The Buffalo Payments' blowout loss in opposition to the Chicago Bears was “actually lower than our commonplace,” in accordance with coach Sean McDermott, who stated he was “involved” by his group's general efficiency in its second preseason sport.
The Payments, who nearly completely performed their backups in opposition to Caleb Williams and the Bears' starters early in Sunday's sport, had been outgained 528-180 within the 38-0 loss.
“Actually lower than our commonplace, what we anticipate,” McDermott stated. “Bought numerous work to do, that is very clear. Would not matter who's on the market — ones, twos, threes, fours — whoever it's, we anticipate them to carry out and we anticipate our degree of efficiency to be significantly better than that.”
Security Cole Bishop and broad receiver Joshua Palmer had been the 2 projected Payments starters that did see some taking part in time after each missed time throughout camp with accidents. Bishop performed 11 snaps in opposition to the Bears' first-team offense and Palmer performed eight.
McDermott didn't point out any particular gamers and acknowledged that Josh Allen and many of the group's starters rested as a result of the Payments wished to prioritize conserving them wholesome, including that he felt they had been transferring in the proper course with the primary unit throughout coming off final week's joint practices with the Bears.
However McDermott emphasised that he wished to see extra from Buffalo's second stringers, particularly the protection, which struggled in opposition to Williams and Chicago's first-string offense.
“Get on the market and taking part in in opposition to their ones, I anticipate — we anticipate — to compete with them, and that wasn't the case early,” McDermott stated. “After which our twos, who had been on the market in opposition to their twos, and our threes in opposition to their threes — it did not get significantly better.
“So we have to take a look at it, determine some issues out and consider a number of the guys as properly and see the place we stand there. Lots of work to get finished this week as we transfer ahead.”
Williams performed two sequence in his preseason debut below new Bears coach Ben Johnson, finishing 6 of 10 passes for 107 yards and a 130 quarterback score. The 2024 No. 1 draft decide orchestrated a seven-play, 92-yard opening drive that he punctuated with a 36-yard landing cross to Olamide Zaccheaus.
McDermott stated Williams was “unaffected” and “was in a rhythm immediately.”
“Now you are coping with him,” McDermott stated. “[The Bears'] QB score on the finish of the sport says all of it.”
The five-time defending AFC East champions have allowed 72 factors and 924 yards of whole offense mixed over their first two preseason video games. Though he stated he would not wish to overreact to preseason performances from second- and third-string gamers, McDermott additionally acknowledged that he needs to see enchancment earlier than the beginning of the common season.
“I am involved about numerous issues coming off tonight. … There's so much that should get cleaned up,” stated McDermott, who additionally famous that the Payments had been “out-fundamentaled” and that they've to verify they return to the basics of the sport. The Payments had been penalized 10 occasions to the Bears' 5.
The Payments open the common season at house in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens in a Sunday evening matchup on Sept. 7.
ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg contributed to this report.
