Two Bills Drive

Buffalo Bills News and Discussion

Archives for November 2017

Bills’ McDermott aware of Patriots’ recent success

‘McDermott added of the Pats domination of Buffalo for the past 17 years, “I understand that’s been a part of the past, and I respect the past. It’s one day at a time, it’s building towards what we’re trying to become. They’ve been to where we’re trying to get to, and they’ve been there for a long time.”’

Jerry Sullivan: Welcome to your nightmare, the Pats

‘The Pats haven’t lost a meaningful game to the Bills in the second half in the Brady era. The one loss came in the 2014 finale, when the Patriots had wrapped up home field in the playoffs and rested several starters. Brady played a half. The win certainly wasn’t heroic enough to stop Doug Marrone from walking off the job as Bills coach three days later.’

Bills Notebook: Benjamin expects to play again this season, Glenn’s status gets murkier

‘The injury news isn’t as promising for left tackle Cordy Glenn, who didn’t practice again Wednesday and doesn’t look to be any closer to returning to the lineup. Coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday the team does not have a timetable on when – or if – Glenn will return, which is a departure from the “day to day” designation he had previously used.’

Rex Ryan says order to bench Tyrod Taylor last season led to his firing

‘”When I was approached last year – knowing I wasn’t going to be there, all that type of stuff – and I was told to bench Tyrod Taylor, I’m like, there’s no way. I’m not doing it,” Ryan said. “So you might as well fire me now because I’m not doing it. And I thought it was the wrong move, it sent the wrong message to the locker room – we’re not going to play him because we’re out of it, but it’s OK to play you. How’s that guy going to feel? Well, they went out and got beat by the Jets’ JV team.”‘

What He Said: McDermott on injuries, the process and the Patriots’ dominance

‘Yeah, injury-wise, all these guys, for the most part are day-to-day. Starting with Kelvin; Cordy, really no timetable on Cordy, he’s the one exception at this point, really no timetable, he continues to work through it. Having said that, Mike Tolbert, Nick O’Leary, Eddie Yarbrough and John Miller, all day-to-day and will not practice today. Limited will be Jordan Matthews and Charles Clay.’

Struggling Bills WR Jordan Matthews has been a disappointment

‘When he came to Buffalo in the trade that sent cornerback Ronald Darby to Philadelphia during training camp, Matthews was looked upon as a player who would help offset the departure of Sammy Watkins who, that same day, was dealt to the Rams. Instead, he has been a vast disappointment as he has just 24 catches for 268 yards and a touchdown in nine games for Buffalo.’

Patriots TE, Buffalo native Rob Gronkowski breaks down Buffalo chicken wing scene

‘”Anything in Buffalo for real,” Gronkowski said. “Everyone’s always like, ‘Well, what’s the spot?’ Tell you the truth, everyone always says Duff’s or Anchor Bar, but I’ve never even been to Duff’s in my life. It’s crazy. So I actually want to try Duff’s wings. Anywhere in Buffalo you can go down there. I usually go to Amherst Ale House, but anywhere in Buffalo you can go to the corner store and they always have good wings. And good blue cheese. The blue cheese is crucial, too.”‘

What Buffalo Bills WR Kelvin Benjamin said about his knee injury

‘”That’s all that kept coming through my head, thinking about my ACL,” Benjamin said Wednesday. “I didn’t hear a pop so that made me feel a little good about it. Then I was able to walk off the field, so that made me feel good about it too.”‘

Bills’ Sean McDermott acknowledges ‘headache’ and lack of sleep preparing for Patriots

‘”That’s why I wake up at three o’clock in the morning,” McDermott said. “They do a great job with building their football team, whether it’s through the draft or late free agency signings. They find pieces that fit what they’re trying to do and they’re very strategic. Nick Caserio I know well, does a great job on the personnel side. And then their coaching staff does a phenomenal job. Obviously it’s led by one of the greats of all time.”‘

What Patriots’ Bills Belichick had to say about Sean McDermott’s Buffalo Bills

‘”This is really a Buffalo team that is playing well,” Belichick said. “They’re good in all three phases of the game. Coach McDermott has done a great job with that program. They’re tough. They take the ball away. They have a good running game. Tough quarterback. Good skill players. Good in the kicking game. They’re really a solid football team.”‘

