The Buffalo Bills have been one of the NFL’s most puzzling teams over the first seven weeks of the season.

They have looked dominant for stretches, like during their three-game winning streak begin Weeks 2 and 4 when they outscored their opponents 123-33.

But then at other times, the Bills have looked very ordinary, like in Week 1 when they lost to the New York Jets, or the past three weeks, where they have gone just 1-2. Their lone win was a 14-9 nail-biter over the depleted New York Giants, and this past Sunday, they fell to the previously 1-5 New England Patriots by a score of 29-25.

Head coach Sean McDermott thinks the club has been shooting itself in the foot.

“We’ve gotta continue to find answers to some of the reasons as to why we’re stubbing our toe,” McDermott said, via Michael Baca of NFL.com. “We’re not playing complimentary football. … We’re beating ourselves at times, and we’re not linking up in all three phases to control a game.”

Buffalo committed nine penalties in Week 7 and fell behind 10-0 in the first quarter. It was unable to overcome its miscues or climb out of the early hole.

McDermott is at a loss as to why the Bills have been laboring so much against largely inferior teams.

“I wish I could tell you,” he said. “We talk about it, we talk about being more detailed, getting into a rhythm early, playing complementary football and all three phases working together. We haven’t been able to get into a good rhythm, obviously.”

Buffalo entered 2023 with Super Bowl aspirations after winning 13 games a year ago. However, the Bills have not been nearly consistent enough to look like legitimate championship contenders at this point of the season.

McDermott’s group will try to get back on track when it hosts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night. The Bills are currently 4-3.

Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.