Tag: Broncos

Josh Allen predicts Bills’ win total needed for playoff berth

Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, LB Lorenzo Alexander and head coach Sean McDermott on wins needs for playoffs, Denver Broncos.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is prepping for the Denver Broncos with his teammates this week. With a win over the 3-7 visitors at New Era Field on Sunday, Allen’s team will be 8-3 overall on the year.

But the second-year QB knows the job won’t be done there.

In order to get his team into the postseason for the second time in three years and the first time in his career, Allen put a number on it.

While admitting he and his teammates are guilty of “keeping an eye on” the scoreboard around the AFC playoff picture, Allen predicted it will take double-digit wins to crack the playoffs on Wednesday.

“Ultimately, at the end of the day, I think you need to get at least 10 wins to get into the playoffs,” Allen said. “I know we got six or seven games left, whatever it is. We got to win some more games to kind of get in there. Whether we have an opportunity to make the playoffs, I think we’ve got a good opportunity in front of us right now.”

Naturally Allen didn’t want to get too far ahead of himself, though.

“Guys aren’t looking forward, we’re not talking about it, we’re taking it one week at a time, trying to win a football game this week,” Allen said.

While four games under a .500 mark, the Broncos will be among the better opponents the Bills have faced this year. At least, in terms of their defense.

After five weeks, the Broncos defense was the No. 15 unit in the NFL. Middle of the pack. Since then, they’ve blossomed into the fourth-best unit. The Bills’ stout defense ranks third.

While the Bills are a 7-3 for the first time since 1999, the group is planning to do their best in not worry about those types of figures at all. Veteran linebacker Lorenzo Alexander, like the youthful quarterback, only has the Broncos in mind even with the standings looming.

“Anytime you start looking past teams, you can get bitten,” Alexander said. “This Broncos team can come up and bite us.”

That type of message is coming from the top, down, as well. This week-to-week approach isn’t anything new for various NFL coaching staffs, with Sean McDermott being no different. He compared his team’s postseason approach in 2017 to their current one this week.

“We took it week to week back then, we take a week to week now,” McDermott said. “A lot of [his message] has remained the same because I believe in it.  And then, I’m hoping that I’ve gotten better with age, as well and experience.”

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Bills vs. Broncos: Wednesday injury reports

Injury reports for both the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos ahead of their Week 12 meeting at New Era Field.

The Bills will do battle with the Denver Broncos at New Era Field in Week 12.

Here are early injury reports from Wednesday for both teams ahead of the meeting:

Denver Broncos (3-7)

Did not practice

  • OL Dalton Risner (ankle)
  • C Connor McGovern (back)
  • OL Ron Leary (shoulder/ neck)
  • LB Joe Jones (foot)
  • LB Justin Hollins (hamstring)
  • WR Tim Patrick (shoulder)

Limited

  • OL Ja’Wuan James (knee)
  • TE Jeff Heuerman (knee)

Notes:

Dalton Risner, Connor McGovern and Ron Leary are all starters on the Broncos’ offensive line. … Tim Patrick returned from injury last week and could be sitting out as a precaution. … Ja’Wuan James started at right tackle last week for the Broncos, but Denver head coach Vic Fangio said on Wednesday “it could be this week or next week.”

Buffalo Bills (7-3)

Did not practice

  • OL Ty Nsekhe (ankle)
  • S Siran Neal (concussion)
  • DE Jerry Hughes (groin)

Notes:

Buffalo head coach Sean McDermot labeled Ty Nsekhe as “week-to-week” so he’s unlikely to play vs. the Broncos and rookie Cody Ford would start in his place. … Jerry Hughes played in Week 11 vs. the Dolphins despite being questionable with the same groin injury heading into the game. … Siran Neal exited Buffalo’s Week 11 game.

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Bills OL Ty Nsekhe listed as week-to-week

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott listed offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe as “week-to-week” with an ankle injury ahead of the team’s Week 12 meeting with the Denver Broncos.

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott listed offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe as “week-to-week” with an ankle injury ahead of the team’s Week 12 meeting with the Denver Broncos.

Nsekhe was carted off the field after a Miami Dolphins defender landed awkwardly on the back of his leg during the Bills’ Week 11 37-20 win.

Without Nsekhe in the lineup, rookie Cody Ford will likely take the bulk of the snaps at right tackle for the Bills. According to Pro Football Focus, Ford has had a tough start to his career.

Ford’s overall grade via the analytics outlet is a 53.7 this season, landing in the outlet’s “below average” category. On the flip side, Nsekhe has steadily improved via PFF’s grades this year and ranks as an “above average” lineman with a grade of 67.3.

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Backhanded compliment from Broncos’ Chris Harris Jr? CB talks ‘positive’ on Josh Allen

Denver Broncos CB Chris Harris said he’s going to ‘keep it positive’ on Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen.

When the Bills host the Denver Broncos on Sunday in Week 12, will it be another week of proving doubters wrong for Buffalo’s second-year quarterback in Josh Allen?

If there’s one player on the Broncos that doesn’t sound sold on Allen, it’s cornerback Chris Harris Jr.

On Monday, Harris chatted with local reporters. He previewed his meeting against Allen and the Bills. He started his comments in a status quo style. They ended with smirks.

“I think he’s solid,” Harris said. “He’s a really good quarterback. He uses his legs, he’s playing smart, they’re doing a lot of no-huddle with him, he’s moving around in the pocket and he can make all the deep throws.”

