Niagara Gazette

‘“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.’

‘“When the season starts, it gets really busy,” said Alexa Territo, the manager of Totally Buffalo’s Lewiston location at 467 Center St.’

‘Bernard is so in-tune with his body composition that he can tell when his weight fluctuates a few pounds, but there’s also a mental aspect. When Bernard sees a specific number on the scale, he knows that hard work went into reaching it and how his body performs at that weight.’

‘“I thank everybody in this entire building from the top down for supporting me and giving me the space to allow me to heal and have my process exactly how I needed it to go,” Hamlin said. “… Last season was primarily just about healing and making myself do the hard stuff, thrusting myself into things that were uncomfortable, that made me fearful or gave me anxiety. But I was doing the hard stuff last year to make it easier this year.”’

‘“Got a lot of faith in him,” Allen said. “He’s a smart player, he’s much faster than you think, he’s got a very big catch radius for smaller arms, too. He finds ways to go up and get the ball. He’s not afraid to go and catch it with the safety right in front of his face. He just does all the little things right.”’

‘Virgil was placed on injured reserve near the end of training camp last year and was waived by the Broncos during final cuts Tuesday. Cain was signed ahead of the final preseason game after trying to reboot his career in the United Football League, catching three passes for 28 yards against the Carolina Panthers in the preseason finale.’

‘“We would have probably loved to maybe play a little bit more of the offense, but circumstances dictated things to be a little different as far as getting Josh and the first group out there a little more,” Beane said. “You react the best you can to each situation. Those guys have had a lot of work. I think Sean (McDermott) and the coaches have done a good job of giving them a lot of competitive one-on-ones.”’

‘Club members who visit the bar for 10 or more games will be eligible to win a “Bills tailgate” package featuring team merchandise and clothing valued at more than $500.’