What is there even to say? The Buffalo Bills played from behind all game and were never really in contention to make it a contest, losing to the Indianapolis Colts 41-15.
I know this is a week-to-week league, but my goodness! The only upside is that the New Orleans Saints also got shellacked Sunday by the Philadelphia Eagles 40-29.
A silver lining in all of this is that no Bills player appeared to require any attention from the training staff. Below are several observations from an injury perspective.
Observations
LB Matt Milano (Shoulder)
Despite being limited all week with a shoulder injury, Milano did not play though he was limited. He appeared in every defensive snap and didn’t have any bracing or tape on either shoulder signifying which side was affected.
LB Tremaine Edmunds (Hamstring)
Edmunds missed his second game with a hamstring strain originally suffered in the loss to the Jaguars in Week 9.
He ultimately did not play as he only practiced on Friday in a limited fashion. Considering how cold and rainy it was Sunday, this was the right move. Based on his practice participation last week, he appears on track to possibly play Thursday against the Saints.
G Jon Feliciano (Calf)
Feliciano is eligible to come off injured reserve following his mandatory three-game stint due to a calf injury sustained in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins. Based on how the offensive line is performing, I expect that this happens. Sean McDermott had noted that he was progressing well in his rehab during Friday’s press conference.
As long as he gets one full practice in this week, I fully expect him to play and hopefully shore up this offensive line.
DT Star Lotulelei/OT Spencer Brown (COVID)
Both are still in COVID protocol and have no firm timetable to return. Considering the reports that Lotulelei was having symptoms, his 10-day window will end Wednesday. If he has no symptoms and has two negative tests separated by a 24 hour period, he can return.
Brown could return as soon as Tuesday if he was vaccinated along with having two negative tests separated by a 24 hour period and is symptom-free. If he’s unvaccinated, then he will miss the Saints game. The waiting game continues.
The Bills will likely hold a walkthrough Monday which means the practice participation should be an estimation. The true indicators of who will play Thursday will be identified Tuesday and Wednesday.
This team needs to self-correct and find what makes them so dominant in several of their wins this season. They had a rough stretch in 2017 and figured things out to make the playoffs.
The Bills have performed well on national television and I don’t expect that they let this kind of embarrassment occur again on Thanksgiving.
Top Photo Credit: Thomas J Russo-USA Today Sports
