Even though the Bills lost another difficult game in overtime, one standout performance was turned in by nose tackle Kyle Williams. The fifth-year player out of LSU made some big plays in crucial situations to keep the Bills in the game, while the offense was struggling to produce points.
Williams made nine total tackles, including six solo tackles, along with two sacks. Williams came into today's game ranked ninth among defensive lineman in the NFL in total tackles and continued to play at a high level.
Linebacker Paul Posluszny, who led the team with 18 tackles, has noticed the caliber of play Williams has had and how important he is to the Bills defense.
"He is a big time player," Posluszny said. "He's playing at a Pro Bowl level. He's doing a great job for us and I know he'll continue to work and make plays for us. He's a guy we can always rely on."
Williams proved how reliable he was against the Kansas City Chiefs on several plays, but saved some of his best for the fourth quarter. On the first play of the fourth, the Bills nose tackle stoned Thomas Jones in the hole on a 2nd-and-7 play at the Bills 36.
Kansas City was able to move the chains to extend their drive, but Williams would have an answer. On a 2nd-and-4 play from the Buffalo 11, he again dropped Jones on a run play, this time for a four-yard loss to bring up a 3rd-and-8 at the Buffalo 15.
On the ensuing play Cassel wanted to look to the end zone, but a quarterback pressure by Williams forced him to throw underneath to Terrance Copper, who was held short of the first down marker forcing the Chiefs to kick a short field goal keeping it a one score game (10-3) with 9:36 left.
Williams and the defense got a lengthy break after their offensive counterparts tied it at 10 with just over two minutes left. But after an exchange of possessions between the two clubs, Kansas City had the ball at their own 40 with 20 seconds remaining in regulation.
The Chiefs however, would not threaten to change the score with a long pass and a possible field goal attempt. Williams dropped Cassel for an eight-yard loss with his second sack of the game as time expired in regulation.
In what has been a trying season, Sunday was one of the best games defensively for a Bills unit that came into the game ranked last in the league in points allowed. They took a bend but don't break type of approach giving up 414 total yards, including 274 yards rushing but only allowed 13 points in five quarters, a single-game season low.
"It's no surprise, we have some talented group of guys," said Steve Johnson. "It is no surprise the defense stopped them or that we still had opportunities to make field goals or score in overtime. It'll come, we just have to keep working."
Williams set a tone early in the game. Kansas City facing a 4th-and-2 at the Bills 19-yard line showed Buffalo's defense no respect, choosing to go for it instead of kicking a field goal in what was a scoreless game at the time.
Buffalo's nose tackle caught a scrambling Matt Cassel dropping him for a sack and a one-yard loss to force a turnover on downs. Williams also led the team with three quarterback hits.
On the season Williams now leads the team in sacks and tackles for loss.
Being one of the team's defensive leaders, Kyle Williams know how important it is to not let the loss linger on and to quickly shift focus to the next game.
"We have another chance to go out and win a football game," said Williams. "There is a difference like last week between being frustrated and discouraged. We might not like it and get (ticked) off, but you have to go back to work and don't hang your head, don't get down because if you get down, that is when it gets worse."
Next week the Bills will play the Chicago Bears in their annual game in Toronto. The Bills will have an opportunity to continue to improve on defense as the Bears rank 22nd in total offense and last in third down conversion percentage in the NFL. And one can bet that Kyle Williams will be in the middle of Buffalo's defensive effort.
