ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Bills fans aren’t sure how to react.
Here’s Buffalo at 5-2, the AFC’s leading candidate for the No. 1 wild-card playoff berth, and one of eight two-loss teams in the National Football League.
Yet, as their fans know, the Bills haven’t made the postseason in 17 years and they’ve been teased and disappointed several times over that span.
But this season seems different and it starts with new coach Sean McDermott, who uses the word “process” so often he should demand residuals.
Yet the reality is, his “process” seems to be working and it’s far beyond Xs and Os. It starts with human relations. McDermott rearranged the cubicles in the locker room so that players weren’t bunched by friendships, positions or cliques, but rather were forced to get to know other teammates.
He also removed the pool table and video games from the players area to enhance focus on their jobs.
Apparently, the approach has been successful.
And Sunday’s 34-14 victory over the Raiders at New Era Field offered compelling proof.
To be sure, Oakland (3-5) isn’t the team it was last season when it went 12-4, though five of those wins were by a field goal-or-less and the Raiders lost their first playoff game.
Still, the key offensive weapons — elite quarterback Derek Carr and quality receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree — were there and seemed primed for a big day. Three of Buffalo’s defensive starters — outside linebacker Ramon Humber (thumb), cornerback E.J. Gaines (hamstring) and safety Jordan Poyer (knee) — were unavailable due to their injuries.
Their places were taken by rookie fifth-round draft choice Matt Milano (though he seems destined to take Humber’s job), veteran journeyman cornerback Shareece Wright and rookie free agent safety Trae Elston who played two games, was waived, then re-signed.
The Bills would seemingly be carved to pieces by Oakland’s passing attack.
Oh, Carr got his numbers — 31-of-49 through the air for 313 yards — but he was held to an oh-by-the-way touchdown to running back DeAndre Washington with the outcome already decided. He also threw two interceptions — one to Elston, the other to fellow safety Micah Hyde — and endured a poor 71.2 passer rating.
Still, many of the league statistics seem to contradict Buffalo’s record.
The Bills are 29th in the NFL in offensive passing yards per game (179), 28th in passing yards given up (266), 25th in total defensive yards surrendered (347) and 22nd in offensive yards gained (303).
But there are also encouraging stats.
Buffalo, surrendering 16.4 points per game, is tied with Pittsburgh for second fewest given up, behind only Jacksonville (15.7).
The Bills are third-best in defending the run (80 yards per game) and, after the last two games, Buffalo’s own rushing attack have moved up to ninth (125-yard average).
By far, though, McDermott’s team’s most impressive statistic is giveaway/takeaway.
The Bills have forced 17 turnovers (11 interceptions, second to Baltimore’s 12; 6 fumble recoveries, tied for fourth).
Buffalo’s takeaway total is tied with the Ravens for tops in the NFL, but the Bills have turned the ball over a mere three times, giving them a plus-14 ratio, best in the league by six over runner-up Jacksonville (plus-8).
Middle linebacker Preston Brown in assessing the performances of Milano, who returned a fumble 40 yards for a touchdown and forced another, Elston and Wright, noted, “The coaches do a great job of getting them prepared … and they’re good players. They’re just going out there and doing their job.”
As for the Bills permitting a third straight 300-yard passer, he added, “It sounds weird, but we really don’t care about yards, we care about points. If they get down in the red zone (inside the 20-yard line) we find ways to make plays, get picks, fumbles…”
Milano, after only his third start, admitted, “It just goes back to the way we practice. Everybody’s got to be ready … everybody’s practicing hard, getting reps (in case they’re needed).”
And even with three substitute starters on defense, the Bills forced at least three takeaways for a fourth straight game.
“Give it up to the coaches,” Hyde said. “They did a good job of getting everybody lined up (correctly) and keeping the confidence up.
“As a younger player you tend to go out there and be a little shook. But we didn’t see that … we’re teaching ‘next man up’ and these guys are going out there to ball.”
And the next opportunity comes quickly … Thursday night at the Meadowlands against the Jets.
(Chuck Pollock, a Times Herald sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@oleantimesherald.com)
