Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
The Cardinals aren’t in the playoffs but a few of their former players are.
The Arizona Cardinals are not in the postseason but there are former Cardinals players on teams who are playing Saturday. The evening game between the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills features a few.
Between the two teams’ active rosters and practice squads, there are eight former Cardinals players.
Buffalo Bills studs and duds following their Wild Card win over the Indianapolis Colts.
The Buffalo Bills won by fine margins against the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, 27-24. Buffalo had another slow start, but did enough in the end to hang on, including stopping their first Hail Mary attempt in 2020.
While not always perfect, there were some strong moments and standouts for the Bills.
Let’s get to that now as Bills Wire has six studs and five duds from the Bills’ win over the Ravens:
After a slow start, the Bills stopped messing around and told Josh Allen to lead them to victory. The quarterback did just that with both his arm and legs. Allen was 26-for-35 passing for 324 passing yards and two touchdowns. Via the rushing attack, Allen had 54 more yards and another touchdown.
Toe-tapping never looked so good. Not only did Gabriel Davis catch all four of his targets for 85 yards, they were pretty much all impressive grabs along the sideline. They also came at a time when Buffalo’s offense was stinking. Davis helped get the Bills offense out of their early hole.
And a cherry on top: Stefon Diggs had a 19-yard catch-and-run on a screen play. What a block by Davis there.
Diggs, of course. (That’s all we really need to write).
Buffalo’s No. 1 wide receiver did only have one catch in the first half, but then turned it on. Diggs finished with six catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. Rinse and repeat for Diggs, another big game.
Tyler Bass is quickly approaching elite status, seriously. His 54-yarder got a lot of attention. It was the difference-maker on the scoreboard and the longest kick ever made by a rookie in the playoffs. But his other kick was just as clutch.
Out of halftime, the Bills got out to midfield and lost five yards on third down, making the kicker’s job just a bit harder. Still handled it, though.
The Bills were flagged for 125 penalties, third-most in the NFL in 2020. Against the Colts, the Bills were only flagged twice for seven yards.
The number that stands out for Micah Hyde is his three pass breakups, including that one on the game’s final play: A Hail Mary. Hyde left no doubt on that pass.
But Hyde also had seven total tackles. Both safeties, Jordan Poyer included, have assisted along the line of scrimmage in an excellent manner throughout 2020. Against the Colts was no different.
The Bills won 27-24 over the Indianapolis Colts in a tense battle to kickoff the Wild Card weekend.
The Buffalo Bills broke their 25-year playoff winning drought with their 27-24 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Saturday’s Wild Card outing. It was an intense atmosphere that saw both teams exchange leads, a 54-yard field goal, plenty of officiating reviews, and a failed Hail Mary. The Bills ultimately prevailed and will get to host another playoff game in the divisional round.
Following the Buffalo victory, here’s how the Bills fared in this week’s stock report:
There were a ton of questions being asked of quarterback Josh Allen entering the Wild Card weekend, most of them were if he could shake last years collapse against the Houston Texans. To answer those questions, yes… yes he could. Allen was dynamic against one of the best defenses in the league, lighting them up for 378 total yards and three total touchdowns.
Credit to the Colts, they made life difficult for Allen flushing him out of the pocket, and forcing him to make tough throws. Unfortunately for the Colts, their secondary couldn’t cover receivers Gabe Davis or Stefon Diggs when the play broke down. Of course, if his receivers weren’t open he made plays with legs, rushing for 54 yards and one touchdown.
These types of performances will be needed from Allen if the Bills want to continue beyond the Wild Card weekend.
What more can be said about Stefon Diggs? He’s an elite receiver who can make even the best of defenses look foolish. Diggs’ first catch showed one of his more underrated talents… his toughness. It was a 37-yard grab over the middle where he took a shot from the Colts safety. Diggs got right back up, and immediately started jawing at the Indianapolis secondary.
He wasn’t just tough, he also put up great numbers. Diggs had six catches for 128 yards and one touchdown to lead the Bills. A sensational effort for his debut performance in front of Bills Mafia.
We’re not done talking about the receiving corp though… how good is Gabriel Davis? The rookie made clutch catches throughout the game, especially on the Bills final drive of the first half. Both of his catches came down the sideline, helping set up a Josh Allen touchdown to the end the half.
Like Diggs, Davis had an impressive stat line, four grabs for 85 yards. An average of 21.3 yards per catch. A big play waiting to happen.
