A column by CHUCK POLLOCK, Wellsville Sun Senior Sports Columnist
Normally when I watch the opening game of the Bills preseason, my attention wanes after the first quarter when it’s starters vs. starters.
But Saturday afternoon, in the Giants’ 34-25 win over Buffalo at Highmark Stadium, that wasn’t really an option.
Both teams used some first-stringers, but not all. The Bills played about half their starters.
Most notably MVP quarterback Josh Allen, running back James Cook and wide receiver Khalil Shakir, the three best at their positions, didn’t play. Allen for cautionary reasons, Cook (conducting a “hold-in” dressed and warmed up but didn’t play) and Shakir (high ankle-sprain).
Coach Sean McDermott held eight other players out: kicker Tyler Bass (hip), offensive linemen Sedrick Van Pan-Granger (calf), Alec Anderson (knee), Spencer Brown (back) and Tylan Grable (concussion), safety Taylor Rapp (knee), cornerback Maxwell Harrison, the first-round pick (knee) and linebacker Shaq Thompson (hamstring).
BUT I saw two things that were concerning … obvious examples of bad decision-making in three tries by McDermott.
Late in the first half, wide receiver Tyrell Shavers made a 68-yard reception only to be tackled at the Giants 4-yard line with four seconds left. Did McDermott opt for the touchdown try? Of course not, Mr. Conservative instead chose a 24-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 16-10. We’re used to him making such uninspired decisions during the regular season … but in an exhibition game? If not then, when?
Later, after a Buffalo score to make it 24-23 New York late in the third quarter, McDermott, knowing there’s no overtime in preseason, opted for a two-point conversion. Quarterback Mike White hit wideout Laviska Shenault to give the Bills the lead … exactly what he should have done.
But the ninth-year coach saved his biggest gaffe for last.
Trailing by nine in the final minute, Buffalo was confronted with a 4th-and-goal from the Giants 1-yard line.
What do you do?
Kick a field goal to make it a 6-point game and give yourself a chance to recover an onside kick and possibly score the winning touchdown?
Nahhh.
Let’s do a running play.
At first it appeared Frank Gore Jr. got in, but a review revealed his knee had touched at the 1-yard line … ending the game for the Bills with 46 seconds and one timeout left.
That’s the kind oif thinking which reveals why the Bills haven’t made the Super Bowl during McDermott’s tenure.
IF YOU’RE Buffalo defensive coordinator Bobb Babich, forcusing on opposing team’s screen and swing pass games probably should be a priority before the regular-season opener. The Giants’ four quarterbacks completed 35 passes combined and about half of them were of the dump-off variety that flummoxed Buffalo’s defense.
THE BILLS competition for No. 2 quarterback job wasn’t solved against New York. Mitch Trubisky (9-of-13, 138 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions) and White (8-of 13, 112 yards, two touchdowns and no picks) combined to go 17-of-26 for 250 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions … totally acceptable numbers.
FINALLY, there was the gaffe of free-agent Bills center Jacob Bayer. His long snap sailed over fourth-string quarterback Steve Beuchelle’s head only to have it recovered by the Giants who went on to score the clinching touchdown.
I had seen nothing like it since 1976 in a game against the Chargers in Orchard Park. San Diego’s long-snapper, Ralph Peretta, an alum of Syracuse, launched a ball over his intended target, and handed the Bills a touchdown.
After that game in 1976, I asked Peretta what had happened.
“I don’t know,” he said, “but I really turned that #$&@% loose!”
(Chuck Pollock, a Wellsville Sun and Olean Star senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@wnynet.net.)
