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Bills' first loss of the season exposes some of their deficiencies that an unbeaten start covered up

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Bills' first loss of the season exposes some of their deficiencies that an unbeaten start covered up
Sport

Sport

Bills' first loss of the season exposes some of their deficiencies that an unbeaten start covered up

2024-09-30 12:49 Last Updated At:13:00

BALTIMORE (AP) — Josh Allen scrambled around looking for someone — anyone — who might be open. Once, it turned into a huge gain, but more often than not it ended with the Buffalo quarterback on the ground.

Many of the Bills' deficiencies that were covered up by an unbeaten start bubbled to the surface in a 35-10 loss at the Baltimore Ravens. A lack of playmakers and depth and injuries that piled up, especially on defense, took a toll for a team that looked like one of the NFL's best through the first three weeks of the season.

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Mitchell Trubisky throws a pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Mitchell Trubisky throws a pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, left, talks with Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott following an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. The Ravens won 35-10. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, left, talks with Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott following an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. The Ravens won 35-10. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) and Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) react following an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. The Ravens won 35-10. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) and Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) react following an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. The Ravens won 35-10. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass, right, with Sam Martin holding, kicks a field goal against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass, right, with Sam Martin holding, kicks a field goal against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs with the ball as Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike tries to stop him during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs with the ball as Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike tries to stop him during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, right, takes a hit from Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, right, takes a hit from Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely, second from left, is upended by Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford (47) and linebacker Baylon Spector (54) after making a catch during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. Bills' Dorian Williams (42) looks on. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely, second from left, is upended by Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford (47) and linebacker Baylon Spector (54) after making a catch during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. Bills' Dorian Williams (42) looks on. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, left, sits on the bench after backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky took over during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, left, sits on the bench after backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky took over during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

“I think the guys that make up this locker room understand who we are, what we are,” said Allen, who fumbled on one of the three sacks he took. “We’re not going to let this avalanche. The guys that we have in this building are smart. The guys have played a lot of football in their careers, so they understand the ebbs and flows of an NFL season. This is going to happen time to time.”

It's the first time the Bills lost a game by more than six points since 2021. And this was a major departure from outscoring their first three opponents 112-48.

Coach Sean McDermott said he wished the plane ride of an hour was five times longer to dissect everything his team needs to work on after getting blown out on the road.

“It just wasn’t up to our standard,” McDermott said. “I say that in the way of we have to do things better fundamentally — execution wise. It’s not just one position. We as a team have to fundamentally do a better job physically. We have to find the problems from tonight and make the adjustments.”

Buffalo's defense was outmuscled by Derrick Henry, who ran for 199 yards, including an 87-yard touchdown on the Ravens' first play from scrimmage. Already missing linebacker Terrel Bernard and cornerback Taron Johnson because of injury, safety Taylor Rapp was knocked out of the game in the first half with a concussion from trying to tackle Henry.

The Bills fell behind early, and Allen — dealing with an injury to his left, nonthrowing hand — was not able to muster up enough magic to keep things competitive. He finished 16 of 29 for 180 yards passing and also ran five times for 21 yards.

“I thought Josh was moving off the spot quite a bit,” McDermott said. “Made some great plays doing that, but then it’s just not the healthiest way to live back there. We’ll make the adjustments we need to make.”

Allen's streak of throwing to Khalil Shakir for a successful completion reached 30 before ending on a pass breakup late in the first half. He did find Shakir on a 52-yard throw and catch that set up Ty Johnson's touchdown run in the third quarter.

Mitch Trubisky replaced Allen, who had become the favorite to win league MVP honors after the 3-0 start, to quarterback the final couple of drives. Allen was not despondent afterward, figuring out a way to turn the big loss into a chance to learn.

“Not everything was bad in this game,” he said. “I don’t want us to come away from this thinking we’re the worst. Lot to learn from. I’m glad this happened early in the season so we can correct things.”

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Mitchell Trubisky throws a pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Mitchell Trubisky throws a pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, left, talks with Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott following an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. The Ravens won 35-10. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, left, talks with Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott following an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. The Ravens won 35-10. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) and Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) react following an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. The Ravens won 35-10. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) and Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) react following an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. The Ravens won 35-10. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass, right, with Sam Martin holding, kicks a field goal against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass, right, with Sam Martin holding, kicks a field goal against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs with the ball as Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike tries to stop him during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs with the ball as Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike tries to stop him during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, right, takes a hit from Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, right, takes a hit from Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely, second from left, is upended by Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford (47) and linebacker Baylon Spector (54) after making a catch during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. Bills' Dorian Williams (42) looks on. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely, second from left, is upended by Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford (47) and linebacker Baylon Spector (54) after making a catch during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. Bills' Dorian Williams (42) looks on. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, left, sits on the bench after backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky took over during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, left, sits on the bench after backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky took over during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

President Donald Trump on Thursday visits a U.S. base installation at the center of American involvement in the Middle East as he uses his four-day visit to Gulf states to reject the “interventionism” of America’s past in the region.

