The Buffalo Bills can change quarterbacks all they want following their second-most lopsided loss in franchise history.
Running back LeSean McCoy knows the abrupt switch from inexperienced and interception-prone Nathan Peterman to raw rookie Josh Allen won't make much of a difference if everyone else on offense fails to perform Sunday in Buffalo's home opener against the Los Angeles Chargers.
"Maybe Nate didn't play well with the turnovers Jalen Ramsey Jersey Black , but we helped out with that," McCoy said, referring to a season-opening 47-3 loss at Baltimore in which Peterman threw two interceptions and was yanked after Buffalo managed one first down on 10 possessions.
"We gave up pressures, we had penalties, second-and-longs, third-and-longs. We didn't make plays for him," added McCoy, who finished with 22 yards rushing on seven carries. "It's a team thing. Collectively, we didn't play well."
The meltdown, which included numerous blunders on defense and special teams, left coach Sean McDermott with little choice but to reverse course at quarterback.
A week after McDermott was comfortable with Allen developing on the sideline, the coach sped up the first-round pick's timetable by making him the starter in saying: "It's the right move for our team."
At the very least, the switch spared Peterman from revisiting the dreadful memories of the last time he faced the Chargers in his first career start 10 months ago. McDermott's decision backfired then, too Womens A.J. Green Jersey , when Peterman was pulled after throwing five first-half interceptions of a 54-24 loss.
It's now on the strong-armed and mobile, 22-year-old Allen to mask the numerous deficiencies of an offense featuring a patchwork line that surrendered six sacks, and a mostly unproven cast of receivers.
Quarterback certainly isn't an issue for the Chargers after Philip Rivers topped 400 yards passing for the 10th time of his career in a season-opening 38-28 loss against Kansas City. What hurt were several dropped passes and the Chargers' inability to stop Tyreek Hill, who had 169 yards receiving and two touchdowns, and also scored on a 91-yard punt return.
"We're (ticked) off. No one around here is happy," Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said. "But I'm not going to panic after one game."
A number of things to watch for as the Chargers attempt to beat Buffalo for the fourth straight time:
NO LOOKING BACK
Lynn says the Chargers overwhelming Peterman in their last meeting means little in preparing to face another first-time starter.
"Yeah, we were hitting on all cylinders that day, getting good pressure on the quarterback and turning the ball over. But that was last year," he said. "You can't bring wins and losses over from last year to this year."
The question is how much pressure the Chargers can apply with defensive end Joey Bosa expected to miss a second straight game with an injured left foot, and tackle Corey Liuget serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.
ON THE DEFENSIVE
The Bills so-called bend-but-don't-break defense mostly broke in allowing Baltimore to score touchdowns on each of its six drives inside Buffalo's 20. The Bills didn't allow six red-zone TDs total until their sixth game last season.
"We went up and stunk it up," defensive end Jerry Hughes said. "We've certainly got to answer back stronger. And I think guys are really licking their chops, not so much sulking, licking their wounds."
CHARGED-UP
McDermott hopes his players haven't forgotten how they trailed the Chargers 37-7 at halftime last year.
"As a competitor, that would drive me Authentic Randall Cobb Jersey , and I hope it drives our football team," McDermott said.
McCoy is leaning more on how the Bills responded the following week in a 16-10 win at Kansas City, which sparked a 4-2 season-ending run that led to Buffalo snapping a 17-year playoff drought.
"OK, we lost by a lot in the past, how do we move on?" McCoy said. "If we win the next game by a point, all that before doesn't even matter."
DROPPED PASSES
As well as Rivers played, his numbers could have been even better if not for a number of dropped passes , including two by running back Melvin Gordon.
"I haven't seen that before from these guys," offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt said. "You just move forward. I don't expect that to happen again."
The Chargers also struggled in converting just 3 of 11 third-down situations.
PEGULA PREACHES PATIENCE
Bills co-owner Kim Pegula is preaching patience, understanding there's no quick fixes to a roster that underwent a significant offseason overhaul.
