Tag: Jordan Phillips

Jordan Phillips interrupts interview to praise Brandon Beane (video)

Buffalo Bills DT Jordan Phillips on general manager Brandon Beane.

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips was the highlight of general manager Brandon Beane’s press conference on Sunday after the team’s 17-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

While Beane spoke on the state of the tea and making the playoffs, Phillips cut in through reporters conducting the interview to make sure his thoughts were known.

“This man right here, Brandon Beane, he doesn’t get enough credit,” Phillips started.

Here’s Phillips’ full thoughts on the GM here via WKBW-TV:

Phillips is also a free agent following this season, which could be worth noting in this situation.

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Report card: Bills outlast Steelers, 17-10

The Bills are playoff bound after their victory of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was a victory where the Bills relied on their stout defense.

Buffalo, you can party like it’s 1999 because the Bills are sitting at 10-4, clinching just their second playoff appearance this century.

The game was an ugly, hard fought battle that saw seven turnovers between themselves and the Pittsburgh Steelers, a game which the Bills won 17-10.

Ultimately, Buffalo’s offense made more plays down the stretch that gave them the victory. It wasn’t a stellar performance from Josh Allen and company though.

With that, here’s how the Bills graded out in this week’s report card following their win over the Steelers:

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Quarterback: C

Josh Allen had a tough game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he completed just 52 percent of his passes for 139 yards. He struggled throughout the game, missing some wide open receivers, his interception was a perfect example of these errant throws. Allen had a clean pocket, and threw a pass to the outstretched arms of receiver Cole Beasley, that bounced off the hands of Beasley and into arms of the Steelers defensive back. The interception doesn’t fall on the shoulders of Allen alone, but a better pass could have been caught by Beasley.

The quarterback did have his moments of brilliance, mainly coming in the fourth quarter with the game on the line. He hit a massive 40-yard strike to John Brown that help set up the game winning touchdown. Speaking of the game winning touchdown, he found tight end Tyler Kroft on third down, sealing the victory for Buffalo.

Allen also had 28 yards on the ground, and one rushing touchdown that opened the scoring for Buffalo.

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Instant analysis: Bills defense reigns supreme in win vs. Steelers

The Buffalo Bills clinched their spot in the 2019 postseason with a 17-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

The Buffalo Bills clinched their spot in the 2019 postseason with a 17-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

The game carried a large weight on the AFC postseason picture, as the Bills and Steelers held the two Wild Card spots coming into the primetime matchup. At the end of the night, it was Buffalo’s defense who came out on top in this low-scoring, defensive affair. 

Tre’Davious White intercepted Steelers quarterback Devlin Hodges twice on the night. Jordan Phillips recorded two sacks, while Shaq Lawson and Trent Murphy contributed sacks as well. 

Buffalo limited Pittsburgh’s offense to 229 yards on offense. The Steelers leaned on the passing attack for a good chunk of the game. Pittsburgh attempted 38 passes while rushing only 15 times. Pittsburgh mustered only 51 yards on those rushing attempts. 

Buffalo’s defense was called upon twice in the closing minutes of the game to seal the deal. Jordan Poyer intercepted Hodges in the end zone just after the two-minute warning. 

The Bills offense produced a three-and-out after the turnover, giving the Steelers a final shot at tying the game. However, as it happened to be all game long, Buffalo’s defense rose to the occasion and closed out the contest for Buffalo. Jordan Phillips recorded a sack and with time ticking down, Hodges threw up a prayer which Levi Wallace intercepted in the end zone. 

Tremaine Edmunds led the Bills with eight total tackles.

Buffalo’s offense primarily ran through Josh Allen, Devin Singletary, and John Brown. Allen scored the game’s first touchdown, a one-yard rush in the second quarter. The touchdown gave Allen the team’s rushing record for most touchdowns scored on the ground by a quarterback. 

Allen ended the night 13-of-25 for 139 passing yards. He managed the game well, limited mistakes and taking whatever the challenging Steelers defense would allow at Heinz Field. The signal-caller added 28 yards on seven carries. 

Singletary and Brown had strong games as well, as Singletary gained 87 yards on the ground on 21 carries. Brown racked up 99 receiving yards on seven receptions. The duo gained 186 of Buffalo’s 261 total offensive yards. 

The game-winning touchdown came from an unfamiliar source this year, as Tyler Kroft caught a 14-yard pass from Allen midway through the fourth quarter. 

There were a few miscues throughout the game, but none really haunted the Bills in end. Allen’s only interception was a pass that went off the hands of the usually reliable Cole Beasley and dropped into the arms of Steelers cornerback Steven Nelson. 

Devin Singletary fumbled twice, losing one of the miscues. However, head coach Sean McDermott relied on the rookie despite putting the ball on the ground. It paid off, as the FAU product found a way through an aggressive Pittsburgh defense. 

