Tag: NY Jets

Josh Allen: Bills pulled off ‘gross’ win vs. Packers on prime time

Josh Allen: #Bills pulled off ‘gross’ win vs. #Packers on prime time:

While every win counts the same, the Buffalo Bills escaped Sunday night with a 27-17 win vs. the Green Bay Packers that was much closer than it should have been.

Following a great first half that saw the Bills take a 24-7 lead into halftime, Josh Allen’s superb play came to a halt. The QB threw two interceptions which reminded many of 2018 Allen vs. the current MVP caliber play we’ve become accustomed to seeing week in and week out.

Allen, speaking to NBC’s sideline reporter, Melissa Starks, after the game called the win, “gross.”

“Ya, second half we didn’t execute like we wanted to. Two bonehead decisions down there,” Allen continued when pressed on what he was referencing. “Had our opportunities on offense, but we gotta be better. Our defense stepped up. We played a good team game today and we came away with the win today, that’s all that matters. 6-1 going into a division team game next week, a team that’s playing really well, so we’ll learn from this one, move forward and get focused towards next week.”

Following his interview, Allen expanded on his thoughts during his postgame press conference.

“Ya. they all count the same. Obviously that second half I wish we had a few things back,” Allen told the media. “Got a little out of groove and just did some uncharacteristic things. You know, can’t make those decisions, can’t put our team in a situation where the only the way the other team gets back in it is by turning the ball over. Two stupid ones where I had no business throwing. Second one, I was just trying to dirt it and just didn’t, dirt it. So, those happen, we’ll learn from it coming off a bye.”

While Allen is notoriously tough on himself when he doesn’t play up to the sky high expectations, this week some of the self criticism felt validated.

“The feeling and the outcome of that game, and obviously I have a crappy taste in my mouth right now and I know we won,” Allen continued. “I’m happy that we won. Our defense played really well. Special Teams played really well. I thought we ran the ball really well. There’s a lot of positives. It’s never as bad, never as great as you think it is, but a lot to learn from. A lot to get better at. Again, that’s what we practice for, that’s what we play this game for. We’ll learn from it and grow from it.”

While Bills head coach Sean McDermott typically gives it straight when discussing wins and losses, the coach was clear that the team’s second half struggles went beyond Allen’s two interceptions.

When asked during his session with the media if he feels the need to ever pull Allen aside to discuss mistakes in the game, McDermott was quick to take the blame off his quarterback.

“I mean he knows. He knows,” McDermott said. “He’s old enough now to know. He doesn’t need me telling him. Now, if that were the case I’d tell him and he knows that. He’s very aware of how we should have played in those situations and look, we all have things to work on, right? He’s gonna work on that, I’m gonna work on putting our players in a better position. I didn’t do a good enough job of that. We didn’t do a good enough job of putting the game away, the right way and that falls on me. That’s my responsibility, so there’s a lot of things I could have done better too.”

While the Bills improved to 6-1 and maintained first place in the AFC, the second half showed that despite how well the Bills appear to play at times, the difference from winning and losing in the NFL is closer than it sometimes seems.

As Allen noted, the Bills face a tough divisional matchup with the surprising 5-3 New York Jets in week 9. A game they will have to play more completely if they hope to walk away with another victory.

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Great news for Travis Etienne

There are reports of a major NFL trade that will have a big impact on former Tigers Travis Etienne. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network is reporting that the Jacksonville Jaguars are trading RB James Robinson to the NY Jets. Sources: The #Jets are …

There are reports of a major NFL trade that will have a big impact on former Tigers Travis Etienne.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network is reporting that the Jacksonville Jaguars are trading RB James Robinson to the NY Jets.

Etienne has been coming on strong for the Jaguars.  Last weekend he rushed 14 times for 114 yards and his first NFL touchdown against the Giants.

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

Bills clinch division but focus remains on Super Bowl: ‘We got a lot more work’

#Bills clinch division but focus remains on Super Bowl: ‘We got a lot more work’

It was a long season, and at times, one that was filled with turmoil and question marks surrounding this Buffalo Bills team. But in the end, the group got the job done and walk away as AFC East Champs for the second year in a row.

Unlike last year, where the Bills (11-6) clinched in Denver, in front of a limited capacity crowd, Sunday the Bills were crowned the division in front of their hometown fans in Orchard Park for the first time since 1995.

