Tag: Amari Cooper

Bills’ Amari Cooper made comment Buffalo will love post-Chiefs win

Bills’ Amari Cooper made comment Buffalo will love post-Chiefs win

The Buffalo Bills haven’t gotten huge numbers from wide receiver Amari Cooper since he was acquired but he is making big plays.

That was evident in the team’s 30-21 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11.

Cooper only caught two passes but one was massive. It was a one-handed snag on the sideline which setup an eventual touchdown run from James Cook.

His catch caught attention from cameras after the game and the recently-added receiver made a comment about his new hometown that the people of Buffalo will love.

After the victory, Cooper commented on how playing for the Bills just feel different… in the most positive of ways.

“This is the first time, in a long time, I’ve felt joy from winning,” Cooper said. “Buffalo is a different kind of place.”

That’s some passion from the former fourth-overall draft pick of the Oakland Raiders, who has also played for the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, and not to mention: The University of Alabama in college.

After hearing the comment, even head coach Sean McDermott felt a type of uplifted way.

“That speaks to our culture and the environment we have here in Buffalo more than anything,” McDermott said via video conference.

Cooper is on an expiring contract at the end of the 2024 season after Buffalo landed him from Cleveland at the NFL trade deadline.

A contract renewal might be an option after his recent thoughts.

Cooper’s full reply can be found in the clip below:

Amari Cooper’s earnest joy after beating the Chiefs doubled as tremendous Browns’ shade

“It’s the first time in a like, long time that I actually felt joy from winning this game.”

Amari Cooper has seen a lot in his decade as an NFL wide receiver.

He came into the league to help spur the then-Oakland Raiders to brief relevance as a contender and back to stasis as an AFC West underdog. He was traded to the Dallas Cowboys, where he was subject to the whims of team owner and de facto general manager Jerry Jones. When Jones could no longer afford him, he took a ride on the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback carousel before a 2024 trade brought him to the Buffalo Bills.

Even though his 2023 Browns qualified for the postseason with a 39-year-old Joe Flacco behind center, it’s clear the five-time Pro Bowler ended up in a better place. He said as much Sunday night after Buffalo’s 30-21 victory over the formerly undefeated Kansas City. It was a statement that showcased gratitude toward the Bills and quiet displeasure with Cleveland.

“It’s the first time in a like, long time that I actually felt joy from winning this game,” Cooper told reporters after Buffalo improved to 8-2. “Just the way we played, from having so many guys on the team who are, you know, playmakers and they come up, they show up when their number is called. Collectively, as a group, it’s just amazing.

“It’s just kind of a different place too, Buffalo, compared to the other places I’ve been to. It’s a tight knit group, I would say. A lot of the guys go out together. They hang around each other 24-7. It truly shows up on the field.”

Brown had two deep receptions for 55 yards in Week 11’s win. While he only has seven catches since being traded in October thanks, in part, to a wrist injury that cost him a pair of games, he’s been a viable deep threat for a team in need of contributors alongside Josh Allen.

Cooper’s played for good quarterbacks before. He’s been on playoff teams. But something in Buffalo appears to be different. Now he’ll have the chance to prove he can be one of those playmakers who steps up as the Bills attempt to shake the postseason woes that have kept them out of the Super Bowl in the Allen era.

Amari Cooper takes subtle jab at Browns after win over Chiefs

Did Amari Cooper take a shot at the Browns?

As the Buffalo Bills handed the Kansas City Chiefs their first loss of the season, wide receiver Amari Cooper took a subtle shot at his former team: the Cleveland Browns.

Speaking to the media in the locker room after the game, Cooper told those in the scrum that this win over the Chiefs was “the first time in a long time that I have felt joy after winning a game.” Meanwhile, the Browns are 2-8 after dropping another ugly game to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

Cooper was traded to the Bills earlier in the season with a sixth round pick in exchange for a third round pick and a seventh round pick. In this game against the Chiefs, Cooper racked up two catches for 55 yards. Since the trade, Cooper has tallied a total of 114 yards and one touchdown on seven catches for the Bills.

The Browns in the meantime have continued to turn to young wideouts Cedric Tillman, Jerry Jeudy, and Elijah Moore who are all experiencing big numbers with Jameis Winston at the helm.

Nothing but the best for Cooper as he plays for a Super Bowl contender.

Bills’ Amari Cooper makes one-handed catch vs. Chiefs (video)

Bills’ Amari Cooper makes one-handed catch vs. Chiefs (video)

The Bills took an early lead on the Chiefs and Amari Cooper played his part.

The receiver made a huge one-handed catch down the sideline for his team right after safety Taylor Rapp recorded an interception against Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes.

