‘“Frank is a Hall of Famer,” Godchaux said Monday. “And then we faced Adrian Peterson yesterday. He’s a beast. He’s a beast. And then having to play Frank this week, two Hall of Famers back to back, potentially first-ballot Hall of Famers, I love taking the task. I’m sure my defense loves taking the task. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”’
BillsBeat - October 17, 2019
Thursday's Miami Coverage
Flores on starting Fitz over Rosen: ‘We feel like that was the best thing for this team’ (Miami Herald)
Important fallout from Miami Dolphins benching Josh Rosen in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick (Miami Herald)
The top reason it may not matter whether the Dolphins have the No. 1 overall pick in 2020 (Miami Herald)
Robert Nkemdiche finally hits practice field for Dolphins. Plus an Xavien Howard update (Miami Herald)
How Dolphins’ extreme makeover is playing around the NFL — and in the league office (Miami Herald)
Photo gallery (Miami Herald)
Josh Rosen out, Ryan Fitzpatrick back in: Dolphins make another change at quarterback after 0-5 start (South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Robert Nkemdiche, Cordrea Tankersley take part in first Dolphins practice following knee injuries last year (South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Dolphins could be without two starting linemen Sunday against Bills (South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins: How Josh Rosen, Ryan Fitzpatrick responded to Brian Flores’ shocking decision to bench Rosen (Palm Beach Post)
Miami Dolphins: Commissioner Roger Goodell says there’s no evidence of NFL teams tanking for draft picks (Palm Beach Post)
Miami Dolphins’ Tom Garfinkel expects attendance to rebound, says ticket prices for 2020 are TBA (Palm Beach Post)
Fitzpatrick will start with the Dolphins, is Flores an inconsistent coach? (El Nuevo Herald)
Miami Dolphins reinstate Ryan Fitzpatrick as starting quarterback over Josh Rosen (USA Today)
Fitzpatrick To Start For Dolphins At Buffalo On Sunday (AP)
Ryan Fitzpatrick returning as Dolphins’ starting quarterback (ESPN)
Dolphins shockingly name Ryan Fitzpatrick starting QB one day after saying the job belonged to Josh Rosen (CBS Sports)
Dolphins name Ryan Fitzpatrick Starting QB vs. Bills, Josh Rosen Benched (SI)
Dolphins stick with Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB, bench Josh Rosen (The Sporting News)
Brian Flores: Ryan Fitzpatrick Will Start Against Bills (MiamiDolphins.com)
Ryan Fitzpatrick Excited, Happy For Opportunity To Start Again (MiamiDolphins.com)
Top News: Josh Rosen Understands Change At QB (MiamiDolphins.com)
Long Wait Ends For Robert Nkemdiche, Cordrea Tankersley (MiamiDolphins.com)
Davon Godchaux, Dolphins Defense Excited To Face Frank Gore & Bills (MiamiDolphins.com)
I Said It: Brian Flores Breaks Down Matchup Against Bills (MiamiDolphins.com)
AC In The Man: The Many Sides Of Dave DeGuglielmo (MiamiDolphins.com)
Matchup Memories | Dolphins at Bills (MiamiDolphins.com)
Death, Taxes and Frank Gore
‘Gore has, however, picked up a few tricks along the way. He is a downhill runner and has never been known as a burner — he has only three runs over 20 yards this season — but has evolved his contact-heavy style over the years to rely on patience and savvy at finding holes in the defense. Gore has worked on burrowing his body and staying low to avoid taking as many big hits, guidance Robinson, his old teammate, said he didn’t always heed when he was young in San Francisco.’
Bills Confident But Not Under-Estimating Winless Dolphins
‘”That would be my sentiment to you and young players and everyone that looks at a 4-1 start and thinks we’ve arrived,” Smith added. “That’s not the way we feel in this locker room. We feel like we need to go 1-0, prepare for the Dolphins, just like we have every other week.”‘
Buffalo Bills Are 17-Point Favorites Over Miami Dolphins As Ryan Fitzpatrick Gets Start
‘The Buffalo Bills haven’t been such big betting favorites going into a game since 1992.’
Several Bills players return to full practice on Wednesday
‘Linebacker Lorenzo Alexander and offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe were both given veteran rest days.’
Ryan Fitzpatrick to start for the Dolphins against the Bills
‘Fitzpatrick started the team’s first two games of the season, going 25-for-50 for 274 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions in losses to the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots. Rosen took over for the next three contests, losing to the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers, and Redskins.’
Dolphins at Bills: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick will start against his old team at New Era Field on Sunday
‘While Fitzpatrick had flashes of popularity with fans, he ultimately left Buffalo with a 20-33 record as a starter.’
