‘“We played them toward the end of the season (barely two weeks ago) in a short time frame,” Buffalo’s offensive coordinator Brian Daboll said. “Obviously we’re going to be matched up against them Saturday night so there’s some familiarity with the players and the matchups, but schemes change and each game is its own game particularly against a team like (the Patriots).”’
Archives for January 11, 2022
Upon Further Review: Secondary’s show of solidarity after division-clinching win speaks volumes
‘”I grind out for these guys on and off the field any day of the week and even No. 27 right here. So it just goes to show, Micah and I’ve been here five years, Levi, four, Taron four, Dane two. We’ve just been putting the work in ever since we stepped foot in this building, so it’s extremely special to win this thing at home, win the AFC East at home, and we definitely wish 27 was here. But you know, we know he’s going to bounce back.”’
Thanks to third-down defensive prowess by Bills, Jets ran just 46 offensive plays Sunday
‘That’s the second-fewest amount of plays the Bills’ defense faced in a single game during the 2021 regular season, trailing only the 42 ran by the Houston Texans in Week 4. A big reason the Bills faced so few plays is because the defense held the Jets to just 1 of 14 on third downs, forcing 11 punts, one of which was blocked.’
Analysis: Extra offensive lineman giving Bills running game some added punch
‘The Bills used a sixth offensive lineman to help overpower New York on the line of scrimmage in springing Singletary. Rookie Tommy Doyle lined up at right tackle. Spencer Brown moved to the other side of the line and set up outside of left tackle Dion Dawkins. The Bills used a sixth offensive lineman on 15 plays against the Jets, their most in any game this season.’
Observations: ‘Nothing official yet’ in regards to Leslie Frazier interviewing for Bears’ coaching job
‘“I really don’t know anything about it,” Frazier said Monday, a day after the Bills wrapped up the regular season with a 27-10 victory over the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium, a win that secured a second straight AFC East title. “We’ve been in meetings all day and you can imagine on a short week, just finished a ballgame yesterday. It’s almost like you’re in a cave working as hard as you can to get up to speed on whatever changes you want to make, and with the team that we’re facing. I have not really followed any news reports or really don’t know a whole lot about what’s going on around the league right now.”’
Jim Kubiak: How naked bootleg play-action passes got Allen, Bills’ offense back on track vs. Jets
‘Allen sold the run first and then got excellent depth as he attacked the perimeter. The Jets defense, like a school of hungry piranhas, swarmed to the fake and left themselves immediately vulnerable down the field. Credit Daboll with another great bootleg concept to start the Bills’ drive, giving Allen options to create with his legs or to complete easier throws to open receivers.’
Alan Pergament: The enthusiasm of CBS’ Kevin Harlan helps Bills fans party like it’s 1995
‘Harlan, who may be even better calling NBA games, was sharp on the big fourth-quarter plays and also offered his unique take on a couple of altercations between the two teams that were initially out of camera view.’
Erik Brady: ‘Fandemonium’ broke out last time Bills beat Jets for AFC East, thanks to one very large paw
‘As for the goalpost-storming day in 1988, Bills fans can thank one Frederic Charles Smerlas that the game got to overtime at all. The score was 6-6 with 25 seconds to play when New York lined up for a surefire field goal from 40 yards. Jets kicker Pat Leahy had made 47 of his last 49 field goals from 40 yards or closer.’
Bills vs Patriots, round 3: Make no mistake, this rivalry takes on a new look for playoffs
‘How delicious is that? A third game against everyone’s favorite team to hate in the span of 41 days.’
Leslie Frazier’s Bills defense was best in the NFL and he’s a head coaching candidate again
‘“I’m super proud of those guys, but let me just make sure I’m clear here; Leslie Frazier runs the defense and I want to give credit where credit is due,” said coach Sean McDermott. “This is not Sean McDermott’s defense, this is Leslie’s defense, and those defensive coaches and players have done a phenomenal job.”’
Is home field actually an advantage for the Bills in the playoffs?
‘The crowd advantage is definitely something to consider, especially when it comes to the Patriots’ rookie quarterback Mac Jones. He’s struggled at times during the second half of the season. He’s thrown five interceptions in his last four games, including a pair against the Bills in a Week 16 loss.’
Boston analyst doesn’t think Bills’ Josh Allen can best Bill Belichick, Patriots again
‘“I think familiarity is actually a better thing for the Patriots,” Johnson said. “Josh Allen, I mean he just torched the Patriots just a few weeks ago–his best game ever against the Patriots not that long ago–but I think Josh Allen had to play a perfect game in that game and I think the Patriots will adjust and do something different.”’
Bills’ Brian Daboll & Leslie Frazier drawing HC interest, Joe Schoen requested for GM interview
‘While there are only 32 GM jobs in the league, Schoen may be hesitant to take the Giants’ job as New York has committed to bringing Joe Judge back as their head coach for the 2022-2023 season.’
Sabato: Bills need to beat Patriots in playoffs to be true beasts of the East
‘As long as Allen is pulling the trigger, the offense is always going to be potent. But it seems unlikely the team will have a better window to win a championship with this defense. Sure, the Jets looked more like the faux-Bills offense in the made-for-TV movie Second String, but they still had NFL players who received a paycheck and were held to 53 yards from scrimmage.’
Bills fans rise up after $3,000 worth of equipment stolen from Lockport tailgaters
‘Within five hours, the fundraiser not only raised the $3,000 needed to replace the equipment, but it surpassed $5,000 and Roman was able to order a new grill. All equipment should be replaced and the Romans will be ready for their first playoff game when the Bills host the Patriots in the AFC wild-card round Saturday night.’
