Tag: bills raiders

Bills’ Ken Dorsey emotions caught on camera again vs. Raiders

#Bills’ Ken Dorsey emotions caught on camera again vs. #Raiders:

Since Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey took over playcalling duties for Buffalo prior to last season, he’s experienced ups and downs.

In the transition from quarterbacks coach to the booth, he’s been tasked with keeping an offense that had started to achieve a high level of success progressing.

His first year in the role had it’s growing pains, as the offense struggled to find consistency and remain effective at times and critical moments. But it had its bright spots too, as they would still finish second in the NFL in points and yards.

Still, the offense appeared to experience similar struggles to last year in their 2023 season opener against the Jets in New Jersey in NFL Week 1.

In Week 2, the Bills hosted the Las Vegas Raiders for their home opener in Orchard Park, to different results than the week prior. Against the Jets, Dorsey’s playcalling was ineffective and was exacerbated by costly decision-making by QB Josh Allen.

It appears both men made the necessary adjustments ahead of the Week 2 matchup, leading to a 38-10 victory.

Dorsey’s animated reaction celebrating one of the Bills five touchdowns on the day was caught on camera, much like early last season when he took frustration at a failed offensive drive out on an iPad.

“It’s an emotional game,” Dorsey said to the press after the win about the video clip. “I tell Steph all the time you know him and I are probably a lot alike in a lot of ways. This game means a lot to us, and I hope that every single guy that I coach that is in this locker room it means a lot to them too.”

Dorsey was also to the point in talking about how the hard work of his players paying off resonated with him on that emotional level.

“Guys put a lot of work into it and so when they put it on the line with their bodies and their souls every single game and as a coach you get so excited about it and so grateful for that, so you want to be able to celebrate it and enjoy it with those guys too, it’s just sometimes a little harder up in the box.”

A big part of the difference in the Bills’ success on the offensive side of the ball was the improvement in decision-making and play execution by Allen, and his adjustments were noticed by the coach calling his plays.

“He did a great job of working progressions and making good decisions,” Dorsey said. “He did a great job taking the underneath throws. We want to be able to attack all areas of the field and I think it’s important to be able to throw the ball short, intermediate, and deep.”

The Bills offense, which for the past year has seen some forced throws downfield to receivers like Stefon Diggs instead of to open targets, and lacked cohesive run game strategy, was balanced.

“When we got the room that we have, I think we can really work a number of different combinations. All three of those guys complement each other so well,” Dorsey added regarding the versatility and contribution of the Bills running backs and their contributions. “When you’re having first and second down production, whether it’s run or pass, you’re able to stay in those rhythms.”

Dorsey and Allen also spread the ball out and saw needed production and improvement in all phases from the week prior. Allen threw for 274 yards with three touchdowns no turnovers and an 83.8% completion rate with completions to nine different receivers targeted, scoring touchdowns in the air and on the ground using five different players.

The offensive unit was also exceptionally efficient with 12 personnel packages (two receivers, two tight ends, and one running back) going 10 for 15 and averaging 4.47 yards in successfully executed plays in that formation, which they ran 36% of the time against the Raiders, and 50.7% through their first two contests of the season thus far overall. This marks a significant improvement from being one of the lowest usage teams in the NFL last season when it came to two tight end sets.

The team will now look to be able to achieve this type of balanced and efficient offensive attack consistently and will have their first opportunity in Washington D.C. on Sunday September 24th when they face the Commanders.

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Report card: Bills top Raiders, 38-10

Report card: #Bills top #Raiders, 38-10:

The Buffalo Bills defended their home field in Orchard Park on Sunday, where they hosted the first visiting team of the 2023 NFL season, the Las Vegas Raiders.

It was a team win with a number of players and position groups stepping up and playing more at the level expected of them.

The results were a good bounce-back Week 2 victory after dropping the season opener to the Jets last week.

