Two Bills Drive

‘Over the past eight games, since the Week 5 loss to Jacksonville, Buffalo ranks an impressive fourth in run defense over the first three quarters based on the advanced metric “Expected Points Added,” which measures how a team performs compared to its expectation on a play-by-play basis. However, in the fourth quarter against the run the past eight games, the Bills’ defense stands 32nd in EPA per play (and scrambles aren’t counted as run plays).’

‘The 25 semifinalists will be reduced to 15 finalists in late December or early January.’

‘Josh Allen’s overall performance grade was a 99%, and I feel justified in saying that he has never played better. Allen’s play was brilliant and captivating, overcoming the wet conditions, the vaunted Eagles’ defense, the lopsided penalty ratio, two missed field goals, a dropped touchdown pass, and the all-too-familiar, end-of-game management issues.’

‘To that point, the Bills’ quarterback had been on fire, leading his team to the go-ahead touchdown with 1:52 remaining before the defense coughed the lead up. The Bills had one timeout to work with and a drive start at their 25-yard line. Certainly, getting into position to attempt a game-winning field goal at the end of regulation would not have been easy. But would it have been impossible?’

‘The team’s top defensive tackle played an astounding 60 of the team’s 66 defensive snaps, which was 91%. For a team that rotates as much as the Bills do on the defensive line, that’s a huge number. Coming into this season, Oliver’s career high for percentage of snaps played in a game was 75.9%, which he reached last year in Week 10 against Minnesota. He’s had three games this season over 80% of the snaps, topped by Sunday’s showing.’

‘Quarterback (5.0). The Eagles blitzed Allen 17 times and he hurt them, going 12 of 16 on those plays for 156 yards and scrambling for a 16-yard TD against a blitz. When they tried to spy him, that didn’t work, either. Allen converted a third-and-9 play in overtime by running past defensive end Haason Reddick on his lone spying play for 15 yards. Reddick has 4.53 speed. Allen’s pocket presence was exceptional, especially late in the down on a 22-yard second quarter pass to Stefon Diggs and a 29-yarder to James Cook. It was an MVP-caliber game for Allen, for naught.’

‘During the exchange, Phillips and the fan are face to face before Lawson then appears to shove the fan with his right hand. Defensive end Leonard Floyd then comes over and leads both Lawson and Phillips back to the bench as security intervenes. Phillips and then Oliver head back toward the stands and ask two security guards to eject the fan. Two other security guards are standing in front of the fan, trying to calm the situation. A league source told The Buffalo News on Monday that both NFL and stadium security representative were made aware of the threats made during the game.’

‘“If it wasn’t for this college opening up this campus cafeteria, which has been essentially non-existent since pre-Covid days, we would not be here today,” said Erie County Legislator Chair April Baskin. “The Taste of Diversity series is allowing these business owners to get the necessary experience to bid on the forthcoming contracts for the stadium and other large-scale projects in our region. They’re gaining practical experience that will help them level up their business and create generational wealth for their families that has been missing in communities of color.”’