Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘Sal’s prediction: Bills 26, Jaguars 17.’

‘Play-by-play: Chris Fowler. Analysts: Louis Riddick, Dan Orlovsky. Sideline reporter: Laura Rutledge.’

‘“If you’re focused on stats it’s frustrating,” Allen said Wednesday when he was asked about the low passing numbers he has compiled. “In terms of winning football games, it’s not. It’s just whatever helps us move the ball and score when it matters. That’s all we’re caring about right now.”’

‘”The six, seven-year-old kid that is me is going crazy right now because it’s such an honor,” Allen said Wednesday, according to Buffalo TV station WKBW.’

‘“Yeah, they are tough to replace,” McDermott said of the three standouts. “(Lewis, Williams and Spector) just got to go in and be themselves and we will play well around them. They did a nice job last week, but they’re focused on this week and again today’s practice and just really learning the game plan for this week here.”’

‘Then in 2021, when Allen was no longer a rookie and had ascended into the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks, the Bills suffered one of their most inexplicable losses ever, a disgraceful 9-6 clunker to the 1-6 Jaguars who were coached by Urban Meyer and quarterbacked by rookie Trevor Lawrence. This game was so egregious, it will hold a spot in the top 10 of worst Bills losses for quite a while.’

‘They blew a 14-0 lead to Miami and lost 20-17, and Sunday in their home opener, their defense allowed Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson to produce scores on four of his first five drives for a 16-3 lead, and the Jaguars were never able to claw back and fell 18-13.’

‘If it wasn’t so grossly hot and humid, Allen would have barely broken a sweat as he attempted only 19 passes, completing 13 for 139 yards, and running just twice for a grand total of two yards.’

‘Yeah, a lot of good things happened as the Bills steamrolled their arch AFC East rival, and Cook played a central role as he rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns and caught one pass for 17 yards and a TD. It was the kind of game that offensive coordinator Joe Brady had to love because he wants to take some of the burden off Josh Allen’s shoulders this season, and to do so, Cook has to play the way he did in this game.’

‘Instead, McDermott acknowledged it would be “multiple weeks” which is much better than multiple months, or perhaps season ending.’

‘That was quite a statement the Buffalo Bills made Thursday night in their home away from home, Hard Rock Stadium.’

‘Tyreek Hill has never had a 100-yard game against the Bills in a regular season game, not with Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City and not with Tua Tagovailoa in Miami. He was about as invisible as he could possibly be in this one, catching just three for 24 yards.’

‘Sal’s prediction: Dolphins 27, Bills 26.’

‘The Dolphins’ turnaround was even more dramatic. They were behind 14-0 early to Jacksonville and then 17-7 late in the third quarter and the Jaguars were on their way to making it 24-7, but Travis Etienne fumbled into the end zone where Miami recovered. On the very next play, Tua Tagovailoa hit Tyreek Hill with an 80-yard touchdown pass and in the final 4:22 of the fourth quarter, Jason Sanders tied the game with a 37-yard field goal and then won it with a walk off 52-yarder for a 20-17 Miami victory.’

‘But here’s the reason why Lewis is still with Buffalo, a player Brandon Beane decided to re-sign in free agency last March: When he gets his opportunities, he makes the most of them no matter what he’s asked to do, and Sunday, he was asked to do a whole lot.’