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Buffalo Bills News and Discussion

Archives for January 4, 2020

How much does experience in playoffs matter?

‘“Knowing a few weeks ahead that we made the playoffs is probably the biggest thing,” he said of clinching in Week 15. “Other than that, it’s preparation as normal. We understand we’re playing one game seasons at this point. As a staff, obviously, this is our third year together, for the most part, so that experience is good for us.”‘

Jerry Hughes, the longest-tenured Bill: ‘We’ve got to come out swinging’

‘“We understand, and especially I understand, what’s at stake now. It’s a lot more than just going out there playing football. It’s more of going into someone’s home and trying to take something from them. You’re trying to take a Super Bowl trophy, an AFC championship banner, so you’ve got to have that mentality. And when you’re going into someone’s home to take something, you’ve got to give them four quarters of just hell.”’

Bills need Josh Allen, pass rush to pave way to playoff win

‘The Texans’ defensive struggles give Allen a good opportunity to do what he hasn’t done often: generate big numbers. Houston’s secondary has been hit hard with injuries, which should create openings for John Brown, Cole Beasley and Dawson Knox to make a fair amount of difference-making plays.’

Bills fans won’t find anything to criticize in McFarland’s take on Bills

‘“I judge him based off some of these other young quarterbacks,” McFarland said. “I think that the sky is the limit for Josh Allen. I think that when you look at the total package, he’s got the athletic ability, the size; he’s as tough as a bag of nails. He’s going to always be unconventional. He’s never going to be a 75% completion percentage guy from the pocket, but he’s also one of the better playmakers in the league. I just think he’s gotten better, and it is only Year Two, man. He’s got a long way to go but he he’s definitely coming.”’

The Bills prepare to meet their franchise destiny in Texas

‘Everyday fans of both the Bills and Texans visited Castro, a kindred spirit, in the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Ed Oliver – the first round draft pick from Houston who quickly made an impact with the Bills – came up to see him. So did Joe Webb, a former Buffalo quarterback then on Houston’s active roster and hero of the Bills “Snowvertime” victory of 2017.’

Editorial: Football of a higher caliber

‘Those who study finance may want to examine Beane’s personnel moves and mastery of the NFL’s salary cap. He is the NFL equivalent of a value investor, the Wall Street strategy popularized by Warren Buffett in which, rather than loading up on blue-chip securities, a person chooses stocks that appear to be trading for less than their intrinsic or book value.’

My View: Members of Drought Generation crave a Bills playoff victory

‘By 2017, the majority of the Drought Generation was finished with high school, perhaps finished with college, and even potentially found themselves living in places other than Erie County. No matter the personal journey, every Bills fan is known for their fandom. The charging Buffalo has become a sign of not only who we are – but what we stand for – for better or worse.’

Although they’ve never played Texans in postseason, Bills have playoff history with Houston

‘Ask any professional football fan in western New York or the greater Houston/Nashville area who are of a certain vintage about “The Comeback’’ and “The Music City Miracle’’ and they’ll know. Their eyes will light up like a can of Sterno under a pan of chicken wings or barbecue ribs. Or sink to the ground should they remember those famous games as “The Choke’’ and “Illegal Forward Pass.’’’

2020 NFL Playoffs: 5 players/match ups for Buffalo Bills that’ll determine outcome vs Texans

‘According to Pro Football Focus, Devin Singletary has produced .24 missed tackles per rush attempt this season. That mark is good for third-best in the entire NFL among qualifying running backs (h/t Dean Kindig). He also has the second-highest rate of 10- or more yard runs (16.4 percent). The Texans are one of the worst defenses in the league against the run, allowing 121 yards per game this season.’

Buffalo Bills CB Tre’Davious White downplays DeAndre Hopkins slight; known to keep social media receipts

‘But shortly after posting the throwback picture to last season’s game between the teams when Hopkins caught a touchdown pass with White covering him, the All Pro pass catcher deleted the post. On Thursday when asked by reporters what he thought about Hopkins’ post – which included a caption: “2020 mood” – White said he’s focused on playing his game on Sunday and downplayed the individual match up.’

Sullivan: Wood approaching life in the booth same as on the field

‘“I would love to be a coach,” he said, “to have more skin in the game, to feel a win and a loss. Coaching is appealing. I think I would be good at it. It think it would be rewarding. But the amount of hours those guys put in nowadays, I am not willing at this point to be away from my family that much.”’

‘McBeane’ quickly, deftly turn Bills’ fortunes around

‘Added the GM: “It’s going to be very similar to what Sean and I were used to in Carolina. I’m going to deal with the football (talent-evaluating) side, and Sean’s going to deal with the coaches. But there’s not a czar around here. Sean’s not a czar, I’m not a czar. Every decision is going to be collaborative together. I think that’s the only way. Kim and Terry will be involved.”’

