Bills fans were left scratching their heads to end Sunday's loss against the Texans.
Buffalo and Houston delivered a drama-filled affair at NRG Stadium in Week 5 in a duel between Josh Allen and C.J. Stroud. Neither quarterback was magnificent, but the Texans were able to come out on top 23-20 thanks to a game-winning field goal by Ka'imi Fairbairn in the final seconds.
Houston should be thanking Bills head coach Sean McDermott for the victory. McDermott and Buffalo made the puzzling decision to throw the ball three times from deep in their own territory in the final minute of the game, leading to a punt that gave the Texans excellent field position, leading to the game-winning kick by Fairbairn.
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The head coach was asked about the play calling after the loss, and McDermott defended his questionable decisions. Here's what he had to say on the matter.
Bills coach Sean McDermott's questionable clock management vs. Texans
With 32 seconds left in regulation and the game tied at 20-20, the Bills had possession at their own 3-yard line. Attempting to go all the way down the field for the win was unlikely, however, Buffalo elected to go the aggressive route and throw the ball down field.
It didn't work on first down, as Josh Allen couldn't connect with Curtis Samuel. However, McDermott and Co. kept with the strategy, electing to call pass plays on second and third down as well. Both throws fell incomplete, stopping the clock each time.
The result was fourth down on their own 3-yard line, giving punter Sam Martin hardly any room to work with. His boot went 56 yards, but a 13-yard return by Texans returner Robert Woods gave Houston a first down with seven seconds on the clock at the Buffalo 46-yard line — putting Houston in excellent field position for a game-winning field goal.
After a completion from Stroud to running back Dare Ogunbowale for five yards, Fairbairn strolled out with two seconds left. The Texans kicker sank a 59-yard field goal as the clock hit zero, sending the Bills home with their second loss of the season.
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The sequence by Buffalo rightfully sent Bills fans into a fit of rage online. Many called out the time management of McDermott, including NFL Network's Scott Hanson, who was left "dumbfounded" on NFL RedZone.
"This is almost like they don't know the score of the game here, ladies and gentlemen," Hanson said. "I am dumbfounded by these decisions here.
"... Now the Bills strategy backfires on them because you've got a punt return almost into field goal range. This is astounding, what we're seeing in game management, between Buffalo and Houston."
McDermott took the blame for the decision at the end of the game, stating that the game-winning field goal was all on him.
"That's on me, the end-of-game situation on offense," McDermott said. "...We needed to run the clock and move the chains. And that's on me. we didn't do that there, that's my fault.
McDermott's crew will have to regroup from the close defeat and get ready for a prime-time matchup in Week 6, with Aaron Rodgers and the Jets set to host the Bills on "Monday Night Football."