WGR

‘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.’

‘”The upper decks themselves need to be replaced,” Raccuia said. “The upper decks are $500 million just to replace them. That doesn’t count having to replace all the electric from the original construction, the plumbing, the corridors, the ADA seating… Our estimates to do a renovation is upwards of $1 billion. That doesn’t make sense when you can do a new stadium and it will be much more effective and sustainable long-term for not only the franchise, but the county and state as well.”‘

‘”No body on the outside is going to put more pressure on ourselves than we do, and we expect a lot out of ourselves,” Beane said. “Sometimes that’s not tallying wins and losses. Sometimes you can be a better team, but the way you dealt with injuries in the season, a tough run of the schedule, whatever it is. Everybody is prognosticating how good teams are going to be, but teams are so different every year. … We might look like a tough matchup for someone in November, but we might not be playing our best football then or we might be dealing with some injuries.”‘

‘Several players who have been dealing with injuries were back on the field in some capacity, including defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, cornerbacks Levi Wallace, Taron Johnson and Dane Jackson, as well as wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie.’