‘“I think we just went back to playing and being who we are,” rookie defensive tackle DeWayne Carter said. “It’s just fundamental football, sound fundamental football. That’s we have to do to win in this league. You know, (in) my short time, coach McDermott always preaches it. I think the coolest message he ever told us was, ‘You’ve just got to keep hitting good shots on the fairway, just keeping getting shots on the fairway. That eventually leads to success.’ We had that mentality, that mindset. I think it showed in the second half.”’
Archives for October 2024
Bills TE Dalton Kincaid producing with more time on the field
‘Trust in Kincaid was reflected in the team’s snap counts. The second-year tight end played 40 of the team’s 55 offensive snaps, 73%. It’s the second straight game Kincaid has played at least 73% of the offensive snaps. That comes after a run of four games in which he didn’t top 63%. Perhaps not coincidentally, Kincaid has nine catches for 103 yards during the Bills’ two-game win streak.’
Joe Brady watch: Here’s how bigger personnel helped jump-start Bills in second half vs. Titans
‘The Bills ran their three-wide-receiver set on 18 of 20 plays in the first half against the Tennessee Titans. Mixing personnel worked a lot better in the second half. Josh Allen was only 3 of 10 passing out of three wides (“11” personnel) in the first half. In the second half, the Bills ran bigger personnel, with multiple tight ends or an extra lineman on more than half the plays (18 of 34). Allen was 17 of 22 passing for 258 yards in the second half.’
Position grades: Bills’ Josh Allen passes Jim Kelly on an all-time list; OLs, WRs get high marks
‘Allen now has played in 111 games, including playoffs. Kelly played in 177 games counting playoffs. The NFL game is more pass-oriented than when Kelly played in the 1980s and 1990s. Allen has attempted 332 more passes in his first 100 starts than Kelly did in his first 100 for the Bills.’
Alan Pergament: Nobody does Bills games better than CBS’ Andrew Catalon
‘Nobody knows the Bills better than CBS’ play-by-play announcer Andrew Catalon, who works Bills preseason games for WIVB-TV (Channel 4) alongside Steve Tasker.’
Bills head west to take on NFL’s top passing team in Week 8: What to know
‘With Geno Smith firing on all cylinders this season, the Seahawks have the No. 1 passing offense in the NFL at 271 yards per game, so it’s no secret what they will try to do against Buffalo. However, while the Bills rank just 17th against the pass, they have a top-flight trio of cornerbacks in Taron Johnson, Christian Benford and Rasul Douglas. How the Seahawks fare with apparently only two of their threesome of wide receivers – DK Metcalf is expected to miss the game with a knee injury, leaving Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba – might determine the outcome.’
Bills present Portville’s Matz with game ball
‘The Highmark Stadium public address announcer introduced Colt and his family before a video on the scoreboard (also posted to Bills social media pages) highlighted Colt’s fight against leukemia starting in 2021 and his relationship with Josh Allen after the quarterback visited him at Oishei Children’s Hospital. Colt received a bone marrow transplant from his younger brother, Jack, in 2021. He needed another transplant in 2023 after a relapse.’
Seattle Seahawks star unlikely to play vs. Buffalo Bills in Week 8
‘Late in the Seahawks’ 34-14 win over the Atlanta Falcons, wide receiver D.K. Metcalf suffered a knee injury. The receiver was carted off the field, but initial reports sounded as though the talented receiver avoided a serious injury. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said postgame that the team was hopeful that Metcalf had avoided a serious injury.’
Bills PFF Grades: Amari Cooper posts elite grade, DL dominate top-5
‘Their stats were far from gaudy, but the trio all graded out well using PFF’s metrics. Davis had a 73.3 overall grade, Cook posted a 64.3 and Johnson finished with a 61.0 grade.’
Upon Further Review: Bills’ defensive adjustments turn off Titans’ power in second half
‘The Bills had some success stopping the run when they brought a safety into the box — the area 3 to 5 yards within the line of scrimmage — in the first half. They held the Titans to 2.6 yards per carry on seven attempts with an extra defender in the box, compared to 7.6 on the seven carries without an extra safety near the line of scrimmage.’
Amari Cooper makes immediate impact, but AFC East-leading Bills still have work to do
‘Slow starts remain an issue. Buffalo rallied from a 10-0 deficit and got away with a first half in which the offense gained 90 yards and three first downs while going 0 for 5 on third down.’
Bills awaiting more tests on Bernard, Samuel
‘Both linebacker Terrel Bernard and wide receiver Curtis Samuel were declared out during the game due to injuries, while linebacker Dorian Williams left the game, was probable to return, but did not. Bernard left in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury, while Samuel injured his shoulder on the second series of the game, and Williams suffered a knee injury.’
Murphy: Bills new-look offense finally comes to life after surviving slow start vs. Titans
‘The Bills got no first downs in the first quarter. They trailed 10-0 in the game before they showed a pulse. Like the win over Arizona and the losses to Baltimore and Houston they trailed at halftime and showed very little.’
Examining trends where the Bills have excelled during their 5-2 start
‘The Bills have done an exceptional job through their 5-2 start at winning the turnover battle. Buffalo leads the NFL in turnover margin (+10) with 12 takeaways and two giveaways.’
Observations: Amari Cooper provides a boost in his Buffalo debut as the Bills blow out the Titans
‘Cooper’s first play was one to forget. He checked into the game on Buffalo’s second play from scrimmage and was targeted on the next play, but the on-target pass from quarterback Josh Allen was dropped on third-and-1, and the Bills punted.’