Niagara Gazette

‘“They were playing some two-high shell and basically daring us to run it,” said Allen, who was 22-for-33 passing for two touchdowns and no interceptions (he lost a fumble). “I thought Dorsey did a good job of staying patient. Our guys did a good job of holding on to the football, making some good cuts, making some good runs and moving the chains when we could.”’

‘Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs made some spectacular plays in Buffalo’s 24-10 win, but the Patriots decided they weren’t going to allow Allen to carve them up in chunks. Allen took risk for improbable reward a couple times, but for the most part, the Bills took what was offered and hammered away.’

‘Over the last three games, Oliver has 13 tackles, six behind the line of scrimmage and 1.5 sacks. He likely played his best game against the Lions — a sentiment echoed by Bills coach Sean McDermott — when he had six tackles, a forced fumble and recovery and a sack that resulted in a safety.’

‘Thursday’s game is a big one, for a variety of reasons. Who would have thought the Bills would hit December without a win inside the division? OK, it’s only two games, but heading into the season the odds of them sweeping the division were a lot better than starting 0-2.’

‘Twelve defensive starters — not counting White — have missed 29 games and Miller is expected to miss time, although how much is unknown. Gabe Davis was bothered by an injury early in the season. Dawson Knox missed time and Jake Kumerow is on injured reserve. Spencer Brown missed games and now Mitch Morse and Dion Dawkins are ailing.’

‘“He never said give me the ball, I never heard him say that once,” DeLamielleure said. “O.J. was one of the best teammates I ever had. What happened after football, I don’t know. But that guy was very unselfish. He did everything to promote the offense, the offensive line. I like Gary, we’re friends, but he wasn’t ready to play at that time.”’

‘It wasn’t terribly picturesque. They got off to a wretched start, as Josh Allen was reduced to checking down and the defense couldn’t get off the field on third downs. Midway through the second quarter, the Bills were down, 10-3, and outgained, 181-12, with zero first downs to 10 for journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett and the Browns.’

‘The Bills have lost three times by a grand total of eight points, in games where they did more to lose than their opponents did to win. Still, no team has proven to have the ability to beat the Buffalo when it plays to maximum potential.’

‘“We just have to do a good job not giving up that explosive run Dalvin had that put a damper on some of the good things we were doing,” Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. “Chubb is another kind of back who you can stop him, stop him, stop him, but all of a sudden, he can break one. We have to learn from (the Vikings) game and just stay gap-sound and tackle throughout.”’

‘It’s never so simple, but many of Allen’s six interceptions in the last three games have the most casual viewer befuddled by where he was throwing. Buffalo wants Allen to be aggressive, but not at the risk of turnovers. So how can a guy who was so hot, so dominant, be struggling so mightily near the end zone?’

‘For the third game in a row, they did not score a touchdown in the second half. The first time, against the Packers, was easy to rationalize. The second, as a huge underdog at the Jets, was a troubling development. Three times represents an all-out crisis.’

‘It was only a matter of time the worst crept back in. That was the narrative for Allen and the Bills throughout the game. They made plenty of big plays — evidenced by their 17-point third-quarter lead — but often followed them with a letdown.’

‘Recently Lang was honored as the 2022 Bills Fan of the Year, which makes him eligible for NFL fan of the year. Bills tackle Dion Dawkins told him the news.’

‘Her children jokingly tell her she’s the jinx, the common thread for an 0-8 run, but Esposito’s never considered finding something else to do with her Sundays. Because for the feisty 86-year-old, Bills games mean a day with the family.’

‘Sure, Allen is still a freak of nature who rushed for 86 yards and two TDs. But we were supposed to be past the point where his raw running ability covered up for his poor decision-making in the passing game, what he called “brain farts”.’