Here's the Bills news of note for September 18th.
1 - Late offensive surge too little, too late
In Sunday's loss, the Buffalo Bills best offensive possession came on the team's final drive. Trailing 9-3 with the two-minute warning looming, the Bills desperately needed a touchdown.
Rookie wide receiver Zay Jones didn't find the stat sheet until the team's final push, when Tyrod Taylor finally found some sort of rhythm. Jones had two receptions late in that final drive, and almost had a third that could've changed it all.
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"He is a young player. A lot is being asked out of him. There are a lot of plays that are going to be made and a lot not going to be made," Taylor said. "As a team we have his back. Like I said it didn't boil down to that. Would that have helped, yes, but its other players out there that I didn't make, as a team we didn't make."
On fourth-and-11 on Carolina's 33-yard line Taylor had an open receiver in Jones. The pass could've been placed better, but Jones did manage to get two hands on the ball.
"Zay takes it on himself, he wants to make that play, we all do. There are a lot of other opportunities too," Sean McDermott said.
Taylor's final stat line was 17 for 25 passing, totaling 125-yards. A good chunk of those yards came on the team's final possession. LeSean McCoy couldn't reenact his Week One performance; he carried the ball 12 times for nine-yards.
Despite the struggles offensively, the defense was extremely promising all game. They held the Panthers to 0-for-3 in the red zone, ultimately making it a one possession game.
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2 - McDermott happy with effort despite first loss**
The offense was inexistent and the defense excelled in Sunday's matchup. Even if it came at the expense of his first NFL loss, head coach Sean McDermott is still satisfied with the team's effort.
"Those guys played hard, the whole team played hard. To have a chance to win the game at the end that's what you look for," McDermott said.
All week much of the talk was about containing Cam Newton. Leslie Frazier and the Bills defense certainly achieved that. The defense got to Newton all afternoon; they racked up six sacks on the former MVP.
The battle of possession was lopsided, with the Panthers almost doubling the Bills. The defense battled to keep it a one possession game for over 38 minutes.
"These are a tough group of guys right here. No other locker room I'd rather be in… these guys battled. It was hot out there," McDermott said.
The Bills will be back home in Week Three against the Denver Broncos. The offense has a lot to improve on before facing Von Miller and company.
3 - Kaelin Clay called in against former team
With Brandon Tate being ruled inactive Kaelin Clay stepped into his role for Week Two. Coming over from Carolina, this was Clay's first game suiting up for the Bills.
"He knows this team. Getting him going on the offensive side of the ball also. Wanted to give him a chance to return to see what he can do," Sean McDermott said.
Clay didn't see any action on the offensive side of the ball. He had the opportunity to field two balls on punt returns. His longest return went for two-yards and the other one he muffed.
"One where I felt like I had an opportunity I let slip through my hands, luckily we got it back. You live and you learn. He [Michael Palardy] really didn't give me a chance, maybe because they knew that I was back there… just an opportunity to be out there I appreciate it," Clay said.
With Clay inactive in Week One and Tate inactive in Week Two, it will be interesting to see who will be back there in Week Three.
SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS OF THE DAY
Former Bills wide receivers Stevie Johnson and Andre Reed offer encouragement to rookie wide receiver Zay Jones after Sunday's loss.
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