Buffalo Rumblings - All our coverage: Buffalo Bills look for exclamation point against New England Patriots on Monday Night FootballBuffalo Bills news, notes, discussions, opinions and analysis. 24/7/365 since 4/7/2007.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48063/buffalorumblings_fave.png2021-01-03T07:00:00-05:00http://www.buffalorumblings.com/rss/stream/219627882021-01-03T07:00:00-05:002021-01-03T07:00:00-05:00Buffalo Bills fans have no reason to lack confidence heading into Week 17
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<figcaption>Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Bills fans are pretty confident. </p> <p id="KJ5OCD">For the third straight week, <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> fans sit at 100 percent confident and who can blame them? Buffalo is on a five-game winning streak and a Hail Mary away from winning nine in a row. They clinched their first AFC East title in 25 years and could lock up the two seed in the AFC with a win on Sunday or a <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> loss.</p>
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<p id="fSEa5j">Buffalo joins the <a href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a> and <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> at 100 percent fan confidence, but the Bills are the only team to hold onto it for three straight weeks. The Tennessee Titans fell off the perfect score after their Sunday night loss in Week 16 (dropping to 56 percent) and the <a href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/">Baltimore Ravens</a> slid to 94 percent after their win over the <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a>.</p>
<p id="Phq7Fl">At the other end of the spectrum, no teams remain in the single digits with the <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> at 10 percent being the lowest number followed closely at 13 percent by fans of the <a href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Houston Texans</a>.</p>
<p id="FUW9rW">In the AFC East, the Bills obviously lead followed closely by the <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Miami Dolphins</a>, who have hovered in the mid-90s for the second half of the season. The <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> are at the bottom of the division with their fans still around 30 percent following their <em>Monday Night Football</em> loss and the <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">New York Jets</a> are up to 33 percent confident.</p>
<p id="yJY8hR">National voters also picked the Bills as the second-most-likely team to win the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> after the <a href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com">Kansas City Chiefs</a>. </p>
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https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2021/1/3/22211304/buffalo-bills-fans-have-no-reason-to-lack-confidence-heading-into-week-17Matt Warren2021-01-02T10:05:00-05:002021-01-02T10:05:00-05:00Fully healthy, Matt Milano was back to taking starter’s reps in Week 16
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<figcaption>Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="kdSEsm"><a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> starters didn’t play 100 percent of the snaps on Monday night against the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a>. With a big lead and bigger fish to fry in the postseason, head coach Sean McDermott sat his starters in the fourth quarter. </p>
<p id="j5irpX">Struggling with injuries from halftime of Week 1, middle linebacker Matt Milano played all of the starters’ reps in Week 16 for the first time since Week 3 against the <a href="https://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Los Angeles Rams</a> and just the second time all season. While the number says he played 88 percent of the snaps, Milano played the same number as other core starters Tre’Davious White, Tremaine Edmunds, and Micah Hyde.</p>
<p id="C96vHO">“The last few weeks he’s really come along to the point where we ended up starting him last night,” defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said Tuesday. “And man, he makes a difference. He did a terrific job for us and his presence was felt, whether we were bringing him in pressure or if he was in coverage. He’s a vital part of our success on defense and it’s really good to have him back.”</p>
<aside id="B30eVm"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Bills snap count notes from Monday Night Football","url":"https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2020/12/29/22204588/buffalo-bills-snap-count-notes-vs-new-england-patriots"}]}'></div></aside><p id="MILSbv">Frazier also went out of his way to point out the good plays Milano made; an open-field tackle of James White, pass coverage on New England’s tight ends, and his tackling as a whole. Milano finished with a sack and 8 tackles.</p>
<p id="d4iclU">Having a healthy Milano and Edmunds manning the linebacker spot together for the first time all season will be a game changer as the Bills enter the playoffs next week. It’s expected that neither will play in Week 17. </p>
https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2021/1/2/22206068/fully-healthy-matt-milano-was-back-to-taking-starters-reps-in-week-16Matt Warren2020-12-31T12:15:00-05:002020-12-31T12:15:00-05:00All-22 analysis: Matt Milano’s return
