WGR

‘Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is 29th in the NFL averaging only 6.42 yards per-attempt. He’s last among qualifying quarterbacks averaging only 4.65 air yards per-completion. Moreover, according to Pro Football Focus, despite being tied for the fourth-most attempts 20-plus yards downfield with 60, Roethlisberger has only completed 14 of them, which is tied for 14th in the NFL.’

‘McDermott on what makes Beane as good as he’s been as general manager: “Well he’s extremely smart and methodical in his approach, and I believe he’s a great communicator and has a good way with people. I think that goes a long way in a job like that, really in a leadership position in general. Just has a nice way about him, yet he understands that it’s a business and that we have to get the results that we have to get.”‘

‘Beane has been the architect of a Bills roster that is on track to make the playoffs for the third time in four years since taking over as general manager in 2017. The Bills are currently 9-3 to start the season for a second-consecutive year, and have a chance to clinch a playoff berth this weekend.’

‘Phillips is very active in the Western New York community, including with his Playmakers Organization, supporting children with intellectual disabilities, as well as helping front line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic both in Western New York and his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.’

‘The Bills held a walk-through practice on Wednesday, but will be back on the field on Thursday afternoon.’

‘It is the fifth time this season where a Bills player has been named the AFC Player of the Week. Along with Allen’s three Offensive Player of the Week honors, defensive end Jerry Hughes was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week back in Week 7, while linebacker A.J. Klein was also named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week just last week against the Los Angeles Chargers.’

‘Following Allen’s 375-yard, four touchdown performance in a 34-24 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, which garnered him AFC Player of the Week honors, “The Office” star tweeted out that Allen was his “second favorite quarterback.”’

‘”I think that was the best game he’s played in his whole career. … There was a little of everything in that game with Josh Allen. There was great individual feats where he makes plays where him, [Patrick] Mahomes, [Aaron] Rodgers, Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson, they’re the only ones that can make those plays in football. That’s it. Then there was great moments of being surgical, making the right decisions, reading the defense the right way. It had it all from that aspect. Then of course, Buffalo is in the thick of things in the AFC and the importance of that game. All of it was amazing.”‘

‘“What you saw Josh Allen do the other night, that was MVP caliber play that he had and Ben doesn’t have that in him anymore and what Josh Allen can do in the pocket now, running but also creating plays outside the pocket by buying time and throwing there’s only a few quarterbacks who have the ability to have all those three phases that he does,” said Ross.’

‘The Bills could clinch the AFC East as early as week 15. If they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday night and Miami loses to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Bills can clinch the division with a win over the Denver Broncos on Dec. 19.’

‘Despite having quarterback Jim Kelly, defensive end Bruce Smith, wide receiver Andre Reed, and linebacker Darryl Talley, the Bills still missed the playoffs in 1986 and 1987 before finally making it in 1988. They were 11-20 those first two seasons after Kelly arrived.’

‘After hearing all the noise about returning to the venue of the “Hail Murray” loss to the Arizona Cardinals from a few weeks ago, the Bills took care of business against the 49ers, not even putting themselves in a situation to defend a last-second prayer of a pass at the end of the game.’

‘The Bills should be able to bring a lot of momentum from this game over to the matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers this upcoming Sunday night. The wide receiving corps continues to move along despite the absence of John Brown. Matt Milano is back in the lineup for the defense. The secondary is now consistently forcing turnovers. Like I said before, Monday night’s win, on a national stage, made it known that the Bills are a contender and when they’re playing well, they’re not a team one would like to face.’

‘The Bills played a disciplined game (only 4 penalties), their assistants had a terrific game plan, and the players executed as well as they have in any game this season from start to finish.’

’49ers wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk will both be on the field for only the fifth time this season and the first since October 25. Since then, in the two games Aiyuk played without Samuel, he totaled 15 catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns. In the one game Samuel played without Aiyuk, he grabbed 11 passes for 133 yards. Now, the Bills will have to figure out a way to cover both of them, including as runners. Between the two of them, Samuel and Aiyuk have carried the ball 11 times for 75 yards and 2 TDs on the season.’