WGR

‘Perhaps the defense is cracking under the strain of having to carry this team and knowing they have very little margin for error. In addition to losing one on one battles, there were breakdowns in coverage and missed tackles. A defense that had 11 takeaways and 15 sacks in the last four games came up with a goose egg in both of those categories against Indianapolis, which snapped a four game losing streak. It marked the first time since Sean McDermott took over as head coach that his defense was shutout in sacks and takeaways in the same game.’

‘Of course plenty of other things happened which cost the Bills, but they were trailing only 6-0 and moving the ball well when Clay fumbled it away at the Colts’ 22 yard line and Indianapolis recovered. Then they scored another touchdown on the ensuing drive. Had Clay held on to the ball there, you can’t help but think how things might have played out a bit differently.’

‘The Bills’ defense has been among the best in the league over the last four weeks. After a rough start to the season, they’ve done a complete 180-degree turn and have, for the most part, shut offenses down, or at least kept them in check enough to give their own offense a chance to win a low-scoring game. They are finally getting to the passer and creating turnovers the way they had hoped. But Sunday presents a much different challenge in Colts’ QB Andrew Luck, who is on pace to shatter the all-time record for pass attempts in a season. And it looks like he will have his No. 1 go-to wide receiver T.Y. Hilton available after Hilton missed time dealing with a hamstring injury.’

‘Both Foster (from Alabama) and Phillips (Virginia Tech) were added to the Bills this offseason as undrafted rookie free agents. Foster made the 53-man roster out of training camp, while Phillips wound up on the Bills practice squad.’

‘Phillips was brought in this preseason as an undrafted rookie free agent from Virginia Tech. Phillips was stashed onto the Bills practice squad after losing out to Foster for a spot on the 53-man roster.’

‘”You know I worry about (Josh) Allen. I think that he’s going to be a great quarterback but he’s not ready yet. And I worried he was going to get the injury, and he got another injury… They needed a Derek Anderson earlier than later. I’m just glad they now have Derek Anderson to put in there and at least give Allen a chance to recover.”‘

‘Originally a sixth round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2005 NFL Draft, Anderson has played twelve NFL seasons with the Browns, Cardinals, and Panthers, last serving in a backup role in Carolina to Cam Newton for the first seven years of Newton’s career. His last start came on December 4, 2016. Last season, Anderson appeared in only three games, throwing only eight passes. For his career, Anderson has started 47 games, throwing 60 touchdowns and 60 interceptions.’

‘”They stayed with the run the most in Marlon Mack’s first game back, even when they were down two and three scores. [Head coach] Frank Reich is a big Mack fan. The Colts were using two rookies early in the season.”‘

‘Wilson was called one of the city’s “greatest champions” by Mayor Byron Brown; “…his vision illuminated our landscape and his humanity enriched our community.”‘

‘McDermott did not make his plan clear for who would start at quarterback on Monday, but there are some growing thoughts that it could be veteran quarterback Derek Anderson under center for the Bills in Indianapolis.’

‘“It’s something we’re working through right now. (We’re) working through that with our offensive staff,” McDermott said.’

‘You’ve been doing this a long time, it’s such a long season and there are so many ups and downs over the course of a season. I don’t know if I could point to one thing, I just know that it’s a long season, and where we are today, you just want to keep building on where we are. Just keep building and improving; that’s the goal.’

‘The Bills defense now ranks seventh in the league in defensive efficiency or DVOA (defensive-adjusted value or average). After seven sacks against the Texans, they’re now in the top-five in the league with 19 sacks. They’re top-10 in passes defended. They’re also at the very top of the league in fumbles forced.’

‘”It was a good day, not a great day. A great day would have been closing out that win.”‘

‘The loss buried a gem of a performance from the Bills defense. The defense wound up with 7 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and allowing only 13 points to the Texans. The Bills also held off the Texans at the BUF 1 yard line after a 41 yard pass interference penalty.’