‘”What Josh is doing, it’s a great credit to him and it’s also a great credit to their coaching staff,” Bledsoe said. “His accuracy, timing, decision-making, everything that he’s doing is at an elite level now. Watching him operate is just really fun. Obviously, I’m a bit biased, but, man, watching great quarterback play just gets me excited.”‘
Archives for January 1, 2021
Bills Notebook: Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick tests positive for Covid-19
‘“It’s sad to hear that,” Bills safety Micah Hyde said upon hearing about Fitzpatrick’s positive test. “I remember the last two years, talking to Fitz after games and being like, ‘dude, are you watching our practices or something? You just know exactly what we’re doing every single play.’ It’s tough to defend a quarterback like that. Obviously, Miami is trying to get to the playoffs and all that stuff. To know that he’s not going to be able to play this game, it’s a frustrating year. That’s what 2020 brings. We’ve got to be ready for what Tua brings.”’
X’s and O’s: Let the revival of the red-hot Bills, Dolphins rivalry begin
‘Miami has prepared itself to contend with the passing powerhouse the Bills have built by investing more money in the cornerback position than any team in the NFL.’
How will the Bills fare against the Miami Dolphins in Week 17?
‘Even with backups, the Bills could make this game competitive, but with a playoff spot on the line for the Dolphins, it’s hard to see Miami losing. Dolphins, 21-17.’
View from Vegas: Underdog Miami might be hungrier with what’s at stake
‘The biggest hurdle for the Fish is their ragged record in Buffalo, where they’ve dropped seven of their last eight visits, while going 2-6 against the spread. Until more is known closer to game time, we’ll lean to the hungrier underdog and take the points.’
How the Bills were rebuilt into AFC East champions
‘Beane’s belief in building through the draft is evident in the 53-man roster and players on injured reserve. Of those who joined the Bills after the new regime arrived, 20 players are Bills’ draft picks and six others were added as undrafted free agents out of college.’
Jim Kelly on Bills’ hot streak: ‘I think we could take this a long way’
‘We were celebrating just like everybody else, but I can’t watch a football game like everybody else does. I watch it from a quarterback’s perspective, as far as when Josh Allen is coming up to the line of scrimmage. I’m looking at how the safeties are positioned. Are the corners staring down the receivers before the snap of the ball, or are they peeking in and it looks like it’s going be a press-bail? If it’s a running down, I’m looking at the defensive line and linebackers. Are they shaded more to the strong side, toward the tight end, or away from the tight end?’
Erik Brady: Raise a cup o’ kindness for Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, and Bills of yore
‘The good times began three years ago today, when the Bills beat the Miami Dolphins and then waited to see if the Cincinnati Bengals could beat the Baltimore Ravens. Bang! Andy Dalton hit the game-winning touchdown pass that put the Bills in the playoffs for the first time in forever.’
Buffalo Bills 2020 draft picks have played key roles in playoff run
‘“When the country shut down, I thought, Brandon (Beane) and his staff really did a phenomenal job of continuing to do the job and go through the process of getting us to draft day,” coach Sean McDermott said of the Bills’ general manager. “And then the way the draft was handled overall, it was a communication challenge to say the least. I think just the work that went into it led us to where we are and the players that we were able to get that have made an impact.”’
Bills’ Micah Hyde wants to play vs. Dolphins, ‘make it hard’ for Tua Tagovailoa
‘“Honestly, it’s just nothing but competitive fire right now, for myself personally. I want to play,” Hyde said. “Whatever decisions obviously (that are made), I have no control over that. But I want to play and I want to go out there and compete. I feel like, it’s crazy that I’m saying this, it’s year eight (for me) and Week 17 and I still feel like I still have stuff to work on. I’m trying to go out there, compete and get better, and get some momentum rolling into the playoffs.”’
Bills won’t see Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick after vet tests positive for COVID-19
‘Winning now falls squarely on the shoulders of Tagovailoa at quarterback. Flores will not have anywhere to turn if his rookie quarterback struggles against a Bills defense that could be sitting key starters.’
Want Buffalo Bills playoff tickets? What to know to avoid scams
‘There will be no secondary market for these tickets. The Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York wants to warn fans to be on the lookout for scams online pushing Bills playoff tickets. The only way to obtain tickets is if you’re already a season ticket holder and you do so by purchasing through the team’s official website.’