Bills prepare for Dolphins game
‘“This is a team that has played well, particularly after week one, it’s been close up until the very end, especially this past week. So when you look at the score , you see they’re improving week to week, they’re are a team that doesn’t beat themselves with penalties, so we have to have a good week of preparation”, McDermott said of the Dolphins.’
4 Notable Quotes: Sean McDermott – Bills Vs. Dolphins
‘We all have scars. The older you get, the more scars you, seem to, or at least I seem to, accumulate, and so you learn from those scars and you try and work through it and help it to – you take it and can use it to make it better as you move forward.’
Buffalo’s ‘misfits’ won’t take Dolphins lightly
‘“There’s not any team, no matter the record, that you can really take lightly week in and week out,” Jordan Poyer said. “I’ve been on the other side of a losing team. You’re hungry. You’re hungry for a win.”’
Bills preparing to welcome Ryan Fitzpatrick back to New Era Field
‘Fitzpatrick played four seasons for the Bills from 2009-2012. Fitzpatrick was released on March 12, 2013. Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, and Jordan Phillips all agree he elevates one of the worst offenses in the league, calling him a ‘gunslinger’.’
McDermott wishes Zay Jones well, team is ‘moving forward’
‘“I’ll always support every player that ever walks in our doors and walked out in this case,” said McDermott. “I’ll always be in Zay’s corner.”’
Quick Hits: Bills return to the practice field healthy heading into Miami week
‘The good news is that Devin Singletary and Taron Johnson, who have missed the last few games will be full participants, as well as Cody Ford and Trent Murphy. Ford and Murphy have been in the concussion protocol after leaving the Week 5 game against the Titans with head injuries.’
Injury Report: Starters John Brown and Matt Milano listed as limited participants on Wednesday
‘Meanwhile linebackers Matt Milano and Corey Thompson were also limited in practice, but worked hard during drill work Wednesday. For Thompson it was his first practice since his ankle surgery last month.’
Bills players remain focused on the task at hand when preparing for the Dolphins | Quote Sheet
‘“I told my guys that play the same position to stay strong and keep working hard and do the best they can,” Gore said. “I know it’s tough. But I’m mainly focused on my team. Today we had a great practice and tomorrow we’ll have another great practice and get ready for Sunday.”’
Top 7 storylines for the Bills vs. Dolphins | Week 7
‘The Dolphins no-name defense became their trademark in their 1972 Super Bowl run. The Bills defense, without any big-name performers, has been one of the NFL’s best the last two years.’
Bills Today: Jordan Poyer has never been in this situation in his seven NFL seasons
‘“I’ve never been in a situation like this,” Jordan Poyer said. “This is my seventh year in the league, and I had some long years out in Cleveland. Guys are excited to be back and to play football again. Obviously, the break was nice but I’m excited to play for our fans this weekend.”’
BillsBeat - October 16, 2019
Robert Foster eager to get healthy, join Bills' catch bandwagon
‘He has been hindered by a sore groin, which has kept him out of uniform the past two games. While he isn’t dwelling on the injury, it sure looked in practice like it was affecting him the week before he went to the sideline.’
Ron McDole on those legendary 1960s Bills' Halloween parties
‘”I was the leader of the costumes, and I took my role very seriously,” McDole writes. “One year I was a ballerina” — complete with tutu and fairy wings. This Buffalo Bill weighed three bills, and in costume resembled nothing more than the elephant ballerinas from “Fantasia.”’
Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins: 10 things to know about Buffalo’s Week 7 opponent
‘Fitzpatrick played significantly better (12-of-18, 132 yards, 1 touchdown) than Rosen against Washington, but Flores said postgame that Rosen would remain the starter.’
Buffalo Bills ‘might just be legit’ (Week 7 power rankings)
‘Regardless of the direction the Bills moved, the media outlets below all agree that Buffalo is a top 10 team in the league based on their 4-1 start.’
Bills Host Crucial Catch Family Night
‘“This pediatric cancer struggle is real, and it’s just so unfortunate,” Buffalo Bills tight end Lee Smith said, “God has blessed us as professional athletes to put us on this stage.”’
Bills Today: Josh Allen ranks here on Bleacher Report's top quarterbacks under 25 list
‘There’s a lot to love about 23-year-old Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. He has arm talent galore, is a fast and physical runner and plays with an energy that would make Brett Favre smile. He also has the Bills sitting at 4-1 and firmly in the playoff chase.’