Belichick calls benched Gillislee a “good player,” Shady supports TD Mike

‘”We have some pretty good depth at that position. I feel like all five of our backs have been productive for us and doing what we’ve needed them to do and can make plays for us,” Belichick said. “We can only activate 46 players and take the ones and use the ones that we feel are going to make the biggest impact and will be able to help our team the most to win the game.”‘

McDermott preps for first test vs. Pats

‘There’s a different between winning and doing the things that lead to winning. It’s clear that they have the habits that set themselves up for success.”

Tyrod says he doesn’t look into comments about his starting-status

‘”I don’t really look into that. Like I said, my job is to focus on winning games and preparing myself and getting this team ready, especially this offense ready to go out there and compete at a high level on Sunday’s. I don’t necessarily put my mind on those comments,” Taylor said.’

5 things to watch as the Bills host the Patriots

‘Stephon’s improved: Buffalo isn’t too fond of Stephon Gilmore. The former Bills cornerback left for New England via free agency. Gilmore got a massive five-year, $65 million deal with $40 million guaranteed. Early in the season when the Pats started 2-2 and their defense looked bad, so did Gilmore. But he doesn’t anymore. In each of the past three games, Gilmore has a pass defended. Last week, Gilmore intercepted Dolphins’ QB Matt Moore twice, but only was awarded one. The second was a combined pick which was given to Duron Harmon instead.’

Bill Belichick sees Tyrod Taylor as a multipurpose weapon

‘“His ability to extend plays, I would say, is just as concerning or dangerous and tough to defend as him actually pulling the ball down and running with it,” Belichick said, speaking of Taylor’s mobility and how the 28-year-old uses it. “That’s a problem, too. But extending the play and throwing it is, I’d say, as big or probably a bigger problem.”’

Bills have improved under new coach, but it won’t matter against Patriots

‘The Bills need to use deception to create space in the passing game. They utilize play-action liberally, and run a lot of crossers, rub routes, and bunch plays to create separation at the line. Against the Chiefs, a perfect example of what the Bills like to do was a play-action drag to Clay for 33 yards.’

LeSean McCoy can ‘make four guys miss in a phone booth’ and has Bill Belichick’s attention this week

‘”This challenge is this challenge and it’s a hard challenge,” Belichick said. “It’s Taylor, it’s McCoy, it’s Clay, it’s the receivers, it’s a big offensive line, it’s a jumbo tight end, it’s a power running game with a back that can, literally, run the ball from sideline to sideline and make four guys miss in a phone booth. McCoy can take any play and turn it into a play that doesn’t look like any other play you’ve seen before.”‘

Bills coach Sean McDermott: New England Patriots are better than they’ve been in past years

‘”This is an outstanding football team,” McDermott said. “Not that the other ones weren’t, it just seems like now with the addition of some other players that they’ve added on the roster, with the addition of (Brandin) Cooks and some of the other players they’ve been able to add the last X amount of months, I think this is a dynamite football team.”‘

Bills’ McCoy presents a real problem

‘“It’s a power running game with a back that can literally run the ball from sideline to sideline and make four guys miss in a phone booth,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said when speaking Wednesday of a Buffalo Bills rushing attack that ranks 12th in the NFL heading into Sunday’s game between the two teams at New Era Field in Orchard Park, N.Y. “McCoy can take any play and turn it into a play that doesn’t look like any other play you’ve seen before.”’