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<figcaption>Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Well, the return of “fully healthy” Matt Milano at any rate</p> <p id="MqJnmD">Yes, yes. Matt Milano was technically “back” prior to the AFC East Champion <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> decimating the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a>. However, he had been on a pitch count prior to the <em>Monday Night Football</em> game. With his first fully healthy game in awhile, let’s see how he did. </p>
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<h3 id="dIvxRa">Play 1</h3>
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<p id="I7mRZ8">We’ve been doing a lot of celebrating as of late, but let’s make this an honest look at Milano’s time on the field against New England. That means we’ll have a few plays where things don’t go so great for him. For this play Milano’s actions are fine based on what’s occurring. He’s moving with the run and doesn’t see there’s an obstacle in his path. If you watch this play several times, focus on a different player each time. The Bills were beat on this play, not just Matt Milano. </p>
<h3 id="Tuxi1s">Play 2 </h3>
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<p id="OXIkgH">I know what a lot of you are thinking: Why didn’t Tremaine Edmunds make the tackle? He’s a lot closer when the ball is in the air after all. That’s because Edmunds knows the situation. On 3rd-and-long it’s a near guarantee he’s supposed to park himself right where it’s at. Other defenders, like Matt Milano, are free to run in. I picked this particular play because it highlights the sideline-to-sideline speed that Milano possesses. </p>
<h3 id="jwnyW7">Play 3</h3>
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<p id="emdWwh">I’m a big fan of watching plays that seemingly have nothing going on for the player under review. Milano is part of the pile and that’s about it. What I like about this is that he uses his hands to keep himself from getting tangled in the pile. If the ball carrier came his way he’d still have a shot at making the tackle. </p>
<h3 id="8iJ1Y2">Play 4</h3>
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<p id="EgpV7U">All people pretending to be analysts (like myself) have soapboxes. We all know I like Lee Smith more than anyone but his parents for instance. One dislike of mine is the “move Tremaine Edmunds” out of the middle linebacker spot argument. This is the second time I’m bringing up Edmunds because I don’t think you can fairly evaluate either apart from the other. The versatility they bring when they’re on the field together is phenomenal. And this is why I hate the “move Edmunds” talk. The Bills move him out of the middle linebacker spot frequently already and bring in Milano. When both are on the field what you think you’re seeing as a quarterback is never guaranteed. </p>
<h3 id="UdUpAG">Play 5</h3>
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<p id="5ZXp8m">There’s not a ton to say about this play except that it’s exactly what you want out of your linebackers. When they’re clean, they’re working and finding the right spot. </p>
<h3 id="s11c7Z">Play 6</h3>
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<p id="vmYt9w">Above I said “when they’re clean.” You can’t always be clean and you can’t predict every play 100 percent. Matt Milano steps into the block and is pushed out of it. He recovers by shedding the block and racing to make the tackle. Even on an imperfect play, Milano is the type of player you love to see on the field. </p>
<h3 id="FFxfbo">Play 7</h3>
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<p id="8T2q1D">This looks like a negative play for Milano but let me convince you otherwise. We all know that if Stefon Diggs draws a double team it opens up another receiver. If Ed Oliver is being stopped by two blockers it opens a gap. Milano isn’t drawing a double team here but the effort it takes to move him out of the way means Shaq Mason cuts off the lane Milano was going to occupy anyway. It also means Mason is so far overextended that he has no shot at helping stop Quinton Jefferson either. At any time your opponent commits too many resources to stopping a single player, that’s a win. </p>
<h3 id="qvUTsI">Play 8</h3>
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<p id="HDpDI4">I had a request for this one and it was too good to pass up so here it is (sorry Matt Milano for making you share the spotlight).</p>
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<h3 id="ZF8bBV">Summary</h3>
<p id="SQascM">In his first game back without a pitch count Matt Milano looked good. Really good. He didn’t win every snap but no one ever does. He did look fast. He was tackling without hesitation. He showed off good instincts and combined with Tremaine Edmunds to create some difficult reads for the Patriots. For a team looking to peak about now, the full return of Matt Milano is exciting news. </p>
https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2020/12/31/22207261/all-22-analysis-matt-milanos-return-buffalo-billsSkarekrow2020-12-31T08:31:00-05:002020-12-31T08:31:00-05:00The Bruce Exclusive: Dunking Technique and Lemon Perspective
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<figcaption>The Bruce Exclusive podcast Cover Art | Josh Rawdin</figcaption>
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<p>Happy posterizing to you</p> <p id="KTtLYh">On this episode of “The Bruce Exclusive” Bruce tackles all the cold takes of football analysts and Josh Allen, and how he thinks <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> fans should handle them, plus plurality pie and how lemon cleaning product and lemon pie can give us a lesson on perspective.</p>
