By CHUCK POLLOCK, Senior Sports Columnist
So here are the Bills, at 4-1, tied with the Ravens and Jaguars for third place in the NFL behind the Vikings and 49ers, both 5-0 and the Chiefs 4-0.
But, for Buffalo, there’s been a generous share of good fortune.
In the opener at Houston, the Bills scored the winning touchdown with 96 seconds to play.
Against the Chargers at Highmark, Buffalo was trailing midway through the fourth quarter before rallying.
And last Sunday in Los Angeles … well, you remember what happened.
The point is, it could be be argued that the Bills are less than 15 minutes away from being 2-3.
NEXT UP for Buffalo are the Raiders (3-2) Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas where the Bills were favored by 6.5 points in the opening line, though those odds figure to drop by game day.
Wisely, after Monday night’s game in LA, the Bills opted to stay on the West Coast to to prepare for the Raiders in a short week.
Then, too, Buffalo has reason for concern.
Glossed over after the overtime victory against the Rams was quarterback Josh Allen’s concession that he’s dealing with an issue in his right (throwing) arm and he’s unsure of the cause.
It would seem that while the injury isn’t severe, it’s also safe to assume that Josh isn’t 100%, hence his 10 rushes for 121 yards and a touchdown against the Rams.
Clearly, Allen’s throwing issue doesn’t appear serious, but there’s plenty of reason for concern about the secondary.
Starting cornerback Maxwell Hairston was benched against L.A. after his lousy game in the loss to New England. That left the starting jobs to Christian Benford, who has struggled this season, and second-round draft choice Davison Igbinosun.
Buffalo’s defensive coaches have given lip service to Hairston’s skills, but there’s no indication when he will return to the line-up.
It gets worse. Nickel back Dee Alford (ankle), who didn’t play against the Rams, is uncertain for the Raiders, his job falling to safety Damar Hamlin, who’s willing, but doesn’t have cornerback coverage skills.
Three other defensive backs are on the practice squad.
AND TWO concerns arose in the win at L.A.
No. 1, James Cook, one of the NFL’s elite running backs, fumbled twice, the second one coming within a blocked field goal of costing Buffalo the game. In barely 4 1/4 seasons, Cook has fumbled 16 times. Over 2026’s first five games, Cook has fumbled four times, losing three of them. That represents an enigma for Buffalo’s offensive coaches. Do they outweigh five touchdowns against four fumbles?
“Right now we’re putting the ball in harm’s way,” Bills’ first-year head coach Joe Brady said. “That’s the way you lose football games.
“Our two best players (Cook andq uarterback Josh Allen via interception) turned the ball over (against the Rams).”
Of Cook, Brady said, “He’s done so many good things running the football. I don’t want to lose sight of the way he’s running the ball right now. But putting the ball on the ground negates all that.
” I have all the confidence in him … that’s why I put him back in there (against the Rams). But at some time there have to be consequences when we’re putting negative stuff out there.”
He added, “It’s gonna cost us football games and it almost cost us one (in Los Angeles). We can’t, because we won the game, say ‘It’s OK.’ It’s got to improve or (Cook’s) carries are going to decrease.”
WORSE, in the last three games, the Bills have turned the ball over (interceptions and fumbles) nine times.
And, on three occasions this season, Buffalo has been penalized at least 10 times, the worst being Monday night when the Bills were flagged 13 times for a numbing 112 yards.
Over the first five games they’ve averaged nearly nine accepted penalties for 71 yards per game … neither statistic (turnovers nor penalties) is the prescription for winning football over the course of a season.
And Brady knows that all too well.
Chuck Pollock, a Wellsville Sun and Olean Star senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@wnynet.net.)
