The Buffalo Bills just dropped a heartbreaker, a 29-26 loss to the New England Patriots, and cornerback Maxwell Hairston is stuck squarely in the crosshairs. But look, while Hairston took a ton of heat for his play and refusing to talk to the media after giving up a pair of touchdowns to Romeo Doubs in Week 4, this ain’t all on him. Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s crew has been straight-up struggling with communication, getting on the same page in coverage, and making those crucial stops when the game’s on the line. Sound familiar? It was the exact story against New England, and here’s the kicker: Hairston, Christian Benford, and Dee Alford, the Bills’ top three cornerbacks, all ranked among the worst in the NFL in pass coverage *before* Week 4, according to Pro Football Focus.
Hairston’s Week 4 Nightmare and a Vow to Be Better
It’s easy to point the finger at Maxwell Hairston for Buffalo’s defensive woes, especially after that Week 4 meltdown. Against the Patriots, Hairston, stepping into the CB1 role, allowed four receptions on eight targets for 44 yards. You know what stings even worse? He gave up two fourth-down conversions on easy completions when he played off coverage, extending drives for New England. Then there were those two touchdown passes from Drake Maye to Romeo Doubs. Ouch. He even committed a defensive holding penalty for good measure. With Benford out and the defensive backs depleted by injuries, the Bills needed Hairston to step up big time, and he just came up short. After initially walking out of the locker room without a word, Hairston did take responsibility the next day, not just for his play, but for his postgame antics too. He’s vowing to improve, specifically pointing to his eye discipline. “Just my eyes at the top of the route, completing the rep,” Hairston said when asked what he can fix. “Really just the biggest thing is fixing my eyes. (I should) Not (be) looking at the quarterback; the ball isn’t coming to me. I’m not the receiver. And I have to do better at finishing the route.”
This Ain’t Just One Guy, It’s a Full-Blown Secondary Crisis
But seriously, this isn’t just a “Hairston problem.” It’s a full-blown secondary crisis that’s somehow been hiding behind a 3-1 start. The Buffalo Bills are currently ranked 27th in the entire NFL in passing yards allowed per game. Let that sink in. They’re also next-to-last in most first downs allowed per game. And those PFF grades? Brutal. After four weeks, Hairston, Christian Benford, and even nickel cornerback Dee Alford are all ranked among the bottom 10 cornerbacks in the league, assuming a minimum of 100 coverage snaps. We’re talking about the unit that’s supposed to lock down opposing receivers, and they’re consistently getting cooked. Jim Leonhard’s unit has to figure out these communication breakdowns, has to get everyone on the same page, and they have to start making game-winning stops.
The Bills are squaring off against Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football next. If this struggling secondary can’t get their act together and fix these fundamental issues, it’s gonna be a long, long night under the lights.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Buffalo Rumblings.
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