The Buffalo Bills suffered their first loss of the season against the New England Patriots in Week 5.
During the frustrating defeat, Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw for 253 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, along with nine carries for 53 rushing yards. The Bills appeared to be their own worst enemy with three turnovers and 11 penalties for 90 yards.
Allen didn’t mince words regarding the offense’s performance, especially during the first half. “We just played sloppy,” he told reporters. “We’re not going to win the game turning the ball over three times in our red zone. It’s bad football. We just did not play good tonight.
“Respect to [New England]. They came and knew what they had to do. They took care of the football, we didn’t. Our defense played well and bailed us out a few times, but again, not going to win games turning the ball over three times.”
GettyBills wide receiver Keon Coleman at Highmark Stadium on October 05, 2025.
During the first offensive drive against the Patriots, Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman remained on the sidelines. With offensive coordinator Joe Brady’s “everybody eats” approach, Coleman not participating in the first six plays didn’t ring any immediate alarm bells.
However, Bills head coach Sean McDermott revealed the following day that he was benched for disciplinary actions. “Well, we expect more, and he has shown growth this year. He has. We’re looking for more consistency,” McDermott told reporters.
While it’s not clear what the second-year receiver did to receive the punishment, Coleman spoke about getting benched on Thursday, October 9.
Bills WR Keon Coleman Handled His Punishment With Maturity
Coleman seemed fully prepared for McDermott’s disciplinary actions. “It was expected,” he told reporters after practice. “We communicated that, so it was understandable.
While the 22-year-old said he’ll keep the reason for his benching “in-house,” he’s using the experience as a stepping stone. Moving forward, he needs to “be where I’m supposed to be, doing what I’m supposed to do, and showing that level of maturity.”
This isn’t the first time Coleman faced discipline from the team. During his rookie year, the 2024 second-rounder sat out during the start of Buffalo’s Week 3 matchup after being late for a team function. However, the Michigan State alum doesn’t think this latest slip-up is a sign he’s reverting to his old ways.
“I wouldn’t call it a setback,” Coleman said. “It was just a growing pain in a sense. So yeah, it is frustrating because you know you’re better than that as a person and individual. You don’t like the things that it shows. Sometimes, it might show that you don’t care, and that’s not the case, so you want to eliminate those things.”
Keon Coleman Still Has A Lot To Prove This Season
Save for Coleman’s performance against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, where he recorded seven catches for 95 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter alone, he’s failed to become a reliable target for Allen. He caught 4-of-7 catches for 23 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots, but he also lost a fumble that New England turned into a field goal.
Next up, Coleman and the Bills look to get back in the win column when they face the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football.
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