Sean McDermott on Bills’ turnover tendencies: ‘You can’t do that and expect to win’
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott, left, makes a points with officials including line judge Brian Bolinger (40) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla.[(AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)]
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WHEC) — Turnovers have hampered the Bills at times this year. They’ve committed at least one in all but three games this year including nine in the last three weeks.
Week 7’s win over the Dolphins was the last game they were turnover-free in. Since then, they’ve allowed some which have come at critical junctures.
In Week 9’s three-point loss to the Jaguars, Buffalo fumbled on the second to last drive with 5:30 remaining in the game.
A week later against the Jets, a bottom-five defense in the NFL heading in, Buffalo had back-to-back drives later in the game in which they gave the ball away (an interception and fumble). Though that didn’t change the outcome of it, the giveaways in their latest game did.
Against the Colts on Sunday, Sean McDermott’s squad turned the ball over a season-high four times including twice on the last four drives (the final one coming on a Mitch Trubisky interception).
With the loss, Buffalo drops to (6-4) and holds the lowest playoff seed (7). They’re only a half a game ahead of the Steelers and Colts with five weeks remaining. Over that span, the Bills play three plus-.500 teams, which the coaches know allows minimal room for error if a playoff run is in store.
“Nine different times takeaway possession to score the football,” said Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll. “We got to do a better job; it’s almost double what we had in the first seven games. It’s something that we constantly work on whether you’re running it or throwing it. Our job is to possess the ball and if we’re not scoring touchdowns, then end every drive with a kick.”
“I keep talking about it: you cannot turn the ball over,” said Head Coach Sean McDermott. “You just can’t do that. This team feasted on taking the ball away and we turned it over not only on offense but on special teams. You can’t do that and expect to win.”
The Bills have a short week’s rest before visiting the Saints on Thanksgiving, which can be seen on News10NBC.