ESPN

‘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.’

‘During a sixth season in which the quarterback has experienced ups and downs, changes in mindset and an in-season coordinator change for the first time in his career, the joy is present in a big way. It’s also helped keep Allen in the MVP conversation, where he currently has the fourth-best odds (plus-1100), per ESPN Bet. A two-game stretch to win the AFC East could certainly improve those chances.’

‘”Obviously, there are things that I can’t talk about but everything that was out is completely wrong and blown out of proportion,” Miller said. “Me and my girlfriend, we have problems just like any other couple does but there has never been any of those things that was alleged against me. Hopefully, over time all of this stuff will get cleared up. Sometimes life just … be life-ing. You’ve just got to keep pushing and keep moving. The people who know me and the people who have been around me know my character, they know who I am.”‘

‘The Chargers, playing their first game since firing coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco last week, got five field goals from Cameron Dicker and briefly took the lead late in the fourth quarter. But a Tyler Bass field goal with 28 seconds left sealed the win for Buffalo.’

‘The touchdown pass was thrown 38 air yards downfield, Allen’s longest such score of the season.’

‘But with the Bills discussed among the best teams in the AFC while also sitting outside of the playoffs, have the problems of midseason truly been put in the past? Is this team back and primed for a run? Let’s take a look at the woes from midseason and see how they are trending.’

‘”Everything,” tight end Dawson Knox said when asked what Cook did to be successful. “… He’s just a hell of a player, so giving him any space, giving him matchups on the outside in the pass game. [Interim offensive coordinator] Joe Brady does an awesome job, scheming that up, and then the o-linemen do a fantastic job, open up the holes for him. He’s got crazy vision, too, so he’s gonna bounce it wherever he sees it.”‘

‘Epenesa suffered the rib injury in the Bills’ win over the Chiefs last week, leaving the game after tipping a pass and then catching it for an interception on Kansas City’s first drive of the game. Hyde missed almost all of last season following neck surgery, and issues with his neck have been reoccurring this season.’