Bills brace for steady Brees, Saints
Don’t bother asking Sean McDermott if he’s glanced where the Bills are in the standings after matching their best first-half record in 17 years.
Buffalo’s rookie coach shook his head, no, before saying he’s far too consumed with preparing to host the NFC South-leading Saints on Sunday. New Orleans has an offense that gave McDermott fits during his previous six years as Carolina’s defensive coordinator.
“Drew Brees, Sean Payton,” he said, referring to the Saints quarterback and coach, while rolling his eyes. “How’s your week look?” in suggesting his is filled.
New Orleans (6-2) has won six straight and features an offense that ranks second in the NFL in yards gained.
Buffalo (5-3) has been one of the league’s midseason surprises in overcoming a major offseason overhaul.
The Bills, however, remain a work in progress, particularly on defense, where they feature six new starters from last year and are coming off a sloppy 3421 loss at the New York Jets on Nov. 2.
McDermott’s focus is solely on the Saints, a team he faced twice a season and enjoyed a 7-5 record against while with the division rival Panthers.
The challenge in prepping a non-conference opponent such as Buffalo is getting his players to appreciate how dynamic the Saints are under Brees.
“Seeing it on TV is one thing, seeing it live is another,” McDermott said. “One of the hardest parts to get people to understand, especially your first time going against this type of offense, is what it takes to have any type of success against it.”
Brees has been efficient in completing nearly 72 percent of his passes with In this Oct. 29 photo, Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott talks to his team prior to an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Orchard Park, N.J. The Bills have been one of the NFL’s mid-season surprises in getting off to a 5-3 start for a team that underwent a major offseason overhaul.
13 touchdowns with four interceptions, while being sacked a league-low eight times. The Saints also feature a productive duo at running back. Veteran Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara have combined for 852 yards rushing and seven touchdowns, and another 533 yards receiving and two touchdowns by Kamara.
If it’s any consolation to McDermott, Payton joked he was happy to see the Panthers coordinator leave the division upon being hired by the Bills in January.
“Once every four years is better than (facing him) twice every year,” Payton said. “He’s done a fantastic job as a defensive coordinator, and now you can see his imprint on this team very quickly.”
Some things to watch out for Sunday:
PREACHING PATIENCE
Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander says the defense can’t hit the panic button against the Saints as happened against the Jets. Missed tackles led to Buffalo surrendering a season-high 194 yards rushing against New York.
“Having experienced that, we just want to make sure nobody panics and we don’t lose our confidence,” Alexander said. “They’re a good team, understand that, but let’s go back there and hit them in the mouth and get something going for us and not dwell on that last drive.”
SHUFFLED LINE
The Saints’ offensive line has been in constant flux because of injuries to left tackle Terron Armstead, right tackle Zach Strief, and right guard Larry Warford.
Rookie Ryan Ramczyk has had to start at both tackle spots. Andrus Peat has moved back and forth between left guard and left tackle. Senio Kelemete has had to play left and right guard.
Center Max Unger has been the stabilizing force, playing all eight games since having offseason foot surgery.
“We’ve had a tough run,” Unger said. “It is kind of a testament to the depth that we have and the depth we have been able to build here, and have guys come in and play out of position and not really have a drop in production.”
BIG BENJAMIN
Receiver Kelvin Benjamin is set to make his Bills debut after being acquired in a trade with Carolina on Oct. 31. He has 17 catches for 192 yards and touchdown in five career games against New Orleans, including two catches for 8 yards in September before leaving with a left knee injury.
At 6-foot-5, Benjamin presents a matchup problem, something quarterback Tyrod Taylor hopes to exploit.
“If you look at the plays he’s made over his career, he’s definitely made a bunch of contested throws,” Taylor said. “Just give him a chance, his ball or nobody’s.”
TAKEAWAYS
The Bills’ 17 takeaways (11 interceptions, six fumbles) rank second in the league, though they turned the ball over a season-high three times against the Jets.
The Saints have 12 takeaways (nine interceptions, three fumbles). New Orleans, however has committed nine turnovers, all coming in its last four games.
The arrow was pointing up for the Cowboys, sideways or down for the Falcons.
Then a federal court on Thursday upheld the sixgame league suspension for Ezekiel Elliott, a damaging blow to Dallas.
When they meet Sunday in a critical NFC match, the winner will be in decent position for a run toward the playoffs, hardly what either 2016 conference power projected.
The loser, particularly if it is Dallas with NFC East leader Philadelphia already 2½ games in front and Elliott presumably gone for much of the remainder of the schedule, will have used up significant margin for error.
“We know as a team what we’re capable of,” safety Ricardo Allen said of his 4-4 Falcons . “Just go out there and do our job. Just give a little more, take it to another level.
“We have another whole half of the season. Get it rolling. Get the small things right.”
Dallas (5-3) has done a lot of big things right after a 2-3 start. Somehow, the Cowboys managed through all the distractions from their star running back’s on-again, offagain suspension, and they handled Kansas City quite well last Sunday.
Now comes a huge inconference test at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where Atlanta is only 1-2, but plays four of its next five games.
“We’ve just got to keep on pushing,” says receiver Dez Bryant, who is bothered by knee and ankle woes. “We know exactly who we are. We’re going to show everybody. This is a real team that sticks together and fights for one another. We’ve been through a lot of adversity, and we’re just showing you how to get out of it. That’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to keep on fighting and see where it takes us.”
The action began Thursday night with Seattle’s 2216 victory in Arizona.
An unquestionable lift for the Vikings came this week with Teddy Bridgewater activated. He’ll serve as backup to Case Keenum, but his return from a devastating knee injury in training camp 2016 is a huge plus.
“He hasn’t had training camp. He hasn’t done anything,” coach Mike Zimmer said of the prospect of Bridgewater seeing any action. “We’re just trying to get him to where everybody feels comfortable with him.”
Minnesota is comfy atop the NFC North with a twogame lead and showing lots of balance on offense and defense during a fourgame win string.
Washington comes off a comeback victory at Seattle made more impressive by the wave of injuries it has fought through. Its defense has looked formidable,
WOW! The Jaguars won a game at EverBank Field, beating Cincinnati. They were 1-6 there last season.
This is no gimme for the AFC South co-leaders. The Chargers have won six straight in this series, scoring 30 or more points in five of those and outscoring the Jaguars by a combined 116 points.
Jaguars rookie RB Leonard Fournette can become the first player in NFL history to score a TD in the first seven games of a career.
Former Jaguars coach and current Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley returns to Jacksonville 11 months after getting fired to end one of the worst coaching tenures in NFL history. Bradley went 14-48 with the Jags.