Bills enter their bye week at 6-6 and stinging from a series of close calls and late-game collapses

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — It’s not one thing that has led to the Buffalo Bills’ struggles with closing out victories this season. And that leaves coach Sean McDermott using the team’s long-awaited bye week off to come up with some necessary solutions if the inconsistent Bills intend to mount a late-season playoff push. “We’re this close.” And yet, the three-time defending AFC East champions are also so far away in a season in which injuries have depleted a defense of three key starters, a stagnating offense led to McDermott firing coordinator Ken Dorsey two weeks ago, and with special teams meltdowns playing a factor. Allen’s four turnovers played a major role in Buffalo’s season-opening 22-16 overtime loss to the Jets, in a game Buffalo’s coverage unit allowed Xavier Gipson to return a 65-yard punt to clinch the win. A slow-starting offense — Buffalo’s first eight possessions ended with six punts, an interception and a touchdown — also cost the Bills in a 25-20 loss to Jacksonville, in Week 5.