Buffalo Bills schedule: From frying pan into the fire this week

ORCHARD PARK – The Carolina Panthers were the frying pan. The Denver Broncos will be the fire.

Welcome to Rick Dennison’s world.

A week after the Buffalo Bills had no answers against a stout Carolina defense, the team’s offensive coordinator must craft a bounce-back plan against an even tougher Denver defense he knows very well and that is humming along right on cue.

The NFL’s No. 1-ranked defense is why the Broncos won Super Bowl 50 two seasons ago in Peyton Manning’s swan-song season and its No. 4 unit was why the team finished a respectable 9-7 last year as the team transitioned to quarterback Trevor Siemian.

Dennison, a long-time Broncos’ aide, was the team’s offensive coordinator in 2015 and 2016 and knows its personnel well, to say the least.

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“Well, they’re a talented group obviously,’’ he said of Denver’s defense that again ranks No. 4 overall, including third against the run and 14th in points allowed. “They rush the pass very well and they’ve got great DBs, they all have great ball skills. Put the ball around them, they think it’s theirs, so you’ve got to be careful. Like any other defense, they’re loaded with talent. We have our work cut out for us, but just like we did last week, we’ll find a way to move the ball.’’

Actually, against Carolina, a 9-3 loss, the Bills didn’t find a way to move the ball until the fourth quarter and by then it was too little, too late. The Broncos, meanwhile, brought Dallas Cowboys fans back to reality with a dominating 42-17 victory.

Denver’s defense held the Cowboys to 40 yards rushing, including just eight yards on nine carries by young star running back Zeke Elliott. Quarterback Dak Prescott threw for two scores but was forced to pass 50 times, resulting in two interceptions, one returned 103 yards by Aquib Talib that sealed Denver’s victory.

Along with its fine secondary, Denver, like Carolina, features top-level linebackers that can cover the entire width of the field. A strong running team such as Dallas found that out, and now a strong running team such as Buffalo, led by LeSean McCoy, is about to. McCoy was held to nine yards on 12 carries by the Panthers.

“We didn’t execute. The consistency, you watch play after play, one play we’re doing well, one play we’re not,’’ Dennison said. “It’s not any one person, it’s us as a group. Whether it’s a wide receiver creating separation or a protection, there are many things. I don’t have to go through play-by-play for you, we just didn’t execute. We didn’t get the ball down the field. We gave it a try a couple times, the ball went out, didn’t make those plays, so we’ll move on.’’

From the frying pan, into the fire.

Buffalo’s remaining opponents were a combined 7-5 last week and are 11-11 overall. The remaining schedule:

Sept. 24, Denver (2-0). This week: at Buffalo. Last week: Won 42-17 vs. Dallas. Trevior Siemien tosses four TDs and Denver “D’’ sends Big D packing.

Oct. 1, at Atlanta (2-0). This week: at Detroit. Last week: Won 34-23 vs. Green Bay. No Super Bowl hangover for Matt Ryan and Falcons’ defense, which roughed up Aaron Rodgers and his depleted line.

Oct. 8, at Cincinnati (0-2). This week: at Green Bay. Last week: Lost to Houston 13-9. Losing to rookie QB Deshaun Watson another blow for offensively challenged Bengals.

Oct. 22, Tampa Bay (1-0). This week: at Minnesota. Last week: Won vs. Chicago 29-7. Bucs hold woeful Bears to 20 yards rushing.

Oct. 29, Oakland (2-0). This week: at Washington. Last week: Won vs. New York Jets 45-20. Derek Carr throws three TD passes to Michael Crabtree. Every game is a fantasy delight vs. Jets.

Nov. 2, at NY Jets (0-2). This week: host Miami. Last week: Lost vs. Oakland 45-20. Jets’ defense allowed scoring runs of 52 and 43 yards. Can Todd Bowles last the season?

Nov. 12, New Orleans (0-2). This week: at Carolina. Last week: Lost vs. New England 36-20. Saints were in tough spot against a motivated Patriots team embarrassed in its opener.

Nov. 19, at L.A. Chargers (0-2). This week: at Kansas City. Last week: Lost vs. Miami 19-17. Brutal opening schedule for new coach Anthony Lynn.

Nov. 26, at Kansas City (2-0). This week: at L.A. Chargers. Last week: Won vs. Philadelphia 27-20. Rookie running back Kareem Hunt is a star in the making. Andy Reid beats his old team.

Dec. 3, Dec. 24, New England (1-1). This week: home to Houston. Last week: Won vs. New Orleans 36-20. Brady (3 TDs) and Gronk (116 yards, 1 TD) very much alive and well.

Dec. 10, Indianapolis (0-2). This week: home to Cleveland. Last week: Lost vs. Arizona 16-13. Just not enough offense with Andrew Luck sidelined.

Dec. 17, Dec. 31 Miami (1-0). This week: at Jets. Last week: Won vs. Chargers 19-17. Three field goal drives pull it out. Jay Cutler will keep Dolphins on playoff radar.

LROTH@Gannett.com