Observations: Devin Singletary's career day continues his recent resurgence in Bills' win

While Josh Allen’s exploits on the ground will rightfully get a lot of the attention after Sunday’s 29-15 victory over the Atlanta Falcons at Highmark Stadium, Devin Singletary’s game should not be overlooked.

Singletary had a career day, rushing 23 times for 110 yards and a pair of touchdowns, continuing a recent run of strong play. Allen also had a pair of rushing touchdowns, making it just the second time in team history two players scored multiple touchdowns on the ground in a single game (the only other time came when Curtis Brown and Terry Miller did it on Nov. 26, 1978, against the New York Giants).

The Bills rushed for a season-high 233 yards, putting themselves on the doorstep of another AFC East title. Buffalo (10-6) can wrap that up with a victory in the season finale next Sunday against the New York Jets at home.

The Bills, though, can make postseason plans: With Baltimore’s loss to the Rams, the Bills have clinched a playoff spot for the fourth time in coach Sean McDermott’s five seasons. The Bills have the No. 4 seed, and if the standings hold after next week, would host the New England Patriots in a wild-card playoff game.

The Bills stretched their winning streak to three games, and Singletary has played a big part in each of those victories. His 23 carries surpassed his career high of 22, which was set in Week 15 against Carolina, and his 110 yards eclipsed his previous career best of 106 yards set on Nov. 24, 2019, during a 20-3 win over the Denver Broncos.

That game was the only other time under McDermott that the Bills rushed for more yards (244) than they had Sunday.

“I allude to it every time I talk about him – every single play you see him doing the right thing,” Allen said of Singletary. “When you've got a guy that just wants to do the right thing and help the team win, typically those guys are going to make the plays when they're called upon, and he's been really big for us the last few weeks and we're going to need him going forward and he knows that.

“To see him kind of take the next step in his career, catching balls out of the backfield and you saw him running the ball today, he runs extremely hard. I urge you guys to watch him on every single play, whether he's got the ball or not. He continues to go find work down the field, follow the ball, pick up guys when on the ground, and that's how you should play the game of football.”

In 14 quarters dating to halftime against Tampa Bay, Singletary has rushed 61 times for 287 yards and four touchdowns, and he also has 12 catches for 86 yards.

“Just felt like all the hard work that (I’ve) been putting in, it's paying off,” he said. “Even though … they were leaning on me, I wasn't out there by myself. I had the linemen, tight ends, receivers making blocks, making plays downfield. So it wasn't just me. I had all my guys out there with me. We definitely got in a groove when we needed to and we made it count.”

With the Bills needing to ice the game late, Singletary ran on four consecutive plays – showing he has the trust of the coaching staff in just about any situation.

“This year in particular since he came back to training camp, you could really tell he had worked his tail off,” McDermott said. “He inspires the guys by his style of running. He’s not a very big guy, but I can recall two or three runs … you could tell there was something a little bit more he was giving out there.”

Singletary isn’t the most vocal player in the locker room, but his approach – even in down times this season – has earned plenty of respect from his teammates.

“It just is a testament to him as a person,” tight end Dawson Knox said. “Having games where you’re not getting the ball a whole lot and you’re not getting runs that you want, you’re not getting the play calls for yourself, it’s easy to be selfish in those situations and pout and ask for more carries. It’s easy to start complaining, but I’ve never heard any of that from him, and I don’t think anyone else has, either. He’s an awesome teammate.

“Just to go in and when his number is finally called to ball out like he did today, it just shows you who he is off the field, too. He’s a guy that we love hanging around and we got his back on everything. It’s so exciting to see him getting some of that success that he really deserves because he’s a great player.”

Knox also made sure to shout out the offensive line, which was deserved after such a productive day on the ground. The Bills have talked all season about developing an offense that can beat teams by either running or passing. Now, it’s starting to take shape.

“That whole running back room with guys up and down, which has been frustrating at times, but I'll tell you what, that room has been the utmost professionals in regards to when they're number's called,” center Mitch Morse said. "We trust anyone back there. Devin has really taken advantage of his opportunities. He's made our lives a lot easier. I think there were some muddy holes in there and he made us right a few times and that's all you can ask for a running back and then he brought the juice."

2. Dion Dawkins’ lone target fell incomplete. The Bills had some fun in the second quarter, running a play with their left tackle as the intended receiver. The pass, which went into double coverage, fell incomplete.

“It was the ‘Dawkins pass,’ ” the left tackle said of the play call. “The best thing about that (was) even though I was double teamed … at that moment I realized Josh trusts me like hell. There were two people on me and Josh still threw it.”

Asked if he liked that play call, McDermott deadpanned, “I like when he’s open better.”

“Listen, we’re professionals in what we do, right? But at the end of the day, there’s got to be some level of energy that comes from doing some things, right?” the coach said. “Not only on the field, but off the field as well. So, I think that is a part of good teams is that chemistry, that synergy, and you get that through different ways.”

3. This “no punt” game comes with an asterisk. For the second straight game, the Bills did not punt, becoming the first team since Pittsburgh in 2004 to do so. Of course, this time it wasn’t quite as impressive as during the Week 16 win over the Patriots.

