Bills WR Tyrell Shavers takes advantage of Keon Coleman’s absence

SB Nation

Happy Victory Monday! The Buffalo Bills defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 44-32 on Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium, bringing their record to 7-3 on the season. Despite two first-half interceptions,

quarterback Josh Allen didn’t let his emotions take over, and he totaled six touchdowns and led the Bills to a season-high 44 points.

The recurring theme of JA17 breaking more records continued, too, with him passing both Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, respectively, for most total touchdowns by a player 30-or-younger and career games with three-plus passing and one-plus rushing touchdowns. Allen also tied Cam Newton for the most rushing touchdowns in the regular season.

Second-year wide receiver Keon Coleman was a healthy scratch for showing up late to a team meeting on Friday. It wasn’t all bad news for the Bills; however, the team welcomed cornerback Christian Benford, nickel cornerback Taron Johnson, defensive end A.J. Epenesa, and wide receiver Joshua Palmer back into the lineup after all four of them missed Week 10 against the Miami Dolphins.

Buffalo signed wide receiver Mecole Hardman to the 53-man roster and elevated wide receiver Gabe Davis from the practice squad, resulting in the first healthy scratch for wide receiver Elijah Moore since Week 7. Rookie defensive tackle T.J. Sanders was activated off Injured Reserve and returned to action for the first time since Week 4.

Bills Week 11 offensive snap counts (56 snaps)

D.Dawkins T 56 100%

D.Edwards G 56 100%

O.Torrence G 56 100%

C.McGovern G 56 100%

J.Allen QB 56 100%

S.Brown T 56 100%

D.Knox TE 43 77%

J.Cook RB 37 66%

T.Shavers WR 30 54%

K.Shakir WR 30 54%

C.Samuel WR 28 50%

J.Palmer WR 28 50%

G.Davis WR 23 41%

J.Hawes TE 19 34%

Ty.Johnson RB 18 32%

R.Gilliam FB 12 21%

K.Latu TE 6 11%

M.Hardman WR 4 7%

A.Anderson T 1 2%

R.Davis RB 1 2%

I think it’s safe to say that we will take two bonehead turnovers from Allen (100%) if it results in a six-touchdown game and the win. While the turnovers were quite bad and points were still left on the table, it was promising to see Allen and the offense stay focused and not let emotions take over. It also helped that offensive coordinator Joe Brady called a great game and schemed plays that allowed Allen to be himself.

Allen targeted 10 different receivers and completed a pass to nine of them, with 26-year-old wide receiver Tyrell Shavers (54%) leading the way with four receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown. The new face around Orchard Park, NY, Mecole Hardman (7%), played just four offensive snaps. It was an up-and-down day for Hardman, as he logged a 60-yard kickoff return but muffed a punt in the third quarter that led to a Buccaneers’ touchdown.

Outside of Hardman, the wide receiver snap share was very balanced, with the five other wideouts logging at least 23 snaps. Gabe Davis (41%) made his return to Buffalo and hauled in 3-of-4 targets for 40 yards. Allen still trusts his guy, too, as he found Davis in key situations on each of his receptions, including a fourth-down conversion.

Buffalo’s wide receiver room will be interesting to monitor moving forward, and it’s uncertain which guy ends up the odd man out. Six receivers were dressed on Sunday, with Coleman and Moore sidelined, so at least one or two roster moves will likely be made.

It may have been a quiet day on the ground for the Bills, but the running backs still made the most of their opportunities, primarily in the receiving game. Running back James Cook III (66%) averaged just three yards per carry on 16 totes, but he hauled in all three of his targets for 66 yards and a touchdown. Running back Ty Johnson (32%) joined in on the fun, too, turning a third-down screen pass into a 57-yard touchdown right before the end of the first half. Running back Ray Davis (2%) was the odd man out, but he contributed in the kick return game with four returns for 158 yards — including a 44-yard return in the third quarter.

Bills Week 11 defensive snap counts (70 snaps)

C.Benford CB 70 100%

T.Bernard LB 70 100%

C.Bishop S 67 96%

J.Poyer S 58 83%

Ta.Johnson CB 51 73%

M.Milano LB 51 73%

D.Jones DT 45 64%

J.Bosa DE 43 61%

G.Rousseau DE 41 59%

A.Epenesa DE 37 53%

M.Hairston CB 36 51%

D.Walker DT 35 50%

T.White CB 34 49%

D.Williams LB 28 40%

L.Ogunjobi DT 23 33%

T.Sanders DT 19 27%

J.Solomon DE 17 24%

C.Lewis DB 17 24%

J.Hancock DB 15 21%

J.Phillips DT 13 19%

While the defense mightily struggled against the run and allowed 32 points, it still made the necessary stops and forced turnovers. Despite Allen turning it over inside his own 10-yard line on the second offensive snap of the game, the defense held the Buccaneers’ offense to only three points. Another seven points came directly after Hardman’s muffed punt, too.

The defense welcomed back cornerbacks Christian Benford (100%) and Taron Johnson (73%), as well as edge rusher A.J. Epenesa (53%), after they were all sidelined in Week 10. The secondary played well, thanks to strong play from the safety duo of Cole Bishop (96%) and Jordan Poyer (83%). It’s no surprise that Bishop has been playing like an All-Pro ever since Poyer began to start alongside him. Bishop recorded his third interception of the season, while Poyer led the team with 15 total tackles.

Rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston (51%) continues to split defensive series with veteran cornerback Tre’Davious White (49%). Hairston was held off the stat sheet, and I’m not sure I heard his name once on the broadcast on Sunday, which is a good thing as a cornerback, right?

While the secondary played well and made quarterback Baker Mayfield uncomfortable, the pass rush and run defense were a bit weak. The pass rush totaled just three QB hits and sacked Mayfield just once. That lone sack was huge; however, as defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (64%) forced Mayfield to fumble, sealing the game in the fourth quarter. Jones seems to be back to full health and will likely lead the interior line in snaps moving forward, with rookie defensive tackle Deone Walker (50%) not too far behind him.

Linebacker Terrel Bernard (100%) continues to log nearly every snap each game, despite still seemingly playing while injured. Bernard mentioned in a postgame interview that the last few weeks have been challenging for him as he has worked to regain full health. Despite still looking a bit slow out there at times, he led the team with eight solo tackles and two tackles for loss. Even linebacker Matt Milano (73%), whose age has caught up to him this season, flashed his open-field tackling ability, finishing with four solo tackles and seven total tackles.