Archives for December 17, 2019

‘The Bills’ franchise record for fewest yards allowed in a 16-game season is 4,045 by the 1999 team. That same squad allowed 229 points, also the record for a 16-game season. This year’s defense will fall short of those numbers, having allowed 4,087 yards and 222 points through 14 games. Given how much the game has changed in nearly two decades, though, it’s fair to at least mention the 2019 defense as being among the best in franchise history.’

‘The Bills went away from their near-exclusive use of the three-wideout set for the first time in a month and used a ton of double teams to neutralize Pittsburgh edge rushers T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree.’

‘It was the strongest game of the year for Murphy on a night when the Bills’ defense dominated the line of scrimmage.’

‘Whatever their playoff fortunes come January, the process will continue. And one of these years, Buffalo fans will get to process what it means to have their team back in the Super Bowl.’

‘What they have done in the past few weeks is blast free of deep ruts carved over the past two decades, moving beyond this region’s hard-learned pattern of limited expectations. Instead, they are providing this new reality for the holidays, even as you prepare to watch next week’s game from Foxborough.’

‘Allen’s touchdown run, a designed quarterback lead, had center Mitch Morse pulling around a down-block and into the hole as running back Devin Singletary led Allen for the next defender to show up in the hole. The Bills’ version of the Wildcat without the need to put a running back into the quarterback position has become the feature short-yardage concept for offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.’

‘He was fair in his assessment of Bills quarterback Josh Allen’s pluses and “bugaboos”; wondered about the Bills “natural instinct to be conservative” offensively late in the game after going down the field passing on the winning touchdown drive; and undoubtedly fueled the Pro Bowl talk for Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.’

‘Of course, SNF is often the No. 1 program of the week. It has been the No. 1 prime time program for eight straight years.’

‘Throughout my years as a sports talk show producer in the ’90s and 2000s, I would use pieces of the clip on the air – especially the throaty ranting, “Marv’s a loser” – more to make the host laugh, than to entertain listeners.’