“I wish he would have punted three times tonight, or at least been on the field three times,” Allen said of punter Matt Haack. “Obviously, we want to end every drive in a punt, or a field goal or a kick, whatever it is, just making sure that we're holding onto the football. It's a cool stat, but this one feels a lot different than last week given the turnovers. So again, we'reOK with him being out on the field as long as it results in no interceptions and no fumbles. That's what we've got to continue to do moving forward.”

4. Matt Ryan took a taunting penalty? Why, yes, he did. The Falcons’ veteran quarterback was penalized in the fourth quarter. After appearing to score a 7-yard rushing touchdown, Ryan had something to say to Bills safety Jordan Poyer, who was the closest defender to the play. After review, however, Ryan was ruled down at the 1-yard line, and then the penalty was enforced.

It ended up being a big one, as the Falcons then had third and goal from the Bills’ 16-yard line and were unable to convert on the next two plays. Instead of the score being 29-22, assuming a made extra point, with 5:58 remaining – very much a game – the Bills held onto their two-possession lead and ran the clock out.

“Obviously, I didn’t think I was down,” Ryan said. “I wasn’t trying to give myself up or anything like that. So it’s disappointing. But the rules are the rules, and so you have to play by them. … Football’s an emotional game and so, there’s lot of things that are said out there. I’m disappointed in myself in that the timing cost us, but I didn’t think it was anything that bad.

“Quite frankly, I didn’t think it was a taunting, but that’s my opinion. Whether I agree with what they called, it’s up to their discretion. I’ve never been called for it before. I was surprised that it was called there. But those are tough calls for the officials, too.”

Poyer declined to say what Ryan said to him.

“I’ll keep that between the lines,” he said. “It's a competitive game, for sure. He wished he had it back, but at the end of the day, not a lot I can do about it.”

5. McDermott showed faith in Marquez Stevenson. The Bills’ rookie returner lost a fumble deep in Buffalo territory on a punt return in the first quarter. Falcons cornerback Avery Williams’ helmet knocked the ball out of Stevenson’s grasp at the Buffalo 12-yard line, leading to a mad scramble. Bills receiver Jake Kumerow eventually made the recovery, but it was in the end zone, giving the Falcons a safety that opened the scoring.

Somewhat surprisingly, however, Stevenson was back for Atlanta’s next punt. He also continued as the Bills’ kick returner. McDermott doesn’t have a lot of patience for turnovers on special teams, but showed some with Stevenson, a rookie sixth-round draft pick who played in just his fifth career game.

“I thought that was important,” McDermott said. “Those are hard ones for a coach. The ball is so important, we turned it over three, four times today, however you want to count that one. It’s hard to win when you do that and that was a valuable lesson for him and I hope a steppingstone in his career.”

6. Some injuries piled up late. The Bills surely wanted the clock to run out Sunday, as a couple of key players went down on the final drive of the game. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs took what looked to be a shot to the head by Falcons safety Shawn Williams. Diggs came off the field holding his head, and immediately took off his helmet. He then went to the blue, medical tent on the Bills’ sideline, but was able to return to the game a short time later.

Just two plays after Diggs was hurt, guard Ryan Bates went down. He was able to walk off the field under his own power, and was replaced in the lineup by Jon Feliciano. Bates did not return for the final 3 minutes of the game, but appeared like he would have been able to had he been needed.

Additionally, rookie right tackle Spencer Brown was shaken up in the second quarter, but was able to return to the game.

7. Emmanuel Sanders sat out. The Bills’ veteran receiver, who did not practice Thursday or Friday because of a knee injury, was inactive for the second time in the past three weeks. Sanders injured his knee during the Tampa Bay game in Week 14, then missed the following game against Carolina, but returned last week to face New England. He had two catches on four targets for 20 yards. The veteran wide receiver was limited in Wednesday's walk-through. He was listed as questionable on the final injury report.

"I know what he's got going on, but I can't qualify it exactly as a flare-up or maybe he was just dealing with this before," McDermott said during the week. "I think it's just more of a general, 'Hey, he's got a knee (injury) going on right now,' and we'll just have to see how it goes."

8. The rest of the Bills’ inactives were all healthy. That listed included running back Matt Breida, offensive tackle Bobby Hart, tight end Tommy Sweeney, defensive end Boogie Basham and defensive tackle Vernon Butler Jr.

9. Local products Qadree Ollison and Steven Means faced their hometown team. Ollison, a Niagara Falls native, carried three times for 19 yards, but left the game early because of a quad injury that was announced in the third quarter. He was unable to return.

“Not the outcome we wanted,” he tweeted after the game.” But being able to come back home & play in the same stadium I won HS championships in, in front of my family (and) friends is something I’ll never forget. Blessed & forever grateful. #716 for life!”

Means, a Buffalo native and University at Buffalo product, finished with five tackles.

10. Old friend Matt Barkley was inactive for the Falcons. Barkley, who was Allen’s backup the past two-plus seasons with the Bills, is currently on his third team since leaving Buffalo as a free agent this past offseason. Interestingly enough, this is the third time Barkley has faced the Bills this season, as he was previously a member of the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad in October, then was on the Carolina Panthers’ active roster when they visited Orchard Park last month.

The Falcons’ backup quarterback, you ask?

Why that would be Josh Rosen – the quarterback many Bills fans wanted in the 2018 draft. It’s safe to say, Bills General Manager Brandon Beane got that one right.