Two Bills Drive

'“The great part about this team is that we have a ton of leaders on the team that make their presence known. Lead by example and verbal as well. Those guys have made it very clear what it was like years ago when the team had a good start and didn’t stay focused on the process,” McDermott said'

'Micah Hyde, S: A relatively unspectacular free-agent acquisition from Green Bay, the Bills believed in the 27-year-old strong safety enough to give him $30 million over five years. And Hyde has given the Bills defense a playmaker on the back end with three interceptions already (two against Ryan last week) and has broken up four passes.'

'"I'm growing and I'm learning and I know that," Jones said. "I've had a lot of advice, a lot of people talk to me. I've heard a lot of things positive and negative, but I just really don't care because it's a learning process for me.'

'"I believe it's a big challenge for our building to keep things in perspective," McDermott said. "If we're going to get addicted to anything, let's get addicted to the process of what leads to winning."'

'One can't blame long-suffering Buffalo fans for guzzling the kids' drink at this point, though. It's been a while since the Bills appeared to pay attention to detail. An argument can be made that the Rex Ryan teams of the last couple of years possessed far more talent but about one-tenth of the discipline this group has featured so far.'

'"Danny Crossman (special teams coach) does a great job of knowing his phase of the ball," head coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday. "We went through it in the offseason and Danny did a great job of identifying Stephen as a player that fit us. Certainly, the conditions we play in here, it was important that we had a leg the type that Stephen has. He's kicking well right now, and it's good to see. He's a guy who spent a long time in one place, and maybe was told he wasn't in (Seattle's) plans, like a lot of us in this building. Guys embrace that underdog role."'

'"The Bills are playing really good football," said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. "They've been productive on third down. Tyrod Taylor is doing a fine job. He's able to scramble and get the ball down field. He delivers the ball on time. LeSean McCoy is such a good runner. They have good, sound people."'

'“It’s just like life,” he said while sitting at his locker after Wednesday’s practice as his 3-1 Bills get ready to travel to the 1-3 Cincinnati Bengals. “Some things go your way and some things don’t. You’ve just got to wake up every day and just keep working. I’m no longer going to get discouraged by what people say or what people might think. I understand that now.”'

'Defensive end Shaq Lawson, who missed last week’s game with a groin injury, will be limited Wednesday, as well. Defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, who returned to the lineup after missing a game with a foot injury, is moving “in the right direction,” according to the head coach.'

'This is now the third time in Hauschka's career where he has been named as the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.'

'Then, the head coach was asked, flat out, if it’s fair to call Cedric Thornton the starter, or that if Dareus can take the job back this week. His response: “Right. There’s great competition on our roster right now and I love that and the players want that. That’s why they work during the week. They understand what’s at stake. We’re only going to continue. Competition takes everyone’s game up a notch. That’s good for us.”'

'Safety Micah Hyde is day-to-day with his knee, but McDermott says he is headed in the right direction.'

'“He’s ready,” said McDermott of Milano. “He’ll only get more and more ready as he puts the time in this week. I thought he came on a big stage last week and handled himself well for his first real live game action (on defense). What’s important is where we go from here. I think Matt clearly understands that, and then it’s important that we do things around Matt to help him as he continues to grow.”'

'“It feels great,” said Hauschka of his start this season. “This is what I prepared for all offseason. All training camp this is where the work pays off. Just to have that mental focus, that endurance, those great leg swings. That’s what it’s all about.”'

'“We’re certainly facing adversity, we’ve faced adversity before, and this is only going to make us stronger,” he said.'