Bills’ Sean McDermott takes blame for late clock management

HOUSTON — Buffalo Payments coach Sean McDermott took accountability for the sport administration that led to the Houston Texans getting the ball again in time for a successful 59-yard area aim Sunday.

“That is on me, the end-of-game scenario on offense,” McDermott mentioned after the 23-20 loss. “We’re in a troublesome scenario … they have been holding three timeouts; they bought area aim kicker. We wanted to run the clock and transfer the chains, and that is on me. We did not do this there, and that is my fault.”

Tied 20-20, the Payments compelled the Texans to punt with 41 seconds remaining after quarterback C.J. Stroud was referred to as for intentional grounding. McDermott selected to say no a possible 10-second runoff that might have include the penalty, however he mentioned they did ponder it.

After getting the ball again on the Buffalo 3-yard line with 32 seconds remaining, the Payments’ offense had three straight incomplete passes by Josh Allen. The Payments are the one workforce within the final 45 years to be tied or main within the ultimate minute of the sport, inside their very own 5-yard line and throw three straight passes, per ESPN Analysis.

“I really like Josh with the ball in his fingers — you recognize I do,” McDermott mentioned. “And once more, environment friendly offense was the appropriate strategy there and … I did not have us do this. And so once more, we realized from that. Robust scenario.

“… You trip, and, hey, I in all probability ought to have run it on the primary play and simply mentioned, ‘Hey, the place are we now?’ Both method, we’re in all probability going to have to maneuver the chains one time, proper? To not give them an opportunity. However once more, these are conditions and that is on me.”

Allen’s first move to rookie Keon Coleman in tight protection was incomplete — the receiver was referred to as for offensive move interference on the play, however the penalty was declined. With 27 seconds remaining, on second down, Allen threw deep to Mack Hollins, however the ball fell to the bottom simply forward of him. On third down with 21 seconds left, Allen focused Curtis Samuel in the course of the sector, however he slipped earlier than the ball bought there and it bounced to the turf in entrance of him.

“Total, once more, that is on me,” McDermott mentioned when requested if he was onboard with the playcalls. “And so, we simply gotta do a greater job, I gotta do a greater job in that scenario.”

Allen, in addition to offensive linemen Connor McGovern and David Edwards, mentioned they have been on board with attempting to be “aggressive” in that scenario.

“Coach goes to belief us to go on the market and do this,” Allen mentioned. “Clearly, would like to convert there and hindsight’s 20-20, however yeah.”

After a 13-yard punt return to the Texans’ 41-yard line, Houston ran one play to realize 5 yards and arrange a 59-yard area aim. On that play, Payments linebacker Dorian Williams did not run onto the sector till 12 seconds earlier than the snap, and cornerback Rasul Douglas mentioned after the sport that he did not suppose Williams knew the playcall.

“We have been attempting to go nickel protection, and Dorian was on the facet,” McDermott mentioned. “We did not have the communication we wanted proper there, and so due to that, he was late onto the sector and getting the decision in that scenario.”

The Texans gained on the subsequent play — a 59-yard area aim by Ka’imi Fairbairn as time expired.

Payments receivers caught solely 4 of 18 targets on the day — the workforce’s worst reception proportion since 2009 (Week 13) and the worst by any workforce’s broad receivers with a minimal of 15 targets since 2016 (Rams, Week 16).

On the day, Allen accomplished 9 of 30 passes for 131 yards and one landing, to Coleman. The Payments have been with out main receiver Khalil Shakir on account of an ankle harm.

Allen recorded the bottom completion proportion in a recreation with no less than 30 move makes an attempt prior to now 30 seasons. He mentioned he must play higher, together with together with his ball placement, in discussing why the receivers weren’t getting open. Coleman mentioned it wasn’t a results of something the Texans have been doing defensively, however of self-inflicted points, together with communication difficulties, which he placed on himself.

“I might by no means, ever criticize Josh ever,” Edwards mentioned. “He’s the heartbeat of our offense and our soccer workforce. We go as he goes. He’s the person. I might simply level to myself on a type of third downs, not with the ability to decide up one of many stunts. So, this recreation just isn’t on Josh.”