Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘Against the Ravens and Dolphins combined, the Bills’ defense allowed a 61.5% success rate which would rank as the worst in the league by a huge amount, but then you mix in the Jets’ game and that improves the season rate to 43.2%, though that still ranks a not-so-great 23rd.’

‘Coach Sean McDermott said right offensive tackle Spencer Brown suffered a calf injury in the victory over Miami last Thursday night and he did not practice Wednesday as the Bills got back to work after their mini break.’

‘Jackson Hawes didn’t catch a touchdown in his final season of college football. It only him three games to find the end zone in the NFL. The Buffalo Bills rookie is the No. 1 ranked tight end in the league through Week 3, according to Pro Football Focus.’

‘On this magnificent day, it was very much like old times as the Bills made all the critical plays, the Patriots made all the head-scratching mistakes, and Buffalo pulled off a truly remarkable victory that improved its record to 3-0 and once again began to stir hope that the playoff drought – which was now a mortifying 11 years and counting – might end.’

‘They haven’t lost the turnover battle and also lost the game since Nov. 13, 2023 when they fell to Denver, a streak of 33 in a row.’

‘Broeker, whose gameday ritual includes eating the nougaty chocolate bar and tucking the wrapper inside his left sock, is reunited with the Buffalo Bills two years after they drafted him.’

‘The Buffalo Bills continued to tweak their practice squad on Tuesday, signing linebacker Otis Reese IV. In a corresponding move, Buffalo released cornerback Jalen Kimber from the practice squad.’

‘Sure enough, the Bills crushed the Jets, did enough to beat back a feisty and desperate Dolphins outfit, and now they are confronted with a Saints team that, like those two AFC East rivals, has started the season 0-3 and is coming off a 44-13 Sunday shellacking at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks.’

‘Buffalo has played its last two games without two defensive starters. Cornerback Taron Johnson and defensive tackle Ed Oliver missed the Week 2 blowout win over the New York Jets. In Week 3, Johnson returned but linebacker Matt Milano was out as Oliver remained sidelined as Buffalo defeated the Miami Dolphins.’

‘The Bills lined up Butler, Lewis and Roland Hooks on the right side and they all took off downfield with the intention of Lewis trying to tip the ball to one of the other two. Instead, it was Jets’ cornerback Burgess Owens who got his hand up, but the ball still cooperated as it caromed into Butler’s hands at the Jets’ 30 and he raced to the end zone from there for one of the most improbable TDs ever.’

‘CB Christian Benford: He entered the season considered the Bills far-and-away top cover man and a rising star in the NFL, but he’s had a rather uneven start. He has allowed a reception into his primary coverage area on 11 of 17 targets for 131 yards and three TDs. There was a school of thought that teams would not bother testing Benford because there were other weak spots in the defense to attack, but that hasn’t been the case as the next-most targeted player is nickel CB Taron Johnson with nine.’

‘Hale, an Arizona native, grew up watching Bills games in a Bills backer-type bar in Chandler, southeast of Phoenix, started by a couple from Buffalo in 1979 who served up Buffalo-style chicken wings with blue cheese. His family has been in Arizona “longer than the Cardinals have” and are a mixed bag when it comes to team loyalty. Mom is a Dallas Cowboys fan; dad would rather watch college football. The Bills have a hold on one of Hale’s uncles.’

‘Things weren’t always pretty for Buffalo’s defense, particularly on third down where the struggles were immense and maddening, but just like 2024 when they lived on takeaways, the defense came up with one at the most opportune time.’

‘Cook played 68% of the snaps which is high for him, but the Bills need to continue to lean into that usage because he has become one of the best RBs in the league and needs to be on the field to threaten opposing defenses and perhaps loosen things up in the passing game.’

‘“Yes, he has had some injuries,” Beane said after the signing. “Most of them, if you watch him play, he plays the game violent, he plays reckless without care for his body, which you love, but sometimes, you’ve seen it here with (Matt) Milano a little bit, too, he plays the wrecking ball style. He knows how to rush. He hasn’t lost that.”’