Two Bills Drive

'WHY ARE THERE SO MANY BUFFALO BILLS FANS HERE???!'

'That combo in Sunday’s game for the Bills went exactly how the script had it written for the season overall. Against a strong defense, the offense sputtered. Against a questionable offense, the defense thrived.'

'Jordan Poyer is the man: It’s almost incredible how Poyer has played in the first two games of the season. Signed this offseason to play safety despite not holding a starter’s role prior to joining the Bills. Poyer had a sack and 11 total tackles. The safety added three passes defended as well, including on in the end zone to keep Carolina touchdown-less during the game. Possibly one of the most underestimated free agency signings in recent history by the team.'

'Part of the problem was the offensive line. It also seemed the Bills could've benefited from a third capable running back. It's nice to have LeSean McCoy, one of the game's great running backs, and Mike Tolbert, a bruising fullback. But the Bills need a Mike Gillislee-type change-of-pace runner. They don't have that right now. Jonathan Williams could've filled that role.'

'Jones appeared to run the route properly. Taylor, though, was late in firing, and also threw it too far. The rookie made an admirable attempt to stop in his tracks, jump backward toward the goal line, stretch high and try to snare it, all split-seconds apart. The ball bounced off his hands, incomplete.'

'Cam Newton was 20 of 32 for 228 yards but was sacked six times by Sean McDermott's defense. McDermott was Panthers defensive coordinator for the previous six seasons before taking over as head coach of the Bills earlier this year.'

'Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor threw incomplete to rookie receiver Zay Jones, who was open at the Carolina 2 on fourth down with nine seconds left.'

'Buffalo was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the play. Coleman appeared upset with the Bills' sideline as he met with coach Sean McDermott, other officials and members of the Bills' training staff after the play.'

'Marooned in Cleveland for four years and on the bench for three of them, Jordan Poyer is making a name for himself as the starting free safety for the Bills. Poyer had an interception and three tackles against the Jets in Week 1, and he followed that performance Sunday with seven solo tackles and the biggest pass breakup of the day. Poyer delivered a blow to 6' 5" Kelvin Benjamin’s right side as Benjamin was coming back down to earth in the end zone that jarred the ball loose. Poyer had three total passes defensed along with a Newton sack on a blitz. He signed a four-year deal worth $13 million in March and is establishing himself as the class of Buffalo’s secondary.'

'Finally the Bills got a drive going, but it was goo little too late. After several throws by Taylor got them to Carolina's 33 yard line with 14 seconds to go, Zay Jones dropped a pass at the 4 yard line to end the game. The game ended with no touchdowns being scored by either team.'

'Do you remember when the Bills traded Sammy Watkins? Remember how we talked about the team dealing away its most explosive, dynamic player in the passing game and how much that would hurt Tyrod Taylor? Then, Anquan Boldin retired and we wondered who, among the wide receiver group, could actually make plays? On Sunday in Charlotte, the Bills passing game was as bad as you might have dreaded.'

'There just isn’t any way to divide it up. Every facet of the offense was poor.'

'Running back LeSean McCoy had one of his worst performances, carrying the ball 12 times for just 9 total yards. McCoy struggled against a Panther defense that found a way to keep him either behind or just a few yards past scrimmage.'

'That means — by the power of subtraction — Taylor had only 53 total passing yards through the first three quarters of the game, which is as putrid a statistic as you’ll find.'

'Trailing by six with two minutes to play, Tyrod Taylor led the Bills down the field on what looked like to be a potential game-winning drive, but failed to convert on 4th-and-11.'