If you were to just look at the box score after the Buffalo Bills defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, you might find it difficult to believe that Buffalo scored 44 points. Running back James Cook III only
gained 48 yards on 16 carries and wide receiver Khalil Shakir only had one catch — for negative yardage. However, the pass catchers stepped up and it was the group’s best performance operating under the guidance of offensive coordinator Joe Brady.
Why? One of the major differences is that the running backs were involved as receivers and not just used for check downs. Against the Buccaneers, Cook and Ty Johnson combined to make five catches for 125 yards and each had a touchdown. Cook averaged 22 yards per catch, while Johnson averaged 30. When utilized as was the case in Week 11, they’re a dynamic duo no matter how they get the ball — and fans have been waiting to see them used as more than a safety blanket.
Of course, the wide receivers room was all the talk heading into Week 11, especially since we found out that wide receiver Keon Coleman was going to be a healthy inactive due to a team meeting violation. The Bills turned to wide receiver Tyrell Shavers, who’s been fighting for years to get his shot — and he made the most of it. Shavers had four catches for 90 yards and touchdown as Buffalo’s leading receiver against Tampa Bay. It was also notable that Shavers w0rked hard to make himself available for Josh Allen when extending the play on third down.
Wide receiver Gabe Davis finally made his return to action with the Bills after spending the previous season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Davis had a pedestrian-yet-productive day, and he knows how to make himself available for Allen as evidenced by his three catches for 40 yards.
The question now is how this unit of pass catchers looks going forward. Certainly Coleman gets another chance perhaps as soon as Thursday night, but who will bear the affects of it?
Davis is only on the practice squad but he proved to be a valuable play maker in his first action after being sidelined a calendar year. There’s little reason to expect Shavers loses his spot as he provides a value on special teams that no one else in the unit can provide. Joshua Palmer just returned from injury and showed some flashes early in the season.
That leaves Curtis Samuel who’s been inactive multiple games this season, along with Elijah Moore who was a healthy inactive for Week 11. Mecole Hardman Jr. was brought in to provide a spark in the return game and vertical passing game, but he already had a muffed punt and suffered a quad injury that prevented him from finishing his first action with Buffalo.
Regardless of who’s called to action, is this receiver unit enough to repair the offense and get Josh Allen back on track?