In other parts of the Middle East violence flared in the West Bank and Gaza, A hospital in southern Gaza says 54 people have been killed in overnight airstrikes on the city of Khan Younis.

with a pregnant Israeli woman killed even as the international rights group ,Human Rights Watch ,said that Israel’s plan to seize Gaza, remain in the territory and displace hundreds of thousands of people “inches closer to extermination.”

Trump plans to address troops at Qatar’s al-Udeid Air Base, which was a major staging ground during the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and supported the recent U.S. air campaign against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis. The president has held up Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and Qatar as models for economic development in a region plagued by conflict as he works to entice Iran to come to terms with his administration on a deal to curb its nuclear program.

The President also meets business leaders in Qatar and heads to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

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The European Hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis is out of service due to severe damage to its infrastructure and access roads from Israeli strikes, the territory’s Health Ministry said Thursday.

The shutdown halts all specialized treatments, including cardiac surgeries and cancer care in the only facility that was providing ongoing medical care to cancer patients in Gaza, the ministry added.

Israeli forces struck the European Hospital twice on Tuesday, saying it was targeting a Hamas command center beneath the facility. Six people were killed in the strike.

European Hospital director Imad al-Hout told The Associated Press there had been 200 patients in the hospital at the time of Tuesday’s strikes. They were all gradually evacuated, with the last 90 transferred to other hospitals, including Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, on Wednesday morning. Efforts were now underway to coordinate repairs to the facility, he added.

American comedian Theo Von did a set Thursday before President Donald Trump’s visit to a military base in Qatar that included references to snorting cocaine off a baby’s back.

The jokes drew laughter and some groans from the service members at Al-Udeid Air Base, home to the forward headquarters of the U.S. military’s Central Command.

“Somebody put some cocaine on the baby’s back, right? I didn’t do it,” Von said. “And it wasn’t a lot of cocaine. ... It didn’t weigh the baby down, OK? And it was a mixed baby. So you can see the cocaine. I’m not doing white dust off a white child’s back, man.”

Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar is the forward headquarters of the U.S. military’s Central Command. At the base Thursday, service members listened to a comedy act ahead of Trump’s appearance. A Qatari and American flag flanked a large banner reading: “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”

A Qatari F-15 and an MQ-9 Reaper drone sat to the side of the stage.

Theo Von, an American comedian, did a stand up set that included making jokes about Qatar’s national dress for men, the white thobe, and everyone being named Mohammed.

“It’s like a Ku Klux sandsman,” he said.

He later made a joke about the U.S. Navy: “I’m not going to fly across the whole world just to be gay. I’m not in the Navy.” And another punch line included: “Where do you think the next 9/11 should happen?”

President Donald Trump kept up pressure Thursday on Iran, warning Tehran that a deal over its nuclear program or potentially airstrikes are the only two solutions to the diplomatic impasse.

Speaking in Qatar before business leaders, Trump said: “We’d like to see if we could solve the Iran problem in an intelligent way, as opposed to a brutal way. There’s only two: intelligent and brutal. Those are the two alternatives.”

Trump also said that Qatar’s ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, had been pushing for diplomatic deal over Iran’s nuclear program. Qatar shares a massive offshore oil and gas field that’s crucial to its wealth with Iran.

“I said last night that Iran is very lucky to have the emir because he’s actually fighting for them. He doesn’t want us to do a vicious blow to Iran,” Trump said. “He says, ‘You can make a deal. You can make a deal.’ He’s really fighting. And I really mean this: I think that Iran should say a big thank you to the emir.”

At another point, Trump mused: “In the case of Iran, they make a good drone.”

President Donald Trump has suggested that India has offered to drop tariffs on U.S. goods to zero, something not immediately acknowledged by New Delhi.

Trump made the comments during a business roundtable in Doha, Qatar, on his Mideast tour, first discussing Apple’s plans to build manufacturing plants for its iPhone there.

