Buffalo Bills: Three Takeaways from Loss to Seahawks
Jekyll and Hyde on Special Teams
A big reason for the Bills’ impressive start was because of their play on special teams on the opening drive of the game. After the defense forced Seattle to go three-and-out, Buffalo’s punt coverage team put an exclamation on the series with Jerry Hughes bursting through the opposition’s protection to block the punt.
On the very next play, Bills QB Tyrod Taylor ran it in himself for the game’s first touchdown.
That was unquestionably the best special teams play from Buffalo — who would offset that one by giving up two big returns to Seattle’s always-dangerous Tyler Lockett — both of which ended in touchdown drives.
Another special teams blunder, a costly delay of game penalty on a field goal attempt just before the half, turned a 49-yard kick into a 54-yard one that Bills kicker Dan Carpenter missed.
Perhaps, they deserve some sympathy as the officials clearly mishandled the play before where Carpenter was hit by Seattle’s Richard Sherman, but ultimately, there’s really no excuse for not understanding how the play clock works.
*Editor’s Note: The NFL admitted that the officials should have reset the play clock and were responsible for the delay of game, not the Bills.
Dean Blandino on delay of game: "We want to reset the play clock there, when the officials are actually conversing and delaying the snap.
— Kim Jones (@KimJonesSports) November 8, 2016