Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘“I think when you’re executing and scoring points, it’s hard to do in this league,” said center Mitch Morse. “It’s extremely gratifying to see your hard work put to the test. And our defense put us in some great situations. I thought they played red hot today. … It was just a total team win.”’

‘Allen will not win the league MVP award, but there’s no one right now who can say that Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes have played better than him in the second half of the season.’

‘Bills 27, Patriots 13.’

‘This has been a frustrating season for Milano, a fourth-year player who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March. Unlike fellow 2017 draft class members Tre’Davious White and Dion Dawkins, Milano was not offered a rich, multi-year contract extension. And then, when it came time to play and perhaps show the team that extending him would be a good idea, he was felled by injuries.’

‘“He’s been crucial for our success here the last couple years,” Allen said of the 5-foot-8, 175-pound Beasley. “He’s hard to guard, he’s a very smart player, he wants the ball and he’s always ready when his number is called.”’

‘“One hundred percent,” McDermott said Wednesday during an appearance on WGR-AM (550) radio in Buffalo when asked if he expects his two coordinators to get interviews. “And I would recommend them. I think they’ve both done a phenomenal job. They’ve shown they can lead and do the coordinator job at a high level. I’d hate to lose those guys but understand that when you win and have sustained success like we’ve had the last two seasons, that’s what happens.”’

‘The plan, which has yet to receive final approval, would involve using rapid COVID-19 tests, which can return results within 15 minutes, for every fan entering the stadium.’

‘“A few weeks ago I was asked about Ed and how he was performing,” defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said Monday. “Although he may not have the statistics to show how disruptive he’s been for our defense, he’s played really well throughout the season. The splash plays haven’t been there, but that’s not because he hasn’t given the effort.”’

‘But in 1980, everything changed in Chuck Knox’s third year as head coach. He built an outstanding defense led by the Bermuda Triangle of Fred Smerlas, Jim Haslett and Shane Nelson, and the offense thrived with quarterback Joe Ferguson, receivers Jerry Butler and Frank Lewis, and running back Joe Cribbs.’

‘“It’s hard to remain humble when the team hasn’t been good since I was 11,” he said. “What’s the saying — act like you’ve been there before? Pretty hard to do when you haven’t been there in a generation.”’

‘Poyer lost out to Pittsburgh’s Minkah Fitzpatrick and Denver’s Justin Simmons, both fine players, though it would seem interceptions are the primary reason. Fitzpatrick and Simmons each have four, Poyer has two.’

‘“It’s gonna be a party. There might be more fans out there than ‘17, you think?” Hyde said to reporters on a Zoom call. “It might be. I want to challenge them to have more fans tonight than ‘17 when we made the playoffs. We wish they could be with us, but it’ll be a party tonight.”’

‘Not since Jim Kelly was handing off to Thurman Thomas and throwing to Andre Reed, Bruce Smith was terrorizing quarterbacks, and Marv Levy was quoting Churchill, have the Bills been able to break out championship T-shirts and ball caps.’

‘I hated how the first half ended. Yes, the Bills got totally jobbed by the officials with a ridiculous roughing call against Milano, but the defense has to overcome that and the Bills playing so much soft coverage throughout that drive against an offense that is far from explosive was just a bad job. As for complaints, that, Roberts’ fumble, and the spate of penalties the Bills committed on offense in the red zone were the only negative things about the game, and none of it mattered as the Bills won by 29 points.’

‘My pick: Bills 26, Broncos 24.’