‘The sad fact is, the Bills aren’t a tough team, McDermott’s contention to the contrary. They have a talented roster at the skill positions, but the lines, not so much. They rely on finesse and are, sadly, way too soft.’
Archives for December 8, 2021
Observations: Sean McDermott, Brian Daboll say they’re on the same page
‘“Yeah, I think we have a good understanding,” Daboll said. “We’re week to week. We want to be a physical offense and control the line of scrimmage. The most important thing, as you know, is scoring points and finishing down there, whether that be a big play or in the red zone, but we have conversations daily on things that we’re doing and we have a good working relationship and we’ll work each and every day to try and get things fixed.”’
Analysis: Lack of push up front foiled Bills in key moments vs. Patriots
‘“It definitely starts with the line of scrimmage,” he said. “Being honest in the run game, I mean, you got to move a guy. You got to create lanes for the running back and then there’s maybe just communication – where to go, what to do. And so there’s little intricacies in each play, like you said, in the run game, even move guys. And we didn’t do a good enough job of that.”’
Upon Further Review: All signs after loss to Patriots point to Bills becoming unglued
‘The Bills’ losses have followed a very consistent pattern. The team is losing the battle at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball far too often; it turns the ball over too much; it takes too many presnap or post-whistle penalties; and the offense isn’t executing in the red zone.’
Snap count notes: Matt Breida benched after failing to secure handoff against Patriots
‘“I’m not sure if I got it to him or not,” Allen said afterward. “I’ll have to look at the tape, but right now I’m pretty unclear what happened. But that’s something that we got to clean up.”’
Alan Pergament: Steve Levy’s humor earns style points in Patriots’ old-fashioned rush to victory
‘The home losses to Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and New England with the Bills Mafia behind them illustrate as much as anything how overrated the team was in preseason.’
Erik Brady: Joe Ferguson reflects on 1974 game the Bills won without completing a pass
‘Simpson ran 31 times for 117 yards. Fullback Jim Braxton ran 17 times for 84 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown for the winning score. Joe DeLamielleure cleared the way with a pancake block on the right side and Braxton dragged a couple of Jets with him as they splashed across the goal line.’
Bills coach Sean McDermott was angry, and rightfully so, about the loss to the New England Patriots
‘This was an embarrassment for McDermott and the Bills, losing a game to their fiercest AFC East rival, in their stadium, in a prime-time and highly visible window, as the Patriots repeatedly punched them in the mouth the same way they did for nearly two decades.’
Buffalo Bills ‘on verge of falling out of playoff field’ following loss to Patriots (Post-Week 13 power rankings)
‘Winning the close ones have eluded Buffalo this season and it could cost them a playoff spot at the end of the year if something doesn’t change fast.’
Sullivan: As losses pile up, cracks show in Bills’ ‘culture’
‘The Bills weren’t up to it. Again. They lived down to their creeping reputation as a crepe paper team that can’t adjust to a physical game, one that is overly reliant on Josh Allen and the passing game and their resourceful pass defense.’
Sabato: Inconsistent offense Bills’ biggest concern after loss to Pats
‘Utilizing Allen on designed runs has been the closest to a go-to play, but he was used once on such plays Monday and never in the red zone.’
A Bills season of great expectations in danger of being torn asunder
‘The Bills very well could be 7-6 by Sunday evening, and that would make for a daunting stretch run, with them as home favorites against the Carolina Panthers (5-7), Atlanta Falcons (5-7) and New York Jets (3-9), and road underdogs in their December 26 rematch against New England. The AFC is quite muddled, with a bloated middle-class of teams featuring records similar to Buffalo’s. Working against the Bills is their 5-5 conference record, which is one of the prominent tiebreakers in setting the playoff field.’
‘It’s not a Bill Belichick-type thing’: Bills coach Sean McDermott diminishes impact of Patriots coach after loss
‘”So, with all due respect, it’s not a Bill Belichick-type thing. It’s what are you doing with the opportunities you got? What are you doing with the opportunities you got? We turned the ball over at the plus 30-something yard line. It’s sloppy football. It’s sloppy football. So, I’m very comfortable in that situation.”‘
Bills coach Sean McDermott wasn’t impressed with Bill Belichick after windy loss
‘Say what you want about how Belichick’s night, but it’s easy to argue that he outcoached McDermott throughout the windy night. Despite barely even threatening to throw, the Patriots still marched the ball directly down the Bills’ throats, rushing for 4.8 yards per carry as a team on a ridiculous 46 attempts. New England moved the ball at will on the ground, and it seemed like it took the Bills until the fourth quarter to adjust.’
Rachel Bush has sweet moment with Jordan Poyer after Bills loss
‘In an Instagram Story, Bush is seen standing behind Poyer, who then grins at the screen. Though off-camera, it seems Bush may have kissed the top of his head before calling it a night.’
Bills appear in denial as playoff hopes begin to sink
‘Buffalo has yet to overcome a second-half deficit, has difficulty running the ball or stopping the run, and padded its record against mostly backups and rookie quarterbacks.’
Sean McDermott believes he’s on same page with Brian Daboll
‘”Want to make sure we’re on the same page, I believe we are. Got to go out there and execute at a higher level.”‘
Buffalo Bills DT Harrison Phillips selected as nominee for Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
‘He has hosted several events in the Western New York, including inviting youth to the Bills field house, hosting Christmas parties and gathering toys for children, and joining children to clean up a local playground.’
Sean McDermott downplays Bill Belichick’s coaching in Bills loss to Patriots on Monday night football
‘“You gotta be able to run the football and you gotta be able to stop the run and those things don’t change, the message hasn’t changed in terms of physicality, the necessity for physicality and what we do. That’s why we start training camp the way we do with running the football and you gotta win the line of scrimmage.”’
Daboll Dilemma: Cleaning up the Bills’ offense
‘Monday night was a chance for the Bills to re-establish themselves as a juggernaut, but ten points from what should be a high-powered Buffalo offense simply was not enough against the Patriots, no matter the gusty, wintery conditions both teams faced at Highmark Stadium on Monday night.’
Sean McDermott puts emphasis on taking advantage of opportunities
‘Despite questions about coaching and game plans, Sean McDermott didn’t subscribe to the notion that he was out-coached by Bill Belichick. Instead mentioned that the team didn’t convert on the opportunities they needed to.’
‘It’s all about respect’ Bills’ Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer respond to reporter’s ’embarrassed’ question
‘”In my day, players would answer that kind of question.”‘
Harrison Phillips named Bills’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee
‘It works to support children with developmental or physical disabilities.’
Harrison Phillips selected as Buffalo’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee for second consecutive year
‘Phillips does the majority of his work through his Playmakers Organization which supports children that are developmentally or physically different.’
Josh Allen and Nike pledge $100,000 to Oishei’s Children’s Hospital
‘The Patricia Allen Fund has grown to over $1.4 million, with donations still coming in from individuals, businesses and events throughout 2021.’