Pregame coverage: All you need to know before the Bills battle the Patriots

The dynasty was supposed to be dead.

When the Buffalo Bills walked into Gillette Stadium almost exactly one year ago, a changing of the guard felt inevitable in the AFC East. The visiting team absolutely put it on the home team, as the Bills’ 38-9 victory over the New England Patriots was breathtaking in its efficiency.

Quarterback Josh Allen completed 27 of 36 passes for 320 yards and four touchdowns. Stefon Diggs tied a career high with three touchdown catches – the last of which came in the fourth quarter and had the unmistakable feeling of a message being sent to Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who has never been shy about running up the score against divisional opponents in the past.

With Tom Brady basking in the Florida sun and the Patriots on their way to a 7-9 finish, it felt as if a new era was just beginning that night in Foxborough.

Not so fast, though. Like any great villain, the Patriots have resurrected themselves in 2021. They enter Sunday’s rematch against the Bills leading the AFC East with a 9-5 record. Talk radio in Boston has basked in the Patriots’ return to prominence, and taken every opportunity to tell the Bills their one-year reign atop the division was an empty-stadium, pandemic-induced anomaly.

That type of talk has taken this rivalry – which is a fair word to use now, as opposed to when Brady lorded over the Bills for two decades – to another level.

“Yeah, we understand,” Allen said. “For how long this team's been the top dog in this division and really the conference, so we players, we know that, we feel that, but we try to set that aside as much as possible and just try to focus in and hone in on executing a game plan.

“We know what’s at stake, but we’re not trying to make it the biggest game.”

Good luck with that. Allen and his teammates can talk all they want about how it’s the biggest game because it’s the next one. There’s no running from the reality, though, that this game is different than a Week 4 matchup against the Texans. This is the Patriots, after all. A psychological component comes into play when going against them that just doesn’t exist against other teams.

With what’s at stake – first place in the AFC East and a clear path to the division title – and who it’s against, this game is bigger than others.

But where does it rank in the Sean McDermott era? The Buffalo News set out to determine just that. Here’s our ranking of the 10 biggest regular-season games under McDermott:

10. Dec. 10, 2017 – Buffalo 13, Indianapolis 7, OT

While it’s more memorable for the snow that never relented during the game, this game went a long way toward ending the playoff drought. Kelvin Benjamin – remember him? – made the only play of his Bills career with an 8-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter from Nathan Peterman – remember him? The Bills also came remarkably close to losing this game twice. The Colts went for two points after a touchdown in the final minutes of regulation and were successful, but the play was called back on a questionable offensive pass interference call. Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri also missed a 43-yard field goal at the end of regulation. The Bills won in overtime on a 21-yard touchdown run by running back LeSean McCoy, keeping their playoff hopes alive.

9. Sept. 9, 2018 – Baltimore 47, Buffalo 3

How exactly does one of the worst losses in franchise history make the list? Simple. It’s the game that started the Allen era at quarterback. The Bills started Peterman in the 2018 season opener, but a laughably bad first half in the rain against the Ravens (4 of 13, 25 yards, one interception, three sacks) led to him being benched and Allen taking over for the second half. Ready or not, it was his time.

8. Dec. 30, 2018 – Buffalo 42, Miami 17

Yes, it came at the end of a 6-10 season, but the Bills’ victory in the regular-season finale over the Dolphins came with one big takeaway – they had something at quarterback. Allen torched the Dolphins with five total touchdowns – starting a run of dominance over the divisional rival that continues to this day.

7. Dec. 31, 2017 – Buffalo 22, Miami 16

While this date is remembered more for what happened after the Bills’ win, the miracle Cincinnati touchdown that ended the drought wouldn’t have meant what it did if the Bills didn’t take care of business in South Florida a few minutes earlier. This game was memorable in its own right – beloved defensive tackle Kyle Williams scored on a fullback dive, after all – as the Bills raced out to a big lead in the first half, then had to hold on for dear life at the end. They did, setting up a memorable scene in the locker room after Andy Dalton connected with Tyler Boyd to beat the Ravens.

6. Dec. 6, 2021 – New England 14, Buffalo 10

The Bills are 0-5 in games decided by a touchdown or less this season. One of those losses came at home against the Patriots on "Monday Night Football." The game was played with wind gusts up to 50 mph that made throwing and kicking the ball a comedy of errors at times. One big defensive breakdown led to a 64-yard touchdown run by the Patriots in the first quarter, and the Bills were chasing from there. Buffalo gave up 222 rushing yards – despite the Patriots all but telling them they were going to run the ball – which led to some raw emotion after the game from safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, who took offense when asked if they were “embarrassed” by the defensive performance. That reaction showed the level of frustration that came with losing a game in which the opposing quarterback threw just three passes. The win for New England put them in control of the AFC East, but a loss last week to Indianapolis opened the door for the Bills to pull even in the standings with a victory Sunday. If Buffalo then wins out, it will hold the tiebreaker over the Patriots based on a better record within the division.

5. Oct. 10, 2021 – Buffalo 38, Kansas City 20

"Sunday Night Football." A rematch of last season’s AFC championship game. A huge win by the Bills that, at the time, looked like it sent a statement about where the team stood. The Bills proved they had constructed a roster that could beat the Chiefs. Unfortunately for the team, we’ve since learned the bigger question is whether they can handle physical teams – such the Titans, Colts and Patriots – that put an emphasis on winning at the line of scrimmage. The Bills have fallen short against all of those teams this season, but have a chance to turn things around in Sunday's rematch.

4. Dec. 15, 2019 – Buffalo 17, Pittsburgh 10

A win over the Cowboys two weeks prior to this game – more on that in a bit – returned the Bills to the national spotlight, as their game against the Steelers got flexed to Sunday Night Football. The Buffalo defense led the way, intercepting Duck Hodges four times, including the game-clinching pick by Levi Wallace with 6 seconds left in the Bills’ end zone. Allen found tight end Tyler Kroft for a 14-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to provide the go-ahead points in a victory that clinched a playoff spot.

3. Dec. 19, 2020 – Buffalo 48, Denver 19

The Bills officially ended the Patriots’ run in the AFC East, clinching the division title in dominant fashion. The celebration that ensued – and the greeting the team received at the airport – made it clear just how much of a weight was lifted off the organization and its fans by winning the division for the first time since 1995. That also brought with it the franchise’s first home playoff game, and in turn, first postseason win, since that same season.

2. Nov. 28, 2019 -- Buffalo 26, Dallas 15

Thanksgiving in Dallas is about the biggest stage the regular season has to offer, and it was a coming-out party for Allen and Co. The Bills got creative in running a trick play that resulted in a touchdown pass from receiver John Brown to running back Devin Singletary, and Allen did the rest in leading the Bills to a victory that all but guaranteed a second playoff berth in three seasons.

1. Dec. 26, 2021 – Buffalo ??, New England ??

This is it. This is the biggest game of the McDermott era, given the opponent and what’s at stake.

“I got it last year, as far as like, how serious the week is and the approach,” receiver Stefon Diggs said. “I try not to change my mindset. I try to dominate each and every week. I go in there with the mindset I want to win. As far as, like, from the fan perspective, I know how serious this week is for everybody else, but I promise you I'm taking it just as serious, if not a little bit more.”

The good news for the Bills is, as the above list shows, they have plenty of experience in playing in these types of games.

“That's where leadership really comes in,” McDermott said. “The team is led by player-driven leaders during this time of year. It's good to be playing in important games down the stretch, so we respect that and respect the opponent, but again, I think the big key is the leadership in the locker room during the back quarter of the season, if you will, and now in the last couple of games here, that'll be a big piece for us going forward.”

Complicating matters is the team’s current Covid outbreak, which will leave it without potentially six key players – offensive linemen Dion Dawkins, Jon Feliciano and Cody Ford, wide receivers Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis and defensive end A.J. Epenesa.

Bills' Covid outbreak grows as Gabriel Davis, Cody Ford are latest to go on NFL's reserve list

Coach Sean McDermott also said special teams coordinator Heath Farwell and defensive line coach Eric Washington also are being placed on the list. 

“I think that's the world we're living in and I think you just got to stay mentally strong through it, really, and not get too down because every day someone else goes down,” McDermott said. “And that's the reality of our situation. So stay positive, control the pieces we can control and we know we're going to play on Sunday, and try and get ourselves ready to go here.”

Hyde wore a mask to his news conference following practice Thursday, just one way he’s doing what he can to minimize the impact the virus is currently having on the team.

“I think we’re doing everything we can around the building, obviously wearing masks and trying to socially distance and have meetings virtually or whatever, just trying to get through this thing healthy,” he said. “I know leaguewide a lot of teams are just preparing accordingly. I guess this is the new norm. This is what we’re all living through. I’m sure you guys all are living through it, too. It’s mind blowing to watch the news and see around the NFL what’s happening. The guys popping and becoming positive and can’t play in the games. This is the world we live in now.”

The Bills frequently use the phrase “control the controlables,” but have found with Covid, that’s something they are unable to do.

“Basically, you can do everything right and guys still pop up positive,” Diggs said. “We’re living in a world where you just have to roll with the punches. We might not have a guy, we might have a guy. We had guys go out on game day last week. I saw Spencer Brown on the left side. I’m looking to the right I’m like, ‘What you doing over there?’ Dion Dawkins is out. For us, it’s easy to say ‘next man up.’ It’s definitely something that hurt us. Like, man, we wish we had our guy there. But every team in the league is dealing with it. It seems like it’s going to come down to who’s healthiest, who’s available.”

That answer will come Sunday morning, as the Bills hold their breath that no more positive cases are discovered before kickoff in Gillette Stadium.

“We always talk about how every game is our biggest game, just because it’s our next one. We try to treat every game the same, but everyone knows the extra meaning of this one,” tight end Dawson Knox said Friday. “The winner’s going to be on top of the division – major playoff implications for us. So there’s a little extra excitement in the air this week. We know how critical it is, so everything’s amped up a little bit.”

The Bills are switching things up at running back again.

Running back Matt Breida will be inactive against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium, while Zack Moss is active. Moss has been inactive three of the last four games. The one game he was active over that stretch was the last meeting against the Patriots, where he had eight carries for 21 yards, and another 12 receiving yards on two catches. 

Breida played the last six games, following a stretch of six games where he was inactive. 

Left tackle Dion Dawkins will be active for the game. Dawkins was activated off the Reserve/Covid-19 list on Saturday, missing practice this week. He missed one game after testing positive a second time. 

Also inactive for the Bills are tight end Tommy Sweeney and defense tackle Star Lotulelei. Lotulelei did not practice Thursday or Friday for personal reasons. 

The Bills are also without five players from the active roster who remain on the Reserve/Covid-19 list: wide receivers Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis; offensive linemen Jon Feliciano and Cody Ford; and defensive end A.J. Epenesa.

Bills rookie tackle Spencer Brown was not only fined for his beer celebration for use of a prop – the bill there came to $4,884 – he also was fined for his taunting penalty. That one was another $4,884, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Brown, making his debut at left tackle with Dion Dawkins on the Covid list, was penalized five times in the win against the Carolina Panthers. 

The last one led to the fine. He was hit with a taunting penalty after a 12-yard Devin Singletary run early in the fourth quarter. The beer bash happened in the second quarter.

It also led to him spending a few plays on the bench and being replaced by fellow rookie Tommy Doyle and a few moments with coach Sean McDermott.

“Sean was just giving me words of advice as a young guy," Brown told reporters after the game. "You can’t be doing that and he was just teaching me a lesson. It was well-deserved. I’d be pumped if he took me behind the wood shed and beat me up a little bit for that one.” 

With Dawkins coming off the Covid list in time for Sunday's game against New England, Brown could move back to his more familiar position on the left side.

The Buffalo Bills activated left tackle Dion Dawkins from the reserve/Covid-19 list Saturday, potentially adding some stability to the offensive line for Sunday’s AFC East showdown with the New England Patriots.

Dawkins tested positive for a second bout with Covid on Dec. 17 and did not play last week against Carolina. He had a lengthy battle with Covid-19 at the start of training camp that required hospitalization.

Assuming Dawkins plays, rookie Spencer Brown would be able to move back to right tackle after incurring five penalties last week in Dawkins’ place on the left side. Daryl Williams would return to right guard after playing right tackle last week.

Linemen Jon Feliciano and Cody Ford remain on the Covid-19 list. Ford was added Friday.

Also, defensive tackle Star Lotulelei will not travel with the team and has been ruled out of Sunday’s game for personal reasons. Lotulelei did not practice Thursday or Friday.

Defensive tackle Eli Ankou was elevated from the practice squad.

The Bills also announced that Jacques Cesaire will coach the defensive line and Matt Smiley will coach special teams.

Defensive line coach Eric Washington and special teams coach Heath Farwell are on the Covid-19 list.

Bills offensive lineman Daryl Williams has gotten used to change. 