Here’s how Bills Wire graded Buffalo’s performance against the Raiders…

Bills Wire Week 2 Player of the Game: Josh Allen

Bills Wire Week 2 Player of the Game: Josh Allen (via @TejasVemparala):

The Buffalo Bills’ second game of the 2023 NFL season saw the Bills get in the win column at home against the Las Vegas Raiders. Buffalo won 38-10 in a game that they were comfortably ahead for a majority of it, scoring 17 unanswered points in the second half.

With the Bills getting back to winning ways, many players were excellent and any one of them would deservedly be this week’s winner. We are awarding the Player of the Game Award in Week 2 to quarterback Josh Allen, who was 31-for-37 passing with 274 yards and three touchdowns:

The Bills quarterback was instrumental in the team’s offensive success putting together three sustained drives culminating in touchdowns before halftime and not turning over the ball against the Raiders. This performance comes after a tough outing last week, and many praised Allen’s performances during and after the game.

Buffalo will travel to the nation’s capital next week on Sunday, September 24 at 1 p.m. to face the Washington Commanders.

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Raiders sign former Bills DL Quinton Jefferson

DL Quinton Jefferson signs with Las Vegas Raiders after release from Buffalo Bills.

The Las Vegas Raiders signed former Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson. The Raiders announced the move on Wednesday.

According to Raiders Wire, it’s a one-year deal worth up to $4 million with incentives.

Jefferson, along with wide receiver John Brown, was cut by the Bills last week in a salary cap move. Jefferson was slated to have an $8M cap hit for Buffalo in 2021 but the 27-year-old was released in a move that saved the team $6.5M against the cap.

In his lone season with the Bills, Jefferson had 23 tackles, including three for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble.

Pro Football Focus graded Jefferson a 59.1 overall mark in 2020. That was good for the football analytics outlet’s 82nd best defensive tackle grade.

Combined with Brown, Buffalo saved approximately $14M against the cap in both moves.

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Bills have no positive COVID-19 tests despite Raiders contracting it

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott says the team has no COVID-19 positive test results following Las Vegas Raiders meeting.

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Wednesday that the team currently does not have any members of the organization that have tested positive for COVID-19.

Concerns in regard to the Bills potentially having a player contract coronavirus were elevated early this week when the Las Vegas Raiders had players test positive for the virus in the days since the Bills beat them 30-23 on Sunday. Among those two Raiders players, we know one of them… defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, who landed on the Raiders’ reserve/ COVID-19 list on Tuesday, per Raiders Wire. Hurst played in 39 total snaps against the Bills.

In addition to the Raiders-related news, Buffalo’s Week 5 game against the Titans is in further jeopardy because on Wednesday the Titans saw two more players test positive for coronavirus after not having any do so on Monday or Tuesday.

Aside from announcing that the Bills have no positive test results, the coach would not comment much on the situation. McDermott put most of the responsibility in the hands of the NFL, declining to answer several questions about COVID-19 concerns, such as whether or not he is currently comfortable to travel to Tennessee in four days to play against the Titans.

“I’m not going to get into that,” McDermott said via video conference. “I’m a football coach and I’ll leave that to the powers at be.”

While the Titans will not practice on Wednesday, the Bills will, per McDermott.

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Raiders players test positive for COVID-19 days after Bills visit

Buffalo Bills’ Week 4 opponent, the Las Vegas Raiders, see Maurice Hurst, another player, COVID-19 positive test.

Just days after the Buffalo Bills defeated the Raiders, 30-23 in Week 4, Las Vegas has seen two of their players test positive for COVID-19.

According to ESPN’s Diana Russini, a second Raiders player has tested positive for the virus soon after facing the Bills on Wednesday. The first was defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, who landed on the Raiders’ reserve/ COVID-19 list on Tuesday, per Raiders Wire. Hurst played in 39 total snaps against the Bills.

The news on the Raiders comes at the same time that Buffalo’s upcoming opponent, the Tennessee Titans, have had two more positive test results for coronavirus on Wednesday as well. That means the Bills are sandwiched in between two teams who have COVID-19 related headlines, and there’s already speculation that the Titans might be forced to forfeit that game.