White left the game for a few moments after making a tackle, suffering an apparent shoulder injury. He returned on the next series, and his interceptions from tonight give him six on the season, which is tied for the league lead. 

The game followed the script if the Bills were to be successful. The defense led the way, dominating the game. The offense, while not necessarily a juggernaut, finalized drives when it was most needed. Pittsburgh’s defense is very good, and the Bills were able to punch in two touchdowns when needed. 

The defense put the ball in the hands of Devlin Hodges and without a doubt, that worked into Buffalo’s favor. They forced four interceptions and thwarted virtually every attempt the Steelers made in the red zone. 

It was an impressive performance for Buffalo, as now they are playoff-bound for the second time in three seasons. The Bills hit double-digits in the win column for the first time in two decades. 

Buffalo travels to Foxboro next Saturday to face off against the New England Patriots. The Bills still have an outside shot at winning the AFC East, so a victory Saturday and some help along the way could give the Bills a chance at a home playoff game.

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6 storylines to follow during Bills vs. Ravens

Six storlyines for the Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens during the NFL’s Week 14 slate.

The Bills and Baltimore Ravens will get after it in Week 14 at New Era Field. It’s not just your run of the mill game, though.

Nobody thought prior to the season that this one could have home field advantage implications taking part in the festivities, but alas, here we are with the 10-2 Ravens visiting the 9-3 Bills.

With that, here are six storylines to follow during the Bills’ Week 14 game against the Ravens:

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Can anyone slow down Lamar Jackson?

That’s the question nobody has had an answer for yet in the NFL and the most obvious storyline heading into this game for the Bills. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson hasn’t been stopped at all this season. Yes, the Ravens have two losses, but they’re on an eight-game winning streak currently.

Jackson’s talents of a dual-threat quarterback are much like the ones the Bills have in Josh Allen, but Jackson’s elusiveness as a playmaker while running the ball are next level. With 977 rushing yards already this year, he’ll top 1,000 yards against the Bills. But exactly by how much is the real question.

And even then, Jackson has two games this season where he’s tossed five touchdown passes in a single game. Like Allen, his arm is questioned a little bit in comparison to his running skills, but to a much lesser extent since… did we mentioned Jackson has tossed five touchdowns in a single game two times this year?

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Jordan Phillips suffers injury in practice

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips was a new list to the team’s Thursday injury report.

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips was a new listing to the team’s Thursday injury report ahead of their Week 12 meeting with the Denver Broncos.

According to a release from the team, the Bills’ leading sacker (7) has a toe injury. The injury likely occurred during Thursday’s practice as he did not appear on Wednesday’s injury report.

Along with Phillips, Jerry Hughes is also another noteworthy name from the injury list.

Hughes was questionable heading into Week 11 with a groin injury, but played vs. the Dolphins. He appeared in 77 percent of defensive snaps as well, meaning he did not exit the game early.

Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott often gives veteran players extra rest time during the week, which could be the case with Hughes.

Siran Neal (concussion) and Ty Nsekhe (ankle) round out Thursday’s injury list for the Bills. Neal is in the NFL’s protocol and Nsekhe was already tabbed as a “week-to-week” injury status by McDermott on Wednesday.

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5 storylines to watch for during Bills vs. Broncos

Storylines for Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos in Week 12.

The Bills will look to keep their winning-ways moving forward in Week 12 as Buffalo hosts the Denver Broncos at New Era Field.

While entering the game at a better 7-3 record, the 3-7 Broncos will present plenty of challenges to the Bills.

With that, here are five storylines to watch unfold during the Bills’ meeting with the Broncos:

Bills defensive tackle Corey Liuget. Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Is the run defense actually back?

The Bills run defense has been more than suspect this season. Allowing 106.3 yards per game on the ground, Buffalo’s run defense is the 18th best group of run defenders in the NFL. Last week against the Dolphins, the Bills actually got the job done, though.

Starting running back Kalen Ballage had a score, but he only mustered up nine yards on nine carries. But you can’t bring that money to the bank. Buffalo’s offense got the job done and forced the Dolphins offense to abandon the rushing attack early. Plus, it’s the Dolphins. Despite entering Week 11 on a two-game winning streak, that’s not a good team. Shutting down the Broncos’ attack with Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman is going to be a much more difficult task.

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Tremaine Edmunds spearheads Bills defense in win vs. Dolphins

Tremaine Edmunds led the way in Buffalo’s Week 11 win over the Miami Dolphins.

Buffalo’s defense entered its Week 11 meeting with the Miami Dolphins in need of a resurgence.

The unit, which was once widely looked at as one of the stronger defensive groupings in the league, had struggled in the weeks leading up to its matchup with the 2-6 Dolphins. The team had allowed over 350 net yards in three out of its previous four contests. It had given up triple-digit rushing nets in each of its last five games.

The Bills’ defense was in desperate need of a statement game, a contest that could reaffirm its status as one of the league’s elite units.

