The Buffalo Bills are seeing their playoff chances dangling by a thread after the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The team could not get it done with all of the outside headlines surrounding the game and now injuries are an issue for the Bills who must bounce back against the Washington Redskins.
The Bills took a hit early in the game as tight end Charles Clay suffered a back injury and was unable to return. The exit of the tight end left the Bills without their top pass catcher. With injuries already to players like Percy Harvin, the Bills cannot afford to lose another offensive weapon. Clay had one catch on the day for nine total yards. Head coach Rex Ryan did not comment on Clay's status following the game, but it will be a storyline to watch in Week 15.
The absence of Karlos Williams was also felt for the Bills. LeSean McCoy had just 74 yards on 20 carries and failed to find the endzone. The Bills have done much better when they have been able to rotate both McCoy and Williams, but the rookie has been out for the past two weeks with a shoulder injury. According to the Buffalo News, it is unclear what Williams' status is heading into the game against the Redskins. The rookie had barely practiced the week leading into the game despite the Bills' sound optimistic about his return. If he is unable to play again, Mike Gillislee will be the backup once again. He had 24 yards and a touchdown off three carries.
With Clay out the entire second half, Robert Woods turned in one of his best games of the year. Woods had 106 yards off five catches for the Bills which was desperately needed in the game. With Harvin out, Woods has been inconsistent stepping into the No.2 role. However, he pulled things together for the Eagles which might give hope to Buffalo going forward. Woods acknowledged that he has been frustrated at times this season, but he simply needs to continue to work hard and balls will come. That was the case Sunday.
"I definitely want to eat (meaning catch balls), but I have to run the plays that are called," Woods said, via the Buffalo News. "I don't know, just keep doing what I'm doing."
If Clay is unable to play in Week 15, Woods can expect more passes thrown his way while Chris Hogan will be needed as well. The biggest issue for the Bills in Week 14 was the fact that they were called for 15 penalties leading to questions about the team being undisciplined. Woods admitted the team beat themselves against the Eagles and cannot let it happen again.
"We are in Philly, and we wanted to win," Woods said, via ESPN.com. "I think it is more how we lost: in an undisciplined way with a lot of penalties. They did not beat us. We beat ourselves."
