‘All that matters now is the final score from Saturday. Victory is the only determinant of whether this season is the success that the 13-3 record professes.’
Archives for January 6, 2021
Bills Notebook: Christie set for virtual tailgate; Diggs, McKenzie on injury report
‘Christie, the Bills’ all-time leading scorer, will take part in a moderated conversation with Greg D. Tranter, Bills historian and chair of the museum’s board of directors. The event beings at 10 a.m. on Zoom. Fans taking part can submit questions. Admission is free, but advance registration is required and space is limited. Visit buffalohistory.org to register.’
Former Bills Cornelius Bennett, Steve Tasker don’t reach finalist list for Hall of Fame
‘The list includes: Peyton Manning, Calvin Johnson, Charles Woodson, Jared Allen, Ronde Barber, Tony Boselli, LeRoy Butler, Alan Faneca, Torry Holt, John Lynch, Clay Matthews Jr., Sam Mills, Richard Seymour, Zach Thomas and Reggie Wayne.’
My View: Bills’ new normal is a welcome change
‘A defense that makes the big play when it matters most, and sprints to the end zone to celebrate together. A head coach and assistants who seem to be on the same page no matter what, and always say the right things at the right time. And an organization running like a well-oiled machine from top to bottom, among the league’s best in on-field performance, and being lauded for their off-the-field prowess and front office efficiency.’
Erik Brady: Steve Champlin would not trade a Bills Super Bowl win for $1M. (He already did that with the Colts.)
‘He was at War Memorial Stadium for the AFL title game on New Year’s Day 1967, when the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Bills for the right to play in that first Super Bowl. It just about broke that seventh-grader’s heart. He was sure the Bills would win Super Bowl XXV, too. By then, he was the Bills’ director of stadium operations. Wide right, in his mind’s eye, still hangs in the night sky over Tampa. That broke his heart yet again.’
So far, knock on wood, the Bills have avoided a major COVID-19 outbreak
‘“We continue to talk about it, continue to educate ourselves on more and more things that we could be doing and trying to implement here within being realistic about it,” Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott said. “You know we’re all human and trying to do a job and do it at a high level, and yet, you know, live at the same time. That’s what I could say. I just continue to ask our staff and our players to edit their habits in a good way to make sure that they’re being as safe as they possibly can.”’
Buffalo Bills fans sign petition to ban Gov. Cuomo from attending home playoff game
‘Cuomo’s administration has control of a luxury suite at the stadium, a benefit built into the 2013 lease agreement allowing the football team to occupy the stadium through the 2022 season.’
Bills’ Josh Allen the NFL’s Mandalorian? Rich Eisen says so, makes this MVP prediction
‘“You know who he is? I’ll say it because, Suzy and I and the kids, we binged it over the break. You know who Josh Allen is? He’s The Mandalorian quarterback,” said Eisen. “He stands there like The Mandalorian. He’s like in his Buffalo armor and this is the way.”’
Petition seeks to ban Gov. Cuomo from attending Buffalo Bills playoff game
‘“So Cuomo is going to attend our playoff game after telling us that we can only attend at less than 10% capacity?” petition creator Jeffrey Dorenzo wrote. “If he thinks he has more right to a seat in that stadium over people who have waited over 20 years for this opportunity, then people better be there to protest his entry. This is OUR team! This is OUR home. We don’t want you here.”’
Doyel: Colts coach Frank Reich tells his story — and his story is Buffalo
‘Now his smile is gone, because Frank used to play for the Bills. He owes his career in coaching to the Bills. No way would he be here now, preparing for this playoff game, had it not been for the Bills.’
