‘If the Bills can produce 27 points under those circumstances, they’ll be hard to beat. They’re averaging 37 points a game over their last nine, so holding them to 27 seems like an achievement at this point. You’d better put up 30 or more if you want to beat them.’
Archives for January 10, 2021
Vic Carucci: More mature, composed Josh Allen leads Bills to first playoff win since ’95
‘”I think just leadership, probably more than anything,” coach Sean McDermott told reporters after his first playoff victory as a head coach after going 0-2 in the postseason since arriving in Buffalo in 2017. “Maturity, professionalism. Yeah, that’s what comes to mind more than anything else.”‘
Jason Wolf: Bills’ Micah Hyde knocks down Hail Mary, says ‘no way this is happening again’
‘“I said, ‘There ain’t no way this is happening again,’ ” Hyde explained later, “and I got a running start to go up and hit it. Looking back, I wish I would have done that in ‘AZ,’ but hey, you learn something new, you win some, you lose some, and when you lose you learn along the way, so I was able to do that.”’
Analysis: Josh Allen’s pre-snap read burned Colts on key TD pass
‘Allen changed the call at the line of scrimmage just before his 35-yard scoring throw to Diggs, which game the Buffalo Bills a 24-10 lead.’
10 observations: Would-be fumble escapes becoming next ‘Homerun Throwback’ for Bills fans
‘“I think so, personally,” Milano said after the game when asked if it was a fumble. “It looked like his knee was clearly off the ground and Poyer hadn’t touched him yet. I don’t know, I mean, it is what it is. We’ve just got to continue to go out there and play.”
Bills blown away by ‘amazing, exceptional, awesome’ crowd noise from 6,700 fans
‘“For the fans to stand behind this team the way they’ve done over the years,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said, “and the fans and how much noise they made today, even at 6,700, I guess, was the number, incredible, man. You could feel it in the air. Just the atmosphere and the environment was almost like it was full, especially down the stretch there.”‘
Bills’ tickets for divisional round set to go on sale Sunday
‘Availability will go in seniority order for eligible ticket holders, who will receive an email with their date and time to purchase. Tickets can be acquired via online only and cannot be purchased in person or via phone.’
Quarter by quarter: Colts had good blueprint, but Bills did just enough to survive
‘The Colts were the second-highest scoring team in the NFL in the first quarter, at 6.7 ppg. They had 66 points on their first drive of the season, second to Green Bay, but didn’t score to start the game Saturday.’
Report card: ‘Survive and advance’ accurately describes Bills’ win over Colts
‘The Colts ran for 163 yards on 30 carries – an average of 5.4 a pop. The Bills did an OK job against Colts stud rookie Jonathan Taylor, holding him to 78 yards on 21 carries, but it was change-of-pace back Nyheim Hines who was a thorn in the Bills’ side, gaining 75 yards on six attempts.’
‘The best day of my entire life’ – A home playoff game like no other
‘“As pumped as we are,” Tim Wangler said of Bills Mafia, “we will absolutely make it feel like 70,000.”’
In pregame testing, 1.9% of Bills fans tested positive
‘There were 137 positive cases among 7,165 tests administered in drive-thru testing at Bills Stadium, Gareth Rhodes, a member of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s Covid-19 Response Task Force, said during the governor’s phone briefing Saturday morning.’
Local sports directors ‘play through’ Covid challenges to cover Bills
‘“Covering the team from a distance has been very challenging,” Reed wrote in an email. “There are things you miss when you’re not on the road with the team. We typically arrive the day before the game and there’s so much you can learn by just walking through the airport and talking to the clerk at the rental car place, listening to local sports radio, watching the local news. You get the pulse of the other team’s fan base.”’
In heart-pounding fashion, Bills outlast Colts 27-24 in thrilling wildcard game
‘Once again, this 2020 edition of the Bills proved it isn’t like past teams who would have found a way to lose this game in inexplicable fashion and have yet another nicknamed loss on the franchise resume. Saturday, Safety Micah Hyde knocked Rivers’ feeble prayer to the ground and the Bills escaped with a breathtaking 27-24 victory over the Colts.’
Report card: This Bills team is good enough to not play well and still win in playoffs
‘It has been the case all season, and it’s not changing: The Bills are not a good run team. They’re just not.’
It may be different, but Buffalo Bills fans find ways to celebrate around the stadium
‘No ticket, no problem for the Gilligans, so long as there was nothing blocking a view of the stadium’s Jumbotron-like scoreboard.’
Josh Allen scores 3 TDs, Stefon Diggs clutch in Bills’ 1st playoff win since 1995: Instant observations
‘In the end the Colts ran 76 offensive plays to the Bills’ 58 and controlled time of possession (34:17 to 25:43), but the Bills offense put points on the board.’
Bills’ Stefon Diggs, Gabriel Davis are playmakers in win over Colts (Wild Card report card)
‘Of course, the Colts deserve plenty of credit for entering the game with a tremendous game plan. The team controlled the time of possession and field position throughout the first half of the game. Throughout the game, Buffalo’s offense struggled to convert third downs, generally a strength this season. Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was receiving head coaching interest entering the game and his stock may be even higher after Saturday following the loss.’
