by Tony Fiorello
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - SEPTEMBER 12: a Buffalo Bills helmet rests on the field before the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins on Thursday, September 12, 2024 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
· Ho-hum, another victory over the Jets. But seriously, the Bills needed this victory after a lackluster – by their standards – victory over the Patriots a week ago, and boy did they raise their level of play. Granted, it was against a team lacking in personnel and one that had already given up on their season, but it was nice to see that Buffalo wasn’t going to show up to Highmark Stadium and expect to sleepwalk through this performance.
· Game balls go to Buffalo’s defense – which was stellar all afternoon, especially in the pass-rush and takeaway departments – and to Josh Allen, Amari Cooper, Keon Coleman and Tyrell Shavers.
· Again, it’s amazing to think that, given the loss of so many veterans in the offseason and the Bills’ current salary cap situation, that so many – yours truly included – would believe that the team would take a small step back and finish the regular season with only nine or 10 wins. Not only have the Bills clinched yet another second seed in the AFC, but they are one victory away from setting a new franchise record for wins in a season with 14. Of course, their list of regular season opponents haven’t been exactly a murderers’ row – the only ones who will make the playoffs are Baltimore, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Detroit and maybe Miami – but Buffalo doesn’t make up their own schedule, they’re just playing the teams they’ve been assigned to.
· The more I’ve pondered it, the more I’m coming to the realization that maybe, just maybe, Joe Brady has been the best offensive coordinator that Sean McDermott’s had. That’s no knock on Brian Daboll at all – he did a phenomenal job here – but Brady has provided the kind of balance that McDermott had been wanting for years. He’s also been excellent at providing in-game adjustments tactically – there’s a reason why this group is the highest-scoring team in franchise annals.
· On to New England!