Tag: buffalo bills vs. carolina panthers

Bills’ Matt Barkley: Team was focused on game vs. Panthers

#Bills’ Matt Barkley: Team was focused on game vs. #Panthers:

The Buffalo Bills saw their preseason win streak broken Friday night by the Carolina Panthers, with a final score of 0-21.

As these games are used to assess talent and players in different game action scenarios to evaluate which players to keep or cut to trim down the roster, they do not impact the team’s regular season record.

But that does not mean the game does not matter to those playing it.

“We’re focused on winning a football game and that was our goal tonight,” Bills backup QB Matt Barkley said while addressing the media after the game.

When asked what it’s like going into a preseason game situation with players trying to perform and make cuts with off-the-field issues surrounding the team looming, Barkley spoke to the need to still focus during gameplay on the field.

The team was in the headlines prior to kickoff, as allegations surfaced involving rookie punter Matt Araiza.

As such, the team was tasked with still being able to navigate the gravity of such a situation to still commit attention to the game they need to play.

“I think it just comes down to compartmentalizing and focusing on winning the game like I said that was our mindset and that’s where guys had to be,” the QB shared. “I mean it wasn’t good losing a game like that, scoring no points, so wasn’t the best mood.”

When asked whether he’s talked to Araiza yet, the QB said he’d not, but may soon.

“Probably, but we’ll see when that happens.”

When asked about the allegations, Barkley made it clear

“I’d rather not discuss my reaction or talk about it, I mean again I know it’s a work in progress and there’s a lot to work through,” he responded. “I’d rather leave it at that”

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbw1j59gmjw5gdj player_id=none image=https://billswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[lawrence-related id=104446,104733,104697]

Bills’ Matt Barkley on punting: ‘It is not something I’ve ever practiced’

#Bills’ Matt Barkely on punt: ‘It is not something I’ve ever practiced’

With only hours’ notice, Matt Barkley did something he had never done before in Friday’s contest against the Carolina Panthers.

He booted a 53-yard punt, much to the surprise of fans and media alike.

After the game, Barkley was asked if he knew he’d be asked to punt or whether that’s something he had ever practiced.

“It is not something I’ve ever practiced, and I knew right before the game” that he’d be asked to punt, Barkley said. “They came to me and asked.”

The backup QB punted four times for 160 yards in the 21-0 loss to the Panthers. As a passer, he went 9/13 for 100 yards and no TDs.

Despite the loss, Barkley did manage to crack a smile and a joke when asked about the 53-yard boot.

“Yeah, it’s a career best, so I’ll take that,” he said.

“I think I hit that so bad that it ended up being good. Rolled, bitcoin bounced,” the cryptocurrency enthusiast quipped.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbw1j59gmjw5gdj player_id=none image=https://billswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[lawrence-related id=104733,104697,104694]

Bills’ Efe Obada makes his mark against former team and QB Cam Newton

#Bills’ Efe Obada makes his mark against former team and QB Cam Newton:

Bills DE Efe Obada took the road less traveled to the NFL.

Born in Nigeria and raised in the UK, he joined the Bills on a one-year deal this past offseason.

Obada first made his way into the league by way of the International Pathway Program, playing for the London Warriors before making the leap across the pond to spend the first few years of his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers. 

While there, he had a chance during practice to get some reps going after QB Cam Newton before he joined New England, and would go on to log 5.5 sacks in gameplay last season for Carolina.

This past Sunday he had the opportunity to go full throttle after Newton, and it was one he made the most of.

Obada had two of the Bills four sacks of Newton sacks in their 31-14 over his former team. After the game, he spoke about what the experience was like.

“When I was playing with him, he used to have that red jersey, so that was the quickest ride to go home if you hit him,” Obada said while addressing the media. “But no, it just felt really good to hit him now. I asked for his jersey, so I’m putting that out here now, so I can hold him accountable.”

The DE’s pair of sacks came only one play a part on in the fourth quarter. On 2nd-and-10, he wrapped up Newton for an eight-yard loss. Then when Carolina went for it on 4th-and-10 from the Buffalo 46, Obada got him again for a second time and another eight-yard loss.

“Just trying to do my job, beat my guy,” he continued. “Came around the edge on the second one. The first one, just hit the B gap, and he was right there, just still holding the ball. Just great effort from my coverage, and just allowed me to get there.”

Bills DT Harrison Phillips shared the post-game press conference podium with Obada and began patting him on the back at the end of that answer.

“Winning one-on-ones is what he did,” added Phillips.

Prior to Sunday’s contest, Obada had 1.5 sacks while playing in 20% of Buffalo’s defensive snaps over eight games this season.

His two takedowns of Newton stood out to head coach Sean McDermott who spoke after the game about how important getting those sacks were.

“Efe, he made a lot of big-time plays. A couple of big-time sacks when we needed it most,” McDermott said during his post-game press conference. Credit to him, and coach did a good job putting guys in the position.”

The four total sacks by Buffalo were the most they’ve notched since racking up six in their Week 2 win against Miami. And Obada’s two came when the Bills needed it most on Sunday.

“Especially one in a big moment of the game there when we needed it,” McDermott continued. “That four-man rush, getting that four-man rush going, it’s important for us.”

Safety Jordan Poyer was cheering the DE on as they passed one another while Obada left the podium and he stepped in for his own press availability.

“Sack man, sack man! Yeah, that’s him!” Poyer shouted.

“Extremely great teammate, great player,” Poyer said to the media. “And he just comes to work every day and does his job, so it’s exciting to see him get back-to-back plays, two sacks, so extremely happy for him.”

“Feels good, man,” Obada added. “Stay humble, get focused, get back on the mission. But it felt good. Just grateful for the opportunity to be out here.”

[lawrence-related id=93611,93609,93613]

Bills vs. Panthers: 3 keys to a Buffalo win

#Bills vs. #Panthers: 3 keys to a Buffalo win:

The Buffalo Bills playoff hopes hang in the balance as the team is set to begin their five remaining games in the regular season. They will face the Carolina Panthers in a must-win game at home on Sunday in Orchard Park.

Despite MVP-like heroics from QB Josh Allen and coming back from a 24-3 halftime deficit, the team would lose in a Week 14 overtime matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, thanks in part to poor officiating that carried some stench of the NFL’s market bias.

The Bills are putting the loss behind them with Carolina in front-and-center focus as they prepare for a familiar foe.

Panthers QB Cam Newton spent last year with the New England Patriots. While they are not active, former Jets QB Sam Darnold and former Bills QB Matt Barkley are both now Panthers. There is the history with GM Brandon Beane and HC Sean McDermott coming North to join the Bills from the Panthers organization. And fans are all too familiar with former Bill and Patriot CB Stephon Gilmore and his affinity for televised games.

Between all that and the former Panthers who have since joined Beane and McDermott with the Bills, the two clubs know each other well.

As far as who will come out on top, here are three keys to a win for the Bills (7-6) against the Panthers (5-8):