Two Bills Drive

'Staying there, however, could be tricky. While the defense has played well all season, the offense has been unwatchable at times, with neither the running game nor the passing game able to establish much consistency. The two go hand in hand, and in the Bills' case, their complete lack of explosiveness through the air has directly affected their once strong ability to run.'

'"I think it gave us a good chance to do some self evaluation of ourselves as coaches, and look at our schemes and fundamentals. All of those areas were good for us to [take time to” target=”_blank”> look at," McDermott said at his press conference on Monday at One Bills Drive. "We worked Monday through Wednesday, players were in here, and we got on the field a little bit as well. Just really to build some self-awareness as to what we did well, what we didn't do well and what we need to improve moving forward."'

'"From a standings aspect, its good to see some teams that are usually in the playoffs not playing so hot, but we haven't talked a whole lot about it in the locker room."'

'"Plan was to dress him, start Dion Dawkins. Allow him to get his mind around playing, and gave him another week and the bye week to get better. Opportunity is there for him to start at left tackle."'

'“My conditioning is there," he said. "I’ve been going at it like every day. Really, no days off. So I know conditioning-wise I’m good. As far as techniques and things like that, that’s really what I need to get back. The speed and just working at my craft so I can get out there and play.”'

'When the Bills opened up practice, defensive tackle Marcell Dareus was not among the participants. According to McDermott, Dareus had been excused from the practice for “personal reasons,” to the extent of which we aren’t entirely sure at this time.'

'The tackle was using marijuana to help battle the pain symptom’s associated with the disease. Though legal is some states, using marijuana is illegal under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement.'

'The 4-year veteran wide out gave credit to the power of positive thinking. “I’ve been having a lot of close people around me praying for me. We’ve been speaking positively about the entire deal. I think that helps the healing process.” Matthews has not been cleared to catch footballs yet but if that happens he could return to the field for Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay.'

'In a statement released on Twitter, Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander wrote the protest by players “have not been about our military nor our allegiance and appreciation for our country’s principles and privileges, but to start a conversation to begin the process of understanding, equality and love.”'

'“My conditioning is there. I’ve been going at it like every day. No days off really, so I know conditioning-wise I’m good,” Henderson said. “As far as techniques and things like that, that’s what I need to get back. The speed and just working at my craft so I can get out there and play.”'

'“As a team, we have decided to engage our community in two ways,” said Bills LB Lorenzo Alexander. “First, on Tuesday, October 17, we plan to go out into the community as an organization and serve Buffalo’s young people through five different community relations events. Our hope is that this is not just a feel-good moment, but from these events, relationships are birthed and are continued into the future and become sustainable for the men who come behind us. Secondly, we plan to meet with local public and political officials about how as players, we can help change and improve legislation and institutional culture.”'

'“I think positive thinking and I’ve been having a lot of close people around me praying for me. We’ve been speaking positively about the entire deal, so I think that helps in the healing process,” he said. “I think when you believe that you’re hurt, you’re going to be hurt and it’s going to take longer.'

'“It’s day to day. Just coming off the bye he made a tremendous amount of progress,” McDermott said of Matthews. “We have to make sure that things heal up the right way. We’ll know a little bit more (Tuesday).”'

'The Buffalo Bills and Erie County Medical Center have joined together to intercept cancer, as the team participates in the National Football League’s Crucial Catch.Throughout this week, the Bills and ECMC have created several initiatives that will focus on generating awareness to increase prevention of several forms of cancer including prostate cancer, pediatric cancer, breast cancer, and head and neck cancer.'

'Buffalo backed up one spot in the division standings after the bye. They’re 3-2 and sit in second place ahead of the Miami Dolphins (3-2) and the Jets (3-3). The Patriots have played one more game than the Bills and Dolphins, which certainly jumbles up the standings. After New England has their bye in Week Nine the standings should be clearer.'