some good. The call to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Bills’ 28-yard line on the first offensive drive was the right one, and not just because it worked. That drive led to points. That’s not enough to cover up the obvious flaws, though. The Bills’ hopes of a sixth straight AFC East championship look all but dead at this point.’

‘The Erie County Legislature on Thursday approved an amendment to the new Bills stadium agreement that will permit a third party, CollectibleXchange, to salvage assets from the current Highmark
Stadium, recondition them and make them available for sale. This is the same company that has salvaged stadium pieces from famous ballparks, football stadiums and hockey arenas around the country, including the old Yankee Stadium.’

‘In that spirit, let’s look at Bills-Oilers games played from 1960 through 1965, the entirety of the AFL before the Super Bowl era. In that six-season span, the Oilers won the first two AFL championships, and the Bills the last two.’