‘As Mills related the tale of his upbringing to his teammates, he didn’t realize it was the start of new Bills tradition under McDermott: concluding team meetings by having a player talk about his life—personal stories of his upbringing, his motivations, his influences, what’s most important to him. Mills was nervous sharing a vulnerable part of his past, but when he was done he felt closer to his teammates. “It’s created a bond that I feel like no other team around this league has,” he says. “It’s really like we are brothers.”’
Archives for December 2017
Benjamin declared out for Sunday, McCoy misses practice but is expected to play
‘Running back LeSean McCoy missed practice Friday with knee soreness, but he’s expected to play and wasn’t even be listed on the team’s official injury report for the game, released Friday afternoon.’
Banged up Bills get ready for Tom Brady
‘He added that Seantrel Henderson is questionable for Sunday with an illness. Fullback Pat DiMarco, defensive end Eddie Yarbrough and tight end Nick O’Leary are all listed as questionable.’
Scouting Report – Week 13 – Bills – Patriots
‘If there’s an area that New England has been unable to firm up defensively it’s their play on first down. They have the worst run defense in the league on first down and rank last in first down efficiency on defense where they give up a play of four yards or more a whopping 56 percent of the time (56.6%). Buffalo’s offense has to take advantage of the Patriots first down deficiencies and stay ahead of the sticks to extend drives and win the time of possession battle.’
Quick Hits: Benjamin out for Sunday
‘Kelvin Benjamin has been declared out for Sunday while Pat DiMarco, Nick O’Leary and Eddie Yarbrough will be questionable.’
5 things to know about the AFC playoff race and Bills-Pats this weekend
‘The Baltimore Ravens (6-5) host Detroit at 1 pm with Baltimore still sitting in the sixth and final AFC playoff spot, just ahead of Buffalo. The Jacksonville Jaguars sit in the fifth spot, and they’re home to Indianapolis at the same time. Tennessee plays Houston at 1 pm in Nashville Sunday. Right now, the Titans (7-4) are on top of the AFC South with a tiebreaker edge over Jacksonville (7-4), but obviously that could change, and the Bills might have to beat out Tennessee.’
Bills Today: McCoy’s got good history vs. Pats
‘McCoy has 100-plus scrimmage yards in three-straight games against New England. That total is the most by any running back in the league against the Patriots over the last five seasons.’
Tom Brady enjoying greatest 40-something season ever
‘”I think it’s a lot easier now for me than it’s ever been,” Brady told reporters in training camp when asked about preparing for the 2017 season. “I feel like my routine is better than it’s ever been. When you’re younger, you don’t know what to do. After 17 years, going into my 18th year, I know what to do. I know how to prepare. I’m never sore. I could practice every day. I could practice twice a day if they’d let us do that, but that’s not the way it goes anymore. It’s just fun being out here competing.”‘
Q and A: Bills WR Jordan Matthews opens up on what has been a trying season
‘“Jordan’s a guy that’s competitive by nature,” coach Sean McDermott said. “He’s one of the leaders of our football team, and he comes to work every day to get better. That’s the DNA that we’re looking for in our players. I haven’t sensed (frustration) at all. He worked hard out here today. He works hard every week. He’ll continue to get more and more opportunities, just like he’s gotten to this point.”’
Bills Notebook: Lorenzo Alexander filling a new role, Patrick DiMarco misses practice, Chris Hogan unlikely to play for Patriots
‘“Obviously playing on the edge is one of the things that I’ve done in the past and I’ve done the most,” Alexander said Thursday. “Being able to rush the passer on third downs, being able to roam around a little bit, whether it’s dropping or coming, I think I do that well. Disguising.”’
Mark Gaughan’s Xs and Os: Pats’ long game adds to Bills worries
‘New England is No. 2 in the NFL in 20-plus pass plays (47) and tied for fourth in 40-plus plays (9).’
When asked to bench Taylor, Ryan said no, so what are Giants thinking?
‘ “I thought it was the wrong move,’’ said Ryan about being asked to bench Taylor last season. “I thought it sent the wrong message to the locker room, that ‘It’s OK, we’re not going to play him, because we’re out of it, but it’s OK to play you.’ How’s that guy going to feel? Well they went out and got beat by the Jets’ JV team, that’s what happened to them last year. We’ll see how they (Giants) respond.’’’
What Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski said about Buffalo Bills fans and jumping through tables
‘”They are wild, for sure,” Gronkowski said. “I mean, I grew up there. That could explain myself a little bit in my early 20s, if that makes sense. I think it does. They’re wild, man. I love it, though. I love that wildness. That’s what I grew up in. It’s a fun atmosphere to go play. It’s super loud, super proud. They love their team. It’s just a good football atmosphere, and when it’s a good football atmosphere, you just love playing the game.”‘
Bills QB Nate Peterman: “I’m definitely going to be ready”
‘”I definitely don’t think it’s going to define me. I’m ready to keep preparing for another opportunity,” Peterman said. “You just take the opportunities as they come. If another comes, I’m definitely going to be ready and be ready to learn from those mistakes and move on.”‘
John Dudley: Nemesis Patriots give Bills first shot at ending December woes
‘A loss Sunday likely would end both the Bills’ division title hopes and any realistic shot at the playoffs. It would perpetuate the notion that three months into the new McDermott-Brandon Beane braintrust, the pecking order in the AFC East remains unchanged for the foreseeable future.’