<p id="B6q6OQ">#Bills #goBills #BillsMafia</p>
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https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2020/12/31/22207133/the-bruce-exclusive-dunking-technique-and-lemon-perspectiveBruce Nolan2020-12-31T08:28:00-05:002020-12-31T08:28:00-05:00Bills promoted Davis Webb to active roster as reward for practice play
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<figcaption>Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Even though they made him inactive for the game.</p> <p id="TNjn8u">On Monday, the <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> called up quarterback Davis Webb to the active roster from the practice squad using the COVID-19 rules. Then they made him inactive for the game. It was a strange move from the outside—why elevate him to not play him? Head coach Sean McDermott explained why earlier this week.</p>
<p id="hZEWQk">“I think he’s done a phenomenal job, he really has,” McDermott said. “I don’t think I’ve been around a guy that’s added value in so many ways to a team in a role that he has on the field, which is to say in terms of not being a starter.”</p>
<p id="NSmCFO">Webb has been on Buffalo’s practice squad all year as the team’s third quarterback. Rookie Jake Fromm has been isolated from the QB room in order to avoid COVID-19 close contacts, so it’s been Webb in the room with Josh Allen and Matt Barkley. The former third-round pick is adding value in that capacity. </p>
<p id="HO0N02">“He’s one of the best teammates that I’ve ever seen,” offensive coordinator Brian Daboll said. “He’ll work on special teams if he needs to work on special teams, he’ll work on the defensive show team. He does an unbelievable job of helping Josh prepare for games. He spends a lot of time with [assistant quarterbacks coach] Shea [Tierney] and going through the team we’re about to play. He just has his hands in so many different things for us. He’s such a valuable part to our team.”</p>
<p id="eDGv7f">Webb was drafted in the third round of the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2017/4/27/15372494/2017-nfl-draft-results-pick-by-pick">2017 NFL Draft</a> by the <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a>, but when Ben McAdoo was fired, Webb was released prior to the 2018 season. He landed with the <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">New York Jets</a>’ practice squad before being promoted to the active roster when Sam Darnold was injured. He was released during the final roster cuts in 2019 and signed with the Bills’ practice squad where he has remained. </p>
<p id="PcRVsK">He’s currently on a one-year deal.</p>
https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2020/12/31/22206067/buffalo-bills-promoted-davis-webb-to-active-roster-as-reward-for-practice-playMatt Warren2020-12-30T09:24:00-05:002020-12-30T09:24:00-05:00Bills WR Stefon Diggs named AFC Offensive Player of the Week
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<figcaption>David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>His huge day against the Pats earned him the honor</p> <p id="J4VZkQ">After the <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> dominated the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> on Monday night, some speculated that quarterback Josh Allen would win his fifth AFC Offensive Player of the Week honor of the season. Instead, it was his teammate and top target bestowed with the award.</p>
<p id="DkyKjO">Stefon Diggs <a href="https://www.buffalobills.com/news/nfl-names-stefon-diggs-afc-offensive-player-of-the-week-week-16">was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week</a> for his dominant performance in Week 16. Diggs was targeted 11 times, hauling in nine passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns. </p>
<p id="AH6OtU">The first touchdown displayed his speed, as he turned a ten-yard crossing route into a 50-yard touchdown. The second touchdown showcased his toughness, as Diggs made a catch over the middle, withstood a big hit in between two Patriots’ defenders, and stayed on his feet to make it to the end zone. The third touchdown showcased his sheer talent, as Diggs made a sliding grab in the back of the end zone with a corner draped all over him.</p>
<p id="7xLuLk">Diggs is having a career year, and he’s rewritten the Bills’ record books in the process. He’s the current franchise leader in receptions (120) and receiving yards (1,459) in a single season, surpassing records previously held by Eric Moulds, who had 100 catches in 2002 and 1,368 receiving yards in 1998.</p>
<p id="3raPj7">Diggs is the first Bills receiver since Andre Reed to be named Offensive Player of the Week. Reed won the distinction in a 27-20 victory over the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a> in Week 12 of the 1994 season. In that game, the Hall of Fame wideout set career highs in receptions and receiving yards, hauling in 15 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns. </p>
https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2020/12/30/22206125/buffalo-bills-receiver-stefon-diggs-named-afc-offensive-player-of-the-week-andre-reed-josh-allenSean Murphy2020-12-30T08:10:00-05:002020-12-30T08:10:00-05:00Injury updates: Cole Beasley “week to week” with leg injury
