Hyde Reveals How Bills Can 'Get Better'

How a team performs in the preseason isn't the end-all be-all for a team, but it presents a chance to build some momentum heading into the regular season. 

The Buffalo Bills weren't building much of anything in their 27-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. Penalties, special teams mishaps, defensive struggles and turnovers were littered throughout the Bills performance in their second preseason game. 

"No matter what the film says, we've got to get better," Bills safety Micah Hyde said. "That's where we are right now. It's training camp, it's August, [and] we understand we're not going to play our best football. At the same time, we can't give up plays to beat ourselves."

Pittsburgh's starting offense scored back-to-back touchdowns on its two drives in the game. Steelers running back Jaylen Warren ran for a 62-yard touchdown on the first drive. On the Steelers' ensuing possession, quarterback Kenny Pickett found tight end Pat Freiermuth for a 25-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive, which was set up by a 54-yard punt return from Calvin Austin. 

Penalties also proved costly, as Buffalo had 13 infractions for 93 yards, including a stretch of three straight against the offense that made it second and 34 late in the first quarter. Buffalo was at Pittsburgh's 38-yard-line before an illegal block in the back, false start and holding penalties. 

Hyde gave some insight on how the penalties can be fixed.

"There's a big difference between the pre-snap penalties and and aggressive pass interference penalties," Hyde said. "Sometimes pass interference penalties, you get a little handsy on the defensive side and it also comes with being aggressive. We can work on that stuff and correct it ... Pre-snap penalties, those things can't happen."

Bills quarterback Matt Barkley threw salt into the wound but that was nearly intercepted as well. The veteran signal-caller threw three interceptions against Pittsburgh. 

Buffalo may very well solve its issues and the performance on Saturday will be a blip on the radar. But Saturday's performance was a sign of things to come, the Bills' bid to win a fourth straight AFC East title will be an uphill climb.