By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
The Bills jolted up to 3-0 to start their 2019 campaign following a 21-17 win against the Bengals.
Buffalo had Cincy on the ropes in the first half, but the Bengals came out swinging as the game continued. After a counterattack, the Bills came out on top.
Such a game provides plenty of changes in the stock report for the Bills.
With that, here’s Week 3’s stock up, stock down following Buffalo’s win over the Bengals:
Stock up
RB Frank Gore
The Bills had their first short-handed game in their backfield against the Bengals. No LeSean McCoy meant more Devin Singletary, but a hamstring injury kept him out. The ageless wonder in Frank Gore didn’t miss a beat without his change-of-pace rookie teammate.
Overall, Gore had 14 carries for 76 yards with the game-winning touchdown. That’s a 5.4 yards per carry. Gore ripped off some longer runs late and found a way to navigate the Bills to second-and-shorter distances which help any offense. While, again, ageless, Gore is realistically 36-years-old. Doing this in any week at that age as a running back is great, but it’ll be curious to see how things shift as the season continues.
TE Dawson Knox
The win against the Bengals was certainly the coming out party for Dawson Knox. He led the Bills in receiving yards with 67 on three catches on four targets. Knox also had a touchdown which happens to be the first time he scored since his junior year in high school. A nuts statistic.
The rookie has also shown an ability to block early this season. He’s starting to develop an all-around game with the Bills. Pump the brakes on any Gronk comparisons, but a great step in that direction for Knox.
CB Tre’Davious White
Tre’Davious White is back, then again, he’s never left. His rookie season was so good it seemed like he dropped off last season, but he still played at a strong level. But no game in his career to this point was up to the standard he put out there against the Bengals.
White had two interceptions. The first he anticipated a route and jumped a pass intended for Tyler Boyd. Then he had the game-sealing pick. The Bills defense started to let their foot off the gas in the second half, but White came to the rescue. Plus, as Buffalo’s No. 1 corner, he played a big role in keeping John Ross, who started the year with back-to-back 100-plus yard games, to only 22 yards passing on six targets.
S Micah Hyde
Like White, Hyde played a big part in turnovers against Cincy. Hyde helped force two. On White’s game-sealing interception, it was Hyde that originally tipped the pass which eventually landed near White, who made the diving catch. But early in the game, Hyde also forced a fumble which he knocked out with an obvious punch. That fumble was no accident.
Hyde added five total tackles, including four solo, and a tackle for loss in the game. According to Pro Football Focus, Hyde also graded as Buffalo’s best defensive player at 90.0 overall, along with an 87.5 coverage grade.
Stock down
RB TJ Yeldon
While not awful in this one, TJ Yeldon didn’t do himself many favors. His most obvious gaff was a first-half fumble he had which helped kill Buffalo’s momentum. Another reason the Bills only had a 14-point lead at halftime, too.
Overall, Yeldon had eight carries for 30 yards (3.8 average) and two catches for 19 yards on three targets. Yeldon’s had the fumble issue since the preseason so once Devin Singletary returns, Yeldon will probably go back to seeing little playing time.
DT Star Lotulelei
Star Lotulelei does what’s asked of him, we get it. He’s asked to eat up blockers. But at some point, folks should question why he has the Bills’ second-highest salary cap hit.
Lotuleli only had one tackle in the game, but as said, he does what he’s asked to do and takes up space. Still, considering his $11.5 million cap hit, the Bills couldn’t find anybody cheaper to do such a job? Or give him a bigger role? Lotuleli played in 34 percent of defensive snaps. Of the four defensive tackles who saw playing time, that was dead last. Ed Oliver led the group with 59 percent, while now injured Harrison Phillips clocked in at 43 percent. Sack-getter Jordan Phillips played 36 percent.
WR Andre Roberts
Wideout Andre Roberts made his season debut for the Bills. Since he hasn’t played due to a quad injury, we were not really sure what to expect. Our answer to that is return duties. Not only did Roberts not register a target in the game, he only played in two snaps on offense. He didn’t really impress as a returner in his limited duties there, either. But there are plenty more returns left for him this season.
Offensive line
It wasn’t a pretty one for Buffalo’s offensive line. Frank Gore managed a solid yards per carry, but he helped his cause with some impressive runs late. Early in the game, run blocking was… meh. The worse area was pass blocking, though. Josh Allen only took one sack in this one, but he was hit seven times in total by the Bengals.
And even at times Allen wasn’t being hit, he certainly was on the run more often than you’d like him to be. Buffalo’s right side of the line with Cody Ford and Ty Nsekhe were two that stood out in a negative light, at times.
Push
QB Josh Allen
The good? Josh Allen has another four-quarter comeback and boy is his gamer mentality in those situations great to see. The bad? Allen was part of the reason his team was there.
Allen had an ugly intentional grounding penalty called against him and his interception is inexcusable. He can’t do that ever again. Allen also lost a fumble and lucked out with a call being reversed.
Overall, Allen was 22-for-36 passing for 243 yards with a touchdown and pick. And overall, there was good and bad from the second-year QB, so we’ll give him a push this week.