"For me, it's about how are we going to fix things and what are we doing next week, because the team is set, the players are set," Pegula told The Associated Press. "I don't believe that's our team from what you saw on Sunday. Just come in and look forward. And knowing Sean (McDermott) Womens James Conner Jersey , that's how he thinks as well."
Houston ace Justin Verlander made two mistakes, both resulting in home runs. The way the Astros are swinging the bats these days, it hardly mattered.
Verlander pitched five-hit ball over seven innings and the Astros jumped out to another early lead, beating the Oakland Athletics 7-3 Thursday for their eighth straight win.
Brian McCann homered for the first time in nearly a month. Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve and Josh Reddick were among five players with two hits apiece as Houston completed the three-game sweep.
”It happens fast when we’re at our best,” Astros manager AJ Hinch said. ”We can get after you and then we stay after you. We’re not going to be perfect all the time . but when we are good like this and putting up runs, we’re pretty tough.”
Evan Gattis, who set a franchise record with five RBIs in each of the first two games of the series, went 1 for 5 and didn’t drive in a run.
Beyond that, it was another in a series of impressive offensive displays from the Astros.
The winning streak is their longest since they won 11 straight May 25-June 5 last season on the way to their first World Series championship. Houston also improved to 8-1 against Oakland this season.
”It’s nice to have your team hot, you just want to be the guy to keep it going,” Verlander said. ”The run support is awesome. It’s fun to be a part of keeping the rhythm and keeping the momentum on our side.”
Khris Davis and Matt Olson homered for the A’s. It was Davis’ third home run in three consecutive at-bats after going deep in his final two plate appearances Wednesday.
Both home runs came off Verlander, who went into the day leading the majors with a 1.45 ERA.
Still, Verlander (9-2) was sharp in his first appearance against the A’s since 2016. He faced three batters over the minimum before Oakland scored twice in the seventh.
The six-time All-Star allowed three runs Womens Lamar Jackson Jersey , struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter while earning his fifth consecutive win.
”I felt like I navigated the lineup pretty well,” Verlander said. ”Really, one not well-executed pitch I would like back and another pitch selection I would like back.”
The Astros outscored the A’s 26-11 in the series and have a 69-20 run differential in the last eight games between the two division rivals. They also got some help from Oakland third baseman Matt Chapman, who committed a pair of errors that led to a pair of unearned runs in the sixth.
Frankie Montas (3-1) gave up five earned runs and 11 hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked four.
”That’s good team that’s swinging the bat real well right now,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. ”Looked like every ball he got in the middle of the plate they hit.”
ROSTER JUGGLE
RHP Trevor Cahill (Achilles strain) was placed by Oakland on the 10-day disabled list for the second time this season. RHPs Chris Bassitt and Carlos Ramirez were called up from Triple-A Nashville. Reliever Danny Coulombe was optioned down.
ONE STREAK ENDS, ANOTHER CONTINUES
Houston 3B Alex Bregman went hitless in four at-bats, ending his hitting streak at 10 games. But Bregman drew a walk to extend his on-base streak to 25 games, the second-longest active mark in the majors behind Shin-Soo Choo of Texas (28).
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: Bregman was back in the lineup after getting a rest day Wednesday.
Athletics: Chapman left the game with a bruised right hand that has been bothering him since spring training. He was expected to be taken for an MRI after the game. Cahill is nursing a strained right Achilles and is wearing a walking boot. He hasn’t responded to treatment and there is no timetable for his return. … Matt Joyce (lumbar strain) will take full batting practice Friday and begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Monday.
UP NEXT
Astros: RHP Charlie Morton (7-1, 2.82 ERA) attempts to become Houston’s fourth starter with eight wins or more when he pitches in Kansas City on Friday night.
Athletics: RHP Chris Bassitt (0-1, 1.29), who was called up from Triple-A Nashville, will pitch against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. Bassitt is taking Cahill’s spot in the rotation.
GermanForce
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27.09.2018 09:22
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