But that’s only the start.

In Week 6, the Bills are currently scheduled to play the Chiefs. On Monday, Kansas City hosted the New England Patriots. Also on Wednesday just two days after that, Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore has tested positive for COVID-19 and he played in that game.

So far the Bills’ Week 7 opponent, the Jets, currently do not have any reported cases of COVID-19. But in Week 8, the Bills do also have the Patriots on their schedule as well.

Buffalo’s upcoming road is a rocky one in terms of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Stay tuned to Bills Wire for the latest updates.

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Power rankings: Bills firmly in top-5, clocking as high as No. 2

The Buffalo Bills improved to 4-0 for the first time since 2008, so it’s fair to wonder how that might be reflected in the Week 5 NFL power rankings as other elite teams continue to keep pace. So how did the Bills fare in the pools around the …

The Buffalo Bills improved to 4-0 for the first time since 2008, so it’s fair to wonder how that might be reflected in the Week 5 NFL power rankings as other elite teams continue to keep pace.

So how did the Bills fare in the pools around the league? National media headlines this week would indicate the team is making its presence among the top teams known.

The Bills once more have been dominant on and off the field, appearing at the top of this week’s rankings. One of only four teams at 4-0, the Bills are undefeated and currently sitting 3rd in ESPN’s leaguewide NFL standings. While some have them in a similar position as last week, the team rests in most lists top-five, reaching as high as the 2nd spot in one list.

Here is this week’s power ranking poll roundup for the Bills as they head into Week 5:

USA TODAY

8. Bills (10)

Who was Buffalo’s starting QB last time it started *4-0? Answer: Trent Edwards, who went 7-7 in 2008. I suspect Josh Allen will finish stronger than Edwards did. (*With assist from officials.)

Touchdown Wire

2. Buffalo Bills (4-0. Last week: 3)

If you had said before the season that Bills quarterback Josh Allen would be a legitimate MVP candidate after the first four games, you would have seen more than your share of skepticism. But Allen’s out-of-nowhere hot streak continued unabated in a 30-23 win over the Raiders on Sunday. Allen, who completed 24 passes in 34 attempts for 288 yards, two passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, and no interceptions, became the second quarterback in NFL history with at least two touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown in three of his team’s first four games of a season.

The other guy? Steve Grogan, for the 1976 Patriots. Bet you didn’t expect that!

Also, Allen scored the 20th rushing touchdown of his career in his 32nd NFL game, and only Cam Newton (27 games) reached that mark more quickly.

Here’s Touchdown Wire colleague Mark Schofield with more on how Allen is taking it to every defense he faces. If the Titans can manage to get back on the horse, they are the next team to face this.

Sports Illustrated 

4. Buffalo Bills (4-0)

Last week: Win at Las Vegas 30-23
Next week: at Tennessee

Josh Allen’s growing, Stefon Diggs is balling, and Buffalo’s pulling on all cylinders right now. We’ll see if they get to show in Nashville this week—no certainty yet given the circumstances there.

NFL.com

4. Buffalo Bills (4-0)

Previous rank: No. 6

Lost amidst the buzz over Josh Allen’s huge Year 3 leap: A suspect start by Buffalo’s defense, one of the league’s strongest units in 2018 and ’19. The defense struggled again early against the Raiders on Sunday before delivering a vintage second half — forcing a punt and two turnovers in an eventual 30-23 win. The Bills are 4-0 because they no longer need the defense to be perfect to win games. The Allen-led offense hums week after week, and Stefon Diggs proved again why he was the best offseason acquisition made by any team in 2020. His 49-yard catch, coming immediately after a Raiders turnover, set up the game-clinching score. There’s nothing fluky about this start.

Pro Football Talk

3. Bills (No. 4; 4-0)

The Josh Allen injury scare underscores how important he is to the team; his replacement is (checks notes) Matt Barkley.

