Two Bills Drive

‘“I think it’s an important thread of our team, and we’ve always been a tough football team, a tough organization,” McDermott said Monday during his press conference. “It’s something we take a lot of pride in, and in order to play down the stretch, handling some of the situations and managing those things, you’ve got to have toughness. That’s an important piece of playing good football.”’

‘“Honestly, there was no conversation,” Allen said after the win about what to do on fourth down. I came to the sideline and thought it (the play to Knox) was a touchdown. Obviously, they said it (was not a touchdown) over the Jumbotron, and it was just calling the personnel for the offense, so we’re just going back in. So, I really trust coach McDermott for being aggressive tonight on fourth downs. I know early on in the game, too, we converted on a few. So, yeah, it feels good to have that trust in him.”‘

‘Epenesa played 49 of the Bills’ 60 defensive snaps, a total of 82%. That is a single-game high for his career. Epenesa finished with three tackles and an interception in Buffalo’s 39-34 victory. The interception was the fourth of his career, setting a franchise record for defensive linemen in the Super Bowl Era.’

‘With about eight months until the more than $2 billion stadium is expected to be substantially completed, the panel overseeing goals of the Community Benefits Agreement tied to the building of the new stadium has expressed concern about whether that is enough time for the team to meet hiring goals for vendors certified as minority- and women-owned businesses.’

‘None was better than his call of the play of the game, the interception for a 63-yard touchdown by Bills cornerback Christian Benford of a Joe Burrow pass that gave the Bills their first lead in the game.’