Sunday kickoff is 1pm at Highmark Stadium
By Chuck Pollock, Senior Sports Editor
All but the most myopic Bills fans can see that Buffalo is in trouble in its the bid for a sixth straight AFC East title.
The New England Patriots are on fire behind coach Mike Vrabel and emerging franchise quarterback Drake Maye and have taken control of the division. Thursday night’s 27-14 victory over the Jets was their eighth straight win (9-2). That translates to a 2 1/2 game lead over Buffalo heading into Sunday afternoon’s game against Tampa Bay (6-3) at Highmark Stadium (1 o’clock, CBS; Buffalo Bills radio network).
Then, too, the Pats own a head-to-head victory over the Bills in Orchard Park.
But the worst news is for Buffalo is that New England has the league’s weakest schedule over the final six games.They play the Bengals (3-6) in Cincinnati, the Giants (2-8) in Foxboro, take their bye week, host the Bills, visit the Ravens (4-5), face the Jets (2-8) at the Meadowlands and entertain the Dolphins (3-7).
Buffalo’s path is a bit tougher. After the Buccaneers, coach Sean McDermott’s team is at Houston (4-5) and Pittsburgh (5-4), hosts Cincinnati, visits New England and Cleveland (2-7) then goes to Philadelphia (7-2) and the Jets.
If you’re doing the math, Patriots foes are averaging just over three wins while Buffalo’s are just under five, a significant difference over the season’s final third.
Tampa Bay’s losses are to the Eagles, Lions and Pats while Buffalo’s are to New England, Atlanta and Miami.
THE BILLS problems are obvious.
As quarterback Josh Allen lamented, “We’ve turned the ball over this year and that’s pointing the thumb at myself.”
Allen has thrown six interceptions in nine games and fumbled once, the second was by running back James Cook.
“If we take care of the football and do what we’re supposed to do,” he said, “we’re a dang good football team.”
And the Bills have great admiration for Bucs’ QB Baker Mayfield, a good friend of Allen off the field.
To be sure, his career has been checkered.
After being the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, he played four seasons in Cleveland, was released and split the 2022 season between Carolina and the Rams then was signed by Tampa Bay where he’s played the last three years.
“I’m very happy for him and have so much respect for him, his level of play and his great part of the journey,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said. “We have a lot of respect for that team and their quarterback.
AS FOR HIS own team, McDermott has concerns. It has a list of injuries, is enduring tackling problems and its receiving corps is having problems getting separation which has hamstrung the passing game to a degree.
“We play the players who give us the best chance to win ,” he said with undeniable logic. “Where can we find rhythm in the passing game?
“If you want to beat (Mayfield) you’ve got to bring that attitude. It’s a weekly thing, if you want to be good at something, you’ve got to bring a great competitive attitude to the table.”
Allen thought that was missing in the embarrassing 30-13 loss to the Dolphins.
“We just played sloppy, you’re not going to win a football game turning the football over three times, twice in out red zone,” he said.
“We’ve got to find a way to win that one but we shouldn’t hsave won it with three turnovers.”
MEANWHILE, Bucs coach Todd Bowles, whose team is a 5 1/2-point underdog, admitted, “We’ve got to find room to run the ball, especially down in the red zone. It’s tough because there’s not a lot of froom in the pass concept.
“Obviously, they’re a very well-coached team. Sean McDermott is one of the best defensive minds in football. He can really call out plays from the sideline, knows (a team’s) tendencies and formations and he coaches those defensive backs really well.”
Bowles added, “For us to go on the road, we have to communicate well in a great environment. We were up there two years ago and had to handle the noise and execute our plan.”
WHEN IT comes to the two quarterbacks, Allen admits, “Baker is a dang good guy … I love him. When I’m watching games, I’m watching him because he’s fun to watch. He’s an absolute baller and he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league.”
Of course, as friends do, after playing in a threesome in the American Century Golf Classic in Nevada with Mayfield and Sam Darnold, Allen had his own shot, “Baker’s one of those guys who plays golf with two gloves.”
But Mayfield had a comeback. “I have to chat with with Josh using a walkie-talkie,” he said. “What is he 6-10? (actually 6-5). I hear the weather Sunday won’t be good (temperatures in the upper 30s, 40 pct. chance of precipitation, 20 mph winds) and Josh has small hands, so he’d better bring his gloves.”
INJURIES:
Tight end Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) and defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis (shoulder) are out for the Bucs game while nickel cornerback Tarom Johnson (groin),cornerback/safety Cam Lewis (calf) and linebacker Shaq Thompson (hamstring) are questionable.
POLLOCK’S PICK: BUCCANEERS 24, BILLS 20
(Chuck Pollock, a Wellsville Sun senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@wnynet.net.)