Wednesday’s Indianapolis Coverage
Doyel: Colts coach Frank Reich tells his story — and his story is Buffalo (Indianapolis Star)
Jared Veldheer comes out of retirement, exchanges high school playoff game for Colts (Indianapolis Star)
Colts front office in high demand: Morocco Brown interviews in Atlanta, Ed Dodds targeted (Indianapolis Star)
Wild-card weekend: Colts vs. Bills TV, odds, injuries (Indianapolis Star)
Colts Notebook: Veldheer trades high school coaching gig for likely playoff start (Anderson Herald Bulletin)
East Grand Rapids line coach Jared Veldheer answers call from Indianapolis, helps Colts make playoffs (Grand Rapids Press)
Colts’ Rivers embraces his 7th, perhaps final, playoff run (AP)
Opportunity knocks for Philip Rivers, 11-win Colts (WTTV-TV)
For Philip Rivers, Colts, it’s about doing ordinary things extraordinarily well (WTTV-TV)
Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne among 15 Modern-Era HOF Finalists (WTTV-TV)
Colts legends Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne named finalists for Hall of Fame (WRTV-TV)
Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne named finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame (WTHR-TV)
What is the Colts blueprint to upsetting the Bills? (WFNI-AM)
Colts Tuesday notebook: Philip Rivers talks missing super bowl piece (WFNI-AM)
Colts Tuesday Notebook: Khari Willis Returns To Practice Field; Colts Put In First Preparations For Bills (Colts.com)
Colts Sign S Nick Nelson & TE Jordan Thomas To Reserve/Future Contracts (Colts.com)
Peyton Manning And Reggie Wayne Named Pro Football Hall Of Fame Finalists (Colts.com)
The Best 2020 Colts Records and Milestones (Colts.com)
Testing replaces tailgating, as Bills set to welcome in fans
‘Though a Bills’ win would guarantee them playing at home again the following week, there have been no discussions as to whether fans would be allowed to attend a second game, Cohen said.’
Josh Allen credits playoff failure last year for MVP-caliber 2020 season with Bills
‘That playoff failure where Allen had a bad throw percentage of 21.4% showcased where the Bills quarterback needed to improve. Allen is looking to eliminate the demons from last postseason in a year where he’s improved across the board.’
Bills vs. Colts injuries: Stefon Diggs limited, Philip Rivers and DeForest projected as missing practice
‘Specifically, Beasley’s situation is probably the one worth paying close attention to considering he was held out of Week 17. Head coach Sean McDermott noted on Monday that there was “no real update” on Beasley as he remains week-to-week and continues to rehab. As for Diggs and McKenzie, it will be interesting to see how their statuses evolve throughout the week, but it’s worth pointing out that neither left Sunday’s win due to injury. Diggs played 48% of the offensive snaps and was taken out for essentially the entire second half after Buffalo pulled most of its starters. Meanwhile, McKenzie played 91% of the offensive snaps.’
Petition would ban NY Gov. Cuomo from attending Buffalo Bills playoff game
‘The Change.org petition, started by Jeffrey Dorenzo and titled “Ban Andrew Cuomo from Buffalo Bills Stadium playoff games,” had more than 24,000 signatures by late Tuesday afternoon, more than its initial goal of 15,000.’
Report: Brian Daboll requested for head coaching interviews with Jets, Chargers
‘Daboll will certainly be an attractive candidate for most teams, especially those with young quarterbacks with some high upside going forward.’
Stefon Diggs listed on Bills injury report, limited in walkthrough practice Tuesday
‘Wider receiver Isaiah McKenzie was also listed as limited with an ankle injury while lineman Jon Feliciano (knee) and tight end Reggie Gilliam (knee/hamstring) were full participants.’
Bills lineman Dion Dawkins opens up to Bills Mafia in second Players’ Tribune letter
‘The Bills lineman starts off his letter by saying he’s putting football to the side, because things going on in the world right now are bigger than football. Dawkins talks about how people are hurting, sick and losing their jobs and homes and says that the team has their back.’
Keeping players focused as the hype around the Bills grows
‘With all the hype surrounding the Buffalo Bills, coaches are trying to keep players’ focus reeled in ahead of this weekend’s playoff game.’
Colts, Bills’ fortunes took a turn in the ’18 draft
‘The Colts drafted Nelson sixth overall. The Bills, of course, took Josh Allen with the seventh pick. With apologies to Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield, you could argue that Nelson and Allen were the two best picks of the entire 2018 draft.’
Bills QB Josh Allen answers questions ahead of playoff game
‘Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen took questions and gave answers ahead of this weekend’s playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts.’
Bills WR John Brown grateful to return to play after being sidelined with injuries
‘“It was real stressful, after healing up from one injury then heading into another, but the training staff and coaches did a great job, they had my back and pushed me through it all,” Brown said. “Definitely just watching the guys have fun, that was the most stressful thing, but in a way I was relieved. We had guys making plays left and right, so I could rest up and come back fully healthy instead of things going bad and busting myself to get back out there to help the team.”’
