Albany Times Union (Sunday)

Bills look to improve all facets

Buffalo faces Vikings looking to build on last week’s defensive effort

- Minneapoli­s

The Bills’ play-calling will now be a collaborat­ive effort.

Buffalo was outscored 75-9 over its first six quarters until making modest improvemen­t in the second half last week. What changed? Well, coach Sean Mcdermott took over play-calling duty from defensive coordinato­r Leslie Frazier, his long-time friend and mentor. They will collaborat­e now.

“We’re going to do what we feel we need to do in games, and improve,” Mcdermott said, “and we look in every corner to improve.”

The Chargers had 284 yards, 17 first downs and 28 points in the first half, then just 65 yards, four first downs and three points in the second half.

“That’s something that we can build on this week going in, just having the confidence of knowing we can stop teams from scoring,” said Tre’davious White, one of only three healthy cornerback­s on the roster following the retirement of Vontae Davis and injuries to Phillip Gaines and Taron Johnson.

The Bills ranked sixth in the league last year in rushing yards, on the strength of a second straight 1,000-yard season by Lesean Mccoy, but Bills running backs have only 108 yards on 31 attempts through two games. This has been a rough season so far for Mccoy. He’s been working through a rib cartilage injury this week, when he was also named in a second case of alleged abuse brought forth by a former girlfriend.

“They’re a good team. It’s a challenge. If I’m good enough,

I’ll go out there and compete,”

Mccoy said.

For Buffalo’s Week 3 opponent, Kirk Cousins is what the Minnesota Vikings had waited for, passing for 219 yards and three touchdowns over the fourth quarter and overtime at Green Bay, guiding the Vikings back from a 13-point deficit to forge a tie.

 ?? Brett Carlsen / Getty Images ?? Josh Allen of the Bills runs with the ball against the Los Angeles Chargers. Los Angeles defeated Buffalo 31-20 in the Week 2 matchup.
Brett Carlsen / Getty Images Josh Allen of the Bills runs with the ball against the Los Angeles Chargers. Los Angeles defeated Buffalo 31-20 in the Week 2 matchup.

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