Williams is in his second year with the Bills. He signed a three-year contract extension in March after starting all 16 games at right tackle last year. This season, his switching from tackle to guard and back has been constant. 

“When you watched him come in here and work, he came in really with nothing promised to him and worked to get a starting role a year or so ago,” coach Sean McDermott said Friday. “And now he’s been bounced back and forth, and out of necessity in terms of what the team needs. So it would be nice to have him solely at one position, we just haven’t had that flexibility this year.”

They’ll have to keep waiting. The Bills' offensive line is again in flux heading into Sunday’s rematch against the Patriots in Foxborough, Mass. As of Friday’s practice, offensive linemen Dion Dawkins, Jon Feliciano and Cody Ford are all on the Reserve/Covid-19 list.

The Bills have used six starting combinations on the offensive line this season, through 14 games. Sunday, they may need to use a seventh, depending on availability. While they have repeated some combinations, they have not gone three consecutive games with the same lineup since the first three games of the season.

“It’s definitely frustrating,” Williams said Thursday. “For offensive linemen as a group, we need to gain chemistry. It’s happened, but not as much as we’ve wanted this year, just from the switching, different circumstance. ... So we would love to have the same group, whoever it is, the same starting five out there, just to get the chemistry, but this is the league, and we know the challenges of that.”

The recent surge of Covid is just one reason for the change. Feliciano and rookie Spencer Brown have missed time with injuries. Brown, a third-round pick in 2021, also did not start until Week 4. The Bills’ desire to get him into the lineup brought the first switch of the year for Williams, from right tackle to right guard. After a full year at tackle, it took some getting used to.

“I was definitely kind of shocked, but I understood,” Williams said. “It was just to help the team out, and I'm here for the team. Whatever helps the team out, man. And if I can do it to my best ability, I'm here for it. It took me a little bit to get it down, but I feel at this point, I’m comfortable at both.”

Williams and center Mitch Morse are the only two offensive linemen to start every game for the Bills this season, though Williams’ role has been much more fluid. He’s started eight games at tackle and six at guard, but hasn’t had a streak of more than three games in a row at either spot.

“Yeah, how 'bout that?” McDermott said. “Just to be able to do that, and really not say a word about it for the most part is impressive, and how he puts the team first, just keeps his mouth shut, and works his butt off. Love that approach. Love his attitude. He’s a true pro, and I appreciate that. We appreciate it very much.”

Williams says he doesn’t necessarily have a preference between guard or tackle. He'd ideally like more consistency at either, whenever that’s possible for the team. He balances that, though, with pride that the team trusts him to keep bouncing back and forth.

McDermott says the trust in Williams dates back to their Carolina days. Williams was a fourth-round pick by the Panthers in the 2015 draft out of Oklahoma. He played five years with the Panthers before Bills General Manager Brandon Beane wanted to bring him to Buffalo.

Williams compares going from the right side of the line to the left, as Brown is doing, to going from either dribbling a basketball or trying to write with your opposite hand. But moving from tackle to guard, and back and forth, again and again, brings its own adjustments.

“At guard, everything’s quicker. The run game is a little more challenging,” Williams said. “When, I’m at tackle, I’m in space, and for me, the run game’s a little bit easier. Just two different things, which comes down to repetition in practice.”

Pro Football Focus has him graded at 71.4 this season, with 73.5 in pass blocking and 65.5 in run blocking. Buffalo News charting has Williams responsible for three sacks this season, and partially responsible for four, the most on the Bills. But amidst all the changes on the line, his teammates see his flexibility in a season of reshuffling as a better reflection of his play.

“I couldn't imagine something like that, just switching in the middle of a week, and going and playing in an NFL game at a high level like he does, week in and week out,” tight end Dawson Knox said Friday. “So a lot of credit is due to him, but I think he doesn't get as much. But when you look at how hard it is to play offensive line, and then especially how hard it is to change positions like that, his name should be at the top of the list in terms of his versatility and leadership as well.”

Williams has taken on unusual responsibilities before. His first year in Carolina, he was the only rookie on the offensive line. This meant that all the holiday decorating of the group’s room fell solely on him. He admitted he got some help from his wife as he brought in an inflatable snowman and a live Christmas tree. Having put in the work before, he’s comfortable critiquing rookies now.

“We’re really hard on them,” Williams said. “I told Spence, ‘Not good enough.’ ”

It worked: Williams is certain that the offensive line has the best decorated room of the Bills this year. But more than that, he thinks their group is especially tight-knit off the field, allowing them to joke when decorations need more. It's a group he loves spending time with, no matter who he lines up next to on Sundays. 

“He's probably been the most important part of the foundation of the o-line, just in terms of knowing every position, and doing exactly what he's asked,” Knox said. “… You wish you had 100 guys like that. But it's very impressive to see what he does and how he does it so well, even though he's changing positions every week.”

PlayAction: Helping O-line with scheme looks like good option for Bills offense

Brian Daboll’s blueprint against the Carolina Panthers may be worth following going forward for the Bills. More bootlegs and rollouts, more jamming edge rushers by the tight ends, more chipping by the running backs.

When the Bills run: The Patriots’ run defense has struggled in recent weeks, giving up 226 yards to Jonathan Taylor and the Colts last week and 270 yards to the Titans in their last home game. Overall, New England ranks 24th in the NFL against the run. The Bills are coming off a game in which Devin Singletary ran a career-high 22 times, but it remains to be seen what kind of emphasis the Bills will put on running the ball in normal weather conditions. EDGE: Even.

When the Bills throw: Allen has accounted for 81.1% of the Bills’ yards this season, which trails only Las Vegas quarterback Derek Carr (82.5%) in the AFC. Allen’s 35 total touchdowns is tied for the lead in the conference, too. He’ll look to duplicate his performance in New England last year, when he went 27 of 36 for 320 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-9 win. It won’t be easy, though, as the Patriots’ pass defense ranks third, allowing 185.1 yards per game. The Bills will be without Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis, who are both on the Ccovid-19 list. Emmanuel Sanders is expected to return from a knee injury. EDGE: Even.

When the Patriots run: Yes, it’s a trigger word, but it’s fair to use. The Patriots' 222 yards on the ground in the first matchup between these teams when it was obvious they were going to run should have been embarrassing for the Bills’ defense. If the opponent all but tells you what’s coming and you still can’t stop it, that’s not a good look. Patriots running back Damien Harris, who did most of the damage in that game against Buffalo, has been limited in practice leading up to Sunday because of a hamstring injury. Without him against the Colts, New England struggled to run the ball. The Bills’ run defense has plummeted to 16th in the NFL. EDGE: Patriots.

When the Patriots throw: It’s a good bet Mac Jones will put the ball in the air more than three times in this game. The Patriots’ rookie quarterback was up and down in a Week 15 loss to Indianapolis, going 26 of 45 for 299 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Both touchdowns went to tight end Hunter Henry. That’s something the Bills will have to be cognizant of, especially if the Patriots are without any or all of wide receivers Nelson Agholor (concussion), N’Keal Harry (hip) and Kendrick Bourne (Covid-19 list). Long a problem area, the Bills have defended opposing tight ends well this season, allowing 79 catches for 515 yards and three touchdowns. That yardage total ranks No. 6 in the NFL, while the touchdown total is tied for fourth. Overall, the Bills rank first in the NFL in allowing 175.6 passing yards per game by their opponent. They also have allowed a league-low 11 passing touchdowns. EDGE: Bills.

Special teams: A year after having the best special teams in the league, New England has had some notable breakdowns. That includes three blocked punts, one of which came against the Colts and led to an Indianapolis touchdown. New England ranks 17th in Football Outsiders’ special teams DVOA, an efficiency metric that factors in quality of opponent and game situation. The Bills are one spot ahead in that ranking. Not surprisingly, New England’s punt DVOA is second worst in the league, although kicker Nick Folk and punt returner Gunner Olszewski are two of the best players at their respective positions. Folk leads the league with 133 points and is 34 of 37 on field goals, while Olszewski is second with an average of 12.0 yards per punt return. EDGE: Even.

Coaching: Bills coach Sean McDermott made talk-radio waves in Boston after the first meeting against New England when he refused to – as Rex Ryan once famously put it – kiss Bill Belichick’s rings after the Patriots’ victory. While that topic was overblown, it did add a nice level of spice to the rivalry, a description that is now appropriate to use (as opposed to the Patriots’ two-decade dominance when Tom Brady was at quarterback). This is the biggest regular-season game under McDermott. He needs to coach like it. EDGE: Patriots.

Prediction: Bills 27, Patriots 20

Bills offensive tackle Spencer Brown was fined $5,000 by the NFL for his beer-drinking celebration after Stefon Diggs' touchdown in the second quarter Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. 

Brown acknowledged the fine on social media, tweeting, "Well…… ended up being the most expensive @budlight of my life." Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network tweeted the amount of the fine and said it was for using a prop for a celebration. 

Well…… ended up being the most expensive @budlight of my life😅😅😂 pic.twitter.com/5Py3fpO1sC

— Spencer Brown (@TooTallo_o) December 24, 2021

Brown and Diggs made up the lost beer to Batavia insurance agent Kevin Donohue when Brown stopped by his office with several cases courtesy of Bud Light. 

It could have been worse. Back in a 2019 game in Orchard Park, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters was fined $14,037 for unsportsmanlike conduct for celebrating his game-sealing pass breakup against the Bills by drinking a beer with fans in the stands.

At the time, Bud Light said it would make a donation in the amount of the fine to Peters' favorite charity. We'll see if the beer manufacturer makes a similar gesture on Brown's behalf. 

As has been the case in other instances in which a Bills player has been fined, a Bills fan has urged other fans to make donations to the player's charity of choice. Tonwanda's William Burke, one of the fans behind the campaign last season following Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson's injury in the the AFC divisional game, took to social media Friday and urged fans to donate to Mission22.com.

Burke said he asked Brown for his favorite charity and Brown selected the Oregon-based organization that offers programs for veterans and active duty members of the military and their families who need support and treatment related to post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, suicide risk and other issues. The group also helps raise awareness of these issues and funds memorials.   

On behalf of #BillsMafia and @TooTallo_o getting fined for having fun 🙄 Spencer told me that his charity of choice is Mission 22. Lets get it going: https://t.co/ifOkT002ij Donate what you can GO BILLS! ❤️💙

— William Burke (@LetsGoBuffalo24) December 24, 2021

Brown expressed his thanks on social media as the campaign began.

🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 https://t.co/ouMgQWeOQj

— Spencer Brown (@TooTallo_o) December 24, 2021

Welcome to this week’s Bills Mailbag. We’ll start with the topic that’s on everyone’s mind – the never-ending pandemic, and its potential impact on the team …

GDW asks: As we all await Sunday’s vital game, allow me to address the elephant in the room. Cole Beasley has become a major distraction. Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott privately must be very upset about this. Beasley promised us in the summer that he was done communicating his feelings about vaccinations. He continues to break that promise often. ... Enough is enough. If he doesn’t like the rules, retire. I’m a bit surprised that McBeane is putting up with all of this. Distractions like this go against team chemistry, even though the Bills’ hierarchy will not publicly admit it.

Dennis Priore asks: According to the NFL, 94% of players are fully vaccinated. As of this week, fans between the ages of 5 and 11 years old need to have at least one vaccine to enter Highmark Stadium, that is in addition to the previous rule that all fans over 12 and all employees need to be vaccinated. I understand because of the agreement with the NFL Players Association that NFL players don’t have to be vaccinated but, with a player who famously opposed getting vaccinated now being ruled out for 10 days (as opposed to testing negative and symptom free for one day if you are vaccinated) before the biggest game of the year, how do Cole Beasley's actions play in the locker room?

Jay: There’s a lot to unpack here, so stay with me. I’ll start by saying I don’t believe Beasley is a major distraction. We’ve known since the start of training camp where he stands on the issue of vaccination. Do some of his teammates disagree with that stance? Very likely. We should mention, though, you’d be surprised by the number of teammates who agree with him, too. By now, the organization has made peace with Beasley’s stance. The front office and coaching staff have determined his social media rants – and the negative attention they receive – are worth the trouble. As for him going back on his word and posting again on social media, are any of us surprised? He’s done that repeatedly. Beasley is dug in. He has his fingers lodged firmly in his ears and he’s singing, “La la la.” No one is going to change his mind on any of this.

Bills' Covid outbreak grows as Gabriel Davis, Cody Ford are latest to go on NFL's reserve list

Of course Beane and McDermott must be frustrated. They’ve done all they can. They’ve publicly promoted the benefits of the vaccine and have conceded their team is at a competitive disadvantage as long as players remain unvaccinated. That was true earlier in the season, and it’s true now, even with large numbers of vaccinated players testing positive. Unvaccinated players, like Beasley, are required to miss a minimum of 10 days, even if they’re asymptomatic. Now, vaccinated players are no longer even testing weekly, so it’s possible some of them who are asymptomatic are playing despite being positive for Covid.

