The Buffalo Bills suffered another disappointing loss in primetime for the second consecutive week. On Monday night, the team lost 24-22 to the Denver Broncos, thus falling to 5-5 on the year with tough opponents remaining on the schedule (Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins).
The game was highlighted by four Bills turnovers, a pass interference penalty on the final drive, and a 12-man on-the-field infraction on a missed field goal by Will Lutz, allowing him to kick the game-winning field goal.
On Tuesday, the Bills found their fall guy in offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, announcing his firing. Replacing him is quarterbacks coach and former Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady.
The team is obviously reeling after this heartbreaking loss, highlighted by a variety of blunders. With Dorsey out, there will be a sense of urgency for the Bills, whether that is further dismissals or underperforming players being sent to the bench. Here are three Bills who could be dismissed or benched if the team's struggles are to continue.
3. Matthew Smiley is the last top assistant standing after Ken Dorsey firing
As mentioned earlier, there was a massive error by the Bills' special teams unit that canceled out a missed field goal by Lutz. That mistake was the Bills having 12 men on the field. With that, the Broncos moved five yards forward, and Lutz nailed his game-winning field goal attempt perfectly between the uprights.
It was the drive from hell for the Bills. There was that pass interference call on cornerback Taron Johnson, whether or not you agreed it should have been called due to an underthrown pass by Denver quarterback Russell Wilson. But that 12 men on the field penalty loomed large as it wiped out a win.
But after Dorsey's firing, special teams coordinator Matthew Smiley was saved. In fact, McDermott expressed confidence in Smiley's abilities when speaking with reporters on Tuesday. McDermott then detailed why the Bills made the mistake that resulted in having too many players on the field at the time of Lutz's missed kick. McDermott said instead of going for a "defensive stay" strategy for the Broncos rushing a field goal, Smiley went to get his "block" and "max-rush unit" on the field, and they were caught with 12 players on the field.
McDermott's comments come courtesy of AJ Feldman of News 8.
The Bills will look to get back on the right track next week against the New York Jets. But, it's hard to overlook the mistake that the special teams unit made, as it would have resulted in the Bills winning 22-21 and improving to 6-4 on the year.
2. Leonard Floyd seemingly was the 12th man on the field vs. Broncos
The Buffalo Bills have stars on the defensive front, specifically off the edge in A.J. Epenesa and Gregory Rousseau. But this offseason, the team brought in former Los Angeles Rams pass rusher Leonard Floyd to help bolster the pass rush. Thus far this season, it has been a mixed bag for Floyd.
In 348 total snaps this season, Floyd recorded 25 pressures, 11 quarterback hurries, eight sacks, and six quarterback hits, per Pro Football Focus. But the edge rusher has struggled in tackling, as he holds the second-highest missed tackle percentage with 44.4, just behind defensive tackle Tim Settle (45.5 percent, 240 snaps).
While Floyd has been good as a pass rusher, he hasn't been stellar in the other aspects of the game, especially tackling. But in Week 10, Floyd stood out in the loss for the too many players on the field penalty.
At the time the penalty was called, Floyd was standing on the field. But when the Broncos were given a re-kick, Floyd was not on the field, per the NFL (via ESPN's Ben Baby).
There are eight weeks remaining in the regular season for the Bills. They need to have a sense of urgency. If Floyd does struggle in future games, it may be wise to send out another player on the depth chart to help out, especially if they need to stop the run.
1. There's only so much Sean McDermott can deflect blame for Bills' struggles
Since the Bills made the playoffs in 2019, head coach Sean McDermott was expected to bring them to a Super Bowl title, their first-ever. The team was close in 2021, had they been able to stop Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs with 13 seconds left in regulation in the Divisional Round to avoid overtime. But since then, the team underperformed. Now, there is so much blame that McDermott can deflect.
McDermott is now without his top assistants.
Dorsey, the former quarterbacks coach, was promoted to offensive coordinator just last year after Brian Daboll accepted the New York Giants' head coaching job. Midway through the 2023 season, Dorsey's been fired.
Then, there was Leslie Frazier, the former defensive coordinator. Frazier was well-thought-of around league circles, as evidenced by his numerous head coaching interviews in recent years. But before this season, the team announced they weren't bringing Frazier back. The defensive coordinator plans on coaching next season.
Since arriving in 2017, McDermott holds a 67-40 record in the regular season. But in the playoffs, the team is 4-5, failing to make it past the Divisional Round.
The Bills are on the outside looking in in terms of a playoff spot entering Week 11. If the team fails to make the postseason, there's nowhere else to point the blame for McDermott. If Bills ownership wants change, McDermott could be on his way out after the season.