Fans at Bills game could be first step for reopening Broadway, concerts, other venues
‘“If you can do it in Buffalo, 7,000 people, but it’s outdoors and it’s controlled, if it works there, can you do Madison Square Garden? Could you do a theater on Broadway? Could you do a certain capacity in a restaurant? So restaurants could start to reopen safely. That is the road that we are looking at,” Cuomo said.’
Friday’s Miami Coverage
Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick contracts COVID-19 and won’t play Sunday (Miami Herald)
Ranking the Dolphins’ top 5 under-the-radar pickups who contributed to 2020 success (Miami Herald)
Kelly: Playoffs or not, this season has been a massive success for the Dolphins | Commentary (South Florida Sun Sentinel)
What Dolphins’ Brian Flores is thankful for after 2020; plus comments on 2021 NFL draft and Chan Gailey’s future (South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Analysis: Do Dolphins essentially have one playbook for Tua, one for Fitzpatrick? (Palm Beach Post)
How young special teams players could decide Dolphins’ fate at Bills (Palm Beach Post)
Tua feels no pressure for a life or death game against the Bills in New York (El Nuevo Herald)
Tua Tagovailoa working without a net as Dolphins seek playoff-clinching win (Birmingham News)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick tests positive for COVID-19, out vs. Bills (USA Today)
Gailey’s Soft Spot For Buffalo Ends With Miami Needing A Win (AP)
Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick Tests Positive For COVID-19 (AP)
Miami Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick tests positive for COVID-19, out vs. Buffalo Bills, per source (ESPN)
Dolphins’ Ryan Fitzpatrick out vs. Bills after testing positive for COVID-19, per report (CBS Sports)
Report: Dolphins’ Ryan Fitzpatrick Tests Positive for COVID-19, to Miss Game vs. Bills (SI)
Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick Tests Positive For COVID-19, Won’t Play Sunday Against Buffalo (WFOR-TV)
Top News: Byron Jones Appears on Good Morning Football Ahead of Sunday’s Big Game (MiamiDolphins.com)
Big Brother Little Brother: How Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed Reunited in Miami and Helped Resurrect the Dolphins Running Game (MiamiDolphins.com)
Dolphins Sign Jake Rudock, Place Ryan Fitzpatrick On Reserve/COVID-19 List (MiamiDolphins.com)
The Blitz: Pass Rush in Waves (MiamiDolphins.com)
Texans expected to interview Bills’ Malik Boyd for GM vacancy
‘The AFC East champion Bills have a strong personnel department, including general manager Brandon Beane, assistant general manager Joe Schoen, another candidate on the Texans’ radar, director of player personnel Dan Morgan, former Texans general manager Brian Gaine, a senior personnel advisor, along with director of college scouting Terrance Gray and executive Lake Dawson.’
On 3-year anniversary of Andy Dalton’s thrilling win vs. Ravens, Cowboys QB remembers Bills fans’ generosity
‘“It’s fun to go back and just see the reaction and see what all happened from that play and from that game,” Dalton said. “For us to score that touchdown, win that game at the end and to get Buffalo in the playoffs, I think [it means] so much because the Buffalo fans have been so generous and have been very charitable with all their donations that they gave to me but also to other things, especially with [Bills quarterback] Josh Allen’s grandma this year.”‘
Gov. Cuomo slammed for green-lighting Bills game during lockdown: ‘Making new rules up as he goes’
‘New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is facing backlash for moving forward with a plan to let 6,700 people, including himself, attend the Buffalo Bills’ home playoff game next month despite a continued ban on indoor dining and mass gatherings.’
Gailey’s Soft Spot For Buffalo Ends With Miami Needing A Win
‘“You make a lot of statements when you’re young that you wish you had back,” he said. “That said, I love the people up there, they’re great people. But I want to beat their butts this weekend.”’
Dolphins Seek Win In Finale At Bills To Clinch Playoff Spot
‘Buffalo’s 445 points scored are 13 short of matching the single-season team record set in 1991.’
Stefon Diggs by the numbers: Bills receiver having one of best first seasons for pass catcher on a new team
‘Diggs is clearly one of the top two wide receivers in football — depending on which fan base is asked is No. 1 — in 2020, showcasing how dominant he’s been at the position. Diggs only had over 100 catches in a season once before the trade to Buffalo and his highest receiving yardage total was 1,130 last season (he’s had two 1,000-yard seasons prior to the trade).’