Thursday’s New England Coverage

Bill Belichick sees Tyrod Taylor as a multipurpose weapon (Boston Globe)
Bills have improved under new coach, but it won’t matter against Patriots (Boston Globe)
Tom Brady takes another pass on practice (Boston Globe)
Brian Hoyer’s long road ends where it started, with Patriots (Boston Herald)
With right tackle a position of attrition for Patriots, Cole Croston closes in on being next man up (Boston Herald)
Guregian: Adding long ball to arsenal ups the ante for Tom Brady, Patriots (Boston Herald)
Patriots notebook: Tom Brady has day off from practice, but he’ll be ready to go on Sunday (Boston Herald)
Devin McCourty on Greg Schiano having Tennessee job offer withdrawn after public backlash: ‘I think it’s terrible’ (Springfield Republican)
Chris Hogan injury news: New England Patriots WR did not participate in Wednesday practice (Springfield Republican)
LeSean McCoy can ‘make four guys miss in a phone booth’ and has Bill Belichick’s attention this week (Springfield Republican)
Bill Belichick raves about Buffalo Bills defense, says ball security will be ‘a huge issue’ in Week 13 (Springfield Republican)
Stephon Gilmore, New England Patriots CB, has been ‘consistent all year’ according to Bill Belichick (Springfield Republican)
Bills coach Sean McDermott: New England Patriots are better than they’ve been in past years (Springfield Republican)
Stephon Gilmore is proving his worth to the Patriots (Providence Journal)
Tom Brady misses Wednesday’s practice; David Andrews returns (Providence Journal)
Bills coach expects Eric Lee to ‘play for a long time’ in the NFL (Providence Journal)
Signing of Nicholas Grigsby highlights Patriots in-depth scouting (Providence Journal)
Patriots’ ‘D’ continues to get an ‘A’ (Brockton Enterprise)
Patriots notebook: Bills’ McCoy presents a real problem (Brockton Enterprise)
Las Vegas shooting struck home for Patriots’ Lawrence Guy (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)
Patriots: Lawrence Guy’s Sunday cleats create awareness for causes (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)
Patriots notes: Backup QB Brian Hoyer enjoys his return to New England (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)
Hoyer relishing return as Brady’s backup (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)
Farinella: Protecting Brady is legitimate concern (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)
Patriots notebook: Latest ex-Bill may have future with Patriots (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)
Patriots’ Brady misses practice with Achilles tendon injury (AP)
Patriots Notes: Pats Expecting ‘Lot Of Middle Fingers’ From Bills Mafia On Sunday (NESN)
Why Tom Brady’s Patriots Teammates Never Worry When QB Misses Practice (NESN)
Patriots Injury Report: Tom Brady’s Achilles Kept Him Out Of Practice (NESN)
Bill Belichick’s Praise For Tyrod Taylor Makes Bills’ Decision Look Even Dumber (NESN)
Patriots’ Pass-Rush Injury Concerns Might Have Been Slightly Overblown (NESN)
Patriots Practice Report: Tom Brady Absent After Taking Beating Vs. Dolphins (NESN)
Bills Coach Sean McDermott Has Never Seen A Patriots Team This Good (NESN)
Eric Lee’s Former Coach Sees Long Career Ahead Of New Patriots Defensive End (NESN)
Stephon Gilmore Garners Praise For Consistency Despite Early Struggles (NESN)
Why Patriots Have Had Their Eye On Nicholas Grigsby For A While (NESN)
Scouting The Bills: Tyrod Taylor Will Test Patriots’ Resurgent Pass Rush (NESN)
Patriots’ Eric Lee Set To Play Significant Role Vs. Bills, His Former Team (NESN)
Pats aren’t sleeping on McCoy, despite sluggish 2017 (NBC Sports Boston)
It’s been an up-and-down ride for the Bills (NBC Sports Boston)
Will Tyrod Taylor’s athleticism drum up old issues for Patriots defense? (NBC Sports Boston)
Patriots-Bills practice participation/injury report: Brady, four other Pats sit out practice (NBC Sports Boston)
Brady missing from the start of practice after rough go vs. Dolphins (NBC Sports Boston)
Belichick: Patriots have been tracking new addition going back a few years (NBC Sports Boston)
Rob Gronkowski looking forward to going back home to Buffalo where he’s dominated of late (WEEI-AM)
Tom Brady, Chris Hogan among 5 Patriots players to miss practice Wednesday (WEEI-AM)
Bills coach Sean McDermott very impressed with Patriots: ‘This is a dynamite football team’ (WEEI-AM)
Hannable: Remarkable turnaround now has Patriots defense in company of historic units (WEEI-AM)
Tom Brady Absent From Patriots Practice; David Andrews, Trey Flowers, Kyle Van Noy Present (WBZ-FM)
How Is Bill Belichick ‘Keeping’ Tom Brady In Dolphins Game Still A Story? (WBZ-FM)
Bill Belichick Offers Up High Praise Of Tyrod Taylor (WBZ-FM)
Patriots Opponent Profile: Preparation Isn’t Easy When You Don’t Know Which Bills Team Will Show Up (WBZ-FM)
Patriots Add Depth With Signings Of LB Nicholas Grigsby, OL Jason King (WBZ-FM)
Patriots Wrap Up: Brady sits out Wed practice; Andrews returns (Patriots.com)
Patriots – Bills Injury Report: Week 13 (Patriots.com)
Transcript: Bill Belichick Press Conference 11/29 (Patriots.com)
Transcript: Devin McCourty Press Conference 11/29 (Patriots.com)
6 Facts we learned from Phillip Dorsett’s Pats Chat (Patriots.com)
Game Preview: Patriots at Bills (Patriots.com)

