Instant analysis: What went right and what went wrong in Bills preseason loss vs. Bears
The Bills' lineup featured several players whom they wanted to get a better look at in this game. Buffalo's first unit took the night off, giving a large number of snaps to the second and third units.
Unfortunately, it didn't go well.
The Bills entered halftime down, 28-0. They were out-gained by a nearly 8-to-1 total yards (371-47). Buffalo took five penalties in the first half.
It seemed that the Bills would at least make some progress on the mediocre night in the second half. Running back Frank Gore Jr. earned first downs on consecutive plays.
However, back-to-back penalties thwarted a promising start to the half.
For the rest of the game, it was largely an exercise in determining which players could be a part of each team's practice squad.
The Bears added a field goal and Ian Wheeler's second rushing touchdown on the evening to push this game into blowout territory. Chicago continued to pound the ball on the ground as the game traversed into garbage time.
Mercifully, the Bears kneeled out the clock following the two-minute warning.
Here is a quick instant analysis following the Bills' preseason loss to the Bears:
What went right?
Not a whole lot. The first half was a trainwreck for the Bills.
It is tough to find a silver lining in tonight's performance. Buffalo had a few special teams standouts. Punter Brad Robbins averaged over 48 yards per punt on six punts. He bombed a 62-yard punt as his best on the evening. Continuing the special teams love, the Bills had a lot of practice with their return game. Laviska Shenault Jr. averaged 28 yards on three returns, while Brandon Codrington returned two kicks for an average of 27.5 yards.
Frank Gore Jr. was the best example of a player trying to push his way onto the roster. Gore Jr. rushed eight times for 50 yards. The running back added four receptions for 31 yards.
What went wrong?
It was a forgettable night for Buffalo on both sides of the ball. Buffalo's defense could do little to slow the Bears offense. In the first half alone, the Bills defense gave up 371 total yards. Bears receivers found massive holes in the Bills secondary. The linebackers were slow in coverage throughout the game. The defensive line could not get consistent pressure on either of Chicago's quarterbacks in the first two quarters. Caleb Williams eased his way into this season, going 6-of-10 for 107 yards and a touchdown. Tyson Bagent put on a show, completing 11-of-16 passes for 187 yards and a passing touchdown. All of this in the first half.
Chicago tallied 20 first downs before halftime. Meanwhile, Buffalo's offense could muster only three
Buffalo's offense could do nothing in the first half. Mike White started at quarterback for the Bills. This was White's chance to push for backup duties for the regular season. It didn't go well. White completed only four passes on 11 attempts for 54 yards in the first half. The White-led Buffalo offense totaled only 47 yards in the first half.
The hope was that some questions would be answered, or at least move toward an answer, for the final roster. After this week, the only thing we can definitively say is that if any of these reserves are forced into action for a long time, Buffalo will be in trouble.
What's the bottom line?
It was a disappointing night for the Bills. Never mind looking for a player to lock up a roster spot tonight; it seemed no player made any sort of headway in pushing their way into the roster conversation ahead of the final preseason game. Buffalo still has major questions to answer in the upcoming week: How will the secondary pan out? What will the receiving depth chart look like? Can the new look defensive line provide better pressure on opposing quarterbacks?
Buffalo's starting lineup consisted of reserves tonight. It wasn't necessarily surprising that the Bills got bounced around by Chicago's starters. What was shocking was how poorly Buffalo's depth players performed against the Bears second unit. If this is an indication of the future for Buffalo, then the Bills better hope their starters do not miss any substantial time this year. Otherwise, the perceived drop off is immense.
What comes next?
The Bills conclude their preseason slate with a Saturday night game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There are still several questions regarding who will make the final 53-man roster for Buffalo. Expect head coach Sean McDermott and his staff to provide a focused opportunity for several players to see if they can earn a spot on the final roster.
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