Bills Central

Bills' passing game still woefully broken as they trail Steelers at halftime

In an ugly first half, Buffalo Bills' QB Josh Allen completed only two passes to wide receivers for 18 yards.
Josh Allen
Josh Allen | Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Part conservative game plan and part crappy execution, the Buffalo Bills are setting offensive football back 120 years Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh.

The Bills somehow trail only 7-3 at halftime despite quarterback Josh Allen completing just two passes to wide receivers. New addition Brandin Cooks had an early catch or 13 yards and new/old addition Gabe Davis caught a quick 5-yard slant on Buffalo's last snap of the half to set up Matt Prater's chip-shot field goal in windy Acrisure Stadium.

MORE: Bills scratch key pass-catchers again in Week 13 vs. Steelers

Leading receiver Khalil Shakir has 0 catches on two targets. After being benched for two games, Keon Coleman is back in uniform but hasn't had a ball thrown his way. Tight end Dalton Kincaid and receiver Joshua Palmore are both out with injuries.

Bills-Steelers
Bills-Steelers | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Allen has completed only 6 of 12 passes for 51 yards and has thrown an interception. Buffalo's run/pass ration is an eye-popping 26/6. Running back James Cook has 17 carries for 81 yards, but his fumble in the second quarter led to the only touchdown of the game.

MORE: AI model that is 0-4 in Week 13 makes prediction for Bills vs. Steelers

Desperate for a victory to keep pace in the AFC playoff race, the 7-4 Bills produced an ugly first half with two turnovers, five penalties and only the three points.

Said Bills' head coach Sean McDermott on his way to the halftime locker room, "Beating ourselves."

James Cook
James Cook | Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

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Richie Whitt
RICHIE WHITT

Richie Whitt has been a sports media fixture in Dallas-Fort Worth since graduating from UT-Arlington in 1986. His career is highlighted by successful stints in print (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), TV (NBC5) and radio (105.3 The Fan). During his almost 40-year tenure, he's blabbed and blogged on events ranging from Super Bowls to NBA Finals to World Series to Stanley Cups to Olympics to Wimbledons to World Cups. Whitt has been covering the NFL since 1989, and in 1993 authored The 'Boys Are Back, a book chronicling the Dallas Cowboys' run to Super Bowl XXVII.

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