The Bills defense had a shaky performance against Indy, they struggled to stop the run, allowing 163 yards on the ground, and didn’t put any pressure on Philip Rivers. So when the Bills needed a big play, Micah Hyde delivered. He stepped up in the run in the game, denying Jonathan Taylor in the red zone, and made the play of the season so far in the closing seconds of the game.
To set the scene: The Bills are hanging onto to a three-point lead, and there are just four seconds left in the game. Future Hall of Famer Philip Rivers has a shot to steal the game for the Colts, he launches a 60-yard Hail Mary towards receiver T.Y. Hilton. Buffalo has seen this before, Week 10, the Hail Murray. Hearts are in the throats all throughout Western New York, but before Hilton can break the hearts of Buffalo, Hyde spikes the pass down with authority sealing the victory.
Both linebackers, Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano had good games, breaking up passes, and meeting running backs in the backfield. Kicker Tyler Bass hit a 54 yard field goal, setting the playoff record for longest field goal made by a rookie. Finally, offensive linemen Daryl Williams. Williams jumped on Josh Allen’s fumble in the 4th quarter, which could have been disastrous if the Colts recovered.
Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts key matchups for Wild Card round.
The Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts. Win or go home.
While the stakes are high, this outing is still the same between the Bills (13-3) and Colts (11-5). It’ll be the games within the game that make all the difference.
With that, here are three key matchups to watch in Saturday’s Wild Card matchup as Buffalo hosts Indianapolis:
Buffalo Bills Week 17 report card after a 56-26 win vs. the Miami Dolphins.
There might not be enough ways to describe what the Buffalo Bills did to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. In the Bills’ season finale, things went brutal for the Dolphins as Buffalo won 56-26.
The game was not only painful to watch for Miami, it was season-ending as the Dolphins (10-6) later went on to miss out on the postseason due to their loss to the Bills (13-3). That comes in a year when two teams in the NFC (Bears, Football Team), made the postseason with a .500 or worse record.
Double ouch.
Following the huge regular season ending win for Buffalo, here’s how Bills Wire graded out them out in Week 17:
WR John Brown activated from COVID list by Buffalo Bills.
The Buffalo Bills made a slew of Saturday roster moves ahead of facing the Miami Dolphins in their season finale.
The highlight for the Bills (12-3) was John Brown returning from the team’s Reserve/COVID list. Brown, along with running back Christian Wade and safety Josh Thomas, were cleared from the designation. Brown is back on the team’s 53-man roster with the other two are back on the practice squad.
Brown was slated to play in Week 16 after a stint on Buffalo’s injured reserve until he landed on the illness-related designation.
In addition to those practice squad moves, WR J.J. Nelson and CB Duke Thomas were signed to the group. Meanwhile, OL Marquel Harrell, LB Deon Lacey & CB Lafayette Pitts we’re all released from the team’s practice squad.
One could envision Brown seeing some sort of playing time on Sunday against the Dolphins (1-5) in order to get back up to speed after being sidelined with injury (ankle) for over a month. It’s unclear at this point if the rest of Buffalo’s starters will play vs. Miami.
[lawrence-related id=75707,75614,75705,75746]
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott on free-agent visit with wide receiver Kenny Stills.
The Buffalo Bills have recently had connections to multiple free agent wide receivers. None bigger than veteran Kenny Stills.
The 28-year-old has experience and in wake of injury and COVID issues involving the Bills (12-3) and their current crop of receivers… his name certainly turns heads. Earlier this week, the Bills reportedly had a free-agent visit with Stills.
On Thursday, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott addressed the Stills news and he made sure to put things into two separate areas, while making an appearance with the team’s radio partner, WGR-550. First and foremost, McDermott said the injury situation going on with the Buffalo wide receiver unit, specially Cole Beasley, is a separate situation.
“I can tell you those… as it relates to Beasley’s situation, specifically, two separate conversations,” McDermott said.
Later in the conversation, McDermott interestingly also only ruled out tight end Reggie Gilliam for Sunday’s season finale. But via his video conference moments later, did classify Beasley as “week to week,” which is what he did earlier in the week. It appears the Beasley saga will continue, but it sounds like he’s unlikely to play vs. in Buffalo’s season finale against the Miami Dolphins (10-5).