Cooper’s grab comes after he was listed on the injury report in recent weeks because of a wrist issue.

After Cooper’s play, running back James Cook eventually rushed in a touchdown. That score put the Bills up 6-0 after a missed extra point by kicker Tyler Bass.

Cooper’s grab can be found in the clip below:

Bills’ Josh Allen says teammates ‘stepped up’ vs. Colts

Bills’ Josh Allen says teammates ‘stepped up’ vs. Colts

A win is a win.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Bills won in all three phases 30-20 on the road against the Colts in Indianapolis.

Buffalo got the job done despite turning the ball over multiple times, which left much to improve upon.

Few knew that better than quarterback Josh Allen.

“We’ve got to have a faster start. We didn’t play our best today, but we’ll take the win,” the QB said. “Four forced turnovers — we’ve got to hold onto the ball a little bit better. We’ll take them how we can get them, and we’ll turn the page tomorrow.”

Allen would go 23 of 37 for 280 yards in the air with 50 yards on the ground.

He also threw a pair of interceptions, putting him at four in the span of the last three games after a stellar start to the year in which he didn’t throw any at all in his first seven contests.

“Guys stepping up, knowing they’re knowing their job, knowing their assignment, and going out there and executing can be cleaner,” he added. “That’s that’s me. So again, just making sure we’re communicating well, and just try again, just trying to hold on to the football. And, you know, we got to play better on offense.”

Playing in front of so many Bills fans in attendance it was practically a home game in the stands, Buffalo was missing receivers Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman. Their scoring got done by way of kicker Tyler Bass’s field goals, along with rushing touchdowns by Allen and starting running back James Cook, and a pick-six interception by corner Taron Johnson.

 

“Just all hands on deck,” head coach Sean McDermott said to the press postgame. “I mean, what else can you say? I would say (offensive coordinator) Joe (Brady), the (offensive coaching) staff, they didn’t flinch. They just kept dialing it up, trying to adjust. I thought the communication at halftime was great by the entire staff.”

This ahead of one of their biggest tests of the season next Sunday, a home game hosting the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs in Orchard Park.

For four-straight games and in seven of their 10 games this season, the Bills have scored 30 points or more, which could matter next week against a Kansas City team that’s only scored that much once this season.

The win against the Colts was the Bills’ first in Indianapolis since 1998, their fifth consecutive win, and they improved to 8-2 overall, their best start since 1993.

And they might possibly have been at 9-1 if not for clock management and playcalling near the end of the club’s matchup against the Houston Texans.

Nonetheless, things remain in perspective for Allen.

“It’s awesome to get eight wins through 10 games. Still got a lot of season left, so we’re not really looking at it as that. It’s just really on to the next one.”

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Bills’ Taron Johnson credits studies for pick six: ‘I’ve seen that play before’

Bills’ Taron Johnson credits studies for pick six: ‘I’ve seen that play before’

The Bills beat the Colts 30-20 on Sunday, thanks in part to an early defensive takeaway by nickel Taron Johnson.

Buffalo had a strong day on defense, and the effort was highlighted by an early pick-six by the corner.

 

Johnson helped to set the tone for the game on the defensive side of the ball with the big play, but also in his overall performance.

He had three tackles, a sack, one tackle for loss, and two pass deflections as well.

“I’m not sure what he was seeing,” Johnson said of opposing QB Joe Flacco’s read on the pick. “But I’ve seen that play before . . . against a different team, and I played it differently. I mean, we [were] in a different call too. In the game I’ve seen it, I played it differently, and I feel like they were expecting me to play it a different way. And, I took the ball. After that, I scanned the field and took it to the house.

I’ve seen that play before… I feel like they were expecting me to play it a different way and took the ball.”

They were also without receivers Keon Coleman and Amari Cooper on offense, so the defense stepped up.

“I know we’re banged up on offense, but the defense came out, and especially in that second half, made a lot of plays, and I feel like that helped us win,” Johnson added.

On the day, the Bills offense had three interceptions total, along with four sacks and two forced fumbles.

Much to the approval of head coach Sean McDermott.

“I thought that the defense and the takeaways was a big time difference in the game, and then also getting momentum back after our turnovers with some key stops and fourth down stops”, McDermott said. “We were able to make them (Colts) one-dimensional, which was important for us. It was a resilient win overall. Very resilient win.”

With Tyler Bass going a perfect six for six, special teams and defense held up their end.

“I think they’re just a very competitive group,” McDermott added. “They take a lot of pride in not letting each other down.”

What should fans expect from Mike Williams’ Week 10 Steelers debut?

With Mike Williams set to debut in Week 10, the Pittsburgh Steelers face questions about his role and impact amid recent WR trade trends.