After helping build Texans roster, Brian Gaine returns with Bills

‘As director of player personnel during his first stint with the Texans, Gaine was involved in multiple drafts and free agency signing periods. He was on the staff in 2017 when Smith engineered a draft-day trade to acquire quarterback Deshaun Watson, a Pro Bowl selection this season.’

Know Your Foe: Buffalo Bills

‘So, the offense can have its moments, but the defense is one of the best in the league at all times. They’re stout on the front (Star Lotulelei and Jordan Phillips), but they also have some quick interior players as well (Ed Oliver and Corey Liuget). They have as good a linebacker group as there is in the league (Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano and Lo Alexander). But, the star of this unit is the secondary. White is arguably the best corner in the league and hasn’t given up a touchdown in coverage all season long. The safety duo of Poyer and Hyde is outstanding and there are very few back ends with a safety pair like that.’

Saturday’s Houston Coverage

Why the Texans got Laremy Tunsil: playoffs (Houston Chronicle)
Brian Gaine returns — this time with the Bills (Houston Chronicle)
Former first-rounders find playoffs with Texans (Houston Chronicle)
Texans have much to prove in playoff opener (Houston Chronicle)
Texans vs. Bills: John McClain’s scouting report (Houston Chronicle)
Smith: Down year for DeAndre Hopkins? No way (Houston Chronicle)
Texans vs. Bills: John McClain’s keys to victory (Houston Chronicle)
McClain’s Mailbag: Fans’ Buffalo memories and Bill O’Brien skepticism (Houston Chronicle)
Texans vs. Bills: Houston Chronicle staff predictions (Houston Chronicle)
Time for Deshaun Watson to rise to top of AFC (Houston Chronicle)
Hauser: 27 years later, memories of covering Oilers’ collapse still indelible (Houston Chronicle)
Solomon: Bill O’Brien, the GM, has done well. Now, it’s time for O’Brien, the coach, to do same (Houston Chronicle)
Texans fans enjoy playoff rally at CityCentre (KPRC-TV)
6 things to look out for if you’re attending the Texans-Buffalo Bills game (KPRC-TV)
Reliving the Texans best playoff win (KPRC-TV)
Texans fans: Brace yourselves because analysts believe the Bills will pull off upset (KPRC-TV)
Texans look for 4th playoff win in franchise history (KPRC-TV)
Original Texans player says current team primed for deep playoff run (KTRK-TV)
Bills fan from Houston out $200 after this playoff ticket scam (KTRK-TV)
Houstonians fired up for Texans’ Wild Card win (KRIV-TV)
Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins Named AP First-Team All-Pro (KILT-AM)
Bills QB Josh Allen Much Improved From Rookie Season (KILT-AM)
Houston Texans host Buffalo Bills, featuring special guest performances (HoustonTexans.com)
Daily Brew: Nuggets to know for Texans vs. Bills (HoustonTexans.com)
WR DeAndre Hopkins named AP First-Team All-Pro (HoustonTexans.com)
First Glance: Texans vs. Bills (HoustonTexans.com)
Know Your Foe: Buffalo Bills (HoustonTexans.com)

Bills look for first playoff win since 1995 vs. Texans in AFC wild-card game

‘Key matchup: Watson vs. the Bills’ zone coverage. Buffalo has a zone-heavy defense (54% of defensive snaps). Look for the Texans to influence underneath defenders on leveled routes to create intermediate coverage voids for Watson. That leads to open window throws to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on deep, in-breaking routes to the middle of the field. Read more.’

McDermott: A win would be ‘great for our entire organization’ and fanbase

‘”It would just be great for our entire organization, our fanbase. That’s the first people that I think about and everyone that’s been here for so long and everyone who’s rooted for this team for so long. It’s the most loyal and passionate fanbase I’ve ever been around, and I’ve been around some good ones. To me, for [general manager] Brandon [Beane] and myself, and I don’t want to put words into Brandon’s mouth here, but just joining the situation in the last two-and-a-half years, at this point, I would just feel and think about the people that have been around here for so long and feel good for them more than anything.”‘

Bills at Texans: Sal’s keys, notes and stats

‘The Texans defense has been bad this year against the run, but particularly the last two months. Since their bye in week 10, over their final 7 games, the Texans have allowed an average of 168.6 yards rushing and a whopping 5.36 yards per carry.’

Tre’Davious White named 1st team All-Pro

‘Tre’Davious finished the regular season with 6 interceptions and did not allow a touchdown. According to Pro Football Focus, White is the first player to finish with both of those stats since the 2005 season.’