As Beasley pointed out on Instagram, Covid’s not keeping him out of the New England game, the rules are. Yes, Cole, that’s how rules work. Those are the rules that your players association agreed to. By refusing to get vaccinated, you lost out on the chance to benefit from those rules and have a chance to play in your team’s biggest game of the season. That’s on you.

Everyone involved knew this could happen. That it did before the biggest game of the season, well, some might call that karma. Others who agree with him would call it unfortunate, or point out that several vaccinated players are also testing positive, too, both with the Bills and around the NFL. That is true, as the more-transmissible Omicron variant has changed things.

If the Bills lose Sunday and go on to miss the playoffs, Beasley will be left to wonder if his availability would have made a difference in the game. I wouldn’t hold my breath that will change his thinking, though. If we’ve learned one thing about him through this entire ordeal, it’s that he’s going to do what he thinks is best for himself – and himself alone.

Fans who passionately disagree with Beasley would be wise to take some advice – ignore him. Unfollow him on social media. Don’t spend another second responding to his Instagram posts. It’s not worth the trouble. He’s not changing his mind.

Dennis K. asks: So, I'm just going to ask: Star Lotulelei took a Covid pass last season, came back this year unvaccinated, missed several weeks after coming down with the illness, and has generally been one of the reasons teams have been smashing the ball up the middle of our defensive line. Are his teammates holding him accountable? He was supposed to be the anchor of the defensive line and instead he's ghosted his team.

Bob in Depew asks: Why do the Bills continue to give sick days to Star Lotulelei? This player takes off the entire season because of Covid in 2020, comes back, plays one or two games, then has calf problems. Now he has toe problems and takes off one or two games. Enough with this player who collects a paycheck each week, but his playing time this season has not helped his team. Let’s trade him for a player who can play every week. Your thoughts?

Jay: On the surface, the situation surrounding Lotulelei looks particularly appalling. He was concerned enough about Covid to opt out last year, but not that concerned to get vaccinated? It makes absolutely no sense. Of course, that assumes two things we’re unsure of. No. 1 is Lotulelei unvaccinated, and No. 2, if so, is there a reason we don’t know about as to why? It would be great to ask him those very questions, but the Bills have not made him available to the media despite repeated requests that have been made since he returned from the Covid list. That uncertainty has led to the types of questions Bob and Dennis have. Again, they could be answered fairly easily by Lotulelei. So far, though, he’s chosen not to do that.

As for his injuries, those happen. Could he have played through his toe injury against the Buccaneers? Only the team’s athletic training staff and Lotulelei himself know the answer to that. It doesn’t surprise me at all, however, that fans have been frustrated with him. It also wouldn’t surprise me if the Bills share in that frustration – even if they won’t say so publicly.

Drew Shapiro asks: Why would the Pegulas insist on a new Orchard Park stadium when they have so many assets and resources invested in downtown Buffalo? Why not consolidate everything in one area? Is it all about tailgating, location of practice fields, cost/how long it will take to accumulate necessary properties and the expense of infrastructure upgrades? Regardless of where a new stadium is eventually built, what is your opinion of a retractable roof that covers the spectators but leaves the playing field open to the elements so a home-field advantage can still be maintained?

Jay: You answered your own question, Drew. Cost is the No. 1 factor for why a new stadium across the street from the current one is the Bills’ preference, and I believe, most likely outcome. The challenge of where to put a stadium downtown is real, even if that’s the desired location of most fans (and I’m not sure that’s even the case). As for a retractable roof, that adds a huge amount to the price tag, so I believe that’s a non-starter. The possibility of an overhang-type structure that shields most fans from the weather, but still is open air is possible. Hopefully, if that’s the design that is chosen, it looks nothing like the eyesore in Miami. As for a home-field advantage, that comes from having a good team – not the weather.

'No roof. Outdoor football': Bills' study hints at stadium experience sought by Pegulas

The report includes images attributed to Populous of what an imagined new stadium could look like in each of the sites it reviewed.

Bill Ryan asks: I have two questions. The first starts with the location of the stadium. I think the downtown location should be a natural selection, where it would rejuvenate the area and clean up some of the vacant buildings and land that have been sitting there for years. However, my question is why is it destined to be in a location within Erie County? If we are going to put in an open-air stadium, why is it located in the Snowbelt? My idea would be to locate it north of the Pembroke exit on the Thruway, a bit west of Oakfield. Several advantages come with this, mainly, much better weather. Secondly, we would offer better access to fans from Rochester and Syracuse, where we need them to support the fan base. Time-wise, I don’t think it would add much travel time to a Canadian fan, either. Second question is about Jake Fromm. I was sorry to see him go without getting the opportunity to see his ability. I thought Josh Allen and Fromm would have been a dynamic duo. Do the Bills get any compensation for losing him? And if so, is it based on his time played with his new team (the Giants)? Once the Giants get back to full strength with their quarterbacks, and he may be sent back to the practice squad, can the Bills grab him back?

Jay: The only two options that have been discussed with any real consideration for the new stadium have been downtown and Orchard Park, and the state this week said if the Bills want it to go across the street from where the current stadium is, it will go along with that desire. That has long looked like the most logical outcome, given the cost involved for any downtown project. The majority of the team’s fans come from Erie and Niagara counties – building a stadium north of the Pembroke exit wouldn’t sit well with them. It doesn’t make a lot of sense in my mind to anger the majority of fans to please the minority that comes from Rochester or Syracuse.

As for Fromm, he was signed to the Giants’ active roster, so he would have to be released for the Bills to have any chance to bring him back. The Bills will not receive any compensation for the Giants signing him, no matter how much (or how little) he plays. If Fromm gets released by the Giants, he’d be a free agent who could sign with any team. If both parties were interested, the Bills could add him to either their active roster or practice squad.

Dale from Williamsville asks: So, throwing out the Indianapolis game, the five Bills losses are by an average of about four points, while their eight wins are by an average of more than 20 points. Is that more on Brian Daboll or Josh Allen?

Jay: It’s unfair to pin all the blame on just Allen, but if I’m limited to just those two choices, I would take the quarterback. If Allen doesn’t slip against the Titans on fourth down, perhaps he gets the first down and the Bills win the game. If he doesn’t step out of bounds against the Buccaneers, same thing. There are other plays in the close losses the quarterback would like back, as well. Of course, the Bills wouldn’t have even been in the position to have a chance to win those games without Allen, which is important to point out. That’s not to excuse Daboll, but play calling only goes so far. At some point, execution takes over, and that’s always going to be the most important in my mind.

Rich from Rochester asks: I enjoy your weekly therapy sessions with fans – er, your question-and answer-columns. Now I’m wondering: for the next Pats game, should the Bills play Jon Feliciano at center? He’s not as tall, but listed as 20 pounds heavier than Mitch Morse – and he’s got a nasty streak in him. In looking through last year’s coverage, he played well at center against the Pats when he filled in for Morse. Assuming he’s healthy, how about that switch?

Jay: That’s a big assumption. Feliciano revealed on social media that he was in the emergency room Sunday after testing positive for Covid-19, so it remains to be seen if he’ll be healthy enough to be removed from the list ahead of the game against New England. Even if he does get back, a position switch this late in the season seems highly unlikely. Morse has had his issues, like everyone else on the offensive line, but Feliciano’s season has been torpedoed by injuries, and now Covid. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t put him at center, where he’s in charge of the line’s communication, for such a big game.

Jeff Miller asks: Who stepped up more in the running game – Devin Singletary or the offensive line? Does any other team have a fan base as generous as Bills Mafia, even donating money to out-of-town beneficiaries? Merry Christmas to you and your family. Let’s smother the Patriots like a nor’easter that they’ve never seen.

Jay: I don't have the game plan, so it's tough to exactly tell how well the line did, but my untrained eye thought Singletary ran particularly well against Carolina. His 22 carries are the most in a game for a Bills running back since LeSean McCoy had 26 in Week 10 of the 2018 season against the Jets. Donating to charities isn't unique to Bills fans, but they've certainly seemed to embrace it as their own. It's a bit odd how it's grown, but it's cool that it's happened organically.  

Everett H., age 12, asks: Next year, who do you think the Bills will have at receiver? Do you think Emmanuel Sanders and Cole Beasley will be back? Will there be any surprise cuts? Are there any likely free agents the Bills would be interested in?

Jay: First of all, Everett, it's great to have you as a reader! Thank you for writing in. Let's start with the obvious – Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis will be back. So, too, will Marquez Stevenson. After that, it's tougher to predict. Emmanuel Sanders, Isaiah McKenzie and Jake Kumerow are pending unrestricted free agents, and Beasley has just one year left on his deal. The Bills could move on from him and save $6.1 million against the salary cap. That's a significant savings, especially considering the aforementioned headache he's been for the front office. It's also worth considering the idea the Bills might very well feel like they can get equal or better contributions from a more cost-effective player. Beasley has 76 catches for 640 yards. His yards per catch of 8.4 is the lowest of his career, and he has just one touchdown. He could be the surprise cut you reference, Everett. We'll have a lot more on free agency after the season, but the receiver class is loaded. The dream would be Tampa Bay's Chris Godwin, but he's coming off a knee injury. Arizona's Christian Kirk is the type of player who might make sense. 

Ed Helinski asks: Lately, watching the Bills’ offensive line puts many of us in Scrooge mode. No matter whether it’s been pass or run plays, it’s been quite the challenge to stay positive about the line. Without too much more “bah humbug” for the holidays, where do the faults lie in the Bills’ line play – lack of good talent, incorrect players in wrong positions, too much RPO, Covid circumstances, coaching? Is it a combination of these things or something else?

Jay: It's the obvious answer, but it's a combination. Left tackle Dion Dawkins was hospitalized with Covid before the season, and has it again, which caused him to miss the Carolina game. That forced rookie Spencer Brown over to left tackle from right tackle – a disastrous move. The biggest head-scratcher is what has caused Daryl Williams' regression. He was solid last year at right tackle, but the team kicked him inside this year. Feliciano's season has been a disaster, as referenced above. All that has factored in. It's fair to question whether bringing the line back basically untouched was the right move by Beane, or whether offensive line coach Bobby Johnson has done a sufficient job developing the players he has. 

Brenda Alesii asks: I was surprised to see both Marquez Stevenson and Isaiah McKenzie suit up in the Carolina game. After both were recently benched, what do you think went into that decision?

Jay: McKenzie played 20 offensive snaps, so he was a significant part of the game plan. Stevenson, meanwhile, has taken over the primary return duties, so after being benched for a terrible weather game, he's gotten another chance. They should both be up for this game against the Patriots, especially with Beasley out.

Thank you for all the questions! As a reminder, they can be submitted via email to jskurski@buffnews.com or via Twitter, @JaySkurski. Happy New Year!

The Buffalo Bills are dealing with an outbreak of Covid-19 at the absolute worst time. 

Already depleted at wide receiver and on the offensive line, the Bills learned Friday their situation is getting worse, as receiver Gabriel Davis and guard Cody Ford were placed on the NFL's reserve/Covid-19 list. This comes ahead of a much-anticipated matchup against the New England Patriots on Sunday, a game that will determine first place in the AFC East. 

Davis joins Cole Beasley among receivers on the list and Ford joins Dion Dawkins and Jon Feliciano among offensive linemen. Defensive end A.J. Epenesa also is on the Covid list. Linebacker Tyrel Dodson was activated from the list Thursday, but the Bills could still potentially be without six key members of their 53-man roster for the biggest game of the season.

As unvaccinated players, Beasley and Davis are definitely out. ESPN reported Friday that Davis is unvaccinated. That's a big loss for the offense.

"He’s been hot," coach Sean McDermott said of Davis, who has four touchdowns in the Bills' last three games. "And so, we lose a guy that’s on a roll, and he’s practiced most of the week, including (Thursday), until we found out, but we have valuable players and guys we depend on and trust that are in the wings that can step in and are expected to step up."

Unvaccinated players are required to isolate for 10 days, meaning Davis also will miss the Week 17 game against the Atlanta Falcons. Beasley would have a chance to return for that game if he's asymptomatic. He seemed relatively unbothered by his situation in a post Thursday night on Instagram. 

"Just checking in everybody. I’m still partying!" a smiling, toothless Beasley wrote in his caption. "Be back soon. Hate it or love it. Go Bills!"

Of course, the more pressing concern for the Bills is Sunday's game against New England. Stefon Diggs, Emmanuel Sanders -- who will return after missing Week 15 because of a knee injury -- and Isaiah McKenzie figure to be the Bills' top three receivers in terms of playing time. Sanders was given a veteran rest day Friday, but was a full participant in Thursday's practice.

