ESPN

‘”Game time on Monday, weather conditions will be very cold. They’ll be in the teens, and even wind-chill factors as low as zero, maybe to 9 degrees, but that’s going to be very, very cold,” Hochul said. “But this will be without the danger of the winds and the blinding snow and the hazardous traffic conditions for those as they traveled to the stadium or leaving based on current predictions. So that is a better dynamic, by far better dynamic, than we would’ve had today. I’m not saying it’s going to be pleasant, but conditions won’t be life threatening either.”‘

‘The team had put out requests for assistance in shoveling the stadium ahead of their wild-card game vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers, which was rescheduled from Sunday afternoon to Monday at 4:30 p.m. ET because of the snowstorm in the region. The team has asked for local residents to follow officials’ requests to keep the roads clear and “not report to Highmark Stadium until further notice once the bans are lifted.” The team said it would communicate more information upon changes in weather and the bans.’

‘When there is heavy snow before games, the team often reaches out to the community for help in getting the stadium ready for a game, considering the snow is able to impact a significant amount of the open-air stadium. The team is offering a rate of $20 an hour, and “complimentary food and breaks will be provided throughout the shifts in a comfortable warm area.”‘

‘”Now, you may see clear skies [Sunday] morning, but don’t be fooled,” Hochul said. “The bull’s-eye of the storm is predicted to hit midday Sunday afternoon right during the scheduled Buffalo Bills game. … [The game will] continue to be played at Highmark Field right in Orchard Park. It’s all part of our critical efforts to keep New Yorkers, motorists and fans safe from this wildly unpredictable storm.”‘

‘Both players suffered injuries in the Bills’ win over the Miami Dolphins last week that secured the AFC East division title and the No. 2 seed in the conference. Rapp, who plays a key role in the dime package, was injured on the play in which he caught the game-ending interception.’

‘”Seems like this year, every game comes down to the last two minutes. Offense has the ball. We have the ball and this is the results,” safety Micah Hyde said after the loss. “We could have nine, 10 wins right now, but that’s in fantasy land, and in real life, we understand what our record is.”‘

‘Davis was initially listed as questionable to return but came out of the locker room after halftime out of uniform and was later ruled out.’

‘Two plays before the touchdown, Allen connected with wide receiver Stefon Diggs on 36-yard pass to get Buffalo into the red zone. After a 1-yard run by running back James Cook, Allen then found Sherfield, who played with Miami last year, for a 6-yard touchdown pass. The catch marked Sherfield’s first touchdown with the Bills since signing with the team in free agency.’

‘This is a team, however, that has experience in close games. All six of the Bills’ losses this year were in one-score games, including the last one, an overtime defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12. After a Week 13 bye, the Bills had a 21% chance to make the playoffs and just a 4% chance to win the division, per ESPN Analytics.’

‘The Pittsburgh standout had the tattoo done by Alexander Brenes of Miami, Florida, who posted the artwork on his and the tattoo shop Till the End Tattoos’ social media pages with the caption “1 year later still locked inn.”‘

‘Allen was listed as a full participant in the team’s walk-through on Wednesday with the neck injury, in addition to a right finger injury. He has not missed a start since his rookie season.’

‘Allen — who did not have a passing touchdown for the first time this season — described himself as being “just off” early in the game and said he couldn’t find a rhythm. Allen completed 5 of 13 passes of 10 or more air yards vs. the Patriots. He has now completed 49.7% of such passes this season, his lowest percentage since 2019. Interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady pointed to the need to get Allen in a groove, a correction that must come from a playcalling perspective as well.’

‘On third-and-11 from the New England 34-yard line, Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe stepped back in the pocket with pressure coming from blitzing safety Micah Hyde. Zappe threw the pass to his left, in the direction of wide receiver Jalen Reagor. However, Reagor continued running downfield, while Douglas read the quarterback and caught his pass.’

‘”That was a tough decision,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said after the game. “Von’s a pro. He’s one of the leaders on our team, and I thought he did a phenomenal job on the sideline from a leadership standpoint with his teammates. He’s a very important part of this team, and we have full confidence in him. And look forward to getting him back going forward here.”‘

‘Coach Sean McDermott said Friday that he anticipates both defensive tackle DaQuan Jones and safety Micah Hyde playing in Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots. Jones officially is listed as questionable for the game, while Hyde has no injury designation.’