A lot can change in two weeks.

The Buffalo Bills were on top of the world after their Week 3 thrashing of the Jacksonville Jaguars, sitting at 3-0 and looking like a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Fast forward to today, and you’d think two weeks ago was twenty years ago.

Regardless of the bad atmosphere in Orchard Park after Buffalo’s ugly Week 5 loss to the Houston Texans, it’s too early to hit the panic button because the issues facing the Bills can be resolved. It all starts with the wide receiver position, which has been under fire the past two games after disappointing games against the Baltimore Ravens and then again in Houston.

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The statistics provide a clear picture of what the recipients have had to deal with. Through the first three games, Bills receivers caught 78.9% of their targets, including two games of 85%. In the last two games, they’ve caught just 38.8% of their targets, including just 22% against the Texans on Sunday.

Through the first three weeks, Buffalo receivers had zero drops. According to Pro Football Focus, they have completed two passes in the last two games.

What’s interesting is that Josh Allen has thrown more to his receivers over the last two weeks with 18 targets per game, compared to 12.7 targets in the first three weeks. The receivers get more opportunities, but are not converted into receptions; what’s the problem?

Over the past two weeks, the curators have failed to create much separation from the defenders. While Curtis Samuel is theoretically their speedman, no one in the room can be a downfield burner. Rookie Keon Coleman can step up to make contested catches and Khalil Shakir is confident, but other than that, the Bills don’t have that elite receiver who can do it all.

Shakir not being in the lineup on Sunday was a bigger loss for Buffalo than expected, as the Texans secondary covered the Bills’ receivers throughout the game. Buffalo had to revert to short-range passing for any aerial movement and found essentially no success on the field; Allen was just 1 of 15 on passes from more than 10 yards downfield.

So what can be done? Wait for Shakir’s return and hope that gives a boost? Recruit someone from outside the organization? Hope for better play-calling from offensive coordinator Joe Brady?

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The answer is a bit of the three, with perhaps a priority on acquiring additional talent with a demonstrated ability to separate. Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams is currently on the trading block, and while his financial situation and the rollercoaster Buffalo just went on with Stefon Diggs may cause hesitation, his talent is undeniable. Through five games, it’s become clear that the Bills don’t operate a target that can be counted on in crucial moments, or to consistently move the offense when it sputters along; acquiring a player like Adams, or even an Amari Cooper or Romeo Doubs, will help solve this problem.

Brady also needs to grow as a play-caller and become more creative again. This means a return to the moves we saw at the start of the season and moving receivers to different positions, something he talked about during the offseason. Each recipient has their own skills that are not being fully utilized.

Buffalo hoped to get through the 2024 season with a hodgepodge of unproven pass catchers, but the struggles of the past two games suggest changes are needed. This starts internally with better play-calling and players getting healthy, but if problems persist, the team may be forced to acquire additional talent if it hopes to remain competitive.

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