ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills' once-vaunted pass rush has gone missing this season, and now the Bills' acclaimed defensive line could be without one of its stalwarts.
Defensive tackle Kyle Williams was carted to the locker room in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 34-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, adding injury to insult for a Bills defense that was unable to slow down Andy Dalton for much of a chilly October afternoon.
With EJ Manuel starting in place of an injured Tyrod Taylor, the Bills needed their defense to put pressure on Dalton and pick up the slack. It didn't. Dalton finished with three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 118.6 quarterback rating, joining Tom Brady and Eli Manning as quarterbacks to march into Ralph Wilson Stadium and beat the Bills, who are now 1-3 at home this season.
What it means: If healthy -- especially at quarterback -- the Bills might have been able to put up more of a fight against the Bengals than they did Sunday. Perhaps the Bills will get another shot against Cincinnati in the playoffs, but Buffalo's climb to the postseason is getting steeper. The New England Patriots (4-0 before Sunday night's game) and the New York Jets (4-1 after defeating the Washington Redskins) are cruising in the division, meaning the Bills' only hope for the playoffs is the sixth and final AFC spot if the three teams' current pace continues.
One reason to get excited: The Bengals didn't score 40 points? Seriously, there wasn't much for Bills fans to hang their hat on from this game, other than perhaps the hope that Taylor at quarterback over Manuel would have given the Bills more offensive firepower to keep up with the Bengals' offense. The Bills couldn't move the ball offensively with any sort of consistency and the Bengals' offense seemed to figure out Rex Ryan's defense as the game progressed.
One reason to panic: The pass rush is nowhere to be found. The Bills entered the game with nine sacks, tied for 20th in the NFL, and they couldn't get to Dalton at all Sunday. The lack of push up front was a hot topic two weeks ago, but coaches and players attributed their low sack numbers to quick passing from opposing quarterbacks. That was true against New England and the New York Giants but Dalton had too much time to drop back and throw, putting stress on the secondary. A defense that once seemed elite looked far from it Sunday.
What were they thinking? The Bills have put an emphasis on avoiding dumb penalties in recent weeks. Ryan has tried everything from push-ups in practice to players wearing "Yes sir!" wristbands as reminders not to talk back to officials. But cornerback Ron Brooks seemingly forgot that message, standing over Cincinnati's Adam Jones after a first-quarter punt return, drawing a taunting penalty. It was the first of eight penalties on the afternoon for the Bills. Later in the game, Brooks jawed at Jones after long snapper Garrison Sanborn made a saving tackle on what would have been a big return by Jones. C'mon, man.
Fantasy watch: LeSean McCoy was an iffy play from a fantasy perspective entering the game but got off to a fast start when he ran for 33 yards on the first play of the game. He finished with 17 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown in a surprisingly effective outing. Even after saying during the week that he didn't feel 100 percent, McCoy didn't show any ill effects from his hamstring injury.
Ouch: Receiver Sammy Watkins left in the second quarter with an ankle injury after falling down in the end zone before a 22-yard touchdown catch from Manuel. Watkins was spotted on crutches at halftime, putting his availability to practice -- or play -- this week in London in question. Starting right tackle Seantrel Henderson also left the game with a head injury and did not return.