BillsBeat - October 15, 2019
Bills’ bye week helped team to get healthy
‘“Those days off, …we needed them. A good rest, be able to get a few more guys healthy and hopefully we’ll come out of this bye week with a lot of fire, a lot of vigor and looking forward to (playing Miami Sunday at New era Field).”’
Brian Daboll happy with Bills' offense doing 'whatever we have to do to win'
‘”At the end of the day, whatever we have to do to win,” Daboll said Monday. “Look, I’d love to score 60 a game. But if we win, 3-0, or, 7-3, or, 14-10, and we make good decisions with the football and we play good, complementary football, particularly with how our defense is playing, that’s fine, too.”‘
Pancho Billa makes appearance on 'The Simpsons'
‘Rochester native Mike Battle, one of several Rochester-area natives who work on “The Simpsons,” is a huge Bills fan who often tweeted about Pancho Billa.’
Buffalo Bills open week as overwhelming 16.5-point favorites over hapless Miami Dolphins
‘“That’s every week in this league,” linebacker Lorenzo Alexander said in reference to the fact that nothing is ever quite as it seems on any given Sunday. “We don’t pay attention to the point spread, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, if you don’t come in there with the mindset that you want to go out there and dominate, whether their record is 5-0 or 0-5, you could potentially lose that game.”’
Buffalo Bills ‘hopeful’ that ‘foundational piece of defense’ Matt Milano can play vs. Dolphins
‘Milano was off to the side at practice on Monday getting in some individual cardiovascular work, testing the hamstring a little bit. Because it’s a hamstring the timeline is a bit hard to predict. Bills rookie running back Devin Singletary suffered a hamstring injury in Week 2 and has missed the last three games. Slot cornerback Taron Johnson suffered same injury in Week 1 and hasn’t been back since.’
Buffalo Bills are 16.5 point favorites over Miami Dolphins: How team has fared as big favorites in the past
‘According to SportsBetting.ag, this is the biggest favorite spread for the Bills since 1993 and just the eleventh time that Buffalo has been favored by 14 points or more in team history. Of course, all of Buffalo’s previous games being favored by 14-points or more came during the days of the K-Gun offense featuring Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed and a defense that featured greats like Bruce Smith, Darryl Talley and Cornelius Bennett.’
Buffalo Bills are New England Patriots’ biggest competition in AFC, says Deion Sanders
‘When asked on Sunday night who was the Patriots’ biggest competition, Sanders said, “The Buffalo Bills and I didn’t stutter.”’
Receiver Duke Williams revives career with Bills
‘“I had my days and my doubts, like, ‘Man, this is not going to work out,’” he added. “But at the end of the day, I overcame adversity and it made me the man who I am today. I don’t regret nothing.”’
Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen Lagging Behind His 2018 Draft Peers
‘Let’s look at Josh Allen. He isn’t first in any category. He stands fourth among the top five drafted in completion percentage, fourth in passing yards per attempt, and third in passing yards per game.’
Bills return from bye week, begin prep for Dolphins
‘Center Mitch Morse, who left Buffalo’s Week 5 win over the Titans with an ankle injury in the second quarter, participated in positional exercises on Monday.’
Bills react to Zay Jones trade
‘“You know Zay got traded, he texted me words of encouragement. Still by my side, going through what he’s going through being traded, he texted me first,” wide receiver Duke Williams told News 4 on Monday.’
Bills have inviting path to playoffs
‘There are 11 games remaining. I’ll put them in three categories.’
Bills Today: Bills preparing for Josh Rosen and Ryan Fitzpatrick this week
‘“The foundation of what they’re doing schematically is always the same, it’s not going to change drastically,” Alexander said. “They’re not that much different quarterbacks to you’ll get one guy who runs the option and one drops back, they’re very similar. Obviously, Fitz has more experience so he could probably do some more things like moving safeties and Rosen being a younger guy isn’t as polished. We’re going to look at them as what they’ve done over the first six games of the season and break them down and execute our game plan.”’
BillsBeat - October 14, 2019
Buffalo Bills superfan Pancho Billa’s logo appears in episode of ‘The Simpsons’
‘On Sunday night Buffalo Bills superfan Pancho Billa’s logo appeared on the show during a scene that included a bulletin board of “innocent people” who don’t belong in jail.’
Sullivan: Bills, Sabres finally giving fans reason to buy in
‘The Bills are still a work in progress. Keep in mind, they were trailing with under five minutes to play against the Jets and Bengals, two teams that as of Sunday had yet to win a game. But they’re in far better shape than anyone could have imagined back in August.’
Week 6 was good to the Bills
‘Now, the standings are starting to look like the Bills might not have much competition if they have to grab the fifth or sixth seed.’