The Buffalo Bills appeared to regain momentum during Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, narrowing the lead to 21-10 in the third quarter and advancing into Ravens territory following a three-and-out stop.
However, that momentum quickly shifted with what became the most debated play of the night—a Call that Bills head coach Sean McDermott later admitted he wished he could undo.
Facing a 2nd-and-7 from Baltimore’s 44-yard line, the Bills lined up Josh Allen as a wideout and executed a direct snap to wide receiver Curtis Samuel, who then flipped the ball back to Allen. Under intense pressure, Allen attempted a pass but was stripped by Kyle Van Noy, with the Ravens recovering the fumble.
Baltimore capitalized by scoring a touchdown on the ensuing possession, eventually sealing a 35-10 victory and handing the Bills their first loss of the season. After the game, McDermott expressed regret over the call made by offensive coordinator Joe Brady.
“That’s something Joe and I will discuss thoroughly, and I’m sure he wishes he could take it back,” McDermott said in his postgame press conference. “I feel the same. We’ll learn from it and move forward.”
Bills Face Criticism for Play Call
The trick play was met with heavy criticism from fans, many questioning why the Bills would take such a high-risk approach when they needed to close the gap.
“There’s nothing worse than disrupting an offense that’s in rhythm by trying to get too fancy,” NFL reporter Benjamin Allbright posted on X.
“Joe Brady just handed this game back to Baltimore. I can’t believe how terrible a decision that was,” echoed another fan.
Though McDermott suggested the failed trick play was Brady’s call, he also shouldered responsibility for an earlier decision that he admitted swung momentum in the Ravens’ favor.
On their opening drive, the Bills faced a 4th-and-2 at midfield but opted to punt. They had successfully converted a 4th-and-1 from their own 39-yard line earlier in the drive, but McDermott chose to play it safe and give the ball to Baltimore instead.
The Ravens scored on the very next play, an 87-yard touchdown run by Derrick Henry.
McDermott later explained that he didn’t feel it was the right moment to take a risk.
At that point in the game, it felt too early to take that chance,” McDermott said.
Josh Allen Stays Optimistic
After the game, Allen acknowledged the tough loss but emphasized the team’s determination to learn from it.
“They came out with urgency and handed it to us,” Allen admitted. “But not everything was bad. I don’t want us thinking we’re the worst team. There’s a lot to take from this. I’m glad it happened early in the season so we can fix things.”
The Bills will be back on the road in Week 5, heading to Houston for a matchup against the Texans, which will mark their first game against former star receiver Stefon Diggs.
