Olean Times Herald

‘Through three weeks, no one could credibly argue the Bills missed Diggs. But last week in Baltimore, those same questions about the lack of No. 1 sprang up again. It was only one game, but there just didn’t seem to be much available to Josh Allen in the passing game. Khalil Shakir accounted for 62 of Allen’s 180 yards in Baltimore, but 52 of those came on one spectacular play. Other than that, Allen hit Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid for a combined 98 yards but no one else had more than nine yards.’

‘Very little that happened Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium can be viewed as a positive or even a silver lining. Baltimore emphatically humbled Buffalo and exposed a number of areas that were already of concern, but just hadn’t come to light until this week.’

‘But if the first three weeks weren’t the most difficult, the next three should put that perfect record to test: all on the road, all against three opponents it’s easy to envision in the playoff field come January. If they get through the next three at 6-0, or even 5-1, it’ll be easy to anoint them as AFC favorites, or at least on par with Kansas City.’

‘Inside the locker room, as the Bills reflected on a perfect night to bring the season to 3-0, the excitement for Hamlin was still evident.’

‘Monday night was an all-you-can-eat buffet, a certified feast.’

‘A year ago, this is where things got off track for the Bills.’

‘Only five teams remain without a loss in the AFC already. Some you probably expected to be here: the Chiefs, the Texans and (if you’re a confident fan) the Bills. The others are more of a surprise: Mike Tomlin, Justin Fields and the Steelers and Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers. If I told you 10 days ago that a Harbaugh brother would be 2-0 and the other 0-2, I can’t imagine many would expect John’s Ravens to be on the bad side.’

‘How many times has the Buffalo Bills defense shaken off a seemingly debilitating injury? Sure, there is a limit to how many subtractions one unit can take. But we didn’t see it Thursday night. Instead, we saw a defensive masterpiece.’

‘Bernard left Thursday night’s matchup against the Miami Dolphins in the first quarter with a pectoral injury and didn’t return to the game. Brandt reported that it’s a pectoral strain and could keep the Bills captain sideline for about a month.’

‘So with respect to the Pats, the winner of Thursday night’s game will have the first leg up on the East race but a long way to go.’

‘If there was any doubt, Sunday’s season opener showed why the Bills need their Superman at quarterback.’

‘Getting a feel for these Bills, who might have less star power, but are younger; who might have fewer sure things, but are hungrier, has been difficult to do. And that’s true not only for the fans — it’s also the case for the betting market; both for those who make the wagers and the sportsbooks that take them.’

‘Allen doesn’t have those elite, proven weapons like, say, the dynamic duos of receivers on the Bengals and Dolphins. Especially not after Buffalo traded Stefon Diggs to Houston and let Gabe Davis walk to Jacksonville. That’s not to say they’re bereft of talent, either, but it’s mostly unproven talent. The Bills expect big things from Dalton Kincaid, but he’s only a second-year tight end. Keon Coleman is a rookie second-round pick, Khalil Shakir, a fifth-rounder two years ago. Maybe by season’s end these will be household names outside of Western New York, but they’re not widely known outside of here.’

‘And if and when it does, he’ll be just the latest in a long string of fathers and sons to play for the same franchise in pro sports (and even more playing in the same league). No, it’s not quite Ken Griffey Jr. and Sr. playing on the same Seattle Mariners team (or even LeBron James and Bronny on the Lakers), but both Gores are now part of the same franchise’s history. Over in Pittsburgh, the Steelers drafted Joey Porter Jr. last year. Marcus Foligno followed his father, Mike’s, footsteps as a Buffalo Sabre.’

‘Local product Joe Andreessen, dubbed “Buffalo Joe” by Allen and his teammates, started his second consecutive game at middle linebacker and played into the fourth quarter in his last bid to make the 53-man roster, or practice squad. He was again among the team leaders in tackles with eight total (two solo, six assists).’