What a difference a week makes! Heading into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ bye in Week 9, uncertainty surrounded the wide receiver position as a whole. However, GM Omar Khan alleviated these concerns at the November 5 deadline by acquiring WR Mike Williams from the New York Jets.

Fans are now left with a new pair of questions: Will Williams contribute immediately, and if so, what will his impact look like?

If you asked QB Russell Wilson, he might say Williams’ presence will be felt all over the field, as his athletic prowess allows him to do virtually anything. However, OC Arthur Smith is particularly excited about Williams’ potential impact in the run game.

Looking at other similar situations for reference, WR Diontae Johnson, WR Amari Cooper, and former All-Pro WR DeAndre Hopkins all played limited snap counts in their debuts with new teams—averaging around just 30% of snaps played.

Could Williams follow a similar precedent and be used sparingly while he acclimates to the new offense? Or will his physical traits allow the team to utilize him more extensively in Week 10 against the Washington Commanders?

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Dolphins’ Jordan Poyer calls hit on Bills’ Keon Coleman ‘clean’

Dolphins’ Jordan Poyer calls hit on Bills’ Keon Coleman ‘clean’

The Bills were charging downfield on offense in the final minutes of their matchup against the Dolphins Sunday, aiming to score the winning points to break a tie and win the game before the end of regulation.

Buffalo did just that, winning 30-27, and a former Bill even helped them get the opportunity for the victory, albeit at a cost.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen and the offense were making their way downfield in the final minutes of the contest after Miami tied the score at 27 when Allen threw a deep pass toward the left sideline targeting rookie receiver Keon Coleman.

While the pass was incomplete, Dolphins safety and former Bill Jordan Poyer, who returned to Orchard Park for the first time since his seven-year run with Buffalo ended, was whistled for a personal foul as he made helmet-to-helmet contact on the play. The flag kept the drive alive and led to Buffalo winning the game on a 61-yard field goal by kicker Tyler Bass.

Poyer’s helmet crown made contact with Coleman’s facemask, and his helmet also came into contact with the rookie’s right hand during the hit as well, and he appeared to motion toward his arm on his way to the sideline after the play.

Per Syracuse.com, Coleman had a brace on his right wrist and left the game late after the injury.

Poyer said postgame that he believed at the time that the play was clean.

“I’m just playing football. I thought it was a clean play, felt like I put my helmet right into his chest,” he said to the press. “I’m just playing football, it’s tough. … What can you do? I don’t know. I had a great post-break, he went up for the ball and I literally didn’t stop my feet. I felt like I hit him where I was supposed to hit him. Apparently, the ref didn’t think so.”

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel acknowledged that their goal is to play aggressively, though he did not disagree with the penalty call.

“It takes it out of everyone’s hands when you go helmet to helmet,” McDaniel said. “I didn’t see it live, but if there was helmet-to-helmet contact, it is what it is. You have to go strike zone, which is below the neck. So they’ll call that every time if that’s the case.”

Buffalo was down a receiver as recent trade acquisition Amari Cooper had been ruled out ahead of Sunday’s game with an arm injury of his own.

Coleman has been a top receiver for the Bills this season with 22 catches for 417 total yards and two touchdowns.

What Bills’ Josh Allen said after Tyler Bass hit 61-yard game-winner vs. Dolphins

What Bills’ Josh Allen said after Tyler Bass hit 61-yard game-winner vs. Dolphins

The Buffalo Bills sunk the Miami Dolphins in Orchard Park Sunday by a final score of 30-27.

The Bills won a close-fought battle in the final regular season meeting between the two clubs thanks to some late-game heroics by their offense and special teams.

That effort was headlined by kicker Tyler Bass, who delivered a game-winning kick for the ages and the longest in Buffalo Bills history at 61 yards.

 

Immediately after the win, quarterback Josh Allen became emotional during an on-field interview speaking about Bass: “I love that man.”

“So proud of him. So happy for him,” he added during his postgame press conference. “Got emotional in my little postgame speech out there – just the trials and tribulations that he’s been in throughout this year. … A 61-yard field goal to win a game against a division rival, it’s what stories are made of. I love him. I respect him so much. Everybody in that locker room’s so happy for him, and he’s our guy.”

Since the end of last season, Bass has experienced his ups and downs, including this game. He missed an extra point, hit an upright on an extra point, and then delivered the long knockout punch to get the victory.

“That’s why we all love sports, right?” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said to the press after the game.

Bass’s extra point miss came in the third quarter after the Bills took a 12-10 lead on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Allen to WR Mack Hollins on fourth-and-goal. And as it was his third missed PAT of the season, fans may have been concerned if the kicker with some clutch kicks in his career could deliver again.

