Archives for January 26, 2021

‘The Bills blitzed on seven of Mahomes’ 39 dropbacks, which is 18% and about as much as you want to risk rushing five or more at the reigning Super Bowl most valuable player. Mahomes was 5 of 7 for 47 yards and two touchdowns vs. the blitz. Those TDs were short throws, a 3-yarder to Mecole Hardman and a 5-yarder to Kelce.’

‘As explosive as the Bills were for most of the season on offense, they can’t match what the Chiefs have in Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. The Chiefs’ defense has twice gotten the better of Josh Allen and his receivers. And Andy Reid and his coaching staff have twice gotten the better of his disciple, Sean McDermott, and the Bills’ assistants.’

‘Running back Devin Singletary was held to just 17 yards on six carries, capping what was a massively disappointing second season. After rushing 151 times for 775 yards (5.1 yards per carry) as a rookie, Singletary was limited to 687 yards on 156 carries (4.4 yards per rush) during the 2020 season, despite playing four more games.’

‘Stat of the game: 9-172: That was Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill’s final line, which included a 71-yard reception that was Hill’s 34th catch of at least 40 yards in his career, which is the most in the NFL during that span and 11 more than second place (including the playoffs). It was Hill’s sixth career grab of 70-plus yards, which is also the most in the league during his time as a professional. Hill’s 172 receiving yards were the most by any player in a single postseason game since 2016.’

‘“We just got to execute better,” Bills safety Micah Hyde said. “That’s a very, very good football team that you have to go out there and try to capitalize get some takeaways, get some stops on third down and you saw tonight we just couldn’t get it done. It’s frustrating.”’

‘Still, the Bills easily could have racked up 30 points on offense if Allen had been a little more efficient in taking check-downs, or if the Bills had converted their red-zone scoring chances.’

‘”Just the grit that he played with, and I said that going back to the Indianapolis playoff game. Just him kind of hobbling around out there, refusing to come out and trying to find ways to help this team win football games,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said. “That’s the type of locker room we have. Guys see it. Guys look up to it. Guys want to play for each other when you go out there and you put your body on the line for one another. …’

‘Both of these will be second meetings with new Texans GM Nick Caserio, who took over the search when he was hired. Caserio also has spoken to former Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell and the team’s search committee also met with Caldwell.’

‘But the Bills did more for this community than anyone might have reasonably hoped when the season began. First and foremost, that’s because the team was that good. But it’s also because the team was that good when Buffalo – like the rest of the country – needed a balm. The Bills brought it, to Western New Yorkers and to uncounted others around the country who were delighted/startled/slack-jawed at what this long underperforming team accomplished.’

‘”We’ll get’m next year,” said Bart, who keenly understands the notion of football patience. He is 95, a season ticket holder since 1977, a regular spectator long before that.’