Patriots enjoying a 17-year run of dominance of Bills

‘The Patriots are 29-5 against the Bills since Belichick was hired in 2000. As for his 15-2 record at Buffalo, Belichick has more wins at Orchard Park, New York, than any Bills coach since Wade Phillips went 17-7 from 1998-2000.’

First of two for Bills against Patriots comes Sunday

‘”It’s incredible what he’s been able to do throughout his career,” said McDermott, who is only three years older than the 40-year-old Brady. “I know not only what he does on the field, (but) what he does off the field, I’m sure, in terms of what I’ve heard, with his preparation, (and) their entire team. There’s a difference between winning and doing the things that lead you to winning. It’s clear the habits that they do on a daily basis, weekly basis, set themselves up for success.”‘

Patriots hail talent of Bills QB Taylor

‘”Big challenge, a huge challenge,” head coach Bill Belichick said, going a bit over the top describing Taylor. “This guy is really a good football player, very competitive, smart, tough. He’s got a good feel for the pocket. He’s, obviously, very athletic, hard to tackle, hard to contain. He’s fast, he’s quick, he’s got good balance. He’s a good football player and, like I said, a very competitive guy, so in critical situations he makes a lot of the right decisions and does a lot of the right things. He can extend plays. He’s got a good arm. He’s got good vision down the field, accuracy.”‘

Bubble Bills host Patriots before schedule gets easier

‘”It’s good inside of our building right now,” Bills tackle Kyle Williams said. “We’ve got a lot of guys that are focused on our process, our week to week, day to day process of getting better and trying to do what we need to do to win a football game.”‘

Zay Jones’ Viral Video

‘Zay says it’s something he’s done since high school. While he doesn’t think it’s a big deal, his teammates were in awe.’

5 Buffalo Bills practice notes (11/29/17)

‘The head coach opened up and said that Glenn does not have a timetable — a stark difference from the day-to-day delineation that he’d garnered for weeks on end. Glenn is still dealing with foot and ankle injuries that have plagued him since the spring workouts and has missed a total of five games this season as a result of that.’

Bills all in on Zay Jones Challenge

‘”I had no idea it was on social media like that, and then everyone was texting and calling me like ‘you, you’re going viral right now,’ and I was like ‘for what? What did I do?’” Jones said. “Then, I saw it, and I don’t know, it was pretty crazy.”‘

Quick Hits: Benjamin not practicing

‘“Injury-wise, all these guys for the most part are day to day, starting with Kelvin (Benjamin),” said head coach Sean McDermott. “Mike Tolbert, Eddie Yarbrough, Nick O’Leary and John Miller are all day to day and will not practice. Limited will be Jordan Matthewsand Charles Clay.”’

Top 7 storylines for Bills-Patriots this week

‘In his eight years as defensive coordinator, in Philadelphia and Carolina, McDermott’s defense has only faced the Patriots once – that was November 2013, when Carolina held off New England with a 24-20 win in Charlotte. Tom Brady went 29 for 40 in that game for 296 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT.’