Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘That’s perhaps the most redeeming quality of this bunch. The Bills lack for star power, and who knows, maybe that will catch up to them in the second half of the season when they play the Patriots twice, and Kansas City on the road, but for right now, let’s enjoy the ride. Halloween is Tuesday, and that’s been a far-too-often demarcation line for the Bills in relation to their playoff chances. Usually, it’s trick and not treat for the Bills.’

‘I recommend Mack and the Raiders wear two eye patches for this game film review. Because what they’ll conclude is that yes, they weren’t very good, but they also got whipped by a Bills team that isn’t like any Bills team of their last 17 non-playoff years.’

‘ “It’s an honor to pass the baton for a forever brother and friend, who most deservedly joins the other men (on the wall),’’ Edgerson said. “Cookie always respected the Buffalo fans for their enthusiasm and they respected him on and off the field. Cookie was a very colorful person. … He was loved by his teammates and feared by his opponents.’’’

‘Sean McDermott has his team ready to play every week, and the execution on both sides of the ball is so much more crisp than it has been in recent years around One Bills Drive. The Bills just know what they’re doing, and that comes from being well-schooled during the week. On offense, Rick Dennison continues to revamp the running game and it looks like the Bills are back on track after a slow start. On defense, Leslie Frazier is extricating quality performances from a number of no-name players, and while they’re still giving up too many yards in the air, the Bills aren’t breaking at the end.’

‘Things are starting to get serious in Buffalo now that the Bills are 4-2 and alone in second place in the AFC East, just a half-game behind the Patriots. In the next five days, Buffalo has two key AFC games that it must take care of business in. First up are the Raiders, a team that will certainly be in the mix for, at the very least, an AFC wild-card berth.’

‘This will be the 39th regular-season meeting, and the Raiders hold a 21-17 series lead, but the Bills have won the only two playoff games between the teams.’

‘“Sean and I aren’t into just getting our guys on the team and getting rid of guys who aren’t,” Beane said when asked about these moves. “You come to a new city, look at the roster and he’s a guy you flag. High-salary guy and he had a prior history with a suspension, so you do want to see how those guys fit. He’s not a bad person. At the end of the day I wish him the best as does Sean and the whole organization.”’

‘Burdensome because that much money was tied up into a defensive tackle, but especially so because Dareus, just 27, had become a shell of his former self on the field.’

‘“Mack is maybe the top pass rusher in the NFL,’’ Wood said. “He’s crazy good. You chip him and he fights through it and gets the tackle so yeah, that’s demoralizing when you’ve devoted two guys to him.’’’

‘After the Bills won the 1964 title, they traded Gilchrist to Denver prior to the 1965, and the Bills went on to win a second championship without him.’

‘“I knew the faster I get back to work the quicker I’d get my mind off it,” Thomas said Friday. “Only reason I wouldn’t is to be with my wife, be there for her, but thankful we have family coming up to be with her. She’s doing good, she’s healthy. Obviously, like anybody else out there that’s going through the same thing, it’s an emotional fight, something that we have to push through. It will be a little bit of a recovery, but she’s tough, she’s my rock. She’s a fighter.”’

‘“Man, Matt has really done a heck of a job,” said defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. “There are obviously some things that he needs to clean up as he goes forward, but for a rookie to come in and step in and play the way he has, it’s really been encouraging for us.”’

‘Memo to all four clubs: The Buffalo Bills have an abundance of offensive tackles, and for the right price, the majority of them are available.’

‘ Poyer, Gaines, strong safety Micah Hyde and rookie corner Tre’Davious White have combined for 105 tackles and eight interceptions. It was White’s strip fumble and recovery that set up the winning field goal last Sunday and Hyde is tied for the NFL lead with four interceptions.’

‘ “Our fans create a fun atmosphere for us to go out and play,’’ Taylor said. “One thing we preach is defending our dirt, and we’ve done that thus far this year. We gotta keep doing that moving forward.’’’