ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The addition of Amari Cooper has undeniably improved the Buffalo Bills’ lineup. On his first game with the team, five days after being traded from Cleveland, Cooper was on the field for 19 snaps. Despite the limited playtime, he managed to create significant opportunities for both himself and his teammates by drawing the attention of the Tennessee Titans’ defense, which resulted in more open passing lanes.
In the end, the Bills secured a comfortable 34-10 victory, with Cooper logging four receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown. His presence contributed to the overall effectiveness of the offense, as rookie Keon Coleman produced 125 receiving yards, marking the highest total by a Buffalo rookie since Sammy Watkins achieved 127 yards in 2014. Quarterback Josh Allen also thrived in this game, throwing for 323 yards—a notable increase from his average of 193 yards in the previous six games.
However, as encouraging as the win may seem, defeating an underperforming team in October shouldn’t be the primary benchmark for the AFC East leaders. The Bills still face numerous challenges if they are to pursue a successful playoff run in January. A persistent concern for Buffalo has been their sluggish starts. The team found itself trailing 10-0 initially, and the first half was troubling for the offense, which only managed 90 yards and three first downs while failing to convert any of their five third-down attempts.
Buffalo had a similar comeback from a 17-3 deficit in their season opener against Arizona, but this kind of performance is not a reliable strategy for consistent success, as demonstrated by their earlier losses to Baltimore and Houston when they fell behind early on. These defeats indicate that despite a 5-2 record and a substantial lead in a less competitive division, they should not be regarded as one of the elite NFL teams, especially considering their wins have come against opponents with a cumulative record of 9-23.
This upcoming weekend, the Bills will face a tougher challenge against the Seattle Seahawks, who currently lead the NFC West with a record of 4-3. Their schedule also features matches against other competitive teams, including Indianapolis (4-3), Detroit (5-1), San Francisco (3-4), and perennial playoff contender Kansas City (6-0). This season is still regarded as a rebuilding year for the Bills, with significant reliance on Allen to steer a roster mixed with inexperienced players and career journeymen.
Allen has performed admirably, remaining interception-free thus far. Additionally, rookies like Coleman, running back Ray Davis, and defensive tackle DeWayne Carter have begun to showcase their potential. Carter made a pivotal play on Sunday, stopping Titans running back Tony Pollard for a 3-yard loss on a crucial fourth down, which allowed Cooper to score the go-ahead touchdown shortly after.
The Bills are counting on Allen’s continued health, Cooper’s newfound impact to enhance the offense, and the returns of Von Miller and linebacker Matt Milano. Miller is eligible to rejoin the team next week after serving a four-game suspension, while Milano could return as early as December after undergoing rehabilitation for a torn left biceps.
After the win over Tennessee, coach Sean McDermott emphasized the need for humility, urging his team to concentrate on their work ahead.
What’s functioning well for the Bills includes their adjustments during halftime. Following a first half that saw Allen only manage 65 passing yards, he bounced back with an impressive 258 yards in the second half—a personal best for him in the final 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the defense stifled Tennessee, allowing them just 72 yards and five first downs after halftime.
On the other hand, third-down efficiency remains a concern, with the Bills converting only 3 out of 10 opportunities, marking the fifth instance this season where they fell below a 33% conversion rate. Previously, they only experienced such struggles five times between 2021 and 2023.
In terms of player performances, defensive end Greg Rousseau shined with five tackles and a half-sack while also accumulating a season-high six quarterback hits. Conversely, the arrival of Cooper may decrease wide receiver Mack Hollins’ playing time.
Injury updates report that linebacker Terrell Bernard did not return after aggravating his right knee, while wide receiver Curtis Samuel left in the first quarter due to a shoulder injury.
Additionally, an interesting statistic shows that the Bills maintain an impressive record of 23-2 against quarterbacks with 16 or fewer starts since 2019, with Mason Rudolph suffering the loss on Sunday.
Moving forward, the Bills will travel to Seattle, where they have won two of their last three matchups but hold an overall record of 3-6 against the Seahawks.