News and notes from Monday's media availability with head coach Sean McDermott, OC Joe Brady and DC Bobby Babich.
WR Amari Cooper has best day as a Bill
Since joining the Bills via a midseason trade in mid-October, WR Amari Cooper has made his fair share of impact plays. Sunday marked his best statistical performance of the season, hauling a season-high 95 yards on 14 targets.
Cooper was QB Josh Allen's favorite target against the Rams and Sean McDermott shared that he's noticed an increased connection between Cooper and Allen recently.
"I think it's a good sign, I really do. I think there is a chemistry there that's been born," he said.
Cooper missed two games (Weeks 9 & 10) with a wrist injury and has played a big role in the offense in each of the last three games he's played.
"We're better when Amari Cooper's on the field right and he's going to continue to progress in this offense," Brady said.
OC Joe Brady on his decision to call a QB sneak
Entering Sunday, Josh Allen had converted 13 of 14 (93%) of his short yardage sneaks when needing to pick up 1 yard, according to TruMedia. Prior to the final drive, Allen was 3 of 4 on short yardage sneaks against the Rams, including two TDs from the 1 yard line.
Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady shared that he felt confident in the ability to convert again, even with the clock working against them at the end of the game.
"The highest percentage play at that point was just doing a QB sneak," Brady said. "At the same time, the cost of not getting it essentially, potentially, and kind of did cost us the game. So I have to do a better job in that situation. At the end of the day, we can't burn a timeout there."
Brady added that in insight, it's worth considering if he could have called a different play as the initial unsuccessful attempt forced the Bills to take a timeout to save time on the clock.
"If we're going to call it, we have to make sure that we know 100% that we can get it. I felt confident in it and felt confident in doing it. But that doesn't make it right," he said.
Defensive struggles vs. Rams a "conglomeration" of issues
Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich voiced his frustration with the defensive performance against the Rams as Buffalo allowed a season-high 44 points, but added that he also did not live up to his standards as a play-caller.
"When you look at it and you really watch the tape, it's, and I used this word earlier today, it's a conglomeration, and I'm including myself, of people not doing their jobs at a high level," Babich said.
Babich explained that by "conglomeration", he means the grouping of issues compounded itself throughout the game. The Rams early rushing success (67 rush yards in the 1st quarter), allowed them to get into favorable third downs (11 of 15) and when teams are converting third downs at a high rate, it leads to the opponent having more scoring chances.
"The recipe to lose a football game is what we did yesterday, and it starts with me, first and foremost, what I did yesterday, and we just got to learn from it. Move on and not let it happen again," he said
The Lions are the No. 1 ranked scoring offense in the NFL this season, so the Bills defense will have another tough matchup ahead of them.
Babich believes using this week to refocus, regroup and spend time learning how to respond when things aren't going their way will be a priority.
"I believe our guys are up to the challenge, and they're ready to respond," Babich said.
