The Buffalo Bills reached their bye week at 5-1 after beating the Las Vegas Raiders 33-30, but the result did little to settle concerns about an offense that still has not found much consistency without wide receiver DJ Moore (shoulder). Buffalo escaped with enough explosive plays and a few late answers, yet two burned timeouts on its opening possession and several stalled sequences made the afternoon harder than it needed to be.
Bills Squad Show co-host Joe Marino called the win encouraging without treating it as a finished product. He pointed to Buffalo’s uneven rhythm, especially early, while noting the team still has found multiple ways to win through six games. The Bills scored 33 points, but they managed 103 rushing yards as a team against a Raiders defense the hosts expected them to attack more effectively on the ground.
Marino and Bills Squad Show co-host and former Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Jerry Ostroski focused on the two timeouts Buffalo used during its first drive. Those plays were part of the opening script, which made the communication and personnel issues more troubling in their view. Ostroski said the Bills looked sluggish and worn down, while Marino questioned why a club that spent the previous week practicing in California did not look sharper at the start.
The absence of Moore remains central to the conversation. The Bills listed Moore inactive against Las Vegas with a shoulder injury, and the latest official injury report had him as questionable after limited participation on Friday. Marino said Moore’s eventual return should allow Buffalo to place its other pass catchers in more natural roles, but the team has not announced his status for its next game.
Receiver Keon Coleman supplied the biggest counterpoint to the passing-game frustration. Coleman caught four passes for 59 yards with and a score, drew a significant third-down penalty and was on the receiving end of an improbable play from quarterback Josh Allen. Marino said Coleman is using his size more effectively at the catch point, while Ostroski saw a player gaining confidence in high-leverage moments.
Bills running back James Cook also kept the offense afloat with 95 rushing yards and 58 receiving yards. Ostroski argued that the Bills should consider more two-back personnel featuring Cook and Ty Johnson, particularly because Johnson can help in pass protection while Cook can be moved around as a receiving option.
The bye gives Buffalo time to address those details, but it does not erase them. The Bills will return to a difficult stretch that begins with Baltimore, and the more immediate task is to make the opening script, third-down offense and passing-game structure look less improvised than they did in Las Vegas.
Buffalo has the record it wanted entering the break. The next step is making sure the offense that returns against Baltimore looks more connected than the one that needed a late escape against Las Vegas.
Buffalo Bills Essentials
- 5 best quarterbacks in Buffalo Bills history
- 5 best running backs in Bills history
- 5 best wide receivers in Bills history
- Josh Allen’s net worth: How much does he make?
- Highmark Stadium: Top 5 NFL home-field advantages
- NFL’s richest owners: Where does the Pegula family rank?
Some or all of this content may have been generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, AI can occasionally produce incorrect information. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