Bills Injury Report: January 5th
‘WR Stefon Diggs (oblique).’
On the other sideline: QB Philip Rivers
‘In five games against Buffalo throughout his career, Rivers has thrown a combined 1,131 yards, 10 touchdowns and only one interception. That one interception came in the 2008 loss to the bills.’
Petition calls to ban Gov. Cuomo from Bills playoff game
‘Started by Jeffrey Dorenzo, the petition’s description reads, “So Cuomo is going to attend our playoff game after telling us that we can only attend at less than 10% capacity? If he thinks he has more right to a seat in that stadium over people who have waited over 20 years for this opportunity, then people better be there to protest his entry. This is OUR team! This is OUR home. We don’t want you here.”’
Bills Josh Norman gets boost from Wegmans to help small businesses
‘Norman contributed $25,000. Now donations are up to around $100,000 and more is needed to assist the more than 600 businesses that have applied to receive help.’
Allen grateful for playoff loss to Texans
‘“I think the main lesson was not to press. Understand the situation we were in,” Allen said. “Taking it one play at at a time. Not getting too high or too low. Whatever happens in the flow of the game, that next play, you gotta let it go. You gotta focus on the task at hand. I was able to learn a lot from (the loss to Houston) and, hopefully, carry that experience into Saturday’s game.”’
John Brown ready for the playoffs after ‘stressful’ season
‘“It was real stressful,” Brown said of his season. “After healing up from one injury then coming back to another.”’
Philip Rivers in the playoffs from a weather perspective
‘The last three of Rivers playoff games all were outside against Denver in 2014, Baltimore in 2019, and New England the following week of 2019. No precipitation fell on any of those days and temperatures remained generally within a few degrees of normal. Being a veteran in the league, it seems that Rivers does not have a problem playing in inclement weather.’
Bills playoff weather history at Orchard Park shows a sign of warmth and wins
‘This year, Buffalo will be colder than nearly all of these games with afternoon highs likely stuck in the 20s.’
Bills ‘superfan’ talks game ticket process, attendance rules during COVID
‘Maggio says it’s $63 for a rapid COVID-19 test, and $11 just to park at the COVID-19 testing site — per person, not per car. There is also no gathering outside before the game, a longtime tradition for Maggio and so many others.’
Leslie Frazier on preparing the Bills defense for the playoffs
‘The Bills defense has played consistently better throughout the year, but the run defense was certainly a point where Buffalo has struggled.’
Allen reflects on lessons learned from last years playoffs
‘Allen says the main lesson he learned from last year’s playoff loss was to ‘not press and understand the situation’ they’re in.’
Petition calls to ban Gov. Cuomo from Buffalo Bills playoff game
‘”I’m going to take my test, I’m going to be out there to watch the game with you, and we look forward to it,” said Cuomo.’
Allen on Buffalo: ‘It’s a special place to play football’
‘”We’re trying to not let anybody down, when we’re here we have a purpose, I think coach McDermott’s done a good job of preaching that purpose to us when we’re on the field,” Allen said. “We know how much this means to the city of Buffalo and the fans here and the alumni here and it’s a special place to play football.”‘
‘It’ll be a big challenge’ | Bills coaches look ahead to playoff matchup with Colts
‘”The way they’ve run the football the last few weeks, they put a lot of pressure on your defense to stop the run, which can open up some things in the passing game,” Frazier said. “So, our defensive line, we’ll have to really be on our Ps and Qs in practice this week, really be good from a technique and fundamental standpoint.”‘
How Josh Allen plans to carry his MVP-worthy success into the playoffs
‘”If I could describe it, it was just all positive energy that Josh just planted that hatched throughout the entire season,” Dawkins said. “Him getting to know some of his new players, getting that connection with him taking the time out of his offseason to bring the offense down to Florida to throw the ball around and to bond with the guys.’
Bills Today | GM Brandon Beane receives national recognition
‘The Diggs trade was the jewel in Beane’s crown, but he made other moves that paid dividends. He has gained a reputation for looking to his former employers in Carolina for players and three former Panthers made sizable contributions after signing as free agents. Daryl Williams started at right tackle, defensive end Mario Addison had five sacks, and linebacker A.J. Klein played an integral role on defense.’