Buffalo News

‘It might be overlooked because the Bills won, but it shouldn’t be. The sequence at the end of the first half was the worst clock management imaginable. Place the blame on whoever you want. Head coach Sean McDermott, offensive coordinator Rick Dennison or quarterback Tyrod Taylor can share it. All of them should be questioned as to why the Bills went with a throw to the flat, which was completed to Jordan Matthews for 2-yard gain, but saw the clock run out after he was tackled inbounds. That erased the opportunity for what would have been a short field goal attempt before halftime. Just an unimaginably bad sequence.’

‘Jones, the Bills’ third-string running back who hadn’t touched the ball offensively in the team’s first five games, took a shovel pass from Tyrod Taylor toward the left sideline, cut back inside and gained 11 yards for a critical first down. That allowed the Bills to bleed more time off the clock before Stephen Hauschka’s 30-yard field goal with 14 seconds remaining provided the winning points in a 30-27 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Era Field.’

‘The Bucs’ star defensive tackle was neutralized by good blocking and good game-planning by the Bills. McCoy is a three-time first-team All-Pro and ranks among the top three defensive tackles in the NFL, with the Rams’ Aaron Donald and Philadelphia’s Fletcher Cox. McCoy made just one tackle against the Bills. Guard Richie Incognito faced him a lot. But it was a group effort.’

‘The Bills’ rookie No. 1 draft choice made the final key turnover on a routine receiver screen. Linebacker Preston Brown was in the process of tackling Humphries on a short gain but White raked the ball out and recovered at the Tampa 33.’

‘With three takeaways against the Bucs, the Bills have 13 in six games. That’s on pace for 34, which would be their most in 14 years. The Bills improved to plus-10 in turnover differential, best in the NFL through Sunday’s games.’

‘That’s more like it. The Bills stuck with the run and it paid off, piling up 173 yards as a team on 33 carries, an average of 5.2 yards per rush. LeSean McCoy scored his first two touchdowns of 2017, rushing 23 times for 91 yards. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor was once again a part of the running game, gaining 53 yards on six carries. Mike Tolbert made the most of his three carries, gaining 29 yards. This was a huge step in the right direction.’

‘I thought there’s a lot of heart on this football team. Really, to me, personifies this city, doesn’t it? Heart, toughness, blue-collar, and fans stuck with us all day. I thought it was awesome, man. Awesome. It’s tough to win in this league. Every week it’s tight. Every week is tight. Guys stuck it out, played four quarters and came out with a win, so it was good to see.’

‘The Bills’ offense rebounded from its end-of-half meltdown with an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive that was capped by the first career receiving touchdown for tight end Logan Thomas, who began the conversion from quarterback to tight end last season.’

‘Rookie linebacker Matt Milano intercepted Jameis Winston’s pass and returned it to the Bucs’ 26-yard line with 23 seconds left, gifting the offense a scoring chance. Taylor’s first pass went short to running back LeSean McCoy, which required the Bills to spend their final timeout with 12 seconds remaining, giving them time for a shot or two into the end zone. Instead, Taylor inexplicably threw short to Jordan Matthews on the next play. He was tackled in bounds, which allowed the clock to expire.’

‘The Bills had two big plays of 26 yards on their only possession of the quarter, with Tyrod Taylor hitting Nick O’Leary and then scrambling down to the 10-yard line on his longest run of the season. But the drive stalled and they settled for a 25-yard field goal from Stephen Hauschka.’

‘Officers and EMS personnel also were kept “very busy” responding to medical calls, the result mostly of alcohol consumption and the October heat, police said.’

‘Pig roast: One grilling setup stood out among the many tailgate cookouts Sunday morning. Craig Foss and Bob Delzer, both of Alden, were grilling two whole pigs.’

‘“There are a lot of Buffalo people in the area,” said her husband Tim Smith, a Williamsville native and the club’s president. “There are guys who come from 30 miles away, some from Sarasota, some from Wesley Chapel, some from St. Pete, where they have a couple other Bills bars. But we are a well-oiled machine.”’

‘”You don’t know what would have happened,” Schlopy said. “Would I have liked the opportunity? Are you kidding me? I’d kill for that opportunity. But it was Scott’s kick. I wished he would have made it for a lot of reasons – for the City of Buffalo, for the Bills. It’s hard to find a more passionate fan base than fans in Buffalo.”‘

‘Buffalo faces a Tampa Bay team Sunday that is allowing 70.9 percent completions. That’s the third highest rate in the NFL. Bucs starting cornerback Vernon Hargreaves is on the verge of getting benched.’