While the end result is the same, the moment meant that much more for the Bills locker room.

“It’s a special moment right now, seeing as it’s back to back,” Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver said following the 27-10 win over the New York Jets (4-13). “It really don’t matter who we play. They can line up whoever out there and we gonna go play. We gotta play who we gotta play, so right now we just taking it all in stride. And it don’t come easy winning your division back to back so we just having fun with it right now, but come tomorrow, you know, it’s time to go to work.”

Fellow defensive tackle Harrison Phillips mentioned just how long Bills fans have waited to see this moment in person. While his math was off by a little bit, the sentiment still rang true.

“I think it’s important for us to smell the roses,” Phillips told reporters. “What’s it, 29 years since this happened? Winning it here in front of you guys, in front of our home crew… home crowd. I think that everyone is going to celebrate tonight, have good camaraderie with our team and what that means for all Western New York and Bills fans across the world. So we’re very thankful to be in the position that we are and however the cards may fall, we’re excited for the next opportunity.”

Part of what makes winning the division special this time around is the journey it took to get to this point.

Unlike last year, the team didn’t run away with things. As recent as a month ago, there was plenty of doubt surrounding this Bills franchise. Something Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen acknowledged after the game.

“I’d like to say I’m proud our team for responding the way we did throughout the season,” Allen said during his postgame press conference. “To be sitting here in this position, you know, based on how we were feeling five weeks ago and how everybody was kinda doubting us, feels good. But again, we gotta come out and we gotta play a little better. At the end of the day we won a game. That’s the mentality that we have going forward. Every weeks a playoff week and we just gotta find a way to win.”

While Allen echoed his teammates in regards to appreciating the moment and what they’ve accomplished to this point, he was also clear that this is only step one.

“I mean it feels good,” Allen continued. “Nobody at the end of careers looks back and really figures out how much… how many times you won your division. I think the main goal is the Super Bowl and winning the division just gives you an opportunity to do that. So, that’s really our focus. You know, it’s great, it’s fine. The hats and shirts are cool, but at the end of the day we got a lot more work to do.”

While it may just be “great” and “fine” for Allen and his teammates overall, the fact the fans experienced it in-person, given all that went on last year due to the pandemic, is something Allen admitted meant a little bit more.

“Especially given last year with not too many people in the stands and really only for the playoffs, to do that and feel the energy from the crowd,” Allen said. “I know that this hasn’t been done here in a long time, so to go out there and do that and just get to experience that with them, that’s something I’ll remember for a while…

“Fortunate enough that we won the East, but the main thing is still in front of us and we understand that. So again, we’re happy, we’re excited to have this opportunity tonight, but this by no means feels like we’ve accomplished what we want to accomplish.”

Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins also reiterated just how different this season was vs. last.

“I would say like last year, the whole season was a different scenario,” Dawkins said after the game. “Like, we were on a high all season long. This season, we were on like highs and lows. It was just a rollercoaster. With this season being a rollercoaster of a season, it feels great to get it the grittier way.”

Dawkins also made sure to tug on the heart strings a bit.

“And we’re home,” he continued. “Shoot like Imma be home in 15 minutes. There is nothing better feeling then securing what we talked about… home. Like, the Buffalo fans got to see us, Buffalo fans got to feel it. Buffalo is a special place and I live by it and honestly I feel like I could die by it too. Buffalo has opened up its arms to all of us and for us to do what we did here today, home, it’s a special thing. I don’t want to overexaggerate it, but it’s extremely special. It really is.”

Bills head coach Sean McDermott made sure to not look ahead to the playoffs before first acknowledging what the team was able to accomplish during the regular season.

“You gotta do that,” McDermott told the media. “You gotta take a minute, or a moment tonight to appreciate, cause this is hard to do, make the playoffs a, win the division. But extremely grateful. To God be the glory and I’m just a part of it and I’m extremely grateful to be a part of it.”

Like all the players before him, McDermott didn’t leave out what winning the division and furthermore what having a playoff game at home means.