NY business owners slam Cuomo for allowing Bills fans into stadium but not restaurants: ‘Totally unfair’
‘”I want the same opportunity to have people come into the restaurant and dine. It’s a personal choice. If people feel comfortable about going to the Bills game in a safe manner, and we’re following the CDC guidelines, that Rochester City, the County of Monroe also set up some guidelines for us to follow, I want people to be able to make the same choice and come and support us, just as they’re going to go root on the Buffalo Bills,” Swartz said.’
Report: Ryan Fitzpatrick out against Bills after testing positive for COVID-19
‘Pelissero also reports that the NFL conducted its usual contact tracing after the positive test, and no other Dolphins players were deemed as being a close contact of Fitzpatrick, including Tagovailoa.’
McDermott: ‘Happy to have our fans any time we can get them’
‘”I think it’s exciting news. We’re certainly happy to have our fans any time we can get them. I know there was a lot of hard work that was put into this with Governor [Andrew] Cuomo and his office, and Terry and Kim [Pegula] and our office over here and the organization as well. A lot of hard work, and we’re just thankful for it.”‘
Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick out against Bills after testing positive for COVID-19
‘According to multiple reports, Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is out for Sunday’s game against the Bills after testing positive for COVID-19.’
Select Bills fans purchase playoff tickets
‘“It’s a nice tradition to keep it in the family and keep it going,” he said. “He went to every single game, and never left early,” he said of his grandfather, who passed away about three years ago.’
How strict are the Bills fan policies?
‘”We’re going to have social distancing at the gates,” Andy Major, VP of Operations for the Bills, said “have everyone spread out for different arrival times to their gates to avoid any congestion.”‘
ECSO ‘will continue its usual role for games at the stadium’ for Bills playoff game
‘The Erie County Sheriff’s Office released a statement Thursday saying in part that it will continue its usual role in regard to the upcoming Buffalo Bills playoff game at Bills Stadium.’
Head Coach McDermott excited to have fans back in Bills Stadium
‘“It’s great, I think it’s exciting news, certainly always good to be able to have our fans watch us play in person and I understand that it’s just a small amount. I can empathize with the fans that aren’t going to be able to see us alongside those people. And listen, there’s been a lot of hard work that’s gone into this this wasn’t a couple of days project, it’s been going on all year.”’
Bills season ticket holders reflect on what attending a home playoff game means to them
‘“There’ll be real people and I think the Bills will appreciate that.”’
Nine months after Covid death, the Bills help ease the pain
‘“We’re trying to chug along and find happiness when we can,” she said, “and the Buffalo Bills are a big part of that happiness. But it’s tough for us. Brett was a huge presence in all of our lives.”’
Better Business Bureau warns of ticket scams ahead of Buffalo Bills’ playoff game
‘If you see tickets for sale on social media sites, the tickets should be considered invalid or possibly counterfeit. You can only purchase tickets through the Buffalo Bills and only if you received an email from the Bills’ to purchase them.’
Bills defense will ‘make it hard’ for Tua Tagovailoa
‘“He doesn’t force throws. He gets to his read and can check the ball down or whatever it may be and find open guys,” said Hyde. “Good arm and accurate. He puts the ball on the money when he throws it. It’s just something where we have to try and go out there and make it hard for him.”’
COVID testing company says Bills Stadium model could work for restaurants
‘“We’re in the height of the pandemic with the most number of cases, the hospitals are at or over capacity, so we’re doing a pilot experiment with the rationale that this is a way to open future venues, why at this time?” Dr. Lesho said.’
Hyde shares excitement on the return of Bills Mafia
‘”It’s going to be electric,” said Hyde behind a mask. “I’m excited for BillsMafia because it’s been such a great season and they haven’t been able to be at the games.”‘
Better Business Bureau warning Bills fans about playoff ticket scams
‘The BBB cautioned that only a small number of tickets went up for sale Thursday and those tickets are non-transferrable.’
Bills Today | Stefon Diggs makes ESPN All-Pro Team
‘There are five excellent candidates for three wideout spots, so I’m going to make two sets of fans very angry. Let’s start with the league leader in receiving yards, Diggs, who was expected to be getting into daily fistfights with Josh Allen by this point of the season. Those post-trade expectations could not have turned out to be more wrong. Diggs has had a preternatural link with his new quarterback all season and has pushed the Bills to a new level.’