Niagara Gazette

‘The Bills didn’t try to trick Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and they didn’t send more than four pass rushers once. They decided to play their safeties deep and stayed disciplined in coverage, daring Tagovailoa to force throws downfield or use his arm strength to to beat them.’

‘But it doesn’t appear Bernard will be out for an extended period of time. Bills coach Sean McDermott said Bernard would miss time and the team was debating about placing him on injured reserve — which would keep him out a minimum of four weeks — but there is hope Bernard could return in about a month, which was reported by ESPN and NFL Network.’

‘As Tua Tagovailoa’s wobbling third-quarter pass floated into the arms of Ja’Marcus Ingram and he ran unabated to the end zone, the questions were answered in full. The Bills intercepted Tagovailoa three times — two from Ingram — in a 31-10, holding the Dolphins to their fewest points since Week 18 of 2022.’

‘The Buffalo Bills coach can be maddeningly conservative on the field and overly vanilla behind a microphone, but few coaches get more from less than McDermott on a consistent basis. When little is expected of the Bills, McDermott demands more and his players typically deliver.’

‘The Bills are four-time reigning AFC East champions, with a 11-2 record against the Dolphins since Josh Allen entered the NFL in 2018 and a 13-2 mark since Sean McDermott became coach in 2017. Eight of those games have been decided by one score, while the Bills knocked Miami out of playoff contention with a 56-26 win in the 2020 regular-season finale, won in the playoffs in 2022 and captured the AFC East in the final regular season game last year.’

‘Allen only threw 23 passes against the Cardinals as the Bills relied heavily upon its ground game. The Bills didn’t need to throw often, though, as they racked up 352 yards of total offense on 6.1 yards per play. But against a Dolphins team that can put points on the scoreboard in a hurry, the Bills will likely to need to utilize Allen’s arm a little more often. Arizona bracketed tight end Dalton Kincaid, limiting him to one catch for 11 yards on two targets.’

‘“It’s two of the best receivers and one of the best quarterbacks in the league,” Douglas told the Gazette. “It’s always a challenge to go up against those type of guys.”’

‘“I feel like I’m a better player since the 2022 season,” Lewis told the Gazette at his locker Monday. “My football IQ has gotten better. My confidence level is high and I’m just going out there and playing my game. I’m not worried about what everybody else says. The only people I’m worried about is my teammates and not letting them down.”’

‘The fourth-year defensive end has talent oozing from his 6-foot-7, 265-pound frame and the Bills have been waiting for a consistent drip from the 2021 first-round pick. The Arizona Cardinals felt that talent pour out in Buffalo’s 34-28 season-opening win.’

‘From a marketing standpoint, we should be giving buckets — with Buffalo Bills logos on them, of course — to any football fan who visits Niagara Falls from an NFL city during the football season.’

‘Ingram’s tipped pass was fitting, considering the Bills did just enough on defense to win the game. Buffalo fell behind 17-3 in the second quarter with very few answers for Murray’s scrambling ability.’

‘For all the cringing when Allen takes a hit, the Bills know that’s what makes Allen one of the premier players in the NFL and it makes him beloved in the locker room. Allen wants to stick his nose into a fight, he’s willing to take a hit if it means getting a touchdown or a first down.’

‘They need to get the offense rolling in a hurry this time around, particularly at the start of the game. Arizona gave up nearly as many passing touchdowns (32) as times they sacked the quarterback (33), ranking 30th in the league in both categories.’

‘“Bobby is just a lot more energetic and juiced every single day,” Bills cornerback Taron Johnson told the Gazette. “That’s something that’s just different. I like it. It rubs off on the other players, so which in turn, gives us that same energy, that same juice that he puts out.”’

‘John Percy, president and CEO of Niagara County’s lead tourism agency, Destination Niagara, said the NFL fan impact on Niagara Falls and surrounding communities tends to be greater when the Bills have home games against opponents within driving distance, citing Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns fans as two examples. “When there are drivable teams, teams within a driving distance, we do see an influx of rooms and an impact from those teams that are probably in an eight-hour radius,” Percy said.’