Cornerback Taron Johnson is still upset about the poor performance the Buffalo Bills defense showed in their loss to the Los Angeles Rams last weekend, where they gave up the most points and yards of the season and struggled on third down.
The Bills (10-3) see Sunday as a great opportunity to show they are better than their last game when they face the NFC-leading Detroit Lions (12-1), who lead the NFL in scoring and have an offense similar to the Rams.
“I think our mindset is just going to be attack,” Johnson said after practice on Wednesday. “We can’t wait to play Sunday just to prove people wrong and prove to ourselves that how we played wasn’t who we are.”
The Bills acknowledge they had several reasons for their poor performance in the 44-42 loss — being a bit overconfident after a big division win, making a long trip across the country, and facing a more motivated opponent in the playoff race.
However, what is unacceptable is the hesitation their normally dependable defensive backs showed in coverage and the lack of pressure from their defensive front.
On the bright side, the poor performance could serve as a reminder not to take their foot off the gas at this point in the season.
“A lot of teams have scars on their way to having a darn good season. And we’re having a darn good season,” coach Sean McDermott said.
“So what has to be in front of us this week is the opportunity that’s in front of us, quite frankly, to challenge that team,” he added, referring to Detroit. “You better bring your heart, you better bring your guts, you better put it on the line.”
With extra motivation, the Bills are returning to basic defensive principles after a game where very little went right. From the start, the defense struggled to stop the run and then allowed the Rams to pass easily, letting them score on every one of their first six drives (except for a kneel-down before halftime) to build a 38-21 lead.
The most frustrating part was the Bills’ failure to get off the field on third downs, allowing the Rams to convert 11 of 15 opportunities. The Rams’ 73.3% conversion rate was the third highest against the Bills and the worst since Miami converted 75% of its chances in 1986.
“The recipe to lose a football game is what we did (Sunday) and it starts with me, first and foremost,” defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said on Monday. “Move on and let it not happen again. Let it be a learning lesson. Failure is the best teacher.”
Now, the Bills must prepare for a very balanced Lions offense that ranks fourth in the NFL in both rushing and passing, averaging 32.1 points per game.
McDermott said the goal is not to overreact but to stick to the basics that helped the Bills win seven straight games before losing to the Rams.
He stressed the importance of winning at the line of scrimmage and forcing turnovers, something the Bills didn’t do last week for the first time this season. A bit more urgency would help too.
“It is a mentality. It is an attitude, and if you want to play good defense, that’s where it starts,” McDermott said. “There’s not a lot of shortcuts or ways around it. It’s got to be a mentality.”
The message also got through to the offense. Quarterback Josh Allen almost led the Bills to a comeback victory, throwing three touchdown passes and rushing for three more scores.
“It was a case of you saw a team that’s fighting for their lives to try to make the playoffs in the Los Angeles Rams, and they came out ready to play. And maybe we didn’t have that type of urgency,” Allen said. “It forces us to know that we’ve got to be better. We know that.”