Protecting quarterback Josh Allen is also going to be a huge concern against a talented Patriots defense. Dawkins is entrenched as the starter at left tackle, while Feliciano and Ford have plenty of starting experience on the interior of the line. Without them, the Bills are down to playing their No. 8 offensive lineman -- whoever they determine that to be -- in a starting role. Offensive tackle Bobby Hart, who is on the team's practice squad, was activated from the Covid list Friday, and called up to the active roster. So, too, was wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins, a 2020 draft pick who spent his rookie year on injured reserve and has been on the practice squad since the start of the 2021 season.

"Yeah, it’s going to be kind of interchangeable parts right now," McDermott said of the offensive line. "I hate to say that without giving you a straight answer here, but that’s the best I know, and we’ll just see where we end up on Sunday. Right now, we’re averaging one Covid a day it seems like, but real proud of the guys and how resilient they’ve been at this point working through it."

The Covid outbreak hasn't been limited to just players. McDermott said special teams coordinator Heath Farwell and defensive line coach Eric Washington are being placed on the list. Assistant special teams coach Matt Smiley will take over Farwell's duties against the Patriots.

"He’ll lead the unit at this point," McDermott said, "and we’ll be there to help and support."

The Bills practiced inside Highmark Stadium on Friday for a second consecutive day -- with the hope that being outside will slow the outbreak's spread through the team.

"We’ve been virtual – the players really are only in to practice," McDermott said. "So, outside of canceling practice, that’s really what remains at this point. So, hopefully, being outside helps that. ... So doing, I think, as much as we can right now, and all the while trying to prepare for this game."

Dawkins, Feliciano and Epenesa would potentially be able to play against the Patriots if they are vaccinated, symptom free and meet one of the following requirements:

• Two PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests that are either negative or produce a cycle threshold (CT) value of 35 or greater. A person's CT value measures his or viral load, which, in turn, can tell whether that person is contagious, even if, in some cases, he would still test positive on a traditional test.

• One PCR test that is either negative or produces a CT value of 35 or greater, and a negative Mesa test result taken within 24 hours of the PCR test. Mesa tests are commonly referred to as "rapid" tests, with results available within an hour.

• Two negative Mesa tests.

"I think it’ll be individually decided on who it is, and how much time they really need, how long they’ve been out," McDermott said when asked about how much practice time a player might need before being able to get back in the lineup after coming off the Covid list. "The health and safety of the players, or coach for that matter at this point, is the most important piece. And so I use our medical team, Nate Breske, and our training staff for that. And then once we get through kind of that filter, if you will, then it’s 'Hey, what do we need on the field for us? And are they ready to perform?' "

White to reserve list 

Injured cornerback Tre'Davious White was also added to the Covid list, according to the league's daily report. 

White was placed on season-ending injured reserve in mid-December with a torn knee ligament.

Lotulelei update

The Bills' absences against the Patriots might not only be related to Covid. Along the defensive line, Star Lotulelei missed a second consecutive practice Friday for personal reasons. McDermott said during an interview with WGR-550 on Friday morning that he was unsure if the veteran defensive tackle would play against the Patriots.

He was listed as questionable on the final injury report -- the only player given a status by the team.

Bills add punter, receiver to practice squad

The Bills signed former Browns punter Jamie Gillan to the practice squad on Friday, according to a report from NFL Network. Gillan, nicknamed the "Scottish Hammer," was waived by Cleveland on Wednesday.

The team also signed wide receiver Austin Proehl to the practice squad. Proehl, a seventh-round draft pick of the Bills in 2018, has spent time on the rosters of four other NFL teams, but has yet to appear in a regular-season game.

The Bills and New England Patriots meet at 1 p.m. Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The Patriots are a 2.5-point favorite. 

Jay Skurski: The Bills’ talent gap over New England has been narrowed this week with Cole Beasley out because of Covid-19 and the offensive line in flux for the same reason. Despite that, the Bills have the better quarterback. In what should be a close game, that should make the difference. The Bills are 0-5 in games decided by one score or less, but it feels as if that has to swing the other way at some point. It’s no big secret, but scoring first would go a long way for the Bills. If the offense can provide an early lead, the Patriots will be pushed toward throwing the ball more with rookie quarterback Mac Jones. Even without All-Pro cornerback Tre'Davious White, that’s what the Bills want. Safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde, fresh off their respective Pro Bowl snubs, should be plenty motivated to show why that was a mistake. Bills, 27-20.

Katherine Fitzgerald: Ahead of Week 13, I wrote “I think the two teams split the series this year, but that New England gets the first.” So I’ll stick with the series split here, giving Buffalo the edge in the rematch. It’ll be close, though, and a different style of game than the earlier wind-dictated meeting. I’d expect to see the Patriots use some of the same runs they found effective last time, but there’s no way they lean as heavily on the run game this go-round. If the Bills can get healthy quickly, that will be a huge boost to their offense, particularly in protecting Josh Allen. I like how the Bills defense matches up against New England, so if Allen and the offense can score (they were 1 of 4 in the red zone in the last meeting), Buffalo can leave Foxborough with the much-needed win. Bills, 27-24.

Mark Gaughan: The weather forecast looks fine for the Bills’ passing game, which is good news. One problem is the best aspect of the New England team is its pass defense. I think the Bills should use Josh Allen as a running weapon to help supplement the ground game, as they did in Tampa, despite the injury risk to the quarterback. The Patriots are 26th in yards per carry allowed. Is that a reflection of their stoutness? No. It’s a sign they’re more willing to yield yards on the ground than downfield in the pass game. The Bills’ defense should be able to keep the Patriots to 24 points at the most. Can the Buffalo offense get to 24? I don’t know. With everyone healthy, the Bills are better than the Pats. But I picked against Bill Belichick three weeks ago and got burned. I’m not doing it a second time. Patriots, 23-20.

Jason Wolf: Mac Jones is going to have to throw more than three passes to beat the Bills this time. The Patriots ran for 222 yards on 46 rushing attempts and abandoned the passing game because of intense winds coming off Lake Erie during their 14-10 victory over the Bills in Orchard Park. And make no mistake – the Bills were embarrassed. They only allowed 14 points, but the Patriots came into their house, intentionally made themselves one-dimensional, and walked out of Western New York with a victory, strengthening their grip on the AFC East lead. Buffalo can wrest the division lead from New England with a victory and repeat as division champs by winning out. The Bills are the more talented team. And they say they’re treating this as a playoff game. But can they avoid mistakes in a high-pressure situation? I choose to BILLIEVE they can. Bills, 23-21.

Rachel Lenzi: This is where we find out the true essence of the Bills: If and how they can respond to the expected absences of key players, how they will react in yet another playoff-type game, and if and how they can push back against the near-annual taunting by the Patriots, who are a step closer to clinching the AFC East if they win Sunday in Foxborough. The Bills also need more consistency from running back Devin Singletary, who had a season-high 22 carries last week against Carolina. The Bills’ defense, meanwhile, has to be at the top of its game, against a team that created almost all its offense on the ground in Orchard Park, and against quarterback Mac Jones, who threw for 299 yards against the Colts. Patriots, 24-21.

It’s been a week to remember in the Diggs’ family.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs was excited to earn his second Pro Bowl honor Wednesday night, but it paled in comparison to the joy he experienced when he learned that his younger brother, Trevon, had made it for the first time.

“I was more happy for him than I was for myself,” Stefon Diggs said Thursday after the Bills completed practice inside Highmark Stadium ahead of Sunday’s showdown against the New England Patriots. “Seeing his maturation process as far as, like, you see a player going into his first year, you want to see him make that second-year jump. We had that conversation many times. He showed a lot of potential last year. He went against every good receiver in the league. I was just like, ‘man, you've seen everybody. You've played against everybody, as far as building that confidence and being able to play with anybody.’ He had some success, too, as a young player, so I was like, 'just carry that over and go in with the right mindset.' He did it to the maximum. He was the epitome of just taking that second-year jump, maturing as a player on and off the field.

“I was just more proud than anything. I was more happy for when I heard about him, because I knew he was going, but I still wanted to see it. I saw his picture and I saw his face, I saw him in the Cowboys helmet, I'm like, ‘yeah, that's my little brother.’ ”

Speaking with reporters in Dallas, Trevon Diggs said he and his older brother FaceTimed with about 15 family members after the Pro Bowl announcements were made, calling it one of his favorite moments to share with family.

"I love him to death," Trevon said. "Just being able to go up there with him, that’s fire.”

For as much as Stefon Diggs was pleased for his brother, however, he shared disappointment for his teammates who didn’t make it.

That includes quarterback Josh Allen, who is tied for the AFC lead in total touchdowns (35) and ranks third in total yards (4,289).

“Very much so,” Diggs said when asked if he was disappointed about Allen’s snub. “I try not to get into the specifics as to why or why not, because I don't make the rules, but as far as what Josh put on tape consistently, everybody was thinking of him as the MVP, so it's hard to not put a guy like that in the Pro Bowl. You've seen him make many plays. His numbers also prove it, as well. You watch guys get snubbed each and every year, but I wouldn't have thought it would have been my guy.”

Diggs sat at a podium in the postgame media room at Highmark Stadium next to safety Micah Hyde, who was another of the Bills’ snubs (as was fellow safety Jordan Poyer).

“Ah, I've been in the league long enough. I know how this thing works,” Hyde said about not being chosen as a Pro Bowler. “It is what it is. Obviously, we're all competitors in this building. We want to go out there and we want to win. We want to get acknowledgement and all that type of stuff, but at the end of the day, it's a team sport. We want to go out there and win against the Patriots.”

Poyer and Hyde were passed over on the AFC roster in favor of Tennessee’s Kevin Byard, the Los Angeles Chargers’ Derwin James and Kansas City’s Tyrann Mathieu.

“Especially at our position, safety position, there's some dogs in this league,” Hyde said. “But I will say this, me and Po, we go out there each and every week, we're available, we're accountable, we hold each other to a high standard. We go out there, we ball. I think people see that on tape. Not having us in the Pro Bowl really doesn't mean anything as far as that. We go out there and make plays for our football team and try to help this defense get better each and every week.”

Diggs then jumped in.

“They make a lot of plays on the field, and you see that. “People say it's popularity, but what I can say is from my standpoint, I watch DBs in the league, and I know that Po, Micah, even Tre (White), everybody knows they are some of the top DBs in the league, bar none. Wherever they standing is, I don't know if they get enough love or not, but I'm giving them all the love, because I know that they play at a high level.”

Pro Bowl voting is made up of voting by fans, players and coaches, with each counting for one-third of a player’s total votes. Diggs and Hyde, however, both seemed surprised to learn that players even voted, struggling to remember the last time they had ever even done so.

“I know the one year I did it, you kind of just try to get it done as soon as possible to get out of the building, honestly,” Hyde said. “Guys with the last name starts with a 'W,' might not even be seen, because ain't nobody scrolling all the way down there. You know, that's enough with the Pro Bowl.”

Given that contract bonuses are tied to Pro Bowl appearances, perhaps the NFL should come up with a better way to honor its top players in a given season. That’s a conversation for another day, though.

After all, as Diggs said, “We got a game this week.”

It’s a big one, too.

Injury updates

Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders practiced fully for the Bills on Thursday – a good sign as he attempts to return from a knee injury suffered in Week 14 against Tampa Bay.

Sanders’ return would come at a good time since the Bills will be without wide receiver Cole Beasley, who tested positive for Covid-19 and is on the league’s reserve/Covid-19 list.

“We talked about it earlier in the year – at one point, depth was going to be a thing for us,” Diggs said. “We've got a lot of guys who can make plays. You see Gabe Davis stepping up last week. We've got a lot of talent, and we knew it was going to come in handy at one point. Things turned the corner fast and as the wheels turned, we just see it as a next-man-up mindset. We're going to need ‘Bease’ back at one point. He's been trying to get all the guys ready, especially the young guys. … I think we're going to have Emmanuel back this week. That'll add another one of our horses, another one of our talented players, so we look to just try to keep the ball rolling and go 1-0.”

Running back Taiwan Jones (knee) participated on a limited basis, as did Hyde. Allen (foot) and defensive end Jerry Hughes (neck) were full participants, but defensive tackle Star Lotulelei (personal reasons) and cornerback Cam Lewis (illness) did not participate Thursday.

The Bills activated linebacker Tyrel Dodson off the reserve/Covid-19 list.

For the Patriots, running back Rhamondre Stevenson (illness) and wide receiver Nelson Agholor (concussion) did not practice.

Kevin Forrest was the first Buffalo Bills fan to donate to Andy Dalton’s nonprofit.

The father of four found the organization with a Google search after the NFL quarterback’s touchdown pass in the 2017 regular season finale lifted the Cincinnati Bengals over the Baltimore Ravens and put the Bills in the playoffs for the first time in 17 years.

Forrest tweeted a screenshot of his donation, sparking a viral social media campaign.

“I had no idea it was going to take off,” Forrest said last week. “I was just looking for an outlet to express my gratitude, and his foundation seemed like a no-brainer.”

