The Buffalo Bills struggled to move the ball through the air Sunday, and they might have done better if they hadn’t benched two key wide receivers against the Cleveland Browns.
Yet, coach Sean McDermott explained why he and the Bills coaching staff left Keon Coleman and Gabe Davis on the sidelines for their narrow 23-20 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
Josh Allen completed just 12 of 19 passes for 130 yards, and Buffalo finished with 95 net passing yards. Allen completed just five passes to wide receivers, with four going to Khalil Shakir.
Still, Buffalo (11-4) clinched a playoff spot with the win and the Indianapolis Colts‘ 48-27 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night. The Bills will host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at Highmark Stadium.
Sean McDermott: Sittting Keon Coleman, Gabe Davis Was A Numbers Game
The Bills spent the first pick of the second round on Coleman in the 2024 NFL Draft, yet he is quickly approaching bust status, despite the fact he already has more catches (36) and as many touchdowns (4) as his rookie year.
Coleman has just four catches for 25 yards over Buffalo’s four-game win streak and was a healthy scratch for the third time in the Bills’ past third games.
Buffalo went with a five-player wideout unit of Shakir, Joshua Palmer, Tyrell Shavers, Brandin Cooks and Mecole Hardman. McDermott explained why they landed on those players.
“Just a combination of receivers that we wanted up [on the active roster],” McDermott said Monday. “Obviously Mecole moved into that [No.] 5 spot there for primarily special-teams purposes but a little bit of receiver, as well.”
Davis, of course, is in his second tour with the Bills after signing Sept. 2. But he has only played four games, toggling between the Buffalo practice squad and its active roster, and has been benched in two straight games.
Yet, when given the chance to blame Davis’ benching on an injury or injury maintenance, McDermott didn’t. But he did express hope in both receivers having an impact before the season ends.
“It’s more of an offensive game plan that’s in play,” McDermott said. “Gabe, like Keon, we have confidence in both of those guys, and their opportunity will come up and they’ll be ready.”
Joe Brady: The Best Five Receivers Will Play Against The Eagles
Nine different receivers have played for the Bills this season, and seven have started at least one game. Plus, unlike most rival clubs, they routinely target tight ends and running backs aside from receivers.
So offensive coordinator Joe Brady, like McDermott, noted the Bills have gone with different five-receiver units throughout the year, and they vary the personnel depending on their opponent and certain other position decisions that get made throughout the week.
“There’s been a lot of moving parts,” Brady said. “It’s not always an offensive thing. Sometimes it’s a teamwide thing, and there’s roster moves. Offense, defense [and] special teams impacts it.
“We’ve had a different five [receivers] the last couple of weeks, and we might have a different five this week, but we’re going to go into each week and decide who we feel is the best five for the makeup of the football team, not necessarily just our offense.”
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