The Buffalo Bills faced the Chicago Bears in their second NFL preseason matchup and came away with another crushing defeat, falling 38-0 in a game that bordered on humiliation. Head coach Sean McDermott did not hold back in his postgame remarks.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott offered a blunt assessment of the loss — and with good reason. “That was not up to our standard and certainly not what we expect, whether it’s ones, twos or threes,” McDermott said after the game, per Bills play-by-play announcer Chris Brown.
It was a one-sided beatdown that leaves McDermott and his staff scrambling for answers. “We’ve got to look at it,” he added. “Figure some stuff out and evaluate some guys. We’ve got a lot of work to do this week.”
The Bills will need to use this final stretch of preseason to get things sorted out before the regular season begins. No team wants to carry such a demoralizing performance into September. Still, it’s worth remembering that preseason games often serve a different purpose than the regular NFL season. Coaches use them to test players in specific situations, particularly those on the roster bubble fighting for a spot.
Sean McDermott, head coach of the Buffalo Bills
Key absences for the Bills
Buffalo kept starting quarterback Josh Allen on the sideline, instead leaning on Mitchell Trubisky, Mike White, and Shane Buechele under center. None of the three managed to establish any rhythm, and the passing game sputtered from start to finish.
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The Bears, meanwhile, completely dominated the opening half, outgaining the Bills 343 yards to just 22. Chicago also held an 18-1 advantage in first downs. Running back Frank Gore Jr. provided a spark, carrying eight times for 51 yards and adding four receptions for 30 yards. The Bears thrived in the short game, while the Bills never threatened downfield. Allen’s absence is an obvious factor, and it’s safe to say he would have made a significant difference had he played.
When will we see the Bills again?
Fortunately for McDermott and his team, there’s one more preseason game on the calendar to iron out problems before things get real. The Bills host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET in their final tune-up of the summer. After that, all focus shifts to Week 1, when the Bills open the regular season on the road against the Baltimore Ravens in primetime on Sunday Night Football, scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on September 7.