Bills’ Micah Hyde seals Buffalo’s first playoff win in 25 years
‘Micah Hyde batted the ball into the turf with the aggressiveness of a Bills fan dunking a wing in bleu cheese.’
Bills’ Josh Allen knows what playoff win means for Buffalo, but: ‘One’s not good enough for us’
‘“It was crazy. For the fans to be allowed and experience that with this team – it would have been a shame if we couldn’t do it. I know it was only 6,700,” Allen joked. “But it’s more than zero. I’m super excited for the fan base here. I don’t think the guys really understand the meaning and impact of winning a playoff game for this franchise”.’
Bills’ Josh Allen earns bragging rights among 2018 1st Round QBs with first playoff win
‘The bragging rights for first playoff victory goes to Allen, but Jackson and Mayfield will both get cracks at matching the quarterback on Sunday. Jackson’s Ravens will go on the road to take on the Tennessee Titans while Mayfield will make his first playoff appearance on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers.’
Jerry Hughes says Bills Mafia inside stadium did this to the Colts
‘“I know that they said it was only supposed to be 6,000 people, but it felt like 15, 20,000,” Hughes said. “I tell the guys they’re still just getting a taste of Bills Mafia. When they’re able to come back in the stadium full fledge, you’ll really be able to feel them.”’
Bills’ Jordan Poyer has one word reaction to NFL officials who could have cost Buffalo game vs. Colts
‘Fasho.’
Fear that Bills’ Zack Moss’ postseason is over following ankle injury vs. Colts (report)
‘Moss’ injury came during the second play of the fourth quarter following a 6-yard run. The running back lost the ball well after he was down, but the Colts challenged the play and burned a timeout in the process. Moss remained down on the field for a few minutes before getting carted off the field.’
Who will Bills play in Divisional Round? Every opponent scenario for Steelers, Ravens & Titans
‘Heading into the NFL’s Divisional Round, the Kansas City Chiefs will take on the lowest seeded team remaining in the playoffs leaving Buffalo with whatever team is remaining. For this reason alone, we know heading into Sunday that there is no scenario where the Bills will host the Cleveland Browns next weekend. Cleveland, the AFC’s No. 6 seed, is currently the lowest seeded team alive in the AFC. A victory on Sunday night over the Pittsburgh Steelers would send the team to Kansas City. That means the winner of the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens game would come to Bills Stadium.’
Bills vs. Colts inactives: Cole Beasley active, Buffalo has full arsenal for Super Wild Card game
‘Despite entering the game with both Stefon Diggs (oblique) and Cole Beasley (knee) listed as questionable, both will play on Saturday.’
Five takeaways: Bills win nail biter over Colts to secure first playoff win since 1995
‘The Buffalo ‘D’ did an excellent job of bending but not breaking this afternoon.’
Dink, dunk … doink — Colts’ short game can’t keep up with Diggs and the Bills
‘Look, the Colts are a good team, with a plucky defence and the league’s most promising young running back in Jonathan Taylor. The difference between the two sides Saturday might have boiled down to one man: Diggs, Buffalo’s all-pro wide receiver. Take him off the Bills and put him on the Colts, and the Colts maybe — probably — would have won.’
Sunday’s Indianapolis Coverage
Insider: Colts lose heartbreaker to Bills, falling 27-24 in Wild Card game (Indianapolis Star)
‘Self-inflicted wounds’ doom Colts in red zone of 27-24 Wild Card loss to Bills (Indianapolis Star)
Insider: Analytics, coaching isn’t only thing that cost Colts upset bid against Bills (Indianapolis Star)
Doyel: Colts could have beaten Buffalo, but they gave this playoff game away (Indianapolis Star)
Insider: Why Philip Rivers cried Saturday night in Buffalo (Indianapolis Star)
By the numbers: Counting up Colts’ missed playoff opportunity against Bills (Indianapolis Star)
Math says Colts coach Frank Reich made right decision on 4th down … and it cost him the game (Indianapolis Star)
Photo gallery (Indianapolis Star)
Colts’ rally falls short in wild-card loss to Bills (Anderson Herald Bulletin)
Emotional Rivers not ready to commit to future plans yet (Anderson Herald Bulletin)
Philip Rivers on another NFL season: ‘Whatever God’s will is’ (Birmingham News)
Colts’ Comeback Bid Falls Short In 27-24 Loss To Bills (AP)
Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich on costly 4th-down decision vs. Buffalo Bills: Was a ‘strong go’ (ESPN)
Colts become first team in NFL playoff history to pull off this depressing feat after wild-card loss to Bills (CBS Sports)
Philip Rivers says he’s unsure whether or not he will retire; Colts’ Frank Reich wants QB back for 2021 (CBS Sports)
Examining Frank Reich’s controversial decisions in Colts’ playoff loss to Bills (The Sporting News)
Will Philip Rivers retire after NFL playoffs? What we know about Colts quarterback’s plans for 2021 (The Sporting News)
Colts season ends with 27-24 loss to Bills (WTTV-TV)
Uncertain future awaits an emotional Philip Rivers following Colts’ playoff loss to Bills (WTTV-TV)
5 Things Learned: Plethora Of Missed Opportunities Ends Colts Season (WFNI-AM)
Hits And Misses: Michael Pittman, Jack Doyle Cap Season With Strong Games (WFNI-AM)
Self-Inflicted Wounds Costly For Colts In Season-Ending Loss To Bills (Colts.com)
By The Numbers: Bills 27, Colts 24 (2020 Wild Card Round) (Colts.com)
DeForest Buckner, Khari Willis Active For Today’s Wild Card Round Matchup Against Bills (Colts.com)
Photo gallery 1 (Colts.com)
Photo gallery 2 (Colts.com)
Photo gallery 3 (Colts.com)
Photo gallery 1 (BuffaloBills.com)
Photo gallery 2 (BuffaloBills.com)
Photo gallery 3 (BuffaloBills.com)
Photo gallery (Buffalo News)
Photo gallery 1 (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)
Photo gallery 2 (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)
Bills hold off Colts rally for first playoff win in 25 years
‘“For fans to get loud and experience that with this team, it would’ve been a shame if we couldn’t do that,” Allen said. “I don’t think guys understand the meaning of winning a playoff game for this franchise, but I think we’re not in tune to that because we want to win more.”’
