What's plagued the Bills the past three weeks is something that even Chan Gailey and his coaching staff can't quite put their finger on. What has Gailey convinced that they can recapture that measure of performance rests in the fact that they've done it already.
That's why when asked if the team's current three-game losing streak felt like a runaway train, Gailey chose to describe the situation differently.
"A runaway train is 0-8," he said. "That's a runaway train and you're trying to correct it. This is, we've done it. It's not like we haven't done it. We've got to get our guys back, keep everybody together, keep fighting and keep working. It will not be easy because it is bad right now. It is and I understand that and I see that, and I'm responsible for it. So we've got to get it going in the right direction. We're going the wrong direction on that train, but I don't think it's a runaway."
It's hard to believe that the team that averaged* *37 points per game in the first three games of the season has been unable to reach that total in their last three games combined (26 points). Granted, they have lost weapons since that time like Roscoe Parrish, and for the second time this season Donald Jones, but it's not going to keep them from searching for solutions to be productive on offense again.
Outside observers are of the opinion that the receivers are having a more difficult time gaining separation forcing Ryan Fitzpatrick to throw the ball into tighter spots thereby raising the risk for turnovers. Buffalo has nine including seven interceptions the past three weeks, but both on Sunday were off tipped balls.
"I think we're capable of getting open," said Gailey."We're either not separating the way we need to or hitting our spots the way we need to. Maybe we've got to come up with some better design to help those guys get open. We were doing it earlier in the year."
"It's not like we're running the wrong routes or we're going out there and not being where Fitz wants us to be," said Stevie Johnson. "We're there and we're just not taking advantage of the opportunities."
The defense has had their issues too. They've had trouble getting off the field on third down and in keeping opponents out of the end zone, but their run defense was better Sunday holding Miami to just 2.7 yards per carry. Veteran Chris Kelsay believes they can stop the bleeding and improve over the regular season's last six weeks.
"We've got to continue to come to work and make the most out of this season," he said. "There's a lot of football ahead of us, a lot of opportunities where we're really going to see the character of this team in how we respond to this, a tough three weeks. It's passed and that's the good thing about this league you get another chance to make the most of it."
"All I can think about right now is we're slumping," said Johnson. "Every team goes through it at some point as a team and right now we are, and we've got to find a way to get out of it."
Even though it's the players that have to make the plays, in the end Gailey put the onus on himself and his coaching staff.
"We've got to have guys that can go out and execute and I've got to put them in position to be able to play," he said. "They're good football players or they wouldn't be on an NFL team. We've got to help them execute better. That's our responsibility."
