The Bills have been resilient this season when it comes to stemming the tide following a loss. That wasn’t the case however, on Sunday.
Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
Regular season records: Buffalo (5-4), New Orleans (7-2)
In a nutshell:
The Bills have been resilient this season when it comes to stemming the tide following a loss. That wasn’t the case however, on Sunday. Facing a Saints team coming in on a six-game winning streak, Buffalo was quite literally run out of their own building in a 47-10 defeat.
It was the worst home loss for the Bills since a 56-10 loss to the New England Patriots on Nov. 18, 2007.
The Bills gave up a season-high 298 yards rushing as New Orleans Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara each went for over 100 yards on the ground. The pair also combined for four rushing touchdowns.
Buffalo’s offense struggled to move the ball. After an opening scoring drive that led to a field goal, Buffalo ran just 23 plays for a total of 48 net yards on their next six possessions. On 10 Buffalo possessions the offense went three and out five times.
For the Bills, it was the first time this season they lost at home and the first time they lost back-to-back games in 2017 to fall to 5-4 on the year.
How it went down:
-The Bills got on the scoreboard first when Stephen Hauschka put a 37-yard field goal attempt up and through to finish a nine-play 57-yard drive just four minutes into the game (3-0).
-New Orleans had little trouble responding with a nine-play scoring drive covering 75 yards. Mark Ingram took it in from a yard out to give the Saints a 7-3 advantage midway through the first quarter.
-The Saints jumped ahead 14-3 when Mark Ingram scored his second touchdown of the afternoon from three yards out to finish an eight-play 48-yard drive with nine minutes remaining in the half.
-New Orleans would get a field goal before the end of the half as Will Lutz put a 23-yard attempt up and through for a 17-3 lead at the half.
-With the first possession of the second half, the Saints marched right down the field getting yards in big chunks before Alvin Kamara took a five-yard carry in for a touchdown with 9:45 left in the third quarter (24-3).
-A pass that went off the hands of Charles Clay deep in Buffalo territory was intercepted by Sheldon Rankins and returned to the Bills three-yard line. One play later Mark Ingram was in the end zone for his third touchdown of the day, but the point after attempt failed (30-3) midway through the third quarter.
-The Saints then proceeded to run the ball and clock on their next possession. New Orleans ran on 10 consecutive plays for 94 yards with Drew Brees taking a seven-yard scramble in for the touchdown at the end for a 37-3 lead at the close of the third quarter.
-Will Lutz added to the blowout win for the Saints with just under five minutes remaining when he hit a 53-yard field goal to finish a 14-play drive (40-3).
-Nate Peterman, on in relief of Tyrod Taylor, threw the first touchdown pass of his career with a seven-yard pass to Nick O’Leary to make it 47-10 with 1:54 left in the game.
Subplots:
-Kelvin Benjamin in his first start for the Bills was targeted three times on the opening drive of the game and made one reception for nine yards. He wasn’t targeted again until four minutes left in the game with Nate Peterman in at quarterback.
-LeSean McCoy found running the ball difficult again as he managed just 49 yards on eight carries. Had it not been for his 36-yard run on the team’s first possession he would’ve had one of his least successful games of the season.
-Tyrod Taylor finished the game 9-18 for 56 yards and an interception for a passer rating of 33.6.
-Nate Peterman came on at the end of the game and led a touchdown drive. He finished 7-10 for 79 yards and a touchdown.
-Buffalo’s run defense gave up a season-high 298 yards rushing and six rushing touchdowns.
-The Bills offense converted just two of their 11 third down opportunities. It was a season low in both conversions and conversion percentage for 2017.
-Ramon Humber forced a fumble defending Buffalo’s red zone, jarring the ball loose from TE Josh Hill. Kyle Williams recovered the loose ball at the Bills nine-yard line. It was Humber’s first career forced fumble on defense.
-For just the second time this season, the Bills scored on their opening possession with a 37-yard Stephen Hauschka field goal. Buffalo has just six points scored on opening possessions this season.
-Dion Dawkins made his fourth NFL start at left tackle in place of the injured Cordy Glenn.
-Inactive for Buffalo on Sunday were Cordy Glenn, Zay Jones, Conor McDermott, John Miller, Travaris Cadet, Khari Lee and E.J. Gaines.
Up next:
The Bills travel to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers on Nov. 19 for a 4:05 pm kickoff.