Tag: Christian Benford

Why Bills’ Christian Benford called 2023 a ‘different transition’

Benford’s mindset prior to his upcoming start:

Christian Benford will be at cornerback for the Bills when the team’s defense hits the field for the first time in 2023 during their season opener against the Jets.

Benford made a late surge in the preseason with positive play, leading to his appointment by head coach Sean McDermott.

“Over the course of spring and training camp, he was on his assignments,” McDermott said. “I think he contested balls and made some interceptions, made some plays on balls as well.”

While a young player, the 2022 sixth-round pick of the Bills is still confident because he got his feet wet in the NFL as a rookie. He made five starts in nine appearances, hauling in his first-career interception with five passes defended in that time.

Naturally, Benford is leaning on the experience to give him confidence after being named a starter.

“It’s a different transition from last year due to the fact that I’ve had some reps on Sundays and Mondays,” Benford said. “It’s a different mindset and now I’m more of a developed player–more mature, on the field and off the field.”

For more from Benford prior to his first-career start, see the attached YouTube player below:

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Bills at Jets: 7 things to watch for during Week 1’s matchup

#Bills at #Jets: 7 things to watch for during Week 1’s matchup:

The Buffalo Bills begin their regular season journey on the road against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in Week 1.

Once the battle arrives, there will be a few particular things to keep in mind.

Here are seven things to watch for during Monday’s Bills-Jets matchup:

Bills at Jets: 8 storylines to watch for heading into Week 1

#Bills at #Jets: 8 storylines to watch for heading into Week 1:

Here are eight Buffalo Bills storylines to watch for during the lead up to the team’s Week 1 matchup with the New York Jets:

Terrel Bernard, O’Cyrus Torrence, Christian Benford named Bills starters

Sean McDermott announced who won the #Bills’ position battles from this summer:

Terrell Bernard at middle linebacker, Christian Benford at cornerback, and O’Cyrus Torrence at right guard.

That’s who will start for the Buffalo Bills at those respective positions when the team opens their 2023 season against the New York Jets.

Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott announced the updates on Wednesday.

At the top, Bernard being named at linebacker next to Matt Milano is the most surprising decision. Tyrel Dodson played throughout the preseason, and while underperforming at times, he at least got on the field during the competition to replace Tremaine Edmunds.

Bernard didn’t at all due to a hamstring injury… and here we are.

“We thought he did some good things when he was healthy and available,” McDermott said. “And unfortunately that situation, that competition got cut a little bit short due to an injury. We’re confident in TB and I’m excited to watch him play.”

Torrence at right guard comes as the least shocking. For the majority of the preseason he not only played, but started. The second-round rookie was battling incumbent Ryan Bates.

Then the cornerback picture is only now just becoming clearer. We knew former first-round pick Kaiir Elam was a longshot, but it was unclear if Dane Jackson or Christian Benford was in the lead.

Benford started the preseason finale, however, Jackson did in the first two matchups. Benford did enough in the end to earn the opening-day nod.

“I think he contested balls and made some interceptions, made some plays on balls as well,” McDermott said.

As is always the case, these are all subject to change during the season.

In the past, McDermott and the Bills haven’t been shy to change their starters, if needed. Particularly at cornerback. Monday against the Jets will just be the first of many tests for this trio.

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WATCH: Bills’ Christian Benford with sticky coverage, stalls Bears drive

Big play from Benford:

The Bills started their preseason finale against the Bears exactly the way they wanted.

The offense capped a 12-play drive with a touchdown. But prior to that, the defense forced a three-and-out opening drive from the Bears offense. The key play defensively came from Christian Benford.

Locked in a positional battle with the likes of Dane Jackson and Kaiir Elam, Benford started for the first time this preseason after Jackson did so the first two games. Benford proved he deserved that.

On third down, Benford was locked in on Bears receiver DJ Moore. There was little-to-no window open and Benford knocked away Justin Field’s pass to end the drive.

Benford’s play can be found in the clip below:

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5 takeaways from the Bills’ 27-15 preseason loss to the Steelers

5 takeaways from the #Bills’ 27-15 preseason loss to the #Steelers:

Here are five takeaways from the Buffalo Bills’ 27-15 preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers:

Bills vs. Steelers: 7 storylines to watch for in second preseason game

#Bills vs. #Steelers: 7 storylines to watch for in second preseason game:

Here are seven Buffalo Bills storylines to watch for during the lead up to the team’s second preseason matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers:

Bills’ Christian Benford: ‘Competition brings out the best in you’

#Bills’ Christian Benford: ‘Competition brings out the best in you’

Christian Benford is one of the latest players to welcome competitions that are ongoing at Buffalo Bills training camp.

At one point in camp, the road got bumpy for Benford. It looked like Dane Jackson and Kaiir Elam were ahead of him in the race to start at cornerback across from Tre’Davious White.

Then he pulled down a few interceptions in team drills.

Nevermind.

But Benford is embracing the challenge.

“I feel like competition always brings out the best in you,” Benford said. “It’s all love, always all love, me and my brothers at the end of the day, but it makes me go harder.”

Similarly, Jackson welcomed it after Buffalo’s preseason win over the Indianapolis Colts. A contest which featured Jackson starting and pulling in an interception–despite Jackson focusing more on the position battle than the pick after the game. 

“It’s always going to be a competition I mean picking in  preseason…unfortunately it don’t really matter,” Jackson said.

Heading into the Bills’ second preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s still unclear who is ahead in the race between the trio. It will be a storyline to watch for on Saturday.

For now, for more from Benford, see the attached Spectrum News clip below:

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