‘To bump that 85 percent up to 100 percent, Buffalo still has some work to do. According to our Elo ratings, the Bills have the league’s fifth-toughest set of remaining opponents over the rest of the season, with Sunday’s contest versus Seattle (1626 Elo) and Week 14’s game against the Steelers (1635) standing out as the most difficult matchups left. Those games are not necessarily the most consequential for Buffalo’s division chances, however. In our simulations, the games that swing Buffalo’s division odds the most come in Week 16 against the Patriots and (especially) Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins, who might be the biggest real obstacle left to the Bills’ division-title hopes.’
Archives for November 2020
Bills offense is No. 1 on third downs and will need to convert vs. Seattle
‘The Bills are No. 1 in the NFL in third-down conversion rate at 51.6%. Last season, the Bills ranked 24th at 35.8%.’
Column: Bills’ front four unlikely to do enough to stop Russell Wilson
‘That isn’t meant to be an insult to the Bills’ defenders. The same can be said about almost any other opponent on the Seahawks’ schedule and most teams in the league.’
Bills’ injury updates: Eight players miss practice, five others limited
‘Safety Micah Hyde was running around in uniform, wearing a red non-contact jersey, and was listed as a limited participant at practice. Hyde missed the New England game due to a concussion. While he’s still in the concussion protocol, his return would be a big deal against the Seattle offense, ranked No. 3 in the NFL in passing.’
Voice of the Fan: If there are no moral victories, no moral losses. Just wins and losses
‘If you don’t get points for moral victories, you should not lose them for moral losses. It’s only fair. You’re only as good as your record says you are, and the Bills are 6-2.’
The midseason grades are in: The Buffalo Bills defense has room for improvement
‘The last play made by the defense in the first half of the season was certainly a positive one, Justin Zimmer’s game-saving forced fumble, which was recovered by Dean Marlowe Sunday against the Patriots. But that’s not enough to erase a season-long slumber by a unit that ranked second in the NFL in fewest points allowed and third in yards allowed in 2019.’
Bills’ Josh Allen says he has ‘something to prove’ despite team’s 6-2 start
‘“Well I mean you know better than anybody,” Allen told Palmer. “I’ve never had it any other way than trying to fight for what I’ve gotten. I still keep that same mindset, still keep the same chip on my shoulder. I’m still pissed off that I didn’t have any offers out of high school and only had one out of junior college.”‘
Bills Wednesday injury report: Mitch Morse, John Brown, and more miss practice
‘Bills coach Sean McDermott said on Monday that Morse was placed in the NFL’s concussion protocol and he didn’t practice on Wednesday. He was off to the side doing some cardiovascular work with the training staff, along with fellow injured Bills: cornerback Cam Lewis and linebacker Tyrel Dodson, who are both on injured reserve.’
McDermott losing sleep over upcoming matchup with Wilson, Seahawks high- powered offense
‘“They’re playing at a high level, and they’re tough. They go against San Francisco and beat them pretty good. They do a good job in many ways,” added McDermott. “I would say Russell Wilson is playing at an all-time high, MVP level. They have a lot of weapons and score a lot of points.”’
Thursday’s Seattle Coverage
In joining the Seahawks and restructuring his contract, defensive end Carlos Dunlap is betting on himself (Seattle Times)
D.J. Reed thought his season was over in August — then he starred for the Seahawks against his former team (Seattle Times)
Success with new group of players strengthens Seahawks coach Pete Carroll’s Hall of Fame case (Seattle Times)
Seahawks notes: Jamal Adams practices, Bobby Wagner wins weekly award, Mychal Kendricks back again (Seattle Times)
DE Carlos Dunlap betting on himself, ‘revived’ in trade to Seattle Seahawks (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
Seattle Seahawks LB Bobby Wagner named NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
Seahawks get salary-cap help on top of pass-rush aid from the Carlos Dunlap trade (Tacoma News Tribune)
Jamal Adams practices, Seahawks expecting him to play at Buffalo. 7 starters miss practice (Tacoma News Tribune)
‘Concerned’ Seahawks talking with 49ers days after playing COVID-positive Kendrick Bourne (Tacoma News Tribune)
Carlos Dunlap hopes to be the missing piece for Seahawks (AP)
Carlos Dunlap reworks contract with Seattle Seahawks, calls it a ‘win-win situation’ (ESPN)
Carlos Dunlap wants to be final piece to Seahawks Super Bowl run (NBC Sports Northwest)
Seahawks ‘concerned’ after 49ers announce player tested positive for COVID (NBC Sports Northwest)
Seahawks LB Bobby Wagner earns NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors (NBC Sports Northwest)
Fann Mail: Setting expectations for Carlos Dunlap with the Seahawks (NBC Sports Northwest)
Seahawks sign RB Alex Collins, reuniting with 2016 draft pick (KIRO-AM)
What to expect with Jamal Adams returning to Seahawks’ defense (KIRO-AM)
3 Takes: Who will be Seahawks’ next player to step up like Bobby Wagner? (KIRO-AM)
Seahawks Football 101: Why Bobby Wagner is NFL’s best blitzing LB (KIRO-AM)
Trade To Seahawks “Definitely A Win-Win Situation” For Carlos Dunlap II (Seahawks.com)
No Restrictions On Carlos Dunlap II, Jamal Adams “Full-Go” & Other Updates From Pete Carroll (Seahawks.com)
Seahawks Sign Alex Collins & Mychal Kendricks To Practice Squad (Seahawks.com)
Week 9 Injury Report: Seahawks at Bills (Seahawks.com)
Seahawks LB Bobby Wagner Named NFC Defensive Player Of The Week (Seahawks.com)
Seattle Seahawks at Buffalo Bills: How to Watch, Listen and Live Stream on November 8 (Seahawks.com)
Josh Allen Is the NFL’s Myth Busting Quarterback
‘Bohl told them Allen would continue to grow into his rare abilities—and that’s where some decision makers opted out. There is a camp of football traditionalists who stand by one of the game’s oldest axioms: Nothing is more important than a quarterback’s accuracy, and accuracy can’t be taught. They looked at a quarterback who completed just 56% of his passes at Wyoming and shook their heads at the notion he could do any better against far superior competition.’
With Punch Of The Ball Vs. Pats, Zimmer Entered Bills Lore
‘Zimmer acted instinctively upon seeing the Patriots’ linemen shift to their left. He ran down the line and then cut upfield to get ahead of the crowd of blockers. Newton cut back toward the middle and Zimmer dived and punched the ball loose, with safety Dean Marlowe recovering the fumble.’
Lengthy injury report for Bills on Wednesday
‘Safety Micah Hyde and and center Mitch Morse are both still in the league’s concussion protocol, but Hyde participated on a limited basis, while Morse did not. Hyde had full equipment, but wore a red non-contact jersey during the session. Morse was on the sidelines jogging.’
Seahawks are a challenge, but it’s a welcome challenge for Bills
‘It’s no surprise the Bills have a tough task ahead of them. Through the first seven games of the season, the Seahawks have outscored their opponents by about points per game, scoring a total of 240 points this season while allowing 199. Russell Wilson is playing the best season of his career, as Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott called it a “potential MVP season,” throwing for 2,151 yards and 26 touchdowns.’
Sean McDermott says Russell Wilson is playing at an “MVP level”
‘“It’s a huge challenge, they won a Super Bowl, they’re playing at a high level. I would say Russell’s playing at an all-time high, probably MVP level and they’ve got weapons and they score a lot of points so it will be a big challenge for us defensively and as a team,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said before practice on Wednesday.’