Spearheaded by the play of Tremaine Edmunds, Buffalo did just that.

The Bills’ defense was near-impenetrable in the team’s 37-20 win over Miami, allowing a total of just 303 yards. The previously struggling run defense refound its form in Hard Rock Stadium, allowing a season-best 23 rushing yards in the contest.

The defense played with a tenacity it hadn’t shown in recent weeks, a mindset that was set and demonstrated by Edmunds, according to head coach Sean McDermott.

“They were aggressive,” McDermott said. “They were aggressive, and they had a great week of preparation, that’s really where it starts. You go back and say, ‘Why did we get the results that we got?’ And you double down on those habits. Those are good things.

“Just the overall aggressiveness, I think overall, was where it needed to be. I thought Tremaine did a great job from the communication standpoint, from a leadership standpoint.”

Edmunds tallied a team-high 12 tackles on the day, complementing explosive plays at the line of scrimmage with solid plays in coverage.

The game perhaps served as a microcosm of Edmunds’ entire skillset. The rangy middle linebacker prevented Miami from picking up anything on the ground with his stout play against the run. He also broke up a deep pass to Miami tight end Mike Gesicki in the fourth quarter. He even notched a half-sack in the contest, contributing to Buffalo’s total of six.

Though statistics and strong play are valuable, a unit’s culture is perhaps as important as it is immeasurable. The 21-year-old Edmunds set the tone for the entire Bills’ roster ahead of its dominant outing, a process he started with a speech days before the matchup.

“Tremaine, he gave a speech yesterday,” wide receiver John Brown said following the win. “It was time to show them what we can do . . . [He said] it’s just time for us to play our game and play fast, and leave no doubt behind.

“Everybody was amped up and ready to go . . . You barely hear Tremaine talk, so I was kind of shocked by that.”

Typically a lead-by-example type of player, it was a verbal speech from Edmunds that ultimately propelled Buffalo to victory. Now able to complement his on-field production with off-field influence, Edmunds is a player that teammates look to for inspiration.

“Tremaine is a true leader,” defensive tackle Jordan Phillips said. “He not only says it but he goes out there and does it. He goes out there and plays hard, plays free.

“I look to him when I need guidance. He’s a young guy but he’s all over the place and he’s a leader of our defense.”

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5 takeaways from the Bills’ 37-20 win over the Dolphins

Five takeaways from the Buffalo Bills’ win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 11.

There were some concerns for the Buffalo Bills heading into their Week 11 meeting with the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins entered the game on a two-game winning streak. Could the Bills make that three? Turns out, the answer is now as the Bills topped the Dolphins 37-20, earning a 7-3 record in the process with the win.

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

Buffalo Bills kicker Stephen Hauschka. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Stephen Hauschka is back

To keep Stephen Hauschka or not keep Stephen Hauschka? That has been the question for the Bills. In Week 10, Hauschka cost the Bills. First he missed an easy kick from 34 yards in the first half against the Browns in an eventual 19-16 loss. Then the more glaring miss was a wide kick on a potential game-tying kick, but it was a hard one. It was from 53 yards. However, Hauschka missed five-straight kicks from 50-plus yards. It had started to become a concern.

Hauschka put any concerns to rest against Miami. He converted on three kicks against Miami, including his first, from 51. Hauschka also hit from 34 and 21 yards in the win. He said all week he needed to maintain his composure heading into his team’s meeting with the Dolphins after an off-week, and he certainly did.

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Bills snap counts: Depth chart breakdown vs. Browns

Buffalo Bills snap counts vs. Cleveland Browns in Week 10, 2019.

Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox. Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

The Bills fell is another gross game against the Cleveland Browns in Week 10, 19-16.

Buffalo falls to 6-3 on the year and with the loss and news around the league, the loss looks like a big one.

Who played the biggest and smallest roles in Buffalo’s defeat?

Here’s a full depth chart break down via snap counts for the Bills vs. the Browns in Week 10:

Offense

Notes:

  • The rotation at right tackle resumed with a health Cody Ford (elbow) in the lineup. Veteran Ty Nsekhe played in 61 percent of snaps while the rookie saw 41 percent.
  • Tight end Lee Smith took two penalties in only 18 snaps played vs. the Browns.
  • Rookie running back Devin Singletary was the No. 1 in terms of snap counts playing in 67 percent of snaps as opposed to Frank Gore’s 33 percent, but Singletary only have eight carries in the game.
  • Rookie tight end Dawson Knox played more snaps than veteran Tyler Kroft for the second-straight week, 58 percent to 43 percent.
  • In terms of snap counts, Isaiah McKenzie saw another big role for the Bills. He played in 66 percent of snaps last week, second-most amongst his position. Against the Browns, he played in 54 percent, trailing Cole Beasley’s 67 percent and John Brown’s 93 percent.
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