McDermott did not mention John Brown in his interview, but he’s currently out as well. Brown’s off of injured reserve, but is currently on the Reserve/COVID list. One would expect that Brown would return from that designation prior to Sunday, though. He was not placed on his for a positive test for coronavirus, rather it was a safety precaution due to contact tracing.
In regard to Stills specifically, the coach did not say whether or not he would be signing with the team. However, he did admit interest from the Bills, adding that it has been there for some time now via Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane.
“Brandon has had his eye on Stills for some time now. Nothing’s certain to this point. We’ll see where it goes from here,” McDermott said.
[lawrence-related id=75687,75668,75660,75656]
Buffalo Bills have free-agent visit with wide receiver Kenny Stills.
The Buffalo Bills are hosting wide receiver Kenny Stills on a free-agent visit on Wednesday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the news, and added that it appears likely that Stills does become a member of the Bills, using the word “optimism” to describe the ongoing situation:
More help could be on the way to Buffalo for the playoffs: Former Texans and Dolphins WR Kenny Stills is visiting the Bills, per source. Stills needs to pass through protocols, but optimism the deal gets done.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 30, 2020
Stills, who was a fifth-round pick of the Saints in 2013, is a familiar name to Buffalo as he went on to play for the Dolphins (2015-18) and then the Texans (2019-20), as he was traded to Houston prior to last season.
Stills, 28, failed to find a role with the Texans offense this season. He only played in just 24.9 percent of offensive snaps in 2020, even after DeAndre Hopkins was traded to the Cardinals. Stills has appeared in 10 games this year, but saw just 19 targets, catching 11 of them for 144 yards and one touchdown. He was cut on Nov. 27.
Stills’ potential addition could be bad news for another wideout on the Bills, Cole Beasley. While Isaiah McKenzie would’ve been the defacto No. 2 to Beasley’s role, Buffalo (12-3) evidently wanted someone better. Beasley and Stills both have experience playing out of the slot.
On Tuesday, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott said that Beasley is considered to have a “week-to-week” injury after suffering a leg issue late in his team’s 38-9 win vs. the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football. Naturally if Stills signs, that likely means that Beasley would be estimated to miss playing time in the postseason as well. It was already assumed that Beasley would not play in Buffalo’s season finale on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
Along with having experience in the slot, Stills has speed to burn, too. He recorded a 4.38 40-yard dash time during his scouting combine.
Furthermore, wide receiver John Brown landed on Buffalo’s Reserve/COVID-19 list just ahead of Buffalo’s kickoff vs. the Pats earlier this week. However, that was due to a “close-contact protocol.” Brown himself did not contract COVID-19, so it’s expected he’ll be go to go by Week 17, at this point.
If Stills does sign with the Bills, it remains to be seen if he could play in Week 17 against the Dolphins. He has to pass COVID-19 protocols over the course of six days to be able to sign with the Bills.
[lawrence-related id=75608,75604,75530,75519]
John Brown was expected to return to the Buffalo Bills’ lineup on Monday in Week 16 against the New England Patriots. Buffalo released wide receiver Jake Kumerow and went on to lose him via the wavier wire as the New Orleans Saints picked him up. …
John Brown was expected to return to the Buffalo Bills’ lineup on Monday in Week 16 against the New England Patriots.
Buffalo released wide receiver Jake Kumerow and went on to lose him via the wavier wire as the New Orleans Saints picked him up. But now it appears Kumerow departs for little reason.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Brown (ankle) was not activated ahead of the 4 p.m. deadline on Monday.
The #Bills are not expected to activate WR John Brown for tonight's matchup with the #Patriots, per source. Team has until 4 p.m. ET to do so. Brown has better chance to return for Week 17.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) December 28, 2020
It’s still possible the Bills will take Brown (ankle) off IR in the coming days after the Bills’ meeting with the Patriots.
In related news, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Patriots also did not activated wide receiver Julian Edelman from their injured reserve list, either.
[lawrence-related id=75322,75294,75350,75326]
Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots matchup to watch Week 16.
While there aren’t many stakes on the line, a win is still a win in the NFL. The Buffalo Bills haven’t done a whole lot of that in New England against the Patriots, either.
Because of that, the Bills (11-3) will certainly have plenty to play for in Week 16. Plus, beating the Patriots (6-8), will help Buffalo lock up playoff seeding. But in order for the Bills to pull off the win… it’ll still be the games within the game that make all the difference.
With that, here are three key matchups for the Bills in Week 16 vs. the Patriots:
