Olean Times Herald

‘The telling statistic for the Bills is that they are 0-2 in the AFC East, and a loss tonight would severely damage their hopes of a third-straight division crown, to say nothing of possibly jeopardizing a spot in this year’s playoffs.’

‘Resurgent Miami is on top with the same 8-3 record as Buffalo, but with the advantage of a head-to-head victory. The vastly improved Jets are 7-4 but have lost twice to the 6-5 Pats, who are very much alive in the playoff race. That’s why tomorrow night’s game at Gillette Stadium is so important for the Bills, who are 0-2 in the division.’

‘Speaking of defense, Buffalo got a big lift from linebacker A.J. Klein, who’s had a bizarre 2022. After the Bills signed him as a free agent from New Orleans, he played with them for two seasons before being released last March. The Giants signed him to their practice squad in October and shortly thereafter he was picked up by Baltimore. Just 25 days after that he was part of a trade to Chicago for linebacker Roquan Smith. In barely two weeks, the Bears released him and Buffalo signed Klein the next day. A week after that, he was starting against the Lions with middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds out injured. Klein’s response was a solid effort with nine tackles, six of them solos, one of those a key one for loss.’

‘A loss would have virtually dashed their hopes of recapturing a shot at homefield throughout the playoffs and, indeed, might well have jeopardized their postseason chances in a cluttered conference.’

‘Defensive tackle Ed Oliver recorded Buffalo’s initial safety of the season when he dumped Lions quarterback Jared Goff for an end zone sack. It was the first Bills’ safety since wide receiver Jake Kumerow logged one, on special teams, in last season’s finale against Atlanta. Oliver has 1.5 sacks on the season.’

‘But don’t let the odds — the Bills, 7-3, are favored by 9½ points — fool you. Detroit, 4-6, is one of the NFL’s most deceptive teams. Coach Dan Campbell has the long-struggling Lions playing hard. Four of their losses — Philadelphia, Minnesota, Miami and Seattle, all division leaders — have been by a collective 14 points.’

‘“It’s great any time you can establish the run and be effective there,” he said. “We’re always trying to make sure we’re attacking defenses in multiple ways. It’s always a balancing act. All it takes is one mistake to affect an entire play.”’

‘Buffalo, coming off two straight tough losses, including last Sunday’s 33-30 overtime gift to the Vikings at Highmark Stadium, desperately needed to stop the bleeding.’

‘Quarterback Josh Allen has struggled through the worst 2½-game stretch since his rookie season (related story this page) but what was supposed to be a home game tomorrow afternoon at Highmark Stadium has suddenly become at neutral site meeting with the Cleveland Browns at Detroit’s Ford Field (1 o’clock CBS-TV, 95.7 FM, 100.1 FM, 550 AM).’

‘“I just want to be the best quarterback I can be for the Buffalo Bills … every time I step on the field, that’s my goal,” he said. “There’s a play here or there where maybe I did cross the line (on decision-making), I wouldn’t say it’s all the time, but there might be a situation where it’s like, ‘Hey, I shouldn’t have made this decision.’’

‘And, oh yeah, the Bills haven’t scored a second-half TD since last month in Kansas City, three games ago.’

‘That flawed decision to scrub the field goal on fourth down and Allen’s ill-considered heave into the end zone on the opening possession of the fourth quarter changed the momentum of a game the Bills had in hand.’

‘The Vikings, 8-1, have the second-best record in the NFL and have now won seven-straight games, all by one-possession scores. Buffalo, now 6-3, has fallen from first to third in the AFC East, trailing Miami, which beat Cleveland to improve to 7-3, a half-game up on the Bills and owning a head-to-head win. The Jets, meanwhile, though on a bye at 6-3, moved past Buffalo, due to their head-to-head win.’

‘From alone atop the AFC standings with a one-game lead over runner-up Kansas City and a head-to-head win in hand, the Bills and Chiefs now have the same record. Meanwhile, nine conference teams are within 1½ games of the top as the campaign passes midseason.’

‘His career stats also have one glowing season. In 2017, he was 11-3 as a starter for Minnesota after an injury to Sam Bradford — 22 touchdown passes, seven interceptions, 98 passer rating — taking the Vikings to the playoffs. In the postseason opener against New Orleans, Keenum connected with current teammate Stefon Diggs for the Miracle in Minneapolis. On the final play of regulation, trailing 24-23 and under heavy pressure, he heaved a 61-yard touchdown pass to Diggs to snatch victory from the Saints.’