‘“I always make the comparison that playing special teams translates to defense so much,” Farwell said. “So his instincts to get to the ball, to the returner, is very similar to getting to a running back on a swing route or a check down in space. So I think it translates really well and it would not surprise me at all. I think he’s talented enough and a good enough player and … if he becomes a starter I would totally understand it and I’d completely agree and I think it’ll happen. He’s that good a football player that you want him on the field at all times.”‘
Archives for December 13, 2020
3 matchups to watch: Steelers at Bills
‘T.J. Watt vs. Daryl Williams. Watt is a game-wrecker, and the Bills will have to give him extra attention. Watt has 12 sacks this year and 46.5 in four seasons. The Chargers’ Joey Bosa gave Williams big problems two weeks ago. Watt isn’t quite as big as Bosa, but he’s more productive. Watt plays virtually all of his snaps over the right tackle. Lee Smith played 31 snaps in last year’s game at Pittsburgh to help the tackles in pass protection. Watt had a strip of Devin Singletary last year and a half sack.’
Scouting report: Bills’ backs could get going against banged-up Steelers defense
‘Prediction: Bills 30, Steelers 20.’
One-on-One Coverage: Bills’ Cole Beasley on being rocked ‘like a baby’ and outperforming elite receivers
‘The most important thing for me is having that confidence from Josh and him having the confidence that he can come to me on any given play, and I’ll win for him. Anytime I don’t win on a route and he’s coming to me, it kills me. An old receiver coach of mine in Dallas, Sanjay Lal, who is with the Seahawks now (and coached the Bills’ receivers in 2015 and ’16), kind of started the process of me getting to this mind frame where stats don’t matter.”‘
Bills Mailbag: Who’s in line if Brian Daboll departs for a head coaching job?
‘In that case, assistant quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney could be promoted to quarterbacks coach, giving the Bills a fair amount of continuity. Receivers coach Chad Hall has also shot up the coaching ranks quickly, but it might be too soon for him to take the leap to coordinator.’
Bills host Steelers in what may be marquee game of 2020 NFL season
‘My pick: Bills 23, Steelers 17.’
Steelers’ Avery Williamson set to play Bills for 3rd time in 2020: ’They got some tendencies’
‘“Yeah, definitely,” he said. “I know that they definitely got some tendencies. We game planned for them pretty well that second game with the Jets. It was a close game. I’m definitely going to use what I learned that week and transfer some of it over to now.”’
Bills’ Devin Singletary, Zack Moss to have big role vs. Steelers? (5 things to watch)
‘The Steelers’ lack of options at inside linebacker should give Buffalo some opportunities for success in terms of running the ball. We’ve seen some flashes of success–their performance against the Patriots comes to mind–but the duo has not been able to be a consistent factor in the offense. That could change this week based on the Steelers’ inside linebackers and the fact that Buffalo finally put together their best five available linemen in Dion Dawkins, Ike Boettger, Mitch Morse, Jon Feliciano and Daryl Williams.’
Buffalo Bills vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 2020: Preview, odds, predictions for Week 14
‘The Steelers have revenge on the mind as they look to get the Bills back for coming into their place last season and getting a big win. The problem is going to be that they are missing key pieces on their defense and they face one of the league’s best offenses. Josh Allen must protect the football but I like the Bills defense’s chances against Pittsburgh’s offense better than I like the Steelers’ chances against Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley and company.’
How to watch Bills vs. Steelers on Sunday Night Football: TV channel, time, live stream information
‘Whereas both teams this season have no shortage of talent on defense, this year’s matchup could be a high scoring affair. Buffalo and Pittsburgh both feature pass happy offenses that move the ball up and down the field with ease behind their quarterbacks, Josh Allen and Ben Roethlisberger. Entering the game, both offenses are averaging 27.8 points per game. Don’t be surprised if the prime time matchup goes down to the wire.’
Five takes: Bills look to make a statement in Sunday night rematch against Steelers
‘The Steelers’ bread and butter has been throwing the football, as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has totaled over 300 yards passing in all but two games this season. However, with Pouncey and Conner’s return, the Bills’ rush defense, which has been inconsistent this season, must keep Pittsburgh’s offense from becoming two-dimensional tonight.’
Fan family: Local family reaches out to ‘Bills Mafia’ in hopes of encouraging young one headed for surgery
‘“You see how far the ‘Mafia’ goes for strangers almost daily. I was hoping that with asking for everyone who saw the post to just pray for my daughter or send her a simple card, she wouldn’t have such a hard time recovering at home,” said Miss Stiles. “I knew I needed to lean on someone. So I decided on ‘Bills Mafia’. They are our people. The ones we run into and say ‘Go Bills!’ The people who honk at our vintage ‘Buffalo Bill’ on our porch. And the ones, before COVID, who we were hugging and high-fiving in the stands every Sunday.”’
It’s real, ex-NFL QB Miller says of Josh Allen’s rise with the Buffalo Bills
‘“Physically,” Miller said in a phone interview this week, “Josh Allen can do things that no other quarterback in the NFL can do.”’
Chris Mueller: In Bills’ Allen, Steelers face a Roethlisberger-like challenge
‘Allen is talented enough to win when he’s not his best, and to be just about unstoppable when he is. He doesn’t have to be perfect to beat the Steelers; Roethlisberger, at this stage in his career, probably does, given his team’s injuries on defense and one-dimensionality on offense, to say nothing of his own limitations.’
Ben, again
‘What’s changed the most since then is Allen’s accuracy. He completed 52.8 percent of his passes a rookie and 58.8 percent in 2019. The figure this season is 69.9 percent, including a 32-for-40 effort against San Francisco.’