Although the Bills lost their final preseason game to the Panthers 31-26, and the starters did not play, the offense was able to find their stride and find energy to produce its highest scoring output of the 2024 preseason. Several undrafted free agents on both sides of the ball were able to make plays that contributed to the success of the team.
Both QBs led scoring drives, while only throwing five incomplete passes combined. Both Anthony Brown and Ben DiNucci are new to the offensive system, neither of which having spent more than two weeks with this team.
"I thought both quarterbacks were impressive," head coach Sean McDermott said. "Short run-up, practice time. I thought the coaches did a really good job of getting them functional, and I tip my cap to those guys. They went in and executed, were able to run the offense, get us into somewhat of a rhythm in multiple drives there."
Because the starters did not play in this game, players that normally saw limited reps in the previous two preseason games got more opportunities to show what they were capable of.
DB Te'Cory Couch was one of those players. The undrafted rookie DB put on a show, racking up nine tackles, including a sack.
"Oh, man, it was great," LB Dorian Williams said. "You know, he been balling all camp. And, you know, Coach always say our corners tackle, our DBs tackle. So, it's great go out there and see him go make a make a lot of plays. That's expected of him."
Another undrafted free agent made a name for himself in RB Frank Gore Jr., rushing for over 100-yards and added in a touchdown in front of his father, Frank Gore Sr., who was in the stands to Saturday's preseason finale.
Gore has seemingly gotten better from rookie mini-camp to training camp and each preseason game, rushing for 21 yards against the Bears, 41 yards in the previous game against the Steelers, before exploding for 101 yards on 18 carries against the Panthers.
"I thought he did some good things as well," McDermott said. "…Ran hard, and gave us some juice in there."
"Probably just like most rookies, probably more and more comfortable as the training camp wore on, and then preseason one to two, and then two to three as well, and just getting more and more comfortable in our run game and our system."
Gore knew that without RB James Cook and Ray Davis playing, and Darrynton Evans leaving early with an injury, his number would be called upon to deliver.
"I was ready. I was fired up. I was fired up. I was fired up. I was ready for the ball," Gore Jr. said.
LB Joe Andreessen also followed up his stellar performance against the Steelers with another eight tackles against the Panthers on Saturday afternoon. The rookie undrafted linebacker joked with reporters that he does not know how he's dealt with some of the fanfare that has come with playing for his local team that he grew up watching, but that he has remained focused through it all.
"I mean, the last week's been a little crazy," Andreessen said. "Had a lot more on my plate this week, I would say, in terms of just responsibility and stuff like that. But yeah, I mean, I'm here to try and continue my career and trying to be the best I can for this organization."
With Aug. 27 looming large for teams to trim their rosters down to the final 53, these players are proud of the work they put in throughout this tryout process.
When asked if they proved that they belong in the league, each player's answer varied, but the one consistent message was "yes."
"I do. I do," WR Tyrell Shavers said. "But of course, there's some things that I wish I could have back, you know, but I'm not gonna be perfect. I'm not gonna play perfect. But I think I did."
"Yeah, of course I feel like I belong in the league," Gore Jr. said. "I don't know where, I hope I'm here, but it really doesn't matter. Like I said before Beane's going to gonna do what's best for his team, and hopefully someone seen something in me. So, it really. I'll be fine. For sure. So, no matter, this year, next year, the year after. I'll be fine."
"Yeah, I think I proved I could play," Andreessen said. "But you know, that's not obviously up to me. Trying not to worry about things out of my control."
McDermott and Williams both spoke to how difficult the next few days will be, so they will savor the time that they have left with some of the players that may be in new locations.
"Just taking it from there," Williams said. "You know, see, what we got going on. We got a couple meetings, practices, workouts and stuff. So we all get that knocked out. And, you know, get to spend some time with the guys before. You know, this team gets split up a little bit."
"Extremely difficult," McDermott said of the question. "The relationships that we're blessed to have formed with, with these young men. The conversations you're able to have, whether it's in spring or at St. John Fisher at camp or on a trip to Pittsburgh in the off times and the gaps in between the schedules and the meetings… And, you know, you get a chance to learn that these guys are real human beings with real lives that they're trying to make it right… For whatever happens, they'll be prepared and they're going to be just fine."
The next challenge for this team- the NFL regular season opener against the Cardinals.
"Just looking forward to learning, growing, watching their scheme, seeing what they want to do," Williams said on the Cardinals. "You got a good team over here. So, you know, happy to compete."