“To play here… it wasn’t even packed out there, but you could feel the crowd,” McDermott said. “Playing at home, playing in western New York, especially late in the year, it’s been a long time since these fans, because of the situation last year, since the fans have been able to watch a home playoff game in full capacity. So, listen we love playing in front of our fans. It’s a special place to play, to me the best place in the NFL and we look forward to next weekend.”

The Bills did their job and clinched both the division and three seed in the AFC. They now will faceoff vs. the Patriots for the third time this season on Saturday night at 8:15pm.

No matter what happens, Bills fans will have the memory of an AFC East title at home and like Allen said , it’s something I’m sure no one will forget any time soon.

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Bills’ Sean McDermott on another playoff berth: ‘That’s what we expect’

#Bills’ Sean McDermott on another playoff berth: ‘That’s what we expect’

For the third-straight time and fourth time in five years, the Buffalo Bills are heading back to the playoffs. A fate that seemed unfathomable back in 2017 with the team in the midst of a historic postseason drought.

With the team’s 29-15 victory over the Atlanta Falcons and the Baltimore Ravens loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo guarantees itself a spot in the dance.

“It’s pretty special, man,” Bills safety Jordan Poyer said following the game. “Being here since 2017, being with this guy right here [Micah Hyde] and seeing how everything’s… obviously, jobs not finished and we’re going to continue to work, but to be where we came from and to be leaders on this team and have us go to the playoffs… this is our third, three out of four years? Four out of five? S—, I’m getting old. Four out of five? It’s truly special. Guys work hard, man. It’s a special group. Great teammates. Guys come in and work hard so definitely feel like we’ve earned it.”

Poyer’s fellow safety Micah Hyde shared the same sentiment, but reminded us all that the job isn’t done just because the Bills are going to the playoffs.

“It’s remarkable,” Hyde said. “It’s remarkable to see where we were at when we first got here to where we’re at now. But obviously, still a bunch of goals in place for us that we want to accomplish this year. This is just one of them.”

While making the playoffs is one thing, it’s another to change the fabric of a football team to come to expect the postseason year in and year out. Something a team like the New England Patriots has become accustomed to over the years. Poyer said the mindset shift starts with the guys in charge.

“Yeah and I think, you know, ever since, you know, Sean (McDermott) and (Brandon) Beane they took over here they brought the right guys in to set that standard,” Poyer continued. “Guys come into the season understanding what those expectations are on both sides of the football and that is the standard. We want to continue to build off of that.”

It’s easy to take the team’s recent success for granted, something Poyer said he reminded the young players of.

“Was in there telling the young guys, ‘hey, don’t take this for granted.’ Some of the young guys come in here, been in the playoffs for two years in a row now and this is my fourth year out of my nine years and so some of those guys don’t really get to feel the hardships of what, you know, what it takes… it takes a lot to get to the playoffs and a lot of those guys haven’t felt not making it,” Poyer said. “So really, just enjoying the moment and obviously jobs not finished. We’ve got to handle business next week, but definitely feels good.”

With all of the team’s success the last couple of years, the Bills haven’t actually clinched the playoffs at home in front of their devoted fans. Something they were able to change today at Highmark Stadium.

“It means a lot,” Bills defensive tackle Harrison Phillips told the media after the game. “So you’re saying, what? Early 90s was the last time that happened, to clinch at home? Anything we can do to these fans, you know how much our football team cares about them. Not only did we clinch today, but we have an even greater opportunity next week, to win the division. We’re obviously going to take our 24 hours here and then get focused on that, but it was great to do it at home.”

When asked how they’ve gone about accomplishing all that they have of late, Phillips, like Poyer before him, pointed to the ability to identify guys with the right DNA.

“I think we’ve said it a lot. The organization does a great job of bringing in the right people,” Phillips continued. “And that goes from our cafeteria people, our equipment, our training room… everybody around it that has that playoff caliber that you guys see us talk about and stuff. It’s not just something we talk about, it’s something we walk the walk with. It’s been a great success and an ownership that cares a lot about winning. And yeah, all the pieces have kinda been falling.”

While it is certainly not inappropriate to credit the entire organization for the turnaround that we’ve witnessed in Buffalo, the guy at the top who takes most of the criticism when the team struggles, also deserves a good chunk of praise when the team succeeds.

