ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Second-guess Bills coach Sean McDermott all you want for his clock-management decisions in the final 32 seconds of Buffalo’s loss to the Houston Texans.
Having Josh Allen attempt three straight passes — all incompletions — out of his own end zone rather than hand off the ball and drain the Texans of their three timeouts has been criticized enough in the aftermath of a 23-20 outcome decided on Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 59-yard field goal as time expired on Sunday.
McDermott readily accepted the blame afterward by noting the Bills should have at least attempted a run on first down — “And that’s on me,” he said.
More worrisome — and not entirely surprising — is how ineffective Allen’s arm was in a game he finished 9 of 30 for 131 yards and a touchdown. His 30% completion rate was the lowest of his career, and his yardage total was the fifth lowest in a game the seventh-year player started and finished.
And this wasn’t simply a one-off for Allen. In finishing with 180 yards passing in a 35-10 loss at Baltimore a week earlier, his 42 yards passing in the first half matched the second-lowest total in the opening 30 minutes of his career.
The drop in production is what many feared would happen following an offseason in which the Bills lost No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis in free agency and then traded their top threat, Stefon Diggs, to Houston as part of an overall vision to free up salary cap space.
The short-term trade-off was general manager Brandon Beane cobbling together a patchwork group of journeymen receivers to join returning third-year player Khalil Shakir. Beane also looked to the future by selecting Keon Coleman with the 33rd pick after twice trading back in the draft and passing on speedster Xavier Worthy (Kansas City), Ricky Pearsall (San Francisco) and Xavier Legette (Carolina).
However efficient Buffalo was in opening the season with three wins in appearing to justify its offensive spread-the-ball “everybody eats” motto, the passing attack has gone from feast to famine following two losses.
And it was especially true on Sunday with Shakir — Allen’s most reliable option — sidelined by an ankle injury.
Buffalo’s remaining wide receivers combined for four catches on 18 targets, with Coleman scoring on a 49-yard catch, in which he caught the ball near the line of scrimmage before spinning out of a tackle and running free up the left sideline.
Bills receivers are having difficulty gaining separation. They’ve dropped passes. Coleman had one pass bounce off his helmet because he wasn’t looking for it, and he was flagged for offensive pass interference in breaking up a potential interception.
Allen blamed himself.
“It starts with me making better decisions,” he said.
Allen then anticipated the criticism being directed at his receivers by saying: “I know you guys (reporters) are going to be wild this week, but love my guys, and we’re going to keep working. And this isn’t a defining moment in our season.”
There’s plenty of season still ahead for the four-time defending AFC East champs, who continue to lead a flawed division. But there’s an unlikelihood of reinforcements on the way, especially with fans clamoring for Beane to acquire Davante Adams from Las Vegas.
Enticing as the move might seem, it’s hard to envision Beane changing course for Adams, who at nearly 32, is a year older than Diggs, has two years left on his contact and would still count approximately $15.7 million against Buffalo’s cap if he was cut after this season.
What’s working
Limiting giveaways. Allen has yet to throw an interception after getting picked off a career-worst 18 times last season. Allen’s two lost fumbles account for Buffalo’s two turnovers this season.
What needs help
Third down production. A week after going 3 of 13 on third down at Baltimore, the Bills finished 3 of 14 against Houston and are 18 of 46 overall.
Stock up
Shakir. His importance to the passing attack in having caught 18 of 19 targets for a team-leading 230 yards and two TDs was evidenced in his absence.
Stock down
WR Curtis Samuel. Despite signing a three-year contract, the eighth-year player has been limited to nine catches for 48 yards.
Injuries
Nickel cornerback Taron Johnson is nearing his return after breaking his right forearm in Week 1. Aside from Shakir, the Bills were also without starting DT Ed Oliver (hamstring) and starting S Taylor Rapp remains in the concussion protocol.
Key numbers
0-3 — Allen has never lost three consecutive starts.
Next steps
An AFC East showdown at the New York Jets (2-3) on Monday night.
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