‘“We had a good talk at halftime. Guys responded well. I know the score is what the score was,” quarterback Josh Allen said before hobbling out of the stadium with a walking boot on his sprained left foot. “But I’m (darn) proud of our team and how we fought in that second half and that’s who we are. That’s the team I’ve grown to love and to know really. Guys that are just resilient guys that want to fight for each other.”’
Archives for January 12, 2022
‘We know each other extremely well’: Bills prepare for third meeting of season with Patriots
‘“They beat us at home, we beat them at [their] home. It’s a playoff game, Buffalo, New York, on Saturday night,” Poyer said. “I mean, it’s just really everything you asked for in a football game, football season, this type of game right here.”’
Bills, Patriots both in good health entering playoffs
‘Buffalo held only a walk-through practice Tuesday and listed nobody as injured. Receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who has missed the past two games with a knee injury, participated fully. He looks on track to play, bringing the receiving corps up to full strength.’
Position grades: Bills’ defense sets record with dominance on third downs
‘Normally, a team would get an A grade in a game in which it blocked a punt. But punter Matt Haack struggled. All seven of his punts were made into the wind, and they included nets of 21, 22 and 29 yards.’
Jim Kubiak: How naked bootleg play-action passes got Allen, Bills’ offense back on track vs. Jets
‘It wasn’t Allen’s efficiency passing the football that was this game’s highlight, although his 24 completions on 45 attempts and two touchdown passes looked stellar compared to Jets rookie Zach Wilson’s 35% completion percentage. The highlights were Allen’s key rushes for big plays that broke the back of the stingy Jets defense and his ability to quietly keep himself composed and patient, not allowing himself to make mistakes or turnovers.’
‘Crazy NOT to want to go’: Bills fans brace for bitter cold playoff game
‘But seriously, this is not the game for you and 12 best friends to spell out “LET’S GO, BUFFALO” on your shirtless bellies.’
Late season surge by Bills pass rush could be critical against Patriots’ Mac Jones
‘On their way to four straight victories, according to Pro Football Focus, the Bills have generated 96 QB pressures which include sacks, hurries and QB hits. There were 19 sacks and because of that spike, a pass rush that felt like it was lacking most of the season wound up finishing with 42 sacks, tied for 11th in the NFL, while their sacks per play percentage of 7.34% was sixth best.’
Does Bills’ Josh Allen need to take a little off his throws in freezing cold? Stefon Diggs thinks so
‘“It’s just going to be so cold, bro. My fingers get cold, toes get cold,” Diggs said. “As soon as you come off [the field the trainers are] like, ‘do you need a coat?’ And you’re just like, ‘nah, get away from me.’ But they’re always there for me, so I feel like I’ll be fine. … I’m not too much of a complainer, and I played in one of the coldest games in history, like when we played in the playoffs vs. Seattle at the Minnesota Gophers stadium. It was like negative something. So this ain’t nothing. I’ll be alright.”’
Bills’ Emmanuel Sanders returns to practice: Should he start vs. Patriots over Gabriel Davis?
‘According to Pro Football Focus, Davis dropped three passes in the game. Sanders only has three drops all season in 14 games (13 starts). He’s played 747 snaps this season, which is the most he’s played since 2019 when he split 842 snaps between the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers. The 34-yard-old has caught 42 passes for 626 yards and four touchdowns compared to Davis, who’s caught 35 for 549 yards and six touchdowns on only 571 snaps.’
Boston website created poll asking Patriots fans about benching Mac Jones vs. Bills: How many considered it?
‘The poll was voted on close to 20,000 times with the Patriots fan base showing loyalty to their rookie quarterback in the event that he struggles. Of course, the alternative in this scenario was Brian Hoyer, a veteran whose best days are far behind him.’
Buffalo Bills are ‘unpredictable playoff entrant’ with potential for deep run (Post-Week 18 power rankings)
‘It feels like they’re still struggling to play a complete game.’
After a title repeat, Bills goal still super
‘The Bills were listed as early 4.5-point favorites, and I like their chances. I realize Belichick has made a career of bamboozling opposing quarterbacks and coaches — even Hall of Fame ones. And Allen has endured some struggles, completing just 49 percent of his passes the past two weeks and 63 percent for the season — six points below his 2020 average. But he is such a gifted and gritty athlete. He is so difficult to defend because of his size, quickness and ability to make throws no one else can, as well as his penchant for gouging even the most disciplined of defenses with killer runs.’
Bills are now the clear favorites against Patriots, and receiver Stefon Diggs knows why
‘“I feel like [Tom] Brady was a huge part of those struggles,” Diggs said. “Probably because of what he did at the quarterback position. Just overall those teams were a force to be reckoned with.”’
Can the Patriots finally crack the Bills pass defense in the Wild Card round?
‘Furthermore, by majoring in only a handful of complementary and well-camouflaged zone coverages instead of every defensive call, the Bills can focus on opponents’ preferred route concepts and jump them come kickoff. That formula, brought to life by several fast and sound tacklers, yielded the league’s No. 1 pass defense by completion percentage allowed and yards per attempt. Against the Patriots, Buffalo blanketed several of Jones’ favorite routes in Week 16, forcing him to hang in the pocket longer than desired.’
Patriots-Bills Wild Card battlegrounds: Can J.C. Jackson shut down Stefon Diggs?
‘Diggs has often bested J.C. Jackson, the Patriots’ No. 1 corner in every head-to-head meeting since he arrived in Buffalo. In Week 16, they wrestled to a close Diggs victory. He finished with seven catches for 85 yards, though only four were at Jackson’s expense. The problem was those receptions included a touchdown, a third-and-10 conversion on Buffalo’s final touchdown drive, and a fourth-down conversion.’