“Sean is everything,” Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins said during his postgame press conference. “Sean is our, our head sphere. That’s our leader board. He’s our leader. It just shows that Sean is Sean. He’s a stone cold killer in the face, but he knows exactly in what he’s doing and he knows what to do. He’s know how to like fuel his players and he knows how to honestly lead the right way. And when you treat your guys right, your guys rally and that’s exactly what we’re doing. We’re rallying behind a leader that treats his troops right.”

Bills quarterback Josh Allen has been a huge part of the last three playoff teams and credited the consistency of the organization overall in breeding the results set before us.

“You look at the culture we’ve got going on here, Allen stated. “I think it just kinda shows that the groundwork and the foundation that has been set the last few years is paying off. From top down, Kim and Terry, what they’ve been able to do, who they’ve hired. They’ve brought in the GM that we’ve got, the head coach that we’ve got. The camaraderie that we’ve had the last few years and the coaching staff too, I think that all pays dividends.”

While the ultimate goal is not to JUST make the playoffs, it’s the first step in the process.

“Again, that’s our goal at the start of the year, is to give yourself a chance to win the Super Bowl and you can’t do that unless you make the playoffs,” Allen continued. “So, everything we wants in front of us. I know a few weeks back it seemed pretty dull… we gotta keep things going.”

As I said earlier, McDermott deserves part of the praise, but if you know the coach, you know he is going to point to every other person before himself.

“Yeah, it means a lot. This is… I’m just one piece of it,” McDermott told reporters. “I think it says a lot about Terry and Kim and what they give us. And the resources they’ve provided us over the years. The partnership I have with Brandon and then the coaches doing a phenomenal job. A lot of good players through those four or five years now. It’s been a team effort, the fans included. It hasn’t all been the highest of highs all the time, but that’s to be expected around the NFL. Them [the fans] sticking with us has been important and it’s great to see them again today.”

When asked what it means to make the playoffs four out of five years now, McDermott didn’t allow himself to get too wrapped up in the moment.

“That’s what we expect,” McDermott continued. “That’s what we’ve talked about since day one. But, I don’t want to get too far ahead of us, you know? Lets keep our focus right where it needs to be, which is in front of us, this past game obviously and moving forward into next week.”

While the playoffs are now a lock for the Bills, the first ever week 18 in NFL history, will decide the ultimate fate of the team heading into the postseason.

In terms of seeding, a Titans win in Week 17 ended Buffalo’s long shot at the No. 1 seed and a bye week, but a win at home vs. the New York Jets, guarantees the Bills a repeat as AFC East champs.

With the division would come either the second, third or fourth seed and a home playoff game in the Wild Card round.

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What They Are Saying: Former Tigers shine in Week 8 of NFL action

A bunch of former Clemson football stars showed out and made big plays on Sunday in Week 8 of the NFL season. Check out some of the buzz on Twitter about former Tigers in Sunday’s NFL action: TEE HIGGINS. #RuleTheJungle : #CINvsNYJ on CBS : NFL app …

A bunch of former Clemson football stars showed out and made big plays on Sunday in Week 8 of the NFL season.

Check out some of the buzz on Twitter about former Tigers in Sunday’s NFL action:

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Former Georgia WR cut by New York Jets

Former Georgia WR cut by New York Jets

With the deadline for NFL teams to trim their rosters to 53 players coming on Tuesday at 4 p.m., tough decisions are being made by franchises across the league.

Former Georgia wide receiver Lawrence Cager learned that the hard way on Monday when he was cut by the New York Jets.

He was signed by the Jets as an undrafted free agent in May 2020 and was a member of their practice squad after being waived by the team. Cager signing to the Jets’ practice squad once again could be a likely a destination for the former Bulldog.

Cager played one season for the Bulldogs after transferring from Miami.  Cager was plagued with injuries throughout his collegiate career.  He received medical redshirt after a season-ending injury before fall camp in 2016 and suffered multiple ankle injuries in 2019 with Georgia.

Despite the injuries, Cager helped lead the bulldogs to their third straight SEC Championship. He was second on the team in receptions (33) and receiving yards (476) behind George Pickens.  Cager also caught four touchdowns for the Dawgs, all this in just 9 of 14 games in 2019.

Cager was unable to compete during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine after undergoing ankle surgery a few months earlier.

