Niagara Gazette

‘The reality, though, is that Oliver isn’t just popping up around the holidays anymore. He’s been Buffalo’s most consistent, and perhaps best, defensive player this season, his first after being awarded a four-year $68 million contract extension over the summer.’

‘But beating an inferior opponent late in the game, needing to come from behind because of an abysmal start to the game makes those games harder than necessary.’

‘Buffalo currently has a 63% chance to make the playoffs and have a better than 99% chance if they win their remaining three games, according to Upshot’s playoff simulator. Those odds drop below 30% if they lose to either the Chargers or Patriots and the Bills are aware, no matter how much they say only the next game matters.’

‘But it’s Johnson’s versatility that makes him the most important player on the defense. His combination of coverage, physicality and tackling allows the Bills to substitute scarcely without teams being able to exploit a mismatch.’

‘Phillips said he hopes to be back for the playoffs, but this is the latest injury on a long list over the last four seasons. The 31-year-old had played in all 14 games this season, making 2 ½ sacks and two tackles for a loss, but he missed 15 games over the previous three seasons.’

‘After giving up a sack and five quarterback pressures in Week 1, Brown has allowed just three sacks since, as the Bills have surrendered the fewest sacks in the NFL (19). It started by skunking Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro Maxx Crosby in Week 2 and hasn’t relented, aside from a five-pressure game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12.’

‘But when offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey was fired and replaced by quarterbacks coach Joe Brady Nov. 14, Johnson became a greater part of the offense and has seen his snap count rise. Johnson has 29 touches for 156 yards and a touchdown over the last four games, including a nine-carry, 54-yard outing against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, playing a season-high 20 snaps.’

‘Jones underwent surgery for a torn pectoral, suffered in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 8. The Buffalo Bills defensive tackle has been a constant presence throughout his rehabilitation period, and on Tuesday, coach Sean McDermott announced his 21-day window to return from injured reserve was opened.’

‘He was the No. 1 running back in college at LSU, then the fourth overall pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017 and a key piece to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Super Bowl run in 2020. Now Fournette finds himself on the Buffalo Bills practice squad, with uncertainty as to whether or not he will ever get a chance to play this season.’

‘“Sometimes just lining up and being able to put the ball down and let our guys go win one-on-one matchups makes actually life a lot easier,” Brady said. “… Trying to move guys around, motion this, shift this and hope to get this look and the odds of getting that is sometimes slim. And so, sometimes it’s just line up and let our guys go win.”’

‘Rousseau says Cook is a legend in Florida. Well, it’s taken a little while for everyone else to come around, including the Buffalo Bills. But both the Bills and the Cowboys were educated about Cook Sunday.’

‘Two months ago, it wouldn’t have been a surprise. Two weeks ago, that result would have seemed stunning.’

‘The Cowboys have scored 40.5 points over the last five games, and Prescott leads the league with 28 touchdown passes, tossing 15 scores and one interception in their five-game winning streak. Although the Bills have surrendered 30 points once this year — 37 to Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles — the Cowboys have scored fewer than 30 just four times this season.’

‘Prescott and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy — who has 304 passing yards per game to go along with 13 touchdown passes and two interceptions in his last five games — are currently the two frontrunners for MVP.’

‘Bills receivers were also held to seven receptions, the third time in four games they have failed to make a combined 10 catches. It’s part of a shift in the offense — partly through defenses and partly through changing philosophy — that has become less reliant on receivers and more focused on quick passes.’