Within days, more than 17,000 donors raised $442,000 for the Andy & Jordan Dalton Foundation, a nonprofit founded by the quarterback and his wife to benefit seriously ill and disabled children and their families.

Much of the money went to charity, but nearly $100,000 of those unsolicited donations went to the nonprofit's management company, Prolanthropy LLC, a Buffalo News investigation found. The company charged the Dalton Foundation 22.5% of total revenue for its various services, according to its contract. Those terms are “wildly out of line” with industry norms, according to nonprofit oversight attorney Andrew Morton and other experts. And Prolanthropy’s fees were not the extent of the Dalton Foundation’s operating expenses.

In 2018, the nonprofit spent 63 cents of every dollar on charitable giving and programs, based on information on its federal tax return. In 2019, it was 56 cents. Charity watchdog groups expect efficient nonprofits to spend at least 70 to 75 cents of every dollar on charity.

Buffalo Bills fans donated $442,000 to Dalton Foundation. Nearly $100,000 went to management firm

The News reviewed state and federal public records, consulted charity watchdog groups and other industry professionals and interviewed the Dalton Foundation’s board members, tax attorney and beneficiaries. The scrutiny revealed that Prolanthropy not only profited from Bills fans’ unsolicited donations, but the nonprofits it manages submit tax records that obscure how the money was used.

The full impact of Bills fans’ spontaneous donations to the Dalton Foundation is difficult to measure because it extends beyond the nonprofit, its beneficiaries and balance sheet.

The outpouring of support and the national attention it received supercharged the generosity of fans, many of whom gave in $17 increments to represent each year of the playoff drought.

‘Part of being a Bills fan’

Bills fans have donated millions to nonprofit organizations in the four years since, and fans who started other grassroots charity campaigns said donating to the Dalton Foundation was transformative.

Several spoke to The News before learning about the effect of Prolanthropy’s business model on the Dalton Foundation.

“Andy Dalton kickstarted it. That was amazing to watch. And since then, we’ve traded our bitterness and our pessimism for hope and optimism and these acts of charity,” said Daniel Konopski, whose Reddit post helped start a $553,000 flood of donations to Blessings in a Backpack in January after Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was concussed in a playoff game against the Bills.

Kristen Kimmick is the founder of Bills Mafia Babes, a Facebook group of thousands of female fans that raises money for players’ charities and obtained 501(c)(3) status this year.

“When I started seeing people donate, my first thought was, ‘$17 dollars isn’t a lot. Just do it, because this is going to go to a good cause and it’s also going to show that passion, that feeling that I’ve been wanting to be able to express for how many years,’” Kimmick said.

Justin Hutton was the first to donate to Oishei Children’s Hospital in November 2020 when Bills quarterback Josh Allen played one of the great games of his life a day after learning his grandmother died. More than 27,000 fans, many donating in $17 increments to represent Allen’s jersey number, raised more than $1.15 million in her honor.

“It’s a feeling that resonates with not just the Buffalo fanbase but anybody who sort of gets involved with a zeitgeist movement like that,” Hutton said. “You feel good for being a part of something bigger than yourself.”

Hans Hansen is a Bills moderator on Reddit who first shared Hutton’s idea on Twitter. He said the donations have become “part of being a Bills fan.”

“It started with Andy Dalton, at least in my experience,” Hansen said, “and I think for a lot of people it did. And if you’re a part of this fanbase, it’s become expected of you almost.” 

You asked, we answered: What athletes' charities are managed by same company as Dalton Foundation?

The Buffalo News reported on Sunday after a monthslong investigation into how the donations were spent. Readers asked questions after learning about Prolanthropy’s business model. 

‘Probably would not have gone’

Forrest, the fan who first donated to the Dalton Foundation, received a phone call from Prolanthropy within days. The screenshot he tweeted about his donation shows the company’s name at the bottom of the nonprofit’s webpage, but he hadn’t noticed and never heard of Prolanthropy.

The company’s name has since been removed from the websites of the nonprofits it manages.

“They said that they were reaching out on behalf of the Dalton Foundation,” he recalled. “I wasn’t sure how the representation took place.”

Forrest said he was told the Dalton Foundation was planning a trip to Buffalo to give back to the community in August 2018, and it invited him and his wife to accompany the nonprofit’s board members. The organization paid to fly them round trip from their home in Nebraska, as well as for food, lodging and tickets to the Bills’ preseason game against the Bengals in Orchard Park.

The visit began with a news conference at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, where the Dalton Foundation presented the medical facility with a $25,000 grant, and electronics it valued at $12,500, according to a spreadsheet provided by the Dalton Foundation’s tax attorney. The nonprofit’s 2018 tax return cites $10,500 in direct expenses attributed to the “Bills Campaign,” while the spreadsheet lists $21,000 in additional travel expenses for the trip.

Jordan Dalton said board members reimbursed the nonprofit for these expenses with donations, of which Prolanthropy was entitled to 22.5%.

“If that was all coming from the same pot as the donations, I probably would not have gone just for that fact,” Forrest said. “But like everybody else that gave funds, I didn’t expect that to be the case.”

Forrest said his perception of Andy and Jordan Dalton hasn’t changed. He described them as humble people with a “heart of gold.”

He’s also happy that Bills fans’ support for the Dalton Foundation moved the fanbase to continue showering nonprofits with donations.

“It’s cool that it’s a thing, that people try to think of a way to give back,” Forrest said, adding that fans should be a “little more cognizant” when choosing to donate to nonprofits, thanks to The News’ reporting on the Dalton Foundation and Prolanthropy. “It informs us as supporters to at least do some level of research to know exactly where our money is going.”

Timeline of giving

Bills fans have repeatedly grabbed headlines for their generosity in the four years since the fanbase donated nearly a half-million dollars to the Andy and Jordan Dalton Foundation.

Here are some notable examples, with a look at the percent of each dollar the nonprofits spend on charitable giving and events. The information is based on expenses reported on each organization’s most recent federal tax returns, from 2017 to 2019, unless otherwise noted.

January 2018

Western Pennsylvania Youth Athletic Association: $150,000+

Bills fans didn’t forget about Tyler Boyd, the wide receiver who caught Dalton’s fateful touchdown pass. Boyd set up a page on YouCaring.com to raise money for the Western Pennsylvania Youth Athletic Association, to help kids from low-income neighborhoods participate in sports.

The organization received 501(c)(3) status in June 2020, retroactive to August 2018, but it never filed a federal tax return and its nonprofit status was revoked, according to the IRS website.

Eric Wood Fund: $32,000+

Bills fans donated in $70 increments to match Wood’s jersey number after the offensive lineman was forced into sudden retirement because of a neck injury. Wood had a Prolanthropy-managed nonprofit, which he dissolved after it directed just 33 cents of every dollar spent toward charitable programs in 2016. In 2017, he created a fund to directly benefit John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo.

The Children's Hospital of Buffalo Foundation, the medical facility’s philanthropic arm, spends 97 cents of every dollar on charitable programs, according to its last three federal tax returns.

April 2019

Nashville Children’s Alliance Inc.: $14,000+

FOX Sports ran a Twitter poll to determine the NFL’s best fanbase. Bills fans reached the semifinals and had a sizeable lead but lost in the final minutes after a Tennessee Titans fan bought 20,000 fake votes (and posted the receipt online).

The nonprofit provides free services to children who have experienced sexual or severe physical abuse and spends 77 cents of every dollar on charity.

May 2019

Teacher’s Desk Inc.: $100,000+

Bills super fan Ezra Castro, known as Pancho Billa, said he didn’t want flowers at his funeral, but backpacks for children before he died from cancer at 39 years old. The Teacher’s Desk provides donated school supplies for students in need.

The nonprofit spends 99 cents of every dollar on charity.

January 2020

Alzheimer's Association: $7,000+

More than 300 donors contributed after Baltimore radio host Jerry Coleman called Buffalo the “city of losers.” Coleman, who supported the nonprofit in honor of his mother, told a co-host on-air that he received a stack of mail filled with hundreds of donation receipts.

The nonprofit spends 76 cents of every dollar on charity.

November 2020

Oishei Children’s Hospital: $1.15 million

Josh Allen throws for 415 yards and three touchdowns in a 44-34 victory against Seattle a day after the death of his grandmother, which coach Sean McDermott revealed after the game. More than 27,000 fans, many donating in $17 increments to represent Allen’s jersey number, raised more than $1.15 million in her honor. The Patricia Allen Fund, which is managed by The Children’s Hospital of Buffalo Foundation, directs 100% of its resources to charitable giving and events, according to Andrew Bennett, the nonprofit’s vice president.

The organization otherwise spends 97 cents of every dollar on charity, according to its tax returns.

December 2020

National Diaper Bank Network: $10,000+

Bills fans' generosity surged again when ESPN’s Bomani Jones and Domonique Foxworth were critical of Allen and Bills fans on a podcast.

The nonprofit, which Jones supports, spends 95 cents of every dollar on charity.

January 2021

Blessings in a Backpack: $553,000

More than 18,450 donors contributed to Blessings in a Backpack after Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was concussed during the Bills’ playoff victory in Orchard Park. The nonprofit provides food to elementary school children across America who might otherwise go hungry.

It spends 83 cents of every dollar on charity.

November 2021

Food Bank of NW Louisiana: $108,000+

Bills fans flooded the nonprofit with $27 donations in honor of cornerback Tre’Davious White, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in a victory against the New Orleans Saints on Thanksgiving. White is from Shreveport, an area served by the nonprofit.

It spends 96 cents of every dollar on charity.

December 2021

VIA Visually Impaired Advancement: $65,000+

Bills fans channeled their frustration, some in $17 donations, when NFL officials failed to call pass interference on a Tampa Bay defender whose early contact prevented Stefon Diggs from catching a game-winning touchdown. The Bills lost in overtime.

The nonprofit spends 92 cents of every dollar on charity.

Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll probably will want to keep giving the offensive line a little extra support Sunday in New England.

The availability of left tackle Dion Dawkins remains uncertain with him on the Covid list, which means rookie Spencer Brown could start again at left tackle, and the right side of the line again could be Cody Ford at guard and Daryl Williams at tackle. Even if Dawkins comes off the Covid list in time for the game, the Patriots’ defensive front is a tough physical matchup for the Bills.

Daboll’s blueprint against the Carolina Panthers may be worth following going forward for the Bills. More bootlegs and rollouts, more jamming edge rushers by the tight ends, more chipping by the running backs.

Allen ran bootlegs or rolled out on six plays against Carolina, according to Buffalo News charting. That’s his most since the Week 4 game against Houston. Allen has thrived in a shotgun, dropback passing offense where he can read the full field and take advantage of all the Bills’ receiving weapons. He's always going to “major” in that. But moving the pocket a little more often may be the prescription to help out the offensive linemen.

The Bills managed Carolina speed rushers Brian Burns and Haason Reddick last week. Tight end Dawson Knox jammed one of those edge rushers 13 times to help out the tackle next to him.

“We've all learned, I'd say, over the last two years that you better be able to adapt, adjust and be able do it rather quickly,” Daboll said of shuffling the offensive line. “So really, that's our approach. We've had plenty of things these last couple of years that come up, and I think you have to keep a cool head, a cool demeanor about yourself, put together a good plan as quick as you can, go out there with confidence in the players that you have and try to put them in good position and make sure they're ready to go throughout the week.”

“There's a whole bunch of communication throughout practice that goes on and certain plays, and guys are able to talk about certain things at the line of scrimmage,” Allen said. “And when you kind of get a wrench thrown in ... you just got to have a lot of trust in those guys that they were on top of their practice habits and making sure that they were paying attention and taking mental reps throughout the week. I was super proud of how our guys performed last week. Whether we get those guys back this week or not ... communication is going to be key this week for the front five.”

Power up. It will be interesting to see how much New England tries to power up with a six-man offensive line in Sunday’s rematch. The Bills were without third linebacker A.J. Klein in the first New England meeting because he was on the Covid list. Tyrel Dodson took his place and played 27 snaps.

The Patriots used Michael Onwenu as the sixth offensive lineman on 26 running plays in Orchard Park and gained 163 yards. One of those was the 64-yard touchdown run by Damien Harris. Take that away and the Pats averaged 3.96 a carry with the sixth O-lineman. The Bills used their base, 4-3 defense on all but two of those plays (gains of 10 and 2 yards).

Without the extra offensive lineman, the Pats ran 17 times for 65 yards, a 3.8 average.

Keep in mind, the Bills were able to crowd the line of scrimmage more in windy Week 13, just as the Patriots defense did, without much fear of a downfield pass. The Pats used Onwenu on only six plays in the loss at Indianapolis last week. They used it on 11 plays in their previous game, vs. the Titans.