How head coach hires could initiate a Sam Darnold for Jimmy Garoppolo trade

With SF 49ers DC Robert Saleh on the cusp of becoming the NY Jets HC, a Jimmy Garoppolo-Sam Darnold swap could make sense for both sides.

With the San Francisco 49ers season already over, many of their leading assistant coaches and at least one executive appear on the cusp of jobs with other teams. None have received more attention than 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. After receiving his second interview with the New York Jets, Saleh seems like the favorite to become the head coach of Gang Green.

Saleh will undoubtedly bring some 49ers assistants with him to New York, likely choosing either Mike LaFleur (passing game coordinator) or Mike McDaniel (run game coordinator) to run the team’s offense. If he does, it could open the door for a significant transaction.

The Jets will have at least $70 million in cap space this offseason and the second overall pick in the draft. While fans are frustrated to miss out on Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, they are in prime position to draft the next best signal-caller. Ohio State’s Justin Fields and BYU’s Zach Wilson are the two names touted as the second-best QB prospect in this year’s draft. While 2018 first-round pick Sam Darnold could serve as a bridge to a new QB in New York, a more proven veteran option with familiarity in a Shanahan-style system would seem like a better fit.

Of course, the 49ers have a quarterback conundrum of their own. Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard have yet to look like capable starters, and Jimmy Garoppolo has been mired by injuries and some consistent shortcomings on the field. With several pending salary cap decisions, Garoppolo’s $26.9 million cap hit in 2021 creates some questions. While a reasonable salary for a starting quarterback, can the 49ers afford to make such a costly bet on Garoppolo? Then again, identifying viable alternatives may be an even more cumbersome proposition.

Late last year, however, before the 49ers took on the Jets in Week 2, head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked about Darnold. Below is his response:

“I’ve watched him a lot whether it was college or last week’s game… I’m a big fan of Sam’s. He’s a very good player. He’s going to have a very good career in this league. He makes a lot of plays. If you’re not on your stuff, if you let him get comfortable back there, he’ll pick you apart as good as any quarterback. He can throw it very well, and he sees the field extremely well.”

If Shanahan is indeed that high on Darnold, moving Garoppolo to acquire him begins to make a lot of sense.

A swap would cost the Jets a little more than $19 million in cap space, a very reasonable cost for a starter. Garoppolo has consistently received rave reviews for his presence in the locker room. Saleh surely wants to carry a lot of what he helped build in San Francisco to his next job, and players like Garoppolo could do that. Furthermore, his familiarity with the offense could be a great help to a young quarterback like Fields or Wilson.

Plus, without any guaranteed salary remaining in his contract, Garoppolo gives the franchise ample flexibility.

If he bounces back next season, New York could trade him to recoup draft capital. If he’s injured once again or fails to perform, he could be released without adding much dead money to the Jets’ books.

The savings might not be as considerable for the 49ers, but would be quite substantial. They would gain the same $19 million in space but would probably be more obligated to add a proven veteran, like Andy Dalton, Jacoby Brissett, or Tyrod Taylor, to offer primary competition and insurance. Still, even if that required a one-year, $5 million deal, the moves would create more than $14 million in cap savings. Some may prefer Garoppolo to Darnold and Taylor, but $14 million in savings could go a long way towards other parts of the roster.

Darnold’s contract will expire after 2021. Technically, the Jets (or 49ers in this scenario) could exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie-scale contract to retain him for another season. However, that decision will have to be made by May 1st of this year. Darnold’s fifth-year option will be worth roughly $25 million and be fully guaranteed. Without a chance to see him practice or play with the team before then, it’s extremely unlikely the team would make such a move. Instead, the 49ers would have the franchise tag at their disposal to prevent Darnold from leaving if they wanted to keep him around beyond next year.

The cost of creating space now, by moving Garoppolo for Darnold, would end up costing the 49ers more down the line if Darnold were a viable long-term option. That might seem like running in circles but it is precisely what the 49ers need. The salary cap decreases this year due to revenue losses from the COVID-19 pandemic, but it could explode next offseason.

Saleh remains one of the hottest head coaching candidates in the NFL. If he will be leaving the 49ers this year, it seems like no landing spot would be more advantageous to San Francisco than the Jets. He would be in a different conference and create a practical way for the 49ers to acquire a young starting quarterback and gain much-needed cap space.