The Dolphins perhaps knew better, as they’ve seen Bass beat them in the final seconds of a game before.

And in a site that’s become all too familiar, Bass did just that and Buffalo continued its dominance against Miami.

“What a story, man. What a story,” McDermott proudly declared. “I just think overall that here’s a young man that has been going through it and the journey that he’s been on week to week, the questions that have been asked of him, of me … it’s natural, it’s the business we’re in. It’s a great example of mental toughness. I think it’s a great example of perseverance, resilience for young kids out there. Here’s a player that was under the microscope pretty darn hard.”

Bass has endured a challenging season of misses, one in which the teams signed kicker Lucas Havrisik to their practice squad after an Oct. 14 win against the Jets in which Bass missed a field goal and an extra point. The Bills veteran kept the job and had a chance this week to show off the big leg that the club drafted him for in 2020.

“Just reminding myself that, you know, I love this, I love the sport,” Bass said about his mindset and approach. “This is what I’ve dreamed of and when I was out there, I honestly wasn’t thinking about anything. Just went through my process and trusted my preparation. That was it.”
That perspective paid off when it mattered, for the team and the player.
“It means everything,” Bass added about the kick. “Very emotional. Haven’t really processed it yet, but just putting in a lot of work, man, and was just focused on right here, right now, the present and being patient with everything, man. You’re going to go through ups and downs, but just continue to put your best foot forward. We did that today. So just very emotional, I would say.”

McDermott presented the game ball to Bass in the locker room afterward as well, deferring any credit when asked about standing by his kicker.

“He did it. I didn’t do it,” the coach said about the gesture. “I know why you’re asking, but he’s the one who did it. … The questions that were starting to pop up and more and more this year, and then we bring in a kicker to compete with him. He just stayed true to who he is and he stayed true to his process. Even today, (with the) early miss on the extra point. He stayed true to his process. I think that’s very powerful.”

Bills vs. Dolphins: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 9

Bills vs. Dolphins: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 9

The Buffalo Bills (6-2) will host the Miami Dolphins (2-5) in their upcoming Week 9 matchup.

In this divisional clash, the games within the game will make all the difference.

Here are three key matchups to watch during Sunday’s Bills-Dolphins contest:

Keon Coleman/Amari Cooper vs. Miami CBs

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The Dolphins have one of the better cornerback duos in the NFL. Jalen Ramsey is still performing like one of the best in the NFL and Kendall Fuller is no slouch either. According to Pro Football Focus, Ramsey grades as the 13th-best corner in the league while Fuller grades 42nd-best.

They are going to make the Bills’ boundary receivers work for their catches. Insert Coleman and Cooper. We know what Cooper is capable of at wideout, and in the last couple of weeks, Coleman has emerged as well. These two can make catches with the best of them, and with Ramsey and Fuller in coverage, they might need to come down with some contested catches.

De’Von Achane vs. Bills’ front seven

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Running back De’Von Achane is performing well despite Miami’s recent offensive struggles. He has averaged 87 rushing yards and almost seven yards per carry in their last two games. And, when the Bills visited Miami in Week 2, he was the lone bright spot for the Dolphins on offense.

In Week 2 he accounted for 165 yards from scrimmage and scored their only touchdown. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry and caught all seven of his targets.

The Bills have had an up-and-down season defending the run. They’ve had some games where they can’t defend it and some games where they can. In all, they rank middle of the pack in the NFL, allowing 120 yards per game on the ground. Last week, they completely shut down one of the better runners in the league, Kenneth Walker III, so it will be interesting to see which form of the Bills’ run defense shows up in Week 9.

Bills offensive line vs. Dolphins defensive line

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Despite losing standout edge defender Jaelen Phillips to a season-ending injury earlier this year, the Dolphins still have a solid group on the defensive line. Calais Campbell, described by PFF as an “ageless wonder,” is still wreaking havoc on the interior of the line. Zach Sieler is another guy who can move bodies on the interior, but he is questionable with a facial injury.

On the edge, Emmanuel Ogbah and 2024 first-round pick Chop Robinson have shown flashes at times. The Dolphins’ defensive line currently ranks 13th-best in the NFL according to PFF. They have dropped seven spots in the rankings after back-to-back disappointing efforts.

The Bills offensive line is looking elite at the moment, coming off of a one-sack performance against the Seattle Seahawks. They have given up only ten total sacks in 2024 which ranks best in the NFL. According to PFF, the offensive line as a whole currently ranks seventh-best. There will be a lot of talent fighting in the trenches when the Bills are on offense.