ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills' back-to-back blowout losses this month to the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints sparked debate between fans about whether the offense or defense was more at fault for the team's free fall after a 5-2 start.
The offense had recurring issues moving the ball and the defense was a shell of the group that allowed a league-low 13.5 points per game through the first four weeks of the regular season.
Clearly, coach Sean McDermott felt the offense was more in need of a drastic change. He announced Wednesday that quarterback Tyrod Taylor would sit and rookie Nathan Peterman would start Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Benching a veteran starter in favor of a rookie quarterback is far from a typical move made by a 5-4 team in position to make the playoffs, but McDermott insists he made the decision with the intention with winning now -- not just getting a look at Peterman for the future. The latter case would be considered tanking, and McDermott has fought back hard since the summer against the perception his team is entertaining that idea.
If the Bills are truly looking to win fast, as McDermott told his players upon taking the job, the pressure is on Peterman to fix the offense's issues during a tough stretch of the schedule that includes back-to-back road trips against the Chargers and Chiefs before a home meeting with the Patriots.
But even if Peterman provides the spark Taylor did not and turns around the Bills' 30th-ranked passing offense, Buffalo could be held back from snapping their 17-year playoff drought if the defense does not shape up.
The Bills have allowed 492 rushing yards and nine touchdowns during the past two games, both losses, and to paint those two disastrous performances as an anomaly would be wrong. Since Week 5, over which time the Bills have played five games, their defense ranks ranks 28th in points allowed per game (28.4), 30th in yards allowed per game (403.0), 29th in yards allowed per play (6.07), 24th on third downs (43.5 percent opponent conversions) and 26th in the red zone (65 percent opponent touchdown rate).
Part of the problem can be attributed to the offense's inability to stay on the field. The Bills rank 29th in time of possession per game (27:30) since Week 5, while the offense is tied for 27th in having 40.6 percent of drives go three-and-out this season.
Still, the defense also must take a look in the mirror. Defensive tackle Kyle Williams and linebacker Lorenzo Alexander, both 34, are ex-Pro Bowlers who are showing their age this season. Defensive ends Jerry Hughes and Shaq Lawson have combined for only five sacks this season, and overall the Bills rank 30th in sacks per opponent pass attempt (4.3 percent). The Bills made the right long-term move in trading Marcell Dareus but on Tuesday they had to re-sign a player they previously released, Deandre Coleman, to bulk up at defensive tackle.
Injuries have only played a minimal role in the defense's decline. The most notable absence has been cornerback E.J. Gaines, who has missed four of the past five games with groin and hamstring injuries.
McDermott, with a background coordinating the defenses of the Panthers (2011-16) and Eagles (2009-10), will be judged on his ability to get that side of the ball right, just like his predecessor Rex Ryan.
After back-to-back losses to begin last season, Ryan fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman and replaced him with Anthony Lynn, who will lead the Chargers against the Bills this Sunday. Roman's firing came a day after Ryan's defense allowed 493 yards to the Jets, so the move was viewed as a misdirection play by Ryan that placed blame on something other than which he was directly responsible. Owners Terry and Kim Pegula also solicited players' opinions on Roman, which might have played a role. Ultimately, the Pegulas fired everybody.
McDermott's job is most certainly not in jeopardy in his first season, so there is not a direct parallel between this situation and Ryan's decision to ax Roman. But similar to Ryan, McDermott can't fire himself for the defense's struggles, so the most logical place for a shake up was in the adjacent meeting room.