Sporting News

4. Buffalo Bills 4-0 (5)

The Bills have now put together two impressive wins over the Rams and Raiders because of Josh Allen playing at an MVP level a notch below Wilson. The tests will keep on coming with the Titans and the Chiefs next.

Yahoo! Sports

4. Buffalo Bills (4-0, LW: 3)

The Bills have been good, but there is still room for improvement. The Raiders had more yards and first downs on Sunday, but the Bills forced some well-timed turnovers and made some big plays to get the win. This team is going to get better as the season goes on. There’s a lot of talent, a good coaching staff and they have a 4-0 start in their back pocket.

CBS Sports

4. Bills

Winning on the road the way they did at Las Vegas shows how good they are this season. Now they face another tough road test at Tennessee against the undefeated Titans.

Bleacher Report

6. Buffalo Bills (4-0)

High: 4

Low: 7

Last Week: 6

Week 4 Result: Won vs. Las Vegas Raiders 30-23

It’s been a long time since the Buffalo Bills were a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

But after watching them peel off four straight wins to open the 2020 season, it’s hard to view the Bills as anything else.

The driver of Buffalo’s hot start is undoubtedly quarterback Josh Allen, who has played at an MVP level over the first month of the season. Head coach Sean McDermott raved about the growth he’s seen from Allen in his third season.

“He’s a competitive sucker, and he loves to win,” McDermott told the media. “I can’t say enough about him. He loves to play the game, loves to win, and he puts his heart and soul and body into everything in this game. How could you not love him as a teammate?”

Allen has impressed our analysts as well.

“I never thought I’d find myself saying this,” Davenport said. “But Allen might be the best quarterback from the class of 2018—a class that includes the reigning MVP in Lamar Jackson. The arrival of Stefon Diggs has taken Allen’s development to a whole other level, and his decision-making has improved markedly. Russell Wilson has company in the MVP race.”

ESPN

5. Buffalo Bills (4-0)

Week 4 ranking: 5

FPI chance to make playoffs: 91.7%

This is about where it should be. The Bills are for real this season, with a high-octane offense powered by an early MVP candidate in Josh Allen. The only thing keeping this number from being even higher is Buffalo’s defensive struggles through four games, but that unit showed serious signs of life during a Week 4 win over the Raiders. The Bills have the seventh-hardest remaining schedule according to FPI, but if this defense can return to the top-three form we’ve seen from it each of the past two seasons, Buffalo will be contending for an AFC title — and possibly a Super Bowl.

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PODCAST: Bills dominate Raiders; Titans or Chiefs next on the schedule?

Buffalo Bills Wire podcast on Week 4 win vs. Las Vegas Raiders and uncertain schedule coming up.

The Buffalo Bills are off to a solid 4-0 start after a 30-23 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. There were seldom any moments where the Bills team were at risk of losing control, and the Bills seemed relatively effective in all phases of the game.

The Bills quickly took control of the game, with two touchdowns in as many drives, with quarterback Josh Allen hitting receivers Gabriel Davis and Cole Beasley for scores, and the Bills had a commanding 14-3 lead in the first quarter. Allen was successful in spreading the ball around to his various weapons again, a sign of Brian Daboll’s play-calling and ability to keep defenses uneasy on who to protect.

Vegas made things interesting though, scoring a touchdown at the end of the first half, keeping things close for a possible Bills defensive collapse in the second half, as we have seen in the first three games. It never came to fruition.

The defense came alive in the fourth quarter, rallying behind cornerback Josh Norman, who played in his first game as a Bill. Norman was put on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury and missed the first three weeks, but came up big and brought much needed energy to this defensive unit. The veteran cornerback had a big fumble recovery after a hit on Darren Waller, and the Bills defense never looked back.

As of now, it is presumed that the Bills will play the 3-0 Tennessee Titans next week, but after a week of positive COVID tests, the game may be postponed. Depending on how the NFL decides to restructure the schedule, the Bills next opponent may be the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday Night Football in two weeks. Stay tuned to Bills Wire for those updates.

