Bills can’t capitalize on chances

CINCINNATI » Three turnovers and a long punt return gave the Bills all they needed to keep their surge going. Their depleted offense simply wasn’t up to it.

Buffalo wasted chances and gave up a fourth-quarter lead Sunday, falling to the Cincinnati Bengals 20-16 in a steady rain. The Bills’ defense was good enough. The offense wasn’t even close.

Heading into their bye week, the Bills (3-2) need to figure out how to get a lot more out of an offense that has struggled all season.

“I think it’s true of any offense: If you become one-dimensional, that’s not good,” coach Sean McDermott said. “We’ve got to make sure we can run the football, and run our style of offense.”

For five weeks, they’ve been running at a minimal level.

Buffalo managed 221 yards against the Bengals (2-3), the fourth straight game failing to total 300. The Bills’ passing game was depleted by injuries. They started with only four healthy receivers, and tight end Charles Clay left with an injured left knee in the first half.

Their defense — the stingiest in the league after four games — provided a lot of help, getting three turnovers — two interceptions and a fumble. The Bills got their only touchdown off an interception , but wound up punting after another interception gave them the ball at the Cincinnati 36-yard line. They settled for a field goal after a fumble recovery.