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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)

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.

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.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris poked at Donald Trump over crowd sizes, his refusal to debate again and his privileged background on Sunday as she hauled in campaign cash in California and held a raucous rally at the same Nevada venue where the Republican nominee had appeared just two weeks ago.

During the presidential debate, Harris appeared to get under the former president's skin when she said people were leaving his rallies early because of his rambling speeches. And she's kept it up on the campaign trail.

The vice president told donors at a tony Los Angeles fundraiser that, as she campaigns around the country, her “crowds are pretty big.” And then before a roaring Las Vegas crowd estimated at 7,500, she renewed her jabs at Trump over being reluctant to debate again, saying, “The American people have a right to hear us discuss the issues. And as you say here in Las Vegas, I’m all in. I’m all in.”

Harris’ four-day West Coast trip had dual purposes: She opened and closed it with stops in Sun Belt battlegrounds — Arizona and Nevada — where the vice president is trying to shore up support as Trump pounds her relentlessly over illegal migration. And her mid-stay in California was devoted to hauling in campaign contributions from donors in her blue home state.

Harris also moved into what Trump considers his terrain — immigration — with a Friday visit to the border town of Douglas, Arizona. It was her first trip to the U.S.-Mexico border since taking over for President Joe Biden atop the Democratic presidential ticket.

Harris’ border visit in Arizona seemed to irk Trump. The GOP leader has spent two days railing about the vice president during his rallies, upping his personal attacks against her, claiming she was responsible for a border “invasion,” and stirring up unfounded fears that she’d usher in lawlessness if elected.

Harris gave the same response she usually does to his insults, even despite Trump calling her “mentally impaired.”

“We just see the same old tired show from the same old tired playbook,” she told a Los Angeles crowd of donors on Sunday, some who shouted “boring!” in response.

Hours later in Las Vegas, she also revived her jabs at Trump for his “silver platter” background that nonetheless produced six bankruptcies, saying, "I come from the middle class, and I will never forget where I come from.”

Harris has warned the race is as close as it could possibly be, a “margin-of-error” race. But at the Los Angeles fundraiser, she added: “The election is here and let me be clear. We are going to win.”

That event was full of celebrities: Stevie Wonder, Keegan Michael-Key, Sterling K. Brown, Demi Lovato, Jessica Alba and Lily Tomlin attended and Halle Bailey and Alanis Morissette took the stage. It, and a fundraiser a day earlier in San Francisco, raised a combined $55 million for Harris' campaign.

Harris was spending Sunday night in Las Vegas and had planned campaign stops in the city on Monday. But her office announced that she'd instead head back to Washington earlier than expected and will attend a briefing on the damage caused by Hurricane Helene at the headquarters of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Meanwhile, the vice president is continuing to notch Republican support. Former Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake became the latest to endorse her. He credited Harris with a “fine character and love of country” and said he wants a president who does not treat political adversaries as enemies or try to subvert the will of voters.

Flake, a longtime critic of the former president, joins a list of anti-Trump Republicans who have said they will vote for the Democratic ticket, including Dick Cheney, the deeply conservative former vice president, and his daughter, Liz.

But Maryland Senate candidate Larry Hogan, a former Republican governor and a sharp critic of Trump, said Harris has yet to earn his vote, though Trump won't get it.

In Nevada, where Harris held her latest rally, all voters automatically receive ballots by mail unless they opt out — a pandemic-era change that was set in state law. That means most ballots could start going out in a matter of weeks.

Harris will be back in Las Vegas on Oct. 10 for a town hall with Hispanic voters. Both she and Trump have campaigned frequently in the city, highlighting the critical role that Nevada's six electoral votes could play in deciding an election expected to be exceedingly close.

Trump held his own Las Vegas rally on Sept. 13 at the Expo World Market Center, where Harris spoke Sunday. She's also held events at the same venues that Trump used in Milwaukee, Atlanta and suburban Phoenix.

During a campaign stop in Las Vegas in June, Trump promised to eliminate taxes on tips received by waiters, hotel workers and thousands of other service industry employees. Harris used her own Las Vegas rally in August to make the same promise.

Fully doing away with federal taxes on tips would probably require an act of Congress. Still, Nevada's Culinary Union, which represents 60,000 hospitality workers in Las Vegas and Reno, has endorsed Harris.

Long reported from Washington.

Attendees cheer as Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a rally on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Attendees cheer as Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a rally on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Attendees cheer as Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a rally on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Attendees cheer as Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a rally on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

An attendee holds a sign for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris during a rally on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

An attendee holds a sign for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris during a rally on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign appearance Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Sam Morris)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign appearance Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Sam Morris)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a rally on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a rally on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Attendees cheer during a rally for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Attendees cheer during a rally for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, second from left, greets people in the crowd after speaking at a rally on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, second from left, greets people in the crowd after speaking at a rally on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a rally on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a rally on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris waves to the crowd as she arrives to speak at a rally on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris waves to the crowd as she arrives to speak at a rally on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a rally on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a rally on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris arrives at Harry Reid International Airport, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris arrives at Harry Reid International Airport, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris gets ready to board Air Force Two, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris gets ready to board Air Force Two, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., speaks before a campaign appearance by Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Sam Morris)

Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., speaks before a campaign appearance by Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Sam Morris)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris waves while boarding Air Force Two, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris waves while boarding Air Force Two, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris waves as she arrives in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris waves as she arrives in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

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