The 30,000-foot view. Sunday’s game will be Belichick’s 800th as a coach in the NFL, dating to his first job with the Baltimore Colts in 1975, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. This is Belichick’s 47th consecutive year as a coach in the NFL. Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau is next at 45 years. The only other coach with at least 40 consecutive NFL seasons is longtime Colts aide and current Tampa Bay assistant Tom Moore (41). Counting playoffs, Belichick has 320 wins, just behind No. 2 George Halas (324) and within striking distance of Don Shula (347). Belichick turns 70 in April. If Belichick gets three more wins this year, it would put him just 24 behind Shula. There’s an outside chance he could catch Shula with two more seasons, and he’d very likely overtake the No. 1 spot with three more seasons in New England. Why not go for it? Bills fans should not expect to be rid of the Hoodie for awhile.

Beef Inc. One hallmark of Belichick’s defense is he always has had a dominant run stuffer, and sometimes two, in the middle. For years it was Vince Wolfork, a first-round pick who played 11 years for the Pats.

The beef in the middle this year is Davon Godchaux, a 6-foot-3, 311-pounder signed as a free-agent from Miami in March. Godchaux was a monster in the first meeting in Buffalo, making a career-high 10 tackles. The Bills averaged 3.1 yards per carry in the 18 run plays Godchaux – No. 92 – was on the field. Godchaux was not dominant last week against the Colts’ great offensive line or in the game before Buffalo, vs. Tennessee.

The Pats signed Godchaux on a two-year, $15 million deal. They can get out of it after this year with $5.25 million in dead money. Or they keep him for 2022 on a $10.25 million cap hit. Godchaux was a fifth-round pick of the Dolphins in 2017 and played well over 42 starts for Miami. In 2019, he had the most run-stops in the league (32) among defensive linemen, according to Pro Football Focus. But he played only five games in his contract year due to a biceps tear. For that reason, New England got him on a bit of a bargain. Preventing Godchaux from a repeat of his Orchard Park performance will be key.

“Yards matter, but yards really don’t matter once you can stop them in the end zone,” said Godchaux after the Bills’ game.

First and goal. Zack Moss has been inactive the past two games, since the loss to the Pats. One of the key plays of the game was the first-and-goal run from the NE 6 in the fourth quarter. Godchaux pushed Mitch Morse back a bit, but the center kind of held his ground. A faster back might have bounced it outside. Could Moss have pressed the hole better and gained yards inside? Probably. Godchaux shed Morse and made the tackle.

Stats for the road. The Bills’ average margin of victory in their eight wins (25 points) is the largest in the NFL since 1970. The next highest are 24.4 by the Bengals in 1989 and 22.9 by St. Louis in 1999. . . . The Bills are allowing 287 yards a game, which would be their lowest average for a season since 2004. . . . Pats CB J.C. Jackson leads the NFL with 20 passes defensed. . . . Mac Jones still is on pace to set the NFL record for best completion percentage by a rookie. He’s at 69%. The record is 67.8% by Dallas’ Dak Prescott in 2016.

Buffalo Bills fans were offered a glimpse of what a future stadium experience might entail – but not what the venue will actually look like.

New York State on Thursday released a study commissioned by the Bills to compare three potential stadium sites: Orchard Park, South Park Avenue on the outskirts of downtown and the University at Buffalo's North Campus.

The Bills ultimately decided to focus on Orchard Park as the site of a new stadium, which they hope to open in 2026 if an agreement is reached soon with New York State and Erie County.

The report, which was completed in late 2019, also included art depicting a futuristic Bills stadium, which grabbed fans' attention online but is not indicative of a design being considered, according to Ron Raccuia, executive vice president of Pegula Sports and Entertainment, the company that oversees Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula's holdings.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the images is a partial roof or overhang covering a portion of the seating bowl, a design feature that is expected to be included as part of the new venue to keep fans dry.

While the reports do indicate the Bills plan on an outdoor stadium, the actual plans for a venue don't yet exist.

“We haven’t designed it yet,” Raccuia said. “Does (the partial roof) cover 360 degrees of the stadium? Or does it cover just the sidelines? Or is it horseshoe shaped? Some of that’s going to be predicated on wind and sun analysis. Some of that is going to be predicated on whether the stadium is completely enclosed or not. … We’re not there yet. We’ve got to figure all that out.”

The study analyzed each of the three locations and the feasibility of renovating Highmark Stadium. State and team officials had previously refused to make the documents public because they were produced on behalf of the Bills by consultants CAA ICON and Populous. But the state posted a cache of documents on the website of Empire State Development, along with a note stating it was doing so with the Bills’ permission.

“There’s nothing in it that we haven’t been saying since May,” said Raccuia, who leads negotiations with the state and Erie County on behalf of the Pegulas. “The idea that there’s something (additional) in our reports, this was our way of saying, ‘No there’s not.’ ”

Read the documents: Buffalo Bills study on possible stadium sites

New York State's economic development agency on Thursday made public portions of four documents that were part of a study commissioned by the Buffalo Bills on possible sites for a new stadium.

A group of Republican and Conservative members of the Erie County Legislature previously introduced a resolution calling on PSE, the state and the county to publicly release the report.

Empire State Development's posting of the closely held documents comes after the agency received several public-records requests seeking their disclosure and after Investigative Post filed a lawsuit seeking their release.

The state had earlier released its own report, produced by the consultant AECOM, which recommended constructing a new stadium over renovating Highmark Stadium but did not recommend a site.

Ideas for the stadium experience 

Included in one of the documents prepared by the Bills' consultants is a brainstorm list that hints at the team's priorities for a new stadium. Among the highlights:

• Making the stadium multipurpose (“support more uses than football,” the report says) and entice people “to do more around the stadium” by attracting year-round use. This fits a revenue-driving strategy seen across pro sports that focuses on using facilities to generate revenue on a near-daily basis, making spaces available for conferences, conventions and other gatherings, in addition to large-scale events such as concerts.

• Make plans to accommodate sports betting and esports, both of which are identified as a “future use and revenue opportunity.” The Bills have identified sports betting as a priority for years. “I am for having the opportunity,” Kim Pegula told The News in 2019. “I’m not saying I’m necessarily morally for betting, but we need to have that opportunity to provide (the) amenity for our fans. ”

• Though the list is just that – a list, not a fully molded plan – it does seem to bluntly settle the question of whether a new stadium will have a dome. It says: “No roof. Outdoor football.”

• Fan experience is emphasized in multiple ways. As expected, tailgating is identified as a priority, as is replicating the “intimacy” of Highmark Stadium: “Seating bowl should dominate,” the report says. It also notes the importance of giving a “better game-day experience for families, provide distinct experiences from beginning to end.”

• The stadium may have a broader variety of suites, wider concourses, more tunnels and “higher quality” concessions. It may also have a natural grass field that is heated, and larger playing surface dimensions “to accommodate soccer/other events.”  In addition to exclusive entry points, suite holders may also have access to premium merchandise retail areas. The report notes the “potential for (a) tunnel club” – presumably a premium ticketing area – as a revenue opportunity. Fans in general admission will have access to heated areas.

Evaluating the sites

Another part of the report scores the three final sites considered for a new stadium. It found:

• South Park had the strongest “Place Making Ability,” a term used in the report to evaluate criteria including district identity, future land use prospects, site characteristics and market trends. “A new stadium in South Park would add a major architectural icon and entertainment anchor to downtown Buffalo, contributing to the Buffalo Billion and One Buffalo initiatives,” the report said.

• South Park scored higher than Orchard Park on transportation, earning higher scores for walkability, its proximity to the transit system, ride-sharing and long-term transportation plan. Orchard Park was marked higher for its existing road network, and for parking, including both on-site and off-site.

• While South Park scored higher for its revenue-generation prospects, which include ancillary development possibilities, Orchard Park emerged as the preferable choice in three areas: costs, schedule and intangibles, which includes property development concerns, community engagement and politics. In essence, the report reinforces the Bills’ contention that a stadium in Orchard Park can be built with more speed, predictability and cost-effectiveness. That is likely why Orchard Park has emerged as their favored location, even though the idea of building a stadium in the city garnered considerable support from some politicians, developers and community members – and the South Park site scored higher overall in the study.

Economic impact

The state also released a 156-page economic impact report completed by CAA ICON on behalf of PSE. Portions of the study were previously reported on by The News based on a summary released by PSE. The full report gives insight into the Bills’ and PSE’s own spending, as well as the economic activity generated by the team and stadium.

For example:

• PSE compensated its employees an estimated $396.5 million in 2019. That includes salaries paid to Bills employees, as well as hockey’s Sabres and Rochester Americans, lacrosse’s Bandits and Rochester Knighthawks, plus LECOM Harborcenter and headquarters staff. That resulted in an estimated $30.2 million withheld in state income tax, two-thirds of which is attributable to the Bills.

Stadium study also outlines ideas for KeyBank Center upgrades

The study was prepared in 2019, so priorities for arena renovations could change when the time comes for improvements.

• The Bills averaged a net ticket revenue of nearly $5.2 million per game from 2015-19, which averaged to about $51.7 million per season.

• Based on surveys, the researchers estimated that Bills patrons generated $49.4 million in net new direct spending in New York during 2019. That includes dollars spent on restaurants, grocery, retail, hotel, gas and rental cars. They also estimated $59.6 million in net new direct spending in Erie County, and $22.3 million in Buffalo.

• The Rolling Stones were the biggest cash winner of the non-football events held at Highmark Stadium between 2015-19. The Stones pulled in nearly 48,000 fans and almost $8 million in ticket sales – higher than U2 and Jay-Z/Beyonce (both at $4.3 million), Guns N’ Roses ($2.6 million), One Direction ($2.4) and the World Juniors hockey tournament ($2.2 million).

All good things come to an end, and they did when the Patriots were upended at Indianapolis last Saturday, ending their 7-0 win streak straight up and against the spread. During their winning streak ahead, the Patriots feasted off opponents making lots of mistakes. New England, meanwhile, remained mostly error-free. That completely changed in the loss to the Colts, as mistakes did them in. Now, the Patriots are looking up at No. 1 seed Kansas City in the AFC playoff picture.

New England upended Buffalo, 14-10, as a three-point underdog three weeks ago, and brings an 8-2 record straight up and 7-3 mark against the spread in the last 10 games in this series.

After opening the season 4-1, and despite its recent slide, Buffalo (8-6) can take the AFC East for the second consecutive season by winning out. The Bills bring a 6-0-1 record against the spread into this fray in games after hosting an NFC opponent, as well as an 8-2-1 against the spread record as an underdog of 4 or less points.

No surprise here to see the Patriots dip to 1-6-1 against the spread in the first of consecutive home games, and they regress back to the norm starting today.

Prediction: Buffalo over Patriots by 3.

Marc Lawrence previews the NFL from a Vegas perspective. You can follow him online at PlaybookSports.com or @MarcLawrence.

It’s Judgment Day in a lot of ways for the 2021 Buffalo Bills on Sunday against the New England Patriots.

Actually, let’s call it Judgment Day, Part 1, since the final judgment on the Bills will be made based on what they do in January.

• Can Sean McDermott avoid being outcoached by Bill Belichick?

• Did Brandon Beane build a team geared toward beating the Kansas City Chiefs and fail to keep a keener eye on beating the Patriots?

• Can Brian Daboll find the right adjustments against the defensive wizardry of his chief pro football mentor?

• Do the Bills’ older veteran leaders – we’re thinking Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison and Star Lotulelei, to name three – have enough juice left to help get the Bills over the AFC East hump?

All those answers will be revealed when the Bills and Patriots play for what should be the AFC East title. The Bills close with what should be victories over Atlanta and the New York Jets. The Patriots close with games at home against Jacksonville and at Miami. The finale versus the Dolphins is no gimmie, since Miami beat New England in the season opener. But who among us thinks Belichick is going to lose twice to Tua Tagovailoa?

McDermott was doing his best Wednesday to keep his players focused on the daily task at hand.

“I think we just need to focus on what we can and that's going out to practice in a few minutes and continuing to improve our football team,” he said.

Yet, the reality for McDermott is the Patriots are the measuring stick for any AFC East coach. And the 69-year-old Belichick has schooled everyone on the opposing sideline in his career, from Sean McVay, Pete Carroll and Andy Reid to Bill Cowher, Curly Lambeau and Amos Alonzo Stagg. Or so it seems.

For decades, Bills coaches have been able to lean on the crutch: Belichick has Tom Brady. No longer. McDermott has the better quarterback in this game, and it’s not a close call. Josh Allen’s team should beat Mac Jones’ team – all other things being remotely close.

Are they remotely close? They should be. The Bills’ defense is No. 3 in points allowed and No. 1 in yards allowed. The Pats are No. 1 in points allowed and No. 2 in yards allowed. They’ve played almost identical schedules. You know that if Belichick were on the Bills’ sideline facing Jones, the rookie would be befuddled into several mistakes. It’s on McDermott and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier to cause some problems for the Pats’ new QB.

