‘Everything seems to have worked out for both sides, though. Dareus has contributed to one of the league’s best defenses and gets to play in the postseason. The Bills found a way to sneak in as well, despite a ton of roster turnover under first-year head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane. Despite how things ended for Dareus in Buffalo, he’s happy to see his former teammates end the drought.’
Archives for January 3, 2018
Jaguars’ Doug Marrone trying not to focus on his history with Buffalo Bills
‘Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as that, because questions persisted. Plus, Marrone isn’t alone. There are coaches on his staff as well as players on the roster who have histories in Buffalo. For Marrone, though, the history is more complicated. This isn’t just a team he used to coach. At the end of his second season with the Bills, Marrone decided to exercise an out clause in his contract. He voluntarily gave up the job and didn’t land a head-coaching gig until 2017.’
8 reasons the Buffalo Bills can defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars in the playoffs
‘Jacksonville won the AFC South with a 10-6 record, but they enter the playoffs on a two-game losing streak. The Jaguars allowed 44 points to Jimmy Garoppolo’s 49ers and were defeated in the regular season finale by the Tennessee Titans. This isn’t a team entering the playoffs on a hot streak.’
Wojton: Let me be a fan for a moment
‘It’s been pretty easy for me to put my fandom aside. I picked this team to go 4-12 this year. I don’t think any fan would do that. But I do remember what it was like sitting in those stands, but I also know it runs much deeper than that and I feel that one select type of fan deserves a shout.’
Jags’ Marcell Dareus, Doug Marrone talks Wild Card battle vs. Bills
‘“It’s going to be a fun game, man,” Dareus said. “It’s going to be pretty crazy for these two teams that haven’t been [in the playoffs] for a while and to play each other.”’
IT! IS! OVER! Bills and their fans go crazy as team ends 17-year playoff drought
‘First, that if this team had finished with the worst record of any Bills team this century – rather than tied for the best, at 9-7 – few would have been surprised. Yet Buffalo’s first-year duo of head coach Sean McDermott and GM Brandon Beane had insisted all summer long, and well into the season, that despite getting rid of several key performers and recent face-of-the-franchise high draft picks – such as receiver Sammy Watkins, cornerback Ronald Darby and, in October, defensive tackle Marcell Dareus – they had no intention of tanking for a high 2018 draft pick. No matter how convinced fans and media had become.’
Wednesday’s Jacksonville Coverage
42 Jaguars players have never been to the playoffs. So Malik Jackson is sharing what he knows. (Florida Times Union)
Yes, Jaguars’ playoff tickets are really, really hot (Florida Times Union)
Jaguars Insider: Here since 2014, reserve FS Peyton Thompson has unique view of league’s best secondary (Florida Times Union)
Mark Woods: Buffalo, Jacksonville partying like it’s 1999 (Florida Times Union)
Bills-Jaguars Key Match-Up: Jerry Hughes vs. Cam Robinson (Florida Times Union)
Titans’ Jurrell Casey: Jaguars QB Blake Bortles ‘going to choke’ (USA Today)
Jaguars enter playoffs with little postseason experience (AP)
Our choices for Jaguars offensive, defensive MVPs and rookie of the year (WJXT-TV)
Bills RB LeSean McCoy game-time decision vs. Jaguars (WJXT-TV)
Most of Jaguars’ locker room headed toward uncharted territory during playoffs (WTLV-TV)
Jaguars QB Bortles’ ball security will be tested against Bills’ secondary (WTLV-TV)
Sexton-Oehser: Back and forth (Jaguars.com)
Bills fans flooding Andy Dalton’s foundation with donations
‘Bills fans are thanking Dalton by donating to his foundation. He was surprised and thankful for the reaction by Bills fans.’
Fans of playoff-bound Bills flood Dalton’s charity with donations
‘”I think I’m the hottest guy in Buffalo right now,” Dalton said, a day after his three-touchdown performance led the Bengals to a 31-27 win.’
Bills fans have donated an absurd amount of money to Andy Dalton’s foundation
‘”We have over 4,500 donors right now. We’ve raised over $100,000 and it continues to go up,” Dalton said in a social media video. “We cannot thank you enough. Let’s keep it going.”‘
Bills add running back Green to the practice squad
‘If LeSean McCoy isn’t able to go on Sunday, we could likely see Aaron Green activated to the active roster and dressed for the game. With Travaris Cadet on injured reserve, just Marcus Murphy and Mike Tolbert remain at running back.’
Report: Bills grant Texans permission to interview VP of Personnel Brian Gaine
‘Gaine had interviewed with the Bills for their GM job last offseason, which eventually went to Brandon Beane. He had also interviewed with the Eagles, Bears, Jets, and 49ers for GM openings in the past. Gaine has nineteen years of personnel experience in the NFL.’
Bills fans heading to Jacksonville by any means they can
‘While air travel to Jacksonville is preferred, many flights, especially return flights to Buffalo on Sunday night after the game, are already sold out. There are still seats available to get to Florida but prices have shot up. AAA Travel Manager Angela Wawrzynek found some round-trip flights to areas with access to the stadium were nearly $1,000 as of noontime Tuesday January 2nd.’
Fans flocking to stores for Buffalo Bills gear
‘”I’ve been around for a while. So it’s like the old days which is great to see. It’s a whole new generation of fans back on the Bills bandwagon, so it’s fantastic,” Joe Eckl, manager of Laux said.’
Bills fans thank Bengals QB with donations
‘As of noon on Tuesday, Dalton tweeted that people had donated more than $100,000.’