Bills Secondary Suddenly Faces Pressure In A Game That Matters

The Buffalo Bills face a new challenge as they head into Week 4 without key cornerback Christian Benford against the Patriots.

The Buffalo Bills will be without Christian Benford on Sunday against the New England Patriots, making official what had been expected all week.

Benford was inactive for the Week 4 game at Highmark Stadium after being listed as questionable with the final injury report. He did not practice during the week, a sign that he likely would not be available for New England.

That means the Bills’ secondary takes another hit. Benford will miss his first game of the season because of the toe injury he suffered during the Week 3 win over the Chargers.

Buffalo is already dealing with several other defensive absences. Defensive tackle T.J.

Sanders was ruled out and is coming back from having an appendectomy. Veteran Mike Danna, who will sit for the third time in four games, is out as well, along with rookie wide receiver/kick returner KJ Hamler and defensive back Jordan Hancock.

Running back Ray Davis, who was listed as questionable on the final injury report due to a hamstring injury, is active. Also active for the Bills are veteran Mike Danna, wide receiver/kick returner KJ Hamler and defensive back Jordan Hancock. Running back Ray Davis, who was listed as questionable on the final injury report due to a hamstring injury, is active.

The Bills’ defense will also be without T.J. Sanders, who was listed as doubtful for the game. Sanders is coming back from having an appendectomy.

Running back Ray Davis is active after being listed as questionable on the final injury report due to a hamstring injury. The same goes for veteran receiver and defensive back Jalon Kilgore, who is back in the lineup after missing two of the last three games, and running back Ray Davis.

Running back Ray Davis is active after being listed as questionable on the final injury report due to a hamstring injury.

Running back Ray Davis is active after being listed as questionable on the final injury report due to a hamstring injury.

In Other News...

Bills Let Another AFC East Game Slip Away For One Reason

The Bills had enough offense to stay in the fight with New England, but it still came down to a familiar kind of AFC East frustration. James Cook and Josh Allen both helped Buffalo move the ball and put points on the board, yet the back-and-forth game never quite tilted the Bills way as the Patriots kept finding answers.

Drake Mayes night mixed big throws with turnovers, but New England still came up with the plays that mattered most, including touchdowns from Romeo Doubs and Efton Chism III. Chisms late scoring catch helped seal the Patriots 29-26 win, leaving Buffalo with another divisional loss and another reminder that close games in this rivalry keep slipping out of reach. [Read more 🡒]

Bills Loss To Patriots Turns On One Infuriating Sequence

A jarring sideline exchange helped flip the flow of a tight game in New England, and the Bills were the ones who benefited in the moment. Mike Vrabel was hit with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after using profanity toward an official, and the flag extended a Buffalo drive that ended with a game-tying touchdown before halftime.

From there, though, the Patriots regrouped and finished with a 29-26 win, powered by Drake Mayes three-touchdown afternoon and a game ball from Vrabel. The penalty became one of the afternoons most talked-about sequences, and both Vrabel and official Bill Vinovich addressed it after the game, leaving Buffalo with plenty to wonder about on a day when a small flashpoint carried outsized weight. [Read more 🡒]

Bills Secondary Concerns Just Got Harder To Ignore After Patriots Loss

The Bills secondary left little room for comfort in the loss to New England, and Maxwell Hairston had a difficult afternoon trying to keep pace with Romeo Doubs. Hairston was beaten for two touchdown catches, a reminder of how quickly coverage issues can swing a game when Buffalo is already dealing with injuries and a thin defensive backfield.

Josh Allens late interception only added to the frustration, even with Keon Coleman giving the offense a bright spot by finishing with 116 receiving yards and a touchdown. The bigger concern for Buffalo is that the defensive questions did not just linger after the defeat, they showed up in moments that mattered most, and now they sit there for everyone to see. [Read more 🡒]