There were a lot of elements of the Buffalo Bills second preseason game that weren't ideal – namely, the team has gone two full games without scoring a touchdown – but there were also plenty of positives.
After their first preseason game that saw the Bills get blown out 33-6 by Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears, Sean McDermott and Josh Allen sent clear messages to the team about living up to the standard that comes along with putting on the Buffalo Bills colors.
In this game, while the points where there, there was a noticeable increase in intensity in all phases of the game.
Rushing attack paves the way and sets the tone
It's not great that the Bills haven't found the end zone through two preseason games, but with Josh Allen sitting this one out because of the field conditions and only attempting three passes so far through two contests, Bills fans need to take a breather and wait for the games to start counting before getting too concerned.
Of importance, the Bills came out and showcased a dominant outpouring through the run game that saw them compile 167 rushing yards. It was a team effort that McDermott was pleased to see, especially as the game wore on.
"I thought, really, the offense did a phenomenal job establishing the line of scrimmage in the second half with intention and purpose and pad level, finishing runs. I mean, watching the running backs, tight ends, wide receivers, they all blocked. In order to have a good running game, they’ve all got to do their part, and that’s what I saw," McDermott said after the game. "The second half, that's that's the standard right there. That's the mindset, that's the pad level, that's the fundamentals. I thought [offensive coordinator] Joe [Brady] did a great job, the whole offensive staff of scheming it up, and the players executing it."
The competition surges on for depth running back spots
The Bills did a fantastic job of splitting up the opportunities between the running backs tonight, with the locked-in starter James Cook getting six carries, Darrynton Evans getting seven, and fourth-round pick Ray Davis and undrafted free agent Frank Gore Jr. each getting eight. Notably, Ty Johnson, who is attempting to make the Bills roster for the second year in a row, only saw one carry.
If the Bills are looking to roster three tailbacks and a fullback, it's safe to assume that Davis is making the roster, meaning Evans, Gore, and Johnson could be fighting for the final spot. For my money, it has to go to Gore. He showed flashes in the first preseason game, but looked far more decisive and in control tonight.
"You know what, it's fun to watch players, young players like Frank [Gore Jr.] and all those guys, they get a shot, right, especially not in their first game. In the first game, they're a little nervous, and I kinda witnessed that last week. Now, in game two, they kinda took advantage of their opportunity in game two," McDermott said with a smile when asked about Gore.
Seeing the trenches get that much push in the run game, and seeing the opportunity split between the backup running backs, was an important aspect of tonight. With Allen sidelined, it felt like the coaching staff put an intentional emphasis on analyzing that part of their roster.
Watching how the running back position battle shake out heading into the third and final preseason game next Saturday at home against the Panthers will be one of the key elements in determining the final look of the 53-man roster.
Related: Three key questions that must be answered for the Buffalo Bills in preseason week 2
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