Archives for September 9, 2026

‘“I don’t feel a different expectation in 2026 because of the change,” Beane said in a wide-ranging, one-on-one interview with The Buffalo News. “If you and I were sitting here 12 months ago, I would tell you pretty much similar. I put so much pressure on myself, not only to win, but to make sure I’m running this organization in the right manner. That Terry Pegula, if he never walked through these doors, if he lived in another country, he could sleep good at night (knowing) that people are being treated right, people are being raised right, people are being taught. This place is thriving.”‘

‘The noise on the TV airwaves will not stop. The only noise that matters for now, however, is what’s coming from the team. And, a little past seven months since the hiring, we’ve heard nothing that resembles discord or dysfunction. In many ways, the Bills’ training camp was boring.’

‘Allen really struggled on third down last season. According to football analyst Warren Sharp, he was sacked on 32% of his pressures for an overall 15% sack rate, and he took 19 third-down sacks. Those numbers ranked No. 36, No. 39 and No. 41 in the NFL, respectively, and were all career worsts. Allen resorted to Superman mode far too often last year, but there was a good reason for that, which will be outlined next.’

‘For many in his rabid fanbase, Allen’s birthday brought more angst and concern that his remarkable career may pass without a Super Bowl victory. For some quarterbacks, physical skills begin to diminish in their 30s. For others, however, the second chapter is even better than the first.’

‘Allen’s 19 completions on throws of 20-plus yards were tied for 11th-most among quarterbacks, and his 47 attempts ranked 12th. Four of Allen’s completions were touchdowns. In 2024, Allen had 26 completions, compared to a league-best 34 in 2022 and 28 in 2023.’

‘”Just turn the page to this year, a new year,” Cook said during training camp. “You know, put the year last year behind me and just come out here to do it again.”‘

‘“It’s like you want to surprise somebody with a gift,” Hairston said 10 days before the season opener. “You know, you gotta bite your tongue, bite your tongue. But when it’s time to present that gift, it’s like I’m all in. “So, right now we’re just biting our tongue, licking our chops, and come next Sunday, man, it’s time to ball.”’

‘The four inside linebackers – Bernard, Dorian Williams, Elarms-Orr and Joe Andreessen – pride themselves on their versatility. The Bills also brought back veteran Shaq Thompson to the practice squad, where he joins Keonta Jenkins, who was active for three games as a rookie last season.’

‘Benford gets this opportunity because he’s always the last Bills player off the practice field. The fifth-year cornerback works relentlessly. The Bills know what he means to their defense, how valuable he is – and yet each offseason, he’s almost never on the lists of top cornerbacks around the NFL – and he’s aware. He doesn’t look for the information, but people send it to him. It all helps his push to ascend.’

‘Final Record: 12-5 (first, AFC East).’

‘To be a serious contender, Allen must avoid the negative plays that impacted Buffalo’s offense in 2025. He must also get back to attacking downfield. Allen needs Dalton Kincaid to stay healthy and DJ Moore to be a legitimate No. 1 receiver.’

‘Patriots at Seahawks (8:20 p.m., Sept. 9).’

‘Super Bowl champion: Rams…Rams…Rams…Bills.’

‘As part of a new partnership with the Bills, AAA launched the AAA Bills MVP Membership that also provides opportunities for experiences like home game tickets – which is even bigger this season with seat licenses creating less access to reasonably price tickets, and pregame sideline passes, as well as 10% off merchandise at the Bills Store on Tuesdays. Other fan engagement opportunities will be announced throughout the season.’