Olean Times Herald

‘“We’ve got to put out our best effort against a really good team,” quarterback Josh Allen said. “I know all the preconceived notions they had coming into this season (Watson’s travails) and all of the offseason stuff they’ve dealt with. But they play extremely hard … they’ve got some really talented players on defense and they do a really good job of taking the ball away.”‘

‘“We have a lot of guys still here who were here then and that have become our core. That (game) had a great impact on those guys. If taken the right way, you can take a lot from it whether you’re a player or coach in any capacity … you always learn from those first-time experiences and most of the time you get better because of it.”’

‘In fact, after three games, one ranking service moved the Bills from ninth to third in the league defensively following its performance against the WFT. And, oh yeah, after Buffalo burned the WFT for 481 yards, coach Ron Rivera’s team fell from sixth to 13th in those defensive rankings.’

‘And, suddenly, some of the concerns that began with the season-opening 23-16 home loss to Pittsburgh and the non-fatal mistakes versus the Dolphins have dissipated.’

‘Allen was 32-of-43 passing for 358 yards with four touchdown passes, no interceptions or sacks and a 129.8 passer rating. He connected twice for scores with wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, the free agent acquisition, hitting him for 28 and five yards. In addition, he connected with tight end Dawson Knox and running back Zack Moss for TDs of 14 and seven yards, respectively. Allen also muscled his 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame into the end zone on a 2-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter to give the Bills their largest advantage at 43-14.’

‘The Gibson touchdown was the longest reception against the Bills since a 77-yard TD by the Bengals’ A.J. Green from Andy Dalton in a 2017 defeat.’

‘“I’ve been fortunate to know Leslie (Frazier, Bills defensive coordinator) a long time, we were teammates (with the Bears and assistant coaches in Philadelphia). I’ve developed some really good bonds with those guys, so to me it’s kind of like when you fight your brothers … you want to whip ‘em, but you don’t want to hurt them.”’

‘“Ron has been one of my biggest mentors in this business, he and Andy Reid have influenced my career,” McDermott admitted. “I learned a lot in six years under Ron at Carolina and our ties go all the way back to Philadelphia (along with Frazier on Reid’s inaugural Eagles staff). I have a tremendous amount of respect and a deep friendship for Ron and his family, they’re outstanding people … people of high character. I’m happy he’s had the success he’s had.”’

‘“Ron and I played together in Chicago,” he said of the 1984-86 seasons, with Rivera as a linebacker and him a cornerback, including on the 1985 Super Bowl winner. “As a player he was a cerebral guy, really smart. I’m not surprised he’s a coach today because of the way he was as a player.”‘

‘It’s hard to complain about a shutout plus one touchdown and three field goals given up in the other over 120 minutes of football. That’s especially true when holding NFL teams to a mere 234 yards a game in two starts and surrendering under 190 yards passing in each.’

‘And there’s the matter of Allen’s struggles.’

‘The Bills’ initial takeaway was a case of near-instant redemption for cornerback Levi Wallace. After making an impressive defense of a pass to DeVante Parker, he gestured in the face of the Dolphins wideout and was penalized 15 yards for taunting. Two plays later Wallace intercepted a pass intended for tight end Mike Gesicki.’

‘Still, Miami must prove the season-opening win wasn’t a fluke and Buffalo must show the stumble against the Steelers was an aberration.’

‘And while there are those who say a rivalry can only exist if two teams are relatively close in ability, that’s not true. In a series where one team dominates, the seemingly perpetual victim’s fans always see it as a “rival” … an obstacle to be surmounted.’

‘“It’s one game and we’re not gonna freak out over it. We know what we need to get better at. I’ve been in this league for four years now and I’ve kind of learned one thing: It’s never as bad as you thought (in losses) and it’s never as good as you thought (in wins).”’