“It’s very hard to sell into India and and they’ve offered us a deal with what basically they’re willing to literally charge us no tariff,” Trump said. India is a close partner of the U.S. and is part of the Quad, which is made up of the U.S., India, Japan and Australia, and is seen as a counterbalance to China’s expansion in the region

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he didn’t think Russian President Vladimir Putin would go to talks in Turkey with Ukraine if he wasn’t there.

Trump made the remarks at a business roundtable in Qatar on his Mideast trip.

“I didn’t think it was possible for Putin to go if I’m not there,” Trump said.

Trump had suggested he could travel there for the talks if Putin was going. On Thursday, however, Trump said: “I actually said, why would he go if I’m not going? Because I wasn’t going to go. I wasn’t planning to go. I would go, but I wasn’t planning to go. And I said, I don’t think he’s going to go if I don’t go.”

Trump sat with GE Aerospace’s Larry Culp and Boeing Co.’s Kelly Ortberg on either side of him on Thursday. Both praised Trump for his support for the Qatar Airways order for Boeing aircraft. Ortberg called it one of the largest orders Boeing has ever had.

A hospital in southern Gaza says 54 people have been killed in overnight airstrikes on the city of Khan Younis.

An Associated Press cameraman in Khan Younis counted 10 airstrikes on the city overnight into Thursday, and saw numerous bodies taken to the morgue in the city’s Nasser Hospital. Some bodies arrived in pieces, with some body bags containing the remains of multiple people. The hospital’s morgue confirmed 54 people had been killed.

It was the second night of heavy bombing, after airstrikes Wednesday on northern and southern Gaza killed at least 70 people, including almost two dozen children.

The strikes come as U.S. President Donald Trump visits the Middle East, visiting Gulf states but not Israel. There had been widespread hope that Trump’s regional visit could usher in a ceasefire deal or renewal of humanitarian aid to Gaza. An Israeli blockade of the territory is now in its third month.

Qatar’s satellite news channel Al Jazeera long has been a powerful force in the Middle East, often taking editorial positions at odds with America’s interests in the region during the wars that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks by al-Qaida.

But during President Donald Trump’s visit to the Gulf Arab nation this week, state-funded Al Jazeera muted its typical critiques of American foreign policy.

The channel, which broadcasts in Arabic and English, broadly covered Trump’s visit in a straightforward manner, highlighting it was the first-ever trip to Qatar by a sitting American leader. Mentions of the Israel-Hamas war, which Al Jazeera often has criticized America over for its military support to Israel, did not include any critiques of U.S. policy. Instead, journalists highlighted Qatar’s role as a mediator in the war and aired comments by Qatar’s ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, calling for a ceasefire.

After a morning meeting with top U.S. and Qatari officials and American defense and aerospace business leaders, Trump heads to Al-Udeid Air Base, a U.S. installation at the center of American involvement in the Middle East. There, he will address troops and is expected to view a demonstration of American air capability.

The president then travels to the United Arab Emirates, the final leg of his first major foreign trip. He will head first to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and then to a state visit hosted at Abu Dhabi’s Qasr al-Watan palace.

The international rights group said that Israel’s plan to seize Gaza, remain in the territory and displace hundreds of thousands of people “inches closer to extermination.”

It called on the international community to speak out against the plan. It said that the new plans, coupled with the “systematic destruction” of civilian infrastructure and the block on all imports into Gaza, were cause for signatories to the Genocide Convention to act to prevent Israel’s moves. It said states should halt weapons transfers to Israel and enforce international arrest warrants against Israel’s prime minister and former defense minister, as well as review their bilateral agreements with the country.

Israel vehemently denies accusations that it is committing genocide in Gaza.

The group also called on Hamas to free the 58 hostages it still holds in Gaza, 23 of whom are believed to be alive.

A pregnant Israeli woman has died after she was shot and critically wounded in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank, a hospital said Thursday.

Beilinson Hospital said that doctors succeeded in saving her unborn baby, who was in serious but stable condition after being delivered by caesarean section.

The Israeli military said a Palestinian assailant opened fire on a vehicle late Wednesday, wounded two civilians. Soldiers launched a search for the attacker.

It’s the latest violence in the Palestinian territory, where the Israeli military has launched a major operation that it says is meant to crack down on militancy. The operation has displaced tens of thousands of people.

Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank in months of violence that surged there after the start of the war in Gaza.

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani welcomes President Donald Trump during an official welcoming ceremony at the Amiri Diwan in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani welcomes President Donald Trump during an official welcoming ceremony at the Amiri Diwan in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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