It’s also on McDermott to manage the game flawlessly, because Belichick is brilliant at game management. McDermott has done well in five years at managing games, better than any other Bills coach the past two decades. But in the loss to the Pats three weeks ago, McDermott wasted a time out when he challenged a fourth-down QB sneak by Jones. McDermott burned a second time out before a second-and-goal play from the 6 midway through the fourth quarter. Then Josh Allen was sacked. The Bills needed those timeouts later in the game.

Are the Bills stout enough on both lines of scrimmage? With Allen and the skill-position talent on board, the Bills don’t need to be the most physical team in the league. But they can’t get steamrolled.

It’s on Daboll to make sure Allen reads the Pats’ amoeba-like secondary. And Allen needs a little help from the run game.

Should Beane have found a bigger running back somewhere along the way to provide more of a complement to Devin Singletary? Should Beane have come up with another stouter option at guard to contend with the Pats’ run-stuffing front seven?

The Patriots’ defense arguably is a little better than that of the Bills right now, given the fact Tre’Davious White is out for the season. The Pats are deeper in the secondary and on the defensive line. The Bills have the better offense.

Belichick was asked this week to pick his best-ever defensive game plan. He wasn’t biting.

“You can X-and-O it all you want, but in the end, players win games,” Belichick said. “Players make plays to win games. Without good players and without good players making good plays, there are not a lot of games to be won. Whatever strategy, game plans, or plays that we use, whatever they were in any game, ultimately, comes down to the players, their execution, decision making and fundamentals on those plays. That's really where the credit in those games goes and should go because they're the ones that are doing it. I've been very, very fortunate through my career to coach a lot of good players, some great players, some of the greatest players in the history of the game, a lot of very, very good players, good role players and players that complemented each other. ... That's my view of the world on that. Thank you for asking.”

Coaching is huge, but Belichick is right. The players have to execute.

Hughes, Addison and Lotulelei have three of the top six salary cap figures on the team this year. The Bills need a good finish to the season from all three.

The final judgment on the 2021 season is counting on it.

The Bills, in their bright red color-rush jerseys, thankfully didn’t make the Bills Mafia red in the face with rage or embarrassment last Sunday at chilly Highmark Stadium.

Buffalo took care of business and the Carolina Panthers, 31-14, to up their lackluster season record to 8-6, setting the stage for the AFC East showdown Sunday against the Axis of Evil.

Josh Allen, on a gamey foot, and after a woeful, worrisome start, took command of the offense and game, and threw three touchdowns with one interception. Harried, hurried and harassed all afternoon, Allen willed the team to win with his rocket arm and gangly legs.

Gabe Davis caught two TDs in his first start since Emmanuel Sanders got dinged. Davis has a penchant for the big play, nose for the end zone, and needs more playing time, snaps and targets.

Dawson Knox had solid, dependable production. Stefon Diggs beat former Bill and Patriot whipping boy, Stephon Gilmore, for a second-quarter score.

The Bills' offensive line was in shambles going into the battle and promptly got stomped by a talented Panthers front. Rookie right tackle Spencer Brown was forced to play left tackle and was a human 3-D printer of yellow flags. The Bills desperately need Frosty the Shnowman, aka Dion Dawkins, off the Covid list and back in the trenches.

Devin “Motor” Singletary sputtered then accelerated for 86 yards on the ground, which hot-wired the offense, including a well-designed, called, and executed 16-yard commute to the end zone.

Singletary, shockingly, is sixth in the NFL in yards per carry for running backs. The Bills will need to consistently run the ball if they have any playoff hopes.

The defense, also shockingly, is somehow is ranked first in yards against per game, and third in scoring average, which seems impossible as you watch them rush the passer and tackle.

The depleted Panthers were declawed most of the nippy day. Cam Newton ran like a running back, as is his wont. Fortunately for the Bills, he also threw like one.

Carolina’s only real threat, the Magic Christian McCaffery, sat out and is gone for the season. DJ Moore proved the old adage, “Moore is less.” Robbie Anderson looked like the Robbie Anderson in the New York Jets years when he outraged New York Jets fans.   

Our clever Brit defensive lineman, Efe Obada, was brilliant, got two sacks on one drive and just missed the hat trick. Harrison Phillips has quietly crushed opposing linemen lately. Star Lotulelei, Taron Johnson and A.J. Klein got on the scorecard with sacks or picks.

Carolina lost its placekicker to a freakish leg injury in warmups, which wreaked havoc on the game plan, and forced the Panthers into fourth-down tries they failed to convert; going 1-5. It was emblematic of their entire 2021 season of lost players, games and hope. 

For the Bills, the game was hopefully a harbinger for the death-match revenge game this week against the New England Devils up in sly Foxborough.

Rookie Mac Jones has looked shaky the last couple of outings, and the Bills will look to expose the emperor’s new clothes again Sunday.

The AFC East is up for grabs, and the AFC playoffs will be drastically affected by the ultimate victor.

In this icy, cold-hearted, slippery Bills 2021 season, New England has again become the “winner” of our discontent for Bills Mafia.

In the John Steinbeck novel “The Winter of Our Discontent,” the title phrase is known to suggest the idea that we have reached the depth of our unhappiness and that better times are ahead.

Hopefully, the team and its faithful, frustrated fans, have reached the depths of our sorrow, and better times (and games) are indeed, coming this Sunday and beyond.

Pete Rosen is a screenwriter in Los Angeles, lifetime Buffalo fan, and may be found blathering daily at twobillsdrive.com.

Two Bills were named to the Pro Bowl Wednesday: wide receiver Stefon Diggs and left tackle Dion Dawkins.

It’s the second nod for Diggs – both coming during his time in Buffalo – and the first for Dawkins. The 2022 Pro Bowl will take place in Las Vegas on Feb. 6 at Allegiant Stadium.

Nine Bills were named as alternates:

• 1st alternates: quarterback Josh Allen, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.

• 2nd alternates: tight end Dawson Knox, linebacker Tyler Matakevich.

• 3rd alternates: safety Jordan Poyer, long snapper Reid Ferguson.

• 4th alternate: safety Micah Hyde.

• 5th alternates: center Mitch Morse, kicker Tyler Bass.

Last season, the Bills had five players named to the Pro Bowl: Diggs, Allen, Edmunds, cornerback Tre’Davious White and return specialist Andre Roberts.

In his second year with the Bills, Diggs has 1,007 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 82 catches. He is the first Bills wide receiver to been selected to the Pro Bowl in consecutive years since Andre Reed (1988-94).

After bouncing back from his first bout with Covid-19 during the summer, Dawkins has steadily improved over the course of this season. In protecting Allen, he became the first Bills offensive lineman named to the Pro Bowl since Richie Incognito in 2017.

The Indianapolis Colts led the league with seven players named to the Pro Bowl.

Of the Bills alternates, Poyer and Hyde were the more perplexing snubs. The AFC safeties named to the Pro Bowl were the Tennessee Titans' Kevin Byard, the Los Angeles Chargers' Derwin James and the Kansas City Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu. Byard (73 tackles and five interceptions) is the starting free safety, and James (103 tackles and two picks) the starting strong safety.

Poyer has five interceptions this season, along with nine passes defended, five tackles for loss and 81 tackles. Hyde has three picks, eight passes defended, four tackles for loss and 61 tackles. The Bills defense as a whole is first in the NFL in both total yards allowed (287.9) and passing yards allowed (175.6) per game, and has allowed a league-low 11 passing touchdowns this season.

Separate from the Pro Bowl selections themselves, Poyer spoke during his Wednesday press conference about how he believes the Bills defense doesn’t generally get the respect it deserves, though that does provide one benefit.

“It’ll probably never change. But we use it as fuel,” Poyer said. “I know that's cliche, but at the same time, we understand the lack of respect for I'm talking about our group in particular, but even for our defense. ... We use it as fire, we use it as fuel to fuel the fire and really try to just continue to come in here every day.

“And days that maybe we are tired and coming in here, Micah and I are motivating each other saying, ‘Hey, they don’t respect us. We got to go to work.’ And it's just a little motivation that we continue to use and we'll continue to use even if we ever did get the respect.”

Buffalo Bills fan Rich Donohue’s insurance office in Batavia got a visit Tuesday from what might be the largest beer deliveryman anywhere.

Bills mammoth offensive lineman Spencer Brown, who is 6-foot-7, stopped by to drop off cases of Bud Light.

Donohue – and his beer – have gained fame since Sunday's victory against the Carolina Panthers, because Brown and wide receiver Stefon Diggs attempted to get hold of the beer following a second-quarter touchdown and then managed to spill it.

Diggs said on social media that he wanted to find the fan so he could buy him a beer. Brown had similar sentiments, and the rookie followed up by bringing the beer and spending a few minutes with Donohue and Casey Radka, who was with Donohue at the game and had helped identify him on social media. Diggs also tweeted about the delivery, and Brown said it was from him and Diggs. 

Don’t worry. @stefondiggs and I are handling it, cheers boys @budlight https://t.co/3GQ6QDObsj pic.twitter.com/cUO0rt7eP4

— Spencer Brown (@TooTallo_o) December 21, 2021

“I still can’t figure out why he did it,” Donohue said. “I said it was pretty spontaneous, but real funny. We were both shaking our heads.”

Shoutout @TooTallo_o @stefondiggs thank you guys for hooking us up with some @budlight we’ll give these a good home #gobills @BuffaloBills pic.twitter.com/4lHhcthNAd

— Casey (@CaseyRadka) December 21, 2021

Like most Bills players and Bills fans, Donohue had his mind on Sunday’s showdown with the New England Patriots.

“When he was leaving, I said, ‘Just beat the Patriots,’ and he said, 'That's the plan.' ”

The Bills will be without wide receiver Cole Beasley for Sunday's rematch against the New England Patriots, but coach Sean McDermott isn't one to dwell on who won't be playing. He was already looking ahead to adjustments his team will need to make.

Beasley reportedly tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday, meaning he will miss at least 10 days because he is unvaccinated. 

McDermott again said that he respected the personal choice made by players, but declined to delve into much more on the subject, or to say if there is any level of disappointment in losing Beasley for the divisional showdown, when asked Wednesday.

"I'm not going to get into that," McDermott said. "I'm focused on the Patriots, and the guys in the building. And certainly with all the guys we have out on Covid – I think seven, Cole being one of those – we want them back as healthy as possible and as quickly as possible. That's where we're at."

Though Beasley will miss Sunday's game, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders could return. He was a limited participant in Wednesday's walk-through. Sanders left the Week 14 game against Tampa Bay with a knee injury and did not practice last week.

"We'll just see how it goes, and taking it just one day at a time here, starting today," McDermott said ahead of the walk-through.

Sanders has 40 catches for 606 receiving yards and four touchdowns this season. His output has declined the last five games he’s played in, but quarterback Josh Allen still hopes to see him out there Sunday. 

“I think it would be a big boost for us, just given his talent level, his knowledge, and the juice and the knowledge that he brings,” Allen said. “So whether he’s ready to go or not, not up to me, but we’ll see. I want him out on the field with us.”

Sanders’ status looms particularly large with Beasley out. Beasley’s 640 receiving yards and 76 catches this season are both second on the Bills, behind wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Beasley put up those numbers while playing through a rib injury that minimized his role midseason.

The Bills have five players from the active roster and three from the practice squad on the Reserve/Covid-19 list: Beasley; offensive linemen Jon Feliciano, Dion Dawkins and Bobby Hart; linebacker Tyrel Dodson, defensive ends A.J. Epenesa and Mike Love, and tight end Quintin Morris. Morris, Hart and Love are on the practice squad. Morris was placed on the list Wednesday, a few hours after McDermott noted seven on the list.

The Bills have had at least one player on the Covid list since Nov. 2, but the protocols have changed since then. 

Beasley posted on Instagram that he was experiencing mild symptoms, but wrote he is missing the game because of the rules, not because of the virus.

The NFL updated its protocols last week, making it easier for vaccinated players to return more quickly but continuing daily testing for unvaccinated players and a mandatory 10-day period before they can return. Vaccinated players can test out of Covid protocols once they are asymptomatic for at least 24 hours.

While Beasley has been outspoken about the vaccine and his views on Covid protocols multiple times starting in the summer, Allen did not weigh in when asked his views on the new rules.

“I mean, that’s really not my place to speak on that,” Allen said. “I’m just trying to be the best quarterback I can be, be the best teammate I can be for this team, and try to go win a game on Sunday.”

Allen echoed McDermott’s answers that even with a key player out ahead of a huge game, the Bills’ focus is now just on what they can do at practice.

"Those are the things we can't control," McDermott said. "And I think we just need to focus on what we can and that's going out to practice in a few minutes and continuing to improve our football team."

Injury report

Josh Allen was a full participant in the walkthrough. Last week, he was limited Wednesday and Thursday because of a sprained left foot, before he was a full participant Friday and started Sunday’s game. Allen said there was nothing lingering from the injury in the Tampa Bay game.