 

 

Bills K Tyler Bass: ‘It’s about what you do after a miss’

Entering today’s game vs. the New York Jets, Bills kicker, Tyler Bass, had had an up and down rookie season.

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Entering today’s game vs. the New York Jets, Bills kicker Tyler Bass, was having an up and down rookie season.

Bass started his NFL career 6 for 9 (67%,) with one of his misses coming before halftime last week vs. the Chiefs, in a game where his team really could have used the points. Others came in his first-career game, Buffalo’s season opener against the Jets, which were near chip-shot territory.

After releasing veteran Stephen Hauschka and handing the job to Bass, some were starting to wonder had Buffalo made the right move, entrusting the kicking duties to a rookie on a team that is expected to compete now.

In Week 7, Bass did his best to silence those critics.

After missing a 48-yard kick at the start of the game, Bass nailed a 53-yarder and was off and running.

Bass finished the day 6 for 8, accounting for all 18 of the Bills points leading them to the victory. After the 18-10 win, Bass had a very levelheaded approach to it all despite having just attempted eight field goals.

“It’s really not about how many you make,” Bass told the media via a Zoom call after the game. “It’s about what you do after a miss, after something goes wrong. Anyone can handle stuff when things are easy, it’s just about… when something goes wrong, it’s about how you handle that. You don’t let it define you… you just trust everything you’d done in practice that week and you just put it to show.”

The CBS broadcast crew was also heard poking fun at Bass during the game for wearing eye black under only one of his eyes. Turns out part of the reason is as a homage to his grandmother.

Regardless of the broadcasters, confidence was something Bass was searching for on Sunday and perhaps he found it.

“It’s a huge confidence boost to get out there and get the live reps,” Bass said.

While Bass was happy to see the live reps, one can be sure that he did not expect to see that many opportunities.

The kicker set a new Bills franchise record with eight FG attempts and tied Steve Christie’s franchise record for field goals made in a game at six. That was set all the way back in 1996.

While the Bills schedule doesn’t get any easier facing the Patriots and Seahawks before their bye week, the team will certainly be relying on Bass to make big kicks for them in the second half of the season.

If Sunday is any indication, perhaps despite a slow start, the rookie is up for the challenge.

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Sean McDermott makes it clear: Time for ‘moral victories’ is over

McDermott promises the Bills will take their loss to the Chiefs hard.

Another week, another tough loss to a top-tier team on primetime for the Buffalo Bills.

Following last week’s loss to the Titans, the Bills dropped their second game of the season to the Kansas City Chiefs, 26-17. Granted, both were against good teams, one of which being the defending champs. But despite the talent across from his team over the course of their last two outings, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott said after the game that a loss is a loss, period.

“The minute losing gets easy, it’s not a good deal,” McDermott said. “We take it hard. There are no moral victories. We have to be truthful with ourselves at what needs to be corrected.”

One of the more glaring issues this season has been the Bills defense. Something we are not use to under McDermott-led teams. Against the Chiefs, the run defense was gashed for 245-yards despite KC missing two of their starters along the offensive line. But was that by design?

“You have to pick your poison,” McDermott said.

He went on to explain how when you have an explosive offense and a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes, you have to decide if you’re going to focus on shutting down the pass, or the run, because doing both is not realistic.

In focusing on thwarting the pass, McDermott explained that the Bills, at least, were in the game at the end as compared to other teams who were getting blown out after getting thrown all over.

Mahomes was asked about this very philosophy after the game.

“If teams are going to play us like this, you’re going to see us running the football, and we have the guys to do it,” Mahomes said.

McDermott made clear that despite back-to-back losses, beating the best is still what this team strives to do.

“I think the competition out there is elite,” McDermott said. “This is high standard, high quality football. We’ve come up short in these last two games and we’ll go back to the drawing board.”

While the Bills get a break from playing a top-ranked opponent when they head to New Jersey to face the 0-6 Jets next Sunday, their schedule still has its fair share of tough matchups remaining with games vs. the likes of the Seahawks and Steelers, just to name a few.

At the end of the day though, the Bills are 4-2 and in first place in the AFC East. While there is plenty that needs to be corrected on both sides of the ball, the season is far from over… even if after the last two games, it feels like it is.

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