WGR

‘Even into the fourth quarter, you might have had a lot of company if you were thinking one big play from the Bills offense and everything would get right in our little football world.’

‘There were three big plays in the game, and all three went in Pittsburgh’s favor. Two of the three did not involve the Bills offense, but a bad performance from the offensive line and an off day by quarterback Josh Allen are clearly the main reasons why the Bills are 0-1 to start the 2021 season.’

‘Buffalo’s first offensive drive of the third quarter saw the team advancing into Pittsburgh territory, but instead of settling for a long field goal attempt by Bass, the Bills attempted to go for it on a 4th-and-8 play. At the Steelers’ 35-yard line, Allen fired a pass down the field intended for Davis, but his pass was knocked away.’

‘While the Bills held a 10-0 lead heading into the locker room at halftime, things fell apart for Buffalo in the second half, as the Steelers executed their game plan well with some efficient play in all three phases of the game.’

‘However, it’s hard not to wonder whether bringing back the same offensive line from 2020 – that struggled mightily, at times – was the best idea.’

‘Bills head coach Sean McDermott elected to punt on two different fourth down situations that he could have gone for – first on a 4th-and-1 from his own 46-yard line, then on 4th-and-3 from the Steelers’ 43 one drive later. Quarterback Josh Allen was even imploring his head coach to go for it both times.’

‘The Bills made a major and concerted effort this offseason to add to their defensive line, and specifically to improve their pass rush. They drafted ends Gregory Rousseau and Boogie Basham with their first two picks, and also signed Efe Obada as a free agent from the Carolina Panthers, not to mention 2020 second round pick (first pick for the team that draft) A.J. Epenesa, who had what almost amounted to a redshirt year last season due to no minicamps or preseason. Right off the bat, this group will go against a Steelers’ offensive line that includes two rookies and a lot of question marks. Given all the resources the Bills have spent remaking their defensive front, the unit needs to make those investments pay off immediately.’

‘”It will test us, especially earlier in the game and throughout the game as a staff and as our defensive players are concerned as well,” McDermott said in his first weekly appearance on the “Extra Point Show” with Sal Capaccio and “Sneaky Joe” DiBiase on Friday. “We can only go on what we’ve seen, and certainly he’s got some unknowns and, I’m sure, some things up his sleeve that are going to test us. We’re going to have our work cut out for us.”‘

‘“They don’t know how much we’re looking forward to it,” he said with Howard Simon and Jeremy White. “We missed the fans so much. It was weird not having them. We’re more than excited to have them back in the building.”’

‘”[Oliver] has definitely matured as player,” Frazier. “You can see his growth. We’re all watching his maturation, it’s been a process and it’s been really good. You can see him really ascending as a player. Having an offseason has been really good for Ed [Oliver]….Yes, we’ve seen tremendous growth throughout the entire offseason. He’s had a good training camp, a good preseason, I expect to have a really good season as well.”‘

‘“No question. I remember when [Allen] came out of Wyoming, and I remember the comparisons then, and I saw that in him then,” Tomlin said. “So I’m not surprised by the comparisons, not surprised by his skillset and the things he’s capable of doing, [as well as] the style of game he plays.’

‘The only player not in attendance for the early media-viewing portion of the session was defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, who has been dealing with a calf injury. Prior to practice, head coach Sean McDermott said Lotulelei would either not practice or do so on a limited basis.’

‘Those eight players include quarterback Josh Allen, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, and special teamers Reid Ferguson, Taiwan Jones and Tyler Matakevich.’

‘Jones, one of the most influential owners in the National Football League, started by comparing the Bills to the Green Bay Packers, as far as their history and importance to the league. “Buffalo has a special place,” he said. “All of those AFL teams have a special place, just like Green Bay does. So to me, my wish would be that they work something out and stay there.”‘

‘”I’m a routine guy, so I’m trying to get kind of my handle on this week and making sure I’m in the right spot, and what we’re working on and what we’re supposed to be working on and serving our team the best way that I can. So I’m figuring it out just like everybody else here,” McDermott said with the assembled media at One Bills Drive.’