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<figcaption>Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="C5slZr">The <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> were pretty healthy entering their game against the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> on <em>Monday Night Football</em> but a potential fly in the ointment sprouted up at the end of the game. </p>
<p id="58BAOI">Receiver Cole Beasley came up limping (again) and was attended to by trainers on the bench. With either the two or three seed in hand, the Bills are likely to rest Beasley this Sunday and head coach Sean McDermott called him “week to week” in his Tuesday press conference. Beasley is just 33 yards short of his first career 1000-yard season but has personal highs in receptions and yards. </p>
<p id="nuwcjR">Fullback Reggie Gilliam didn’t practice during the week leading up to the game against New England and is also still week to week according to McDermott. He is dealing with a hamstring and knee injury. </p>
<p id="vWWNCa">Receiver John Brown, who had missed the previous four games due to injury, was cleared to return Monday before being placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. His status for Week 17 and beyond is up in the air. </p>
<p id="WN20xb">At linebacker, Matt Milano played his highest snap count since injuries robbed him of multiple games this year. He played 88 percent of the defensive snaps and was pulled in the blowout. He should be good to go for the postseason. </p>
https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2020/12/30/22206064/buffalo-bills-injury-updates-cole-beasley-week-to-week-with-leg-injuryMatt Warren2020-12-30T08:00:00-05:002020-12-30T08:00:00-05:00Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots: Rookie review
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<figcaption>Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Davis’s big day that could have been, Moss earns another touchdown</p> <p id="tvsKH6">The <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> exorcised and eviscerated some demons on <em>Monday Night Football</em> against the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> in a 38-9 win that started out close, but quickly became a blowout. The Patriots’ offense couldn’t string drives together—or finish them—and their defense wasn’t able to stop Buffalo’s passing attack. As has been the case all season, the rookies were contributors, but not decisive factors in the game. More about how each rookie performed against the Patriots below.</p>
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<h3 id="px1w8i">DE <span>A.J. Epenesa</span>
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<p id="D2em4L">The Patriots attacked him early in the run game with some read-option plays, which the rookie pass rusher defended reasonably well, although some of the play calls left him with no ‘good’ option to take. He was called for roughing the passer against Jarrett Stidham in the third quarter, which wasn’t great but can be forgiven as the game was in hand and he showed good burst on an inside move. In general, against the pass he was winning his fair share of battles even if never got a chance to finish. </p>
<h3 id="tgtxRH">RB <span>Zack Moss</span>
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<p id="oki9UJ">Another short but productive day for Moss with 12 rushes for 57 yards and a touchdown. Most of his best runs came late in the first quarter, which saw him bulldozing his way through the middle against some lighter nickel and dime defenses. Moss also benefited from some inexperienced New England linebackers, notably on his touchdown run in the second quarter. With Terez Hall choosing the wrong gap, the rookie runner was virtually untouched until it was too late on his five-yard run.</p>
<h3 id="fw5Mgz">WR <span>Gabriel Davis</span>
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<p id="WBmqnQ">The rookie started hot on the first drive with two intermediate catches, but cooled off rapidly as the game went on. Ultimately finishing with three catches for 33 yards, Davis could have had a much bigger day if the Patriots didn’t call a timeout at exactly the right moment to prevent a long touchdown catch, and also if Allen properly leads him away from coverage on a deep shot in the third quarter.</p>
<h3 id="nIf5um">QB <span>Jake Fromm</span>
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<p id="HNm8mQ">As with the previous games, Fromm was again a healthy scratch. This has remained the case throughout the season.</p>
<h3 id="kQuwIa">K <span>Tyler Bass</span>
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<p id="bf1SAU">Another perfect game for Bass, with a single field goal made to go with five extra points. His is now seven points away from breaking Steve Christie’s single-season points record of 140.</p>
<h3 id="Iewvug">WR <span>Isaiah Hodgins</span>
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<p id="apyIJx">Hodgins remains on Injured Reserve. He recently had surgery on his shoulder.</p>
<h3 id="bdIF2q">CB <span>Dane Jackson</span>
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<p id="aU2xik">As has been the case the previous games, Jackson did not see the field against the Patriots with both Josh Norman and Levi Wallace now healthy. He remained on the practice squad as a “protected player.”</p>
<h3 id="DVlqK3">TE/FB <span>Reggie Gilliam</span>
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<p id="byNQKv">Unfortunately for him, Gilliam was held out of the New England game while dealing with both knee and hamstring injuries.</p>
https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2020/12/30/22205657/buffalo-bills-vs-new-england-patriots-rookie-reviewgrif