Long-suffering Bills fans deserve this playoff moment
‘Maybe in other years, Allen would have had to search for words of explanation, as he did a year ago, when he played unevenly and the Bills blew a 16-0 third-quarter lead in Houston in the first round. But this is this year. The Bills are now 14-3. They are alive. They are well. They are dangerous.’
Bills stave off Colts’ late rally to earn their first playoff victory in 25 years
‘Allen was the difference. He completed 26 of 35 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 54 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs had six catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. Allen’s other touchdown pass went to tight end Dawson Knox. Tyler Bass made two field goals, including a 54-yarder with less than nine minutes remaining.’
Bills Beat Colts 27-24 For 1st Playoff Win In 25 Years
‘In a season in which the Bills busted numerous slumps, Allen became Buffalo’s first starter in a quarter century to win a playoff game. And Hyde ensured the Bills wouldn’t endure another second-half collapse as happened last year in a wild-card loss to Houston, or last-second touchdown.’
Lucky Few Bills Fans Eager To Cheer On Team From Stands
‘Having to be screened for COVID-19 and not being able to enjoy tailgating were small prices to pay for being the first to attend a Bills home game this season.’
Bills Receiver Cole Beasley Active For Colts Wild-Card Game
‘Beasley’s return means the Bills will have their starting trio of receivers playing for the first time since a 32-30 loss at Arizona on Nov. 15. Buffalo’s third starter, John Brown, returned last week after missing five games with a knee injury and stint on the reserve-COVID-19 list.’
Buffalo Bills hold off Indianapolis Colts for first playoff win since 1995
‘Allen, 24, improved significantly from his first playoff game last season, completing 26 of 35 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns, adding 54 yards and another score on the ground. He became the youngest player in NFL history to throw for 300 yards and complete 70% of his passes in a playoff game, per ESPN Stats & Information research.’
Why the Bills’ wild-card win over the Colts should make AFC playoff teams nervous: What Buffalo learned on its winning streak
‘After you spend weeks blowing out everybody, sometimes you forget that it isn’t always that easy. The Indianapolis Colts did the Bills the favor of reminding them without beating them, and that could be bad news for the rest of the AFC playoff field.’
Bills’ Josh Allen hits Stefon Diggs with 35-yard TD strike
‘On second-and-3 from the Colts’ 3-yard line, Allen took the snap on what looked like a designed run but was quickly met by Indianapolis defenders Tyquan Lewis and Anthony Walker. Allen scrambled to his right and stayed upright just long enough to see Knox wide open in the end zone. As he was being brought to the ground, Allen heaved the ball toward Knox, who caught it with nobody around him.’
Buffalo Bills wide receivers Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley to play vs. Indianapolis Colts
‘Diggs was limited in practice for most of the week. He told reporters earlier in the week he was “cool,” suggesting his status was never in question.’
Bills overcome Colts despite controversial replay in Indy’s favor during AFC wild-card game’s final minute
‘While Rivers quickly got his offense back to the line-of-scrimmage, the Bills were awarded a timeout just before the Colts snapped the ball. The timeout gave the officials time to review the play, which surprisingly was not overturned. What was more surprising was the Bills not losing a timeout after the officials reviewed the play.’
Bills vs. Colts score: Josh Allen shines, Buffalo ‘D’ preserves late lead as Bills advance to Divisional Round
‘Play of the game: No question about it: Allen’s first TD, a pass to Dawson Knox to put Buffalo up 7-3, was his best improvised play in a while. What began as a designed QB run turned into an under-duress scoring toss that set the tone for the Bills’ offense early.’