Regardless, join podcast host Matt Johnson as he’s joined by contributing writer David De Cristofaro for this week’s episode of the Bills Wire Billscast:

Subscribe

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Josh Allen updates injury following Bills win over Raiders

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen updates shoulder injury following Las Vegas Raiders win.

Josh Allen continues to lead his team to victory and another big day has the Buffalo Bills at 4-0 for the first time since 2008. The Bills have been trending upwards, though this week’s 30-23 road win over the Las Vegas Raiders was not without some concern. 

On third-down late in the second quarter, Allen made a heads-up play on a pitch to wide receiver Stefon Diggs as he was tackled that set up a 34-yard field goal.

After watching Allen guide the Bills to victory, it could be expected that he’s fine. But just a few days ago on Thursday, the national spotlight was on the Jets and their quarterback in Sam Darnold. In a similar scenario, Darnold injured a shoulder, returned to the game, but now might be out for an extended period. 

However, following the game, Allen added to the belief that he could be fine while chatting via video conference. 

“It’s good, it’s good,” Allen said. “I just kind of landed on it a little funky… Just the left shoulder hurts, it’s not the right one, you know, thank God… I’ll be alright, it’s no big deal, I got to play through the pain and will obviously get some treatment on it probably this week, but it shouldn’t inhibit anything.”

Allen completed the throw while being hit by Raiders cornerback Keisean Nixon. He was injured on the play when a later hit came by way of Las Vegas defensive end Arden Key.

Key grabbed Allen’s facemask and dove on top of him, while Allen’s shoulder was pinned beneath him. The QB held his non-throwing arm in some pain while making his way off the field.

Thankfully after briefly visiting the medical tent on Buffalo’s sideline, Allen returned sporting a support sleeve on his left shoulder. 

The Bills breathed a collective sigh of relief when Allen then re-entered the game just prior to the half. He’d go on to lead two more scoring drives later in the game, the second of which included his longest toss of the season, a 49-yard bomb to Diggs.

While onlookers were probably scared stiff looking at Allen clinch his arm, it sounds like they might have been alone in that sentiment. Following the win, several of the Bills quarterback’s teammates, including wide receiver Cole Beasley and running back Devin Singletary, were not surprised Allen gutted it out.  

“That’s our general. It’s not a surprise you know that he fought through that… That he came back out and helped us get that W,” Singletary said via video conference. 

Unfortunately none of these guys are actually doctors, though. But regardless, Allen giving a positive outlook only a short time after the injury is certainly a welcomed update. 

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5 takeaways from the Bills’ 30-23 win over the Raiders

Takeaways from the Buffalo Bills’ Week 4 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Buffalo Bills have a knack for making things interesting, don’t they?

In a contest that got a little too close for comfort once again, the Bills hung on as they topped the Raiders 30-23 in their first ever trip to Las Vegas in Week 4.

En route to the victory, we saw another strong day from the offense while the defense did make good plays, but was leaky as well. Regardless, it’s another notch in the win column as Buffalo remains undefeated in 2020.

With that, here are five takeaways from the Bills’ win over the Raiders:

This offense is unfazed

The Bills offense once again showed they have arrived during a clutch moment. How many times in the past have the Bills… not only been a let down, but you could feel the let down coming? A thing or two goes wrong, and you can almost see the flood gates about to open? In back-to-back weeks, the Bills offense has instead slammed the door shut on an opponent who were crawling back into a game and quarterback Josh Allen played a big part in rallying the troops.

Once again this came at the expense of a terrible third quarter, but nonetheless, the offense bailed this defense out. After holding a 17-6 lead, the Raiders scored on a three-yard pass from quarterback Derek Carr to tight end Jason Witten just before halftime, and then followed that up with a field goal after the mid-point of the game. That brought the score to 17-16.

After punting one time to start the second half, the Bills put up back-to-back touchdown drives to put the Raiders away. Again, it was awkwardly close in the final score, but the Raiders put up a late score in garbage time.

This is not the type of Bills team folks are used to seeing, but this squad has become convincing that they can do this on a pretty consistent basis.

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