Yawn.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

“If I can give him a little… I don’t want to actually,” Harris curiously said with a grin and chuckle. “I’m going to say all positive about him today.”

An oft-made comparison with Allen is the one made to quarterback Cam Newton. The Panthers quarterback is out this year, but the Broncos beat Newton in the Super Bowl during his MVP season. Harris was part of that team.

But that comparison is rubbish, says Harris. The defensive back admitted he thought Newton was “real” while Allen is not.

“No [he’s not similar to Newton]. (Allen) can run, though,” said Harris. “Other than that, he’s not really like Cam. They might do a quarterback draw-designed run, but Cam was for real.

“(The Panthers) had designed runs like Lamar Jackson for him because he was so elusive with the real run plays that they had for him,” Harris added.

From there, Harris concluded his press conference with one more “I’m going to keep it positive on Josh Allen.”

While Harris had some questionable comments, safety Justin Simmons was more complimentary of Allen and the Bills, by comparison.

“Josh Allen is a really talented quarterback,” Simmons said. “He can make all the throws, he has a strong arm, a really good build. He runs hard and fast.

“They’ve got a good team, they’re 7-3 for a reason,” he added.

While Allen could be motivated by some remarks such as these, it’s not going to be easy to impress this Broncos secondary. Overall, the Broncos sit as the fourth-best defense in the NFL. Buffalo’s defense is third.

Also by comparison, Harris had a much quicker interview, lasting about three minutes on Monday. Those interested in hearing his remarks can do so below. His comments on Allen and the Bills begin at the 2:00 mark:

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8 things to know about the Bills’ Week 12 opponent, the Broncos

Eight things to know about the Denver Broncos, the Buffalo Bills’ Week 12 opponent.

The Bills (7-3) host the Denver Broncos in their Week 12 matchup at New Era Field.

Here are eight things to know about their upcoming opponent:

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton. Credit: David Berding-USA TODAY Sports

A true No. 1

The Bills found themselves a true top-wideout in John Brown. Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton is neck-and-neck with Brown this year. Brown has 56 catches for 817 yards, that’s good for the ninth-most yards of any receiver in the NFL and most for any in the AFC. Sutton is right behind him, but has less catches so he’s a big more of a deep-threat guy. Sutton has 39 grabs for 805 yards. Both players have four touchdowns this year.

But in Sutton, he leaves a bad taste in one’s mouth. While you consider Brown better perhaps because of your fandom for the Bills, consider this: If you also think Josh Allen is a good quarterback, you can admit Sutton’s thriving with much worse QB play this season with Joe Flacco and Brandon Allen. The bad taste comes from his draft status. He was the Broncos No. 40 pick in the second-round of 2018. Perhaps the Bills could’ve waited a year and not taken Zay Jones at No. 37 in 2017?

Pro Football Focus also ranks him as the seventh-best wideout in the NFL current (86.4).

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Oddsmakers: Bills given edge at home vs. Broncos

Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos Week 11 spread, odds, over/ under.

The Bills are sitting as 3.5-point favorites against the Denver Broncos ahead of their Week 11 meeting at New Era Field, according to BetMGM.

The Broncos were all but eliminated from the postseason in Week 11, falling to 3-7 on the year following a loss to the Vikings. Buffalo jumped to a 7-3 record after taking a comfortable win on the road against the Dolphins.

While not sitting pretty, the Broncos haven’t had many ugly games this season. Of their seven losses, five were within one score.

Plus the Broncos defense has actually flown up the charts this season as they’re currently the fourth-best defense in the NFL, despite their record. Buffalo sits at third.

Denver is scoring an average of 17.2 points per game this season and Buffalo is averaging 21.1 points per game. Combined, that’s an average of 38.3 points per contest, which would be slightly over this week’s over/under line of 37.5.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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PODCAST: Has the Bills offense made a turnaround?

Bills Wire Buffalo Bills podcast recap of the team’s Week 11 win over the Miami Dolphins.

The Buffalo Bills went down to Miami and took care of the business, squishing the “fish”(mammals) in their second encounter of the season with a score of 37-20. It was the most points accrued by this Bills offense all season, and they shined in all aspects. Mustached Buffalo offense coordinator Brian Daboll got it done.

Despite what their record may say, Mimai was a valiant team, and had been riding high on a two-game win streak, but the Bills slowed them down. There were a few moments where the Dolphins had opportunities to take over the game, but they could not capitalize.

Miami only attempted to rush a mere 13 attempts for 23 yards, a questionable decision since rushing up the middle worked to their advantage in the first encounter.

The offense for Buffalo was essentially fan service against Miami, and the Bills social media crowd got their way. Devin Singletary was the primary running back, getting key downs and leading the rushing yardage. Quarterback Josh Allen heaved the ball around, hitting wideout John Brown for two touchdown passes, further cementing Brown’s roster spot for years to come. Brown, who many have only viewed as “just a deep ball guy” has shown that he can be the No. 1 receiver that the team has desperately needed for a long time.

Billswire Podcast Hosts Matt Johnson and Jeremy Juhasz explore the big win in Miami, and look ahead ahead toward Denver next week:

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NFL release list of 11 teams attending Colin Kaepernick’s workout in Atlanta

The NFL Thursday released a list of 11 NFL teams that will attend Colin Kaepernick’s workout in Atlanta Saturday.

The NFL Thursday released a list of 11 NFL teams that will attend Colin Kaepernick’s workout in Atlanta Saturday.