Archives for October 23, 2017

‘The lessons in the art of the takeaway are paying off, because Bills defenders, young and old, are generating turnovers in droves through the team’s 4-2 start. Takeaway No. 10 of the season came with 2:20 left and the score locked at 27-27 in Sunday’s game.’

‘“I almost cost us the game again,” White lamented in the locker room. “Gave up another touchdown. If it weren’t for the offense, we would have lost because of me again.”’

‘But this team seems to be different. McDermott talks endlessly about the process, next man up, every guy being one-eleventh, all that team-building stuff. We roll our eyes at times, but it’s ringing true. There’s a sense that every guy on the roster is ready and willing to shine, and that the no-name guys are pushing the guys ahead of them even harder.’

‘But the Bills didn’t panic; they persevered. They showed the character of a winning team, one that rises above its own flaws in key moments in a league of imperfect teams. After blowing the lead, they gathered themselves in the critical moments and beat the Bucs, 30-27, on a 30-yard Stephen Hauschka field with 14 seconds left.’

‘”There’s a whole bunch of guys in here that other teams didn’t want,” Thompson, whose stall was adjacent that of Taiwan Jones (who?) in the Bills’ locker room, said after the game. “We all feel like that, but this is a great team. This team is going to do some special things this year. We believe in one another.”‘

‘Tyrod Taylor threw more than 30 passes and won for the second time in his career. LeSean McCoy scored his first two touchdowns of the season, including a 7-yard jaunt through a big hole up the middle with 2:28 remaining.’

‘The win, which improved the Bills’ record to 4-2, was a sign of growth for a retooled team that still is finding its way and still learning how to play four full quarters of football collectively. It also was a major moment for McCoy, who finally found his way into the end zone six weeks into the season.’

‘With the game seemingly slipping out of reach, McCoy sliced his way up the middle, slithering through traffic, and stepped over the goal line. It was a fitting moment of redemption for a veteran back who had put so much pressure on himself to be better and who almost gave the game away.’

‘We’d grown numb from all those who’ve passed through and promised it would be different under their care.’

‘Are the Bills a legitimate contender? With the NFL being as wide open as it has been so far, they’re as legit as almost anyone else. It’s their defense that allows them to rise above the mediocrity of opponents such as the Bucs, but when the strength of their offense — the running game — gets rolling as it did Sunday, the Bills are capable with competing with anyone.’

‘The defense gave up big play after big play in allowing Jameis Winston to throw for 384 yards and three touchdowns, but they also forced three turnovers: An interception and two fumbles.’

‘It might be overlooked because the Bills won, but it shouldn’t be. The sequence at the end of the first half was the worst clock management imaginable. Place the blame on whoever you want. Head coach Sean McDermott, offensive coordinator Rick Dennison or quarterback Tyrod Taylor can share it. All of them should be questioned as to why the Bills went with a throw to the flat, which was completed to Jordan Matthews for 2-yard gain, but saw the clock run out after he was tackled inbounds. That erased the opportunity for what would have been a short field goal attempt before halftime. Just an unimaginably bad sequence.’

‘Jones, the Bills’ third-string running back who hadn’t touched the ball offensively in the team’s first five games, took a shovel pass from Tyrod Taylor toward the left sideline, cut back inside and gained 11 yards for a critical first down. That allowed the Bills to bleed more time off the clock before Stephen Hauschka’s 30-yard field goal with 14 seconds remaining provided the winning points in a 30-27 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Era Field.’

‘The Bucs’ star defensive tackle was neutralized by good blocking and good game-planning by the Bills. McCoy is a three-time first-team All-Pro and ranks among the top three defensive tackles in the NFL, with the Rams’ Aaron Donald and Philadelphia’s Fletcher Cox. McCoy made just one tackle against the Bills. Guard Richie Incognito faced him a lot. But it was a group effort.’