Two Bills Drive

‘“I give everything I got, and I’m a bull out there,” Franklin said. “But after the play, I’m the matador. Now I gotta calm down.”’

‘The Buffalo Bills are rolling, while the New Orleans Saints have yet to notch their first win of the season. Quarterback Josh Allen thinks that should have the Bills on alert. “They want to win as badly as anybody in the league right now,” Allen said Wednesday of the Saints. “And again, there’s no easy games in this league.” Still, if any games were to be easy, it would be the next stretch for the Bills. That’s all the more reason for them to stay focused on going 1-0 each week instead of jumping ahead to opponents down the line. Coach Sean McDermott preaches the mentality to avoid falling into trap games.’

‘77.7 – The Bills’ run-block win rate of 77.7% ranks first in the NFL, according to ESPN, and they are third in pass-block win rate (74%). The Saints’ defense is 31st and 23rd, respectively, in pass-rush win rate and run-stop win rate, but they’ve allowed just 3.3 yards per carry. Bills running back James Cook is second in the league in rushing yards (284) and yards after contact per game (77.2), trailing the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor. Cook has rushed for a touchdown in seven consecutive regular season games, tying a franchise record.’

‘There are two primary objectives for the Bills going into this game. The first is to play a complete game, which means eliminating the lulls we’ve seen at times during their 3-0 start. Get off the field on third down on defense. Avoid three-and-outs on offense. The second is to put the Saints away early. Josh Allen should be firmly planted on the bench by the third quarter. Take care of business, rest the starters as much as possible and move on to preparing for a divisional opponent in a “Sunday Night Football” matchup in Week 5. Bills, 40-14.‘

‘It’s pretty simple. Samuel has been passed on the depth chart by Elijah Moore, who has filled the “gadget” receiver role within the offense the first three weeks. Moore has had at least one carry in each of the first three games, and made a huge catch against the Dolphins on a drive that resulted in the go-ahead touchdown. Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir and Josh Palmer are the top three receivers, Moore is No. 4, and Tyrell Shavers has earned a jersey on game day thanks to his usefulness on special teams and his blocking ability. It certainly looks like Samuel might have to wait for an injury to one of the receivers ahead of him to crack the game day lineup. Samuel’s signing has been a bust of a free-agent acquisition by general manager Brandon Beane to this point.’

‘The TaleGate stories tend to veer into why, and how, these fans love their Bills. A woman talking about sneaking her mother out of a nursing home, where she was recovering from a stroke, to go to the game. A man sharing his excitement, in American Sign Language, over attending Bills games over the last nine years and meeting quarterback Josh Allen. A daughter reminiscing about attending her first Bills game in frigid weather with her father, who died a couple years later.’

‘”We are back to celebrate the Bills,” says the youngest, Pat McGroder III, 80. And, of course, to celebrate their Bills’ family legacy.’