Toronto Sun

‘Probably the only incredible takeaway from Monday’s game is that no Bills quarterback since Brady ascended to starter in 2001 has won as many as 15 times on this field, as he has. Tyrod Taylor from 2015-17 won 14 times here, as did Drew Bledsoe from 2002-04.’

‘The 30-year-old practised with teammates on a limited basis from Thursday to Saturday, per the NFL injury report. That in itself suggests McCoy is in the final stages of the league’s five-step return-to-play concussion protocol, because step one is light aerobic exercise, step three introduces strength training, and step four adds non-contact, football-specific activities such as throwing, catching, running.’

‘See, this is what happens when an NFL club makes the incomprehensible decision to keep on its roster a No. 2 quarterback, Peterman, who might max out in intangibles and impress in practices, but who in nearly every opportunity over the past two seasons in games has fallen flat on his face.’

‘With the Bills hoping Peterman might carefully guide them into winning field-goal range before overtime, his numbness between the ears returned once game pressure amplified. He believed again that he has the arm to rip long, barely forward passes into the hands of his receivers between the field-painted numbers and the sideline before defensive backs can arrive.’

‘The Eagles otherwise are left with Darren Sproles, Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood and Josh Adams. Sproles has been out since Week 2 with a hamstring injury and won’t play Thursday night at the New York Giants. Clement is expected to return from a quad injury that has kept him out of the last two Eagles games, both losses.’

‘The sunnier take is the Bills beat the Titans because of a stout defence that, since Week 2, is genuinely gaining in confidence, ferocity and effectiveness by the half – and also because of a rededication by offensive play-caller Brian Daboll to a previously under-utilized run game.’

‘“He was decisive early, and that’s important. It looked like he played with a clear mind, and that’s important for our young players …. There’s going to be a learning process still involved, and you hate it. There are plays that we left out there today, but we learn from it.”’

‘Turns out there is a worse unit in the NFL than the Buffalo Bills offence. It’s the Buffalo Bills defence. And, my, what a smoking, smouldering tire-fire of incompetence and melodrama it’s turned out to be.’

‘If ever in the history of emergency NFL QB switches one required no explanation from the club, this is the one: Buffalo turning to Allen from Peterman. So don’t get all faux-outraged that Bills head coach Sean McDermott refused whatsoever to get into the whys in confirming the switch at his midday Wednesday news conference.’

‘Bills GM Brandon Beane and head coach McDermott obviously had hoped that whatever improvements the team had been seeing from Peterman in spring and summer practices, as well as in some impressive preseason moments, were believable indications that Peterman was now far more capable than he’d shown in that awful first pro start last November.’

‘The NFL conducts its own investigations into such allegations, and – as in the Ezekiel Elliott domestic-violence case resolved last season – says it reserves the right to reach conclusions different from, and irrespective of, those of law enforcement.’

‘“I’ve played in Seattle, Winnipeg, Green Bay and now Buffalo. I like to work close to the Canadian border, apparently,” Ryan told Postmedia, in a locker room interview Sunday night following Buffalo’s 26-13 preseason loss to the visiting Cincinnati Bengals.’

‘But the Bills’ first-team offence couldn’t do a dang thing with its only star offensive player resting with a sore groin and hip, running back LeSean McCoy. His presence wouldn’t have helped much, to be honest.’

‘Ryan, who has missed just one NFL game since leaving the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers after two seasons in 2006, averaged 44.7 yards per punt in his 10 seasons with the Seahawks. Last year he averaged exactly 45 yards per kick.’

‘But clearly, to be named this week’s starter only hours later, the strong-armed Allen must have continued his fast-improving play with the first team at Monday’s practice.’