Archives for September 26, 2017

'“If you have to sacrifice the run game to get guys open downfield and they want to stack the box … we’ve got to find ways to win and Tyrod responded in a major way today.”'

'"You want to kneel? That's your prerogative. I would never do that. I will always stand, thank the good Lord for everything I got. But when you disrespect the way he did and just go by his everyday duty in the national anthem being sung? Uh-uh. I won't go for that."'

'“It’s a wild time in America right now and we have a polarizing president it appears and he made some remarks that a lot of the guys in the NFL took offense to,” Wood said Monday. “I know from our team, the guys who knelt meant no disrespect to the military whatsoever. I think what’s got a lot of the fans and the people that support the NFL upset is they think it’s a shot at the military. I think I speak for everyone that says it is absolutely not a disrespect to the military.'

'McDermott’s culture change at One Bills Drive is rooted in the importance of love, unity and a brotherhood behind closed doors and on the playing field. To ensure that the raw emotions conjured by Trump’s comments didn’t become an overwhelming distraction, the entire team and ownership met together for an hour Saturday night. And on Sunday, players, coaches and trainers delivered a message of togetherness, forming a wall of solidarity during the anthem prior to their 26-16 win over Denver.'

'They do have games left against the NFL's only two remaining unbeaten teams, the Chiefs and Falcons, starting with Sunday's game in Atlanta. But several of their future opponents looked positively dreadful on Sunday, and if the Bills' defense keeps playing this well, they can compete with all of them.'

'“I understood the call, but I was amazed that Carl Cheffers made that call,” Daopoulos said. “I could see if the players were in each other’s faces, but it seems they know each other and it was a joking type of thing."'

'Denver crossed midfield on seven drives and ran 34 plays in Bills' territory. Thomas and Sanders produced just three catches for 20 yards on the Bills' side of the field.'

'Well, I believe this – I believe we put out a team statement for a reason. I stand by that statement of equality, of love, of unity and I think that’s the important part right here, right now. Really, anything in addition to that for us is, we’ve got to get our focus on our team and the Atlanta Falcons at this point.'

'That Von Miller penalty might be the worst I've ever seen. Seriously. Both guys were laughing. That's inexcusable in that spot. Inexcusable.'

'The Bills did a good job of bending but not breaking in pass defense Sunday against the Broncos’ receiving duo of Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, holding the pair to 13 receptions on 24 targets for 173 yards and no touchdowns. They also took away the big plays, not allowing a reception longer than 29 yards. But Atlanta will pose an even bigger threat to the Bills’ secondary composed of all newcomers. Rookie Tre’Davious White will face his biggest test yet against all-pro Julio Jones, who some believe is the league’s best receiver. If the Bills lock him down, there’s still Mohamed Sanu and Taylor Gabriel to deal with. But the biggest factor of all may be Ryan – far and away the best passer the Bills have faced yet. We’ll see what the secondary is made of in this game.'

'K Stephen Hauschka – No kicker in Bills history has had at least three field goals in a game that were 49 yards or longer, or two in a game that were 53 yards or longer. Hauschka did that Sunday, going 4 for 4 from 27, 49, 53 and 55 yards, all to the scoreboard end of New Era Field.'

'I can't recall Dedes having a better game than he did Sunday. He put the game in perspective, was sharp on player identifications, smartly set up Archuleta for key comments and even gently corrected his analyst's biggest mistake.'

'The Buffalo Bills' 26-16 victory over the Denver Broncos Sunday had a season-high rating of 36.9 on WIVB-TV (Channel 4).'

'"That would make me proud of Buffalo," Wes said before the game while tailgating with his family and friends, many of whom grew up — and at least one who served in the Army — with his late brother, Staff Sgt. William R. Wilson III.'

'McDermott did not want to, as he said, “look in the rearview mirror” and preferred to move forward and begin talking about Buffalo’s game against the defending NFC champion Falcons Sunday.'