[jwplayer digsn7wj]
Look no further than the AFC East standings and you’ll see it. So far this season, the Buffalo Bills are a better than the New England Patriots.
Sitting at 2-4 overall, the Patriots aren’t even close to the Bills in the division. In fact, the Dolphins are at 3-3. New England isn’t even in second place behind the 5-2 division-leading Bills.
All things considered, it could be a massive opportunity for the Bills to make a statement in their first meeting with the Pats this season. Another loss and the Pats would have a hard time making up ground in the AFC East. The Wild Card would still be there, but not the division.
As enticing as that thought is for Bills fans who’ve put up with the Patriots’ dominance for two decades, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott is acting more like New England would in this scenario.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is known for masterfully saying nothing. The difference is that Belichick, quite literally, says nothing. McDermott says words, but there’s little weight in them.
For example, McDermott was essentially asked about the opportunity to bury the Pats and their AFC East title dreams on Sunday. The Bills’ bench boss was having nothing to do with it.
“We’re focused on one game right now,” McDermott said via video conference. “We’re in October… late October, early November, and that’s really what we’re focused on right now.”
“You’ve got to prove yourself every week in the NFL,” McDermott added.
While perhaps judgmental of McDermott, it’s pretty status quo for the way NFL coaches react to such notions. McDermott is going to act the way he wants his team to act on the field, like getting the win is the only thing that matters week in and week out.
Plus, McDermott’s been topped by New England during his tenure with the Bills… in fact, he’s never beaten them. Having said that, he’s gone three seasons without a win against them. Not exactly as hard of a pill to swallow as… you know… decades. So him not jumping for joy at this opportunity ahead like fans might do makes sense.
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