Tuesday’s New England Coverage
Scouting Bills-Patriots: Three things to watch in the wild-card round (Boston Globe)
Patriots’ Mac Jones, Bill Belichick look ahead to third meeting with Buffalo Bills (Springfield Republican)
Patriots-Bills Round 3 Preview: Five Keys For New England Against Buffalo (NESN)
Nine Thoughts On Patriots-Bills Round 3 Ahead Of Wild-Card Playoff (NESN)
A few early thoughts on Patriots-Bills, Round 3 (WEEI-FM)
Patriots and Bills headed for another weather game (WBZ-FM)
Early Weather Forecast For Patriots-Bills Playoff Meeting Calls For Frigid Temperatures In Buffalo (WBZ-TV)
What can Patriots learn from previous Bills battles? (Patriots.com)
Tuesday’s New York Coverage
Bills’ Joe Schoen, Chiefs’ Ryan Poles among Giants’ interview requests as GM search begins (New York Daily News)
Giants want to interview Bills’ Joe Schoen for GM gig (New York Post)
Giants request to interview promising Bills executive — with Bill Parcells ties — as GM search kicks off (Newark Star Ledger)
Tuesday’s Chicago Coverage
Reports: Bears look to Bills OC Brian Daboll to fill head coaching vacancy (NBC Sports Chicago)
Bills’ D Has Reason To Crow While Challenges Lie Ahead
‘They had good reason to crow following a 27-10 season-ending win over the Jets on Sunday in which the defense limited New York to four first downs (a Bills franchise record), 53 yards net offense (second fewest in team history) while generating nine sacks (two short of the team record and the most in 10 years).’
NFL Super Wild Card Weekend: Early forecast for Patriots-Bills calls for sub-zero temperatures
‘With that in mind, weather becoming a factor in this could be more beneficial to the Patriots, who are 4.5-point underdogs heading into this playoff matchup. If wind, precipitation, or merely the cold weather can limit Josh Allen’s ability to throw the football, that should keep New England within striking distance, while playing into their preference of running the football.’
Reports: Teams request interviews with Bills’ Leslie Frazier, Joe Schoen
‘He was also a key member of the 1985 Bears defense – considered one of the greatest units of all-time – leading them with six interceptions. The Bears dismissed head coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace on Monday.’
Opinion: Bills end regular season journey with AFC East title
‘We should have another game where not having Tre White shouldn’t be a big problem. Defending the Patriots group of wide receivers is better than trying to stop Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Rookie quarterback Mac Jones has struggled down the stretch as the Patriots have lost three of their last four games. Jones has had some of his worst showings of the season in defeats at the hands of Indianapolis, the Bills and Miami. He has completed just 56% of his passes and thrown for just three touchdowns while getting picked off five times.’
Reports: Bears request to interview Bills DC Leslie Frazier for head coaching vacancy
‘Meanwhile, the New York Giants are hoping to interview Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen to be their general manager, ESPN and CBS Sports reported.’
Fans help out after Bills Elvis says tailgate gear was taken during game
‘According to Bills Elvis, their commercial grill, tent, Yeti cooler, propane, and utensils, which he values collectively at thousands of dollars, were all gone.’
Bars and restaurants in WNY prepare for Saturday’s Bills playoff game
‘“Come in early because it’s going to be crazy. We’re getting a million reservations right now,” he said. “We’re going to start doing things at 10 in the morning. I think it’ll be insane, it’ll be crazy.”’
Local math teacher uses Bills stats to teach classes
‘Camp’s class is learning about percentages and statistics using stats for the Bills players.’
Interest for Bills’ defensive coordinator Frazier for head coach rolls in
‘According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Chicago Bears have requested to interview Frazier for their vacant head coaching job after firing Matt Nagy on Monday morning.’
Bills vs. Patriots: Stories, odds, stats & how to watch Saturday’s playoff game
‘The last time the Bills and the Patriots met in the playoffs was all the way back in 1963. In an AFL divisional round matchup, the Boston Patriots defeated the Bills 26-8.’
Bills finish with top defense for first time in history
‘They’re also the first time in 10 years to be top D in the league without a single player named to the Pro Bowl, but with the compliment offensive lineman Dion Dawkins gave that unit, nothing else would matter.’
Bills coaches prep for Wild Card chess match with Patriots
‘”They’re incredible that way in how they can change things up and what Coach (Bill) Belichick does to stay a step ahead,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said. “So, we obviously have our work cut out for us. It’s a short week in some regards here so we’ve got to get ourselves ready to go in a short amount of time. So that will be the challenge for us.”‘
Bills defense ends the 2021 regular season as the NFL’s best
‘Buffalo didn’t just surge to the top spot in the league at the end of the season. The Bills were number one in total defense for the last 15 weeks of the regular season. Since Week 4 they had occupied the top spot. They’ve also been the number one pass defense for 11 out of the 18 weeks this season. And they’ve been first or second in points allowed in 14 of the 18 weeks played this season. It’s been a front to back type performance.’
Why the AFC East-clinching win at home was special for Bills players and coaches
‘”Listen, to play here, it wasn’t even packed out there but if you could feel the crowd,” McDermott said. “Playing at home, playing in Western New York, especially late in the year, it’s been a long time since these fans, because of the situation last year, since the fans have been able to watch a home playoff game and in full capacity. So, listen we love playing in front of our fans, and it’s a special place to play. To me, it’s the best place in the NFL, and we look forward to next weekend.”‘