WGR

‘Sunday’s win in Landover, Maryland was highlighted by a stout performance from the Bills defense, where the unit made life difficult for Commanders quarterback Sam Howell all game long. Buffalo ended the game sacking the second-year quarterback nine times, forcing five turnovers (four interceptions and a fumble) and even recorded a pick-six in the fourth quarter.’

‘The Bills had back-to-back laughers over teams they were clearly much better than. However, I did not expect the Dolphins to put up 70 points against the Denver Broncos (you probably didn’t either) and have 130 points scored in their first three games.’

‘The Bills offense didn’t help themselves much on first down, especially in the first half. Of their first six first downs, the Bills were stopped for negative yardage twice and threw three incompletions.’

‘The Commanders have one of the best defensive lines in the entire NFL, with Chase Young and Montez Sweat on the edges and Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen inside, all former first round picks. The Bills offensive line will have its hands full. Each one of them has the capability of taking over a game and wrecking an opponent’s game plan. Offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey needs to have a plan to neutralize all four of them at once. That’s a tough ask. But if he can do it, and the line can execute, it will go a long, long way towards helping the Bills to a victory.’

‘The Bills are running 12-personnel (two tight ends) 50% of the time in 2023, compared to just 6% in 2022. They’ve gone from the team using the least 12-personnel to one of the team’s using it the most, and it’s helping their run game.’

‘After a couple days of different players missing practices with various ailments, every Buffalo Bills player on their active roster was a full participant in Friday’s practice.’

‘”They just keep coming after you up front,” said McDermott on Friday in his weekly appearance on the “Extra Point Show” on WGR. “The high picks, all four top picks, first-round picks, they’ve been at this for a few years now. And now that you add the quarterback [Sam Howell] into the mix, this is a talented quarterback.”‘

‘However, tight end Dawson Knox missed his second-straight day with a back issue. Head coach Sean McDermott says they’d take it “one day at a time” with Knox.’

‘Defensive end Leonard Floyd (ankle), safety Micah Hyde (hamstring), tight end Dawson Knox (back), and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (illness) all sat out of practice, as the team prepares to take on the Washington Commanders this Sunday at FedEx Field.’

‘”Anytime you get off to a 2-0 start and you’re feeling like you’ve also come from behind, those are things you learn about your team early on,” said McDermott during his meeting with the media on Wednesday at One Bills Drive. “I’m sure they’re feeling confident in their situation, as they should. They’re off to a 2-0 start.”‘

‘This week’s honor comes after a huge performance from Allen in a 38-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday to help Buffalo earn its first win of the season. In the Bills’ home opener at Highmark Stadium, Allen completed 31-of-37 pass attempts for 274 yards and three touchdowns.’

‘Floyd injured his ankle, while Hyde had a hamstring injury. Both occurred during the fourth quarter, and both players were questionable to return but did not take another snap on defense the rest of the game.’

‘The matchup with the biggest question mark, Spencer Brown vs. Maxx Crosby, still was largely in favor of the Bills.’

‘Following their 75-yard opening touchdown drive, the Raiders only gained 165 yards the rest of the way.’

‘The Raiders eventually got the ball moving again on their next drive, working as far as the Bills’ 29-yard line before a 47-yard Daniel Carlson field goal cut the Raiders’ deficit to 14-10. From that point on, it was all Buffalo the rest of the way.’