“No. Good to go,” he said Wednesday.

Sanders (knee) was limited and running back Taiwan Jones (knee) did not participate.

Safety Micah Hyde (back) and defensive end Jerry Hughes (neck) were limited Wednesday, each with new injuries. Hughes was dealing with a foot injury last week, but was good to go for the game against the Panthers, playing 53% of snaps on defense.

Patriots wide receiver Nelson Agholor (concussion) and running back Rhamondre Stevenson (illness) did not practice Wednesday.

Nine players were limited: center David Andrews (shoulder), defensive lineman Christian Barmore (knee), linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley (ribs/ankle), running back Brandon Bolden (knee), kicker Nick Folk (left knee), running back Damien Harris (hamstring), wide receiver N’Keal Harry (hip), safety Adrian Phillips (knee) and wide receiver/specialist Matthew Slater (illness).

’Twas three nights before Christmas

When all through the town

Not a creature was holding –

Not even Spence Brown.

                   *

The Bills, they were nestled

All snug in their beds

While visions of rushing yards

Messed with their heads.

                    *

Next up are the Pats.

Oh, my – how we hate them!

Beware of their footballs.

(And how they inflate them.)

                   *

The last time, at Highmark,

When da Bills played da Pats:

They ran up the middle!

They ran in the flats!

                     *

Now the game shifts to England

(The one that is New)

And da Bills must yield less ground

Than Two-Twenty-Two.

                    *

The last time, these Bills,

They got blocked far and near

And got run over as if

By yon rapid reindeer.

                      *

The Pats ran and ran,

Only three times they passed.

(Just don’t ask the Bills’ D

If they are embarrassed.)

                    *

Mac Jones handed off.

(He is no passing fancy.)

Next time in the pocket

Make him feel antsy-pantsy.

                   *

The Bills lost to The Hoodie

And then lost to Brady

(Who owns our dear Bills

Like a lordly landlady).

                   *

These Bills finally beat

The kickerless Panthers

But don’t look to that win

For all of the answers.

                *

The win da Bills want,

The win that’s a must,

Stands before them at last.

(In Josh Allen we trust.)

                 *

Da Bills can still win

The ol’ AFC East

But first they must slay

The reviled Foxborough beast.

                 *

That’s the one gift we want

To find under the tree:

A win in New England!

(Plus a four-game win spree.)

                  *

The cleats are all hung

In the clubhouse with care

Now it’s time for da Bills

To trap Pats in their lair.

                  *

Beat ’em on a trick play,

Or a boot by Ty Bass.

Just make double-sure

That the Bills kick their ...

                   *

If that’s wrong to say in

This season of giving,

Then you don’t understand:

We loathe Pats for a living!

                  *

So, yes, Peace on Earth

(And good will to men.)

Just hold those darn Pats

To fourth-down-and-ten.

                       *

Have a nice Christmas Eve

And a nice Christmas night

But on the day after Christmas —

It is quite right to smite!

                     *

In the meantime, feel free

To sneak a few swigs

From a fan in the front row

(Just like Stefon Diggs.)

                     *

Bills Mafia sends taunts

To their Bostonian brethren

With a billboard to make ’em

Take two dozen Excedrin.

                      *

The sign says that Bills fans

Are the best in the land.

We know this as fact:

So let’s strike up the band! 

                     *

Lift a cold Labatt Blue

(Or some other beer’s label) 

And then smash through the Pats

Like some cheap folding table.

                     *

When out on the turf

There arose such a clatter

That Josh sprang from his bed

To see what was the matter.

                      *

When what to his wondering eyes

Should appear:

But a healthier O-line!

(Now that’s cause to cheer.)

                     *

St. Nick offered a smile 

And then gave a wink,

Called for his reindeer –

And was off in a blink. 

                 *

But ere he drove out of sight

I heard him exclaim: 

“Happy Christmas to all,

And to all a good game!”

Apologies to Clement C. “Booker” Moore

The Buffalo Bills placed Cole Beasley on the Reserve/Covid-19 list Tuesday, a blow to the team's receiving corps in advance of this week's showdown with the New England Patriots.

Beasley arguably has been the most vocal anti-vaccine proponent among NFL players, saying on social media last summer that he would rather retire than be forced to get vaccinated and wanted to live his life his way. 

Beasley has said he is not pro or anti-vaccine but is "pro choice" to allow each person to make an individual decision. 

He remains unvaccinated. He will need to quarantine for 10 days under NFL protocols, meaning he will miss Sunday's game in Foxborough, Mass.

In a statement posted on Instagram titled #letBeaseplay, Beasley said, "Just to be clear: Covid is not keeping me out of this game. The rules are. Vaxxed players are playing with Covid every week now because they don't test. One of my vaxxed teammates is in the hospital missing games. I'm sure he didn't get this same energy.

"Thank you for those who support. To everyone else, if you don't get what's happening there is nothing anybody can do for you."

Under the NFL protocols, vaccinated players test weekly and unvaccinated players test daily. The league issued new guidelines last week that allow vaccinated players to return as early as the next day after a positive test provided a player is asymptomatic for 24 hours. 

Beasley said he is feeling "fine with mild symptoms" and said, "I look forward to being back out there with my teammates soon."

There's a good chance the Bills also will be without receiver Emmanuel Sanders vs. the Patriots. Sanders was unable to practice last week and missed the Carolina game Sunday. He was deemed "week to week" by coach Sean McDermott after suffering a knee injury against Tampa Bay. Gabriel Davis replaced Sanders in the lineup against the Panthers. 

Beasley and fellow wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie were fined earlier this season for not wearing their masks in the team facility, though Beasley said he was fined for taking "five steps" into the facility without his mask on. McKenzie responded to the fine by getting vaccinated. 

If Sanders also is out this week, it likely would mean more snaps for McKenzie in Beasley's slot position.

Beasley is enjoying another productive season. He has 76 catches for 640 yards and one touchdown in 14 games. He ranks second in the NFL in catches out of the slot position with 63, behind only the Los Angeles Rams' Cooper Kupp (73). Beasley had 82 catches for 967 yards in 2020.

Meanwhile, offensive lineman Jon Feliciano, who was placed on the Covid list hours before the game against Carolina and said he spent Sunday morning in the emergency room, offered an update on his condition on social media. He tweeted: "Earlier today I went in and got the monoclonal antibodies took about an hour and a half went back to hotel, take a nap cause I felt exhausted, woke up feeling pretty good hopefully it can stay like this!!"

Feliciano also noted he is vaccinated and that didn't stop him from testing positive. 

earlier today i went in and got the monoclonal antibodies took about an hour and a half went back to hotel, take a nap cause I felt exhausted, woke up feeling pretty good hopefully it can stay like this!!

— Jonathan Feliciano (@MongoFeliciano) December 21, 2021

Left tackle Dion Dawkins also remains on the Covid list after missing Sunday's game against the Panthers. Othere Bills on the Covid list are A.J. Epenesa, Tyrel Dodson, Bobby Hart and Mike Love.

The Bills announced that West Seneca East and University at Buffalo offensive lineman Evin Ksiezarczyk has been signed to the practice squad. 

The Buffalo Bills have had good production out of first-down runs the past two weeks.

Can the Bills keep it going against a physical New England defense on Sunday?

On first down against Carolina, Buffalo ran 12 times for 63 yards, a 5.25 average. All of those carries were by Devin Singletary. On first down at Tampa, they ran 10 times for 102 yards, with Josh Allen getting 49 of those yards.

“I think we've always had confidence in Devin,” said Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. “He's just been a consistent player for us. ... I think Motor's improved since he's been here. He's a guy that we drafted. Each year he's gotten a little bit better.”

The New England defense stuffed first-down runs in the first meeting, holding the Bills to 28 yards on 12 carries. The Pats were able to crowd the line of scrimmage, with little concern to defend downfield passes due to the wind.

The Bills still lead the NFL in passing percentage on first down at 59%, according to Sharp Football. And they lead the NFL in first-down passing in the first three quarters at 62%, which is more relevant because teams run more with the lead in the fourth quarter.

The Bills aren’t going to change their offensive personality. They had success passing on first down vs. the Patriots in the first meeting. Allen hit 9 of 12 first-down passes for 93 yards despite bad weather.

The Bills called 36 passes and 12 runs overall in the first three quarters vs. Carolina.

But an improved run production would take some pressure off Allen & Co. against the Patriots.

Here are position-by-position grades of the Panthers game, on a scale of 0 to 5:

Quarterback (4.0): The numbers weren’t huge, but Allen made two outstanding throws for touchdowns, managed five scoring drives and didn’t let Brian Burns and Haason Reddick ruin the game. The Panthers blitzed on 11 of 43 dropbacks. Allen was only 4 of 10 for 35 yards on those plays with one sack. But they ran a lot of tough four-man pressures, too. On one third-down incompletion for Cole Beasley in the third quarter, it looked like a seven-man rush and turned into a four-man pressure with Burns and Reddick dropping into coverage and a linebacker coming free up the middle.

Running backs (3.5): Singletary got praise from Sean McDermott for getting some tough, extra yards. It was good to see the Bills grind out a fourth-quarter TD drive by running on eight of nine plays. The Bills now have 14 rushing TDs. They had 16 last year and 13 in 2019.

Receivers (3.5): Gabriel Davis started his good day with a downfield block on Singletary’s TD run. Davis also had a good run after the catch on a run-pass option pass from Allen for 28 yards. All six of Davis’ TD catches this year have converted red-zone scoring chances. Allen beat the blitz twice by going to Beasley on the long drive to a field goal to end the first half. That’s seven catches vs. blitzes in the past two weeks and a team-high 20 on the season for Beasley, who is on pace for 92 catches. He had 82 last year. Dawson Knox helped out in pass protection by jamming an edge rusher at the line of scrimmage 13 times. Knox also had a great cut block on the middle backer on Singletary’s TD run. Those jam blocks and Tommy Sweeney’s 22 snaps were a function of Daboll wanting to use more two tight-end sets to widen the path to the QB for the Carolina speed rushers and to help the pass blockers. Sweeney had a drop that killed one drive and had a couple other tough blocking plays vs. the outstanding Reddick.

Offensive line (3.0): It wasn’t a great day for Spencer Brown, but he gets cut major slack because of the shift to left tackle with virtually no practice time. He made five penalties, one of which was a bad call (the throw down of Yetur Gross-Matos). The Bills didn’t ask him or Daryl Williams to do a ton of true pass-sets without help, but he did have a handful of good pass-protections vs. Burns in the second half. He continues to finish blocks, too. The illegal-downfield penalty on Williams early was Allen’s fault on an RPO. Williams blocked Burns on the 20-yard TD to Davis. Cody Ford had a tough start, giving up three hurries early, one of which caused a sack. But he was OK most of the rest of the game. He had a couple nice point-of-attack blocks in the fourth quarter. Mitch Morse pulled and took out a safety on Singletary’s TD.

Defensive line (4.5): The Bills dominated, as they should have considering offensive line is a weak link on the Panthers. Harrison Phillips had another excellent game. He was on the field for the 30-yard end around. But on the other 14 runs with Phillips in the game, the Panthers managed just 32 yards. Star Lotulelei was fine in 22 snaps, getting a clean-up sack after Vernon Butler applied pressure. Maybe he’ll be ready for more snaps in New England. Efe Obada beat John Miller clean inside for his first sack and beat tackle Cam Erving with a speed move wide for his second. Jerry Hughes had two hurries, tipped a fourth-down pass and had a 4-yard tackle for loss. Ed Oliver continues to show hustle, stripping Cam Newton from behind for a forced fumble, but the Panthers recovered. Greg Rousseau had three hurries and set the edge well again vs. the run. Next week against the Pats’ quality offensive line will be a better current barometer for the defensive line.

The Bills weren’t too worried about Newton burning them. Leslie Frazier sent blitzers on a season-high 21 pass plays, or 46% of the Carolina dropbacks. Three of the four sacks came on rushes of five or more men.

Newton completed just 7 of 17 passes for 56 yards against the blitz, with one TD.

Linebackers (4.0): Tremaine Edmunds had four hurries on eight pass-rush chances. He smothered a third-down pass over the middle, a jet-sweep run by Robbie Anderson and Newton’s two-point conversion run. Matt Milano was active too, with a third-down pass breakup on a slant and a third-down stop on Newton. On the late TD pass to Ameer Abdullah, Milano was feinting a rush and was a step late covering the angle route out of the backfield. It was a zero-blitz with no help. Milano now has 14 tackles for loss, sixth most in the NFL.

Defensive backs (4.5): The Panthers were held to 124 net yards passing, 75 under their average. Newton’s struggles continued. He went just 2 for 11 for 24 yards on passes that traveled 10 or more yards past the line of scrimmage. The tackling was good, except for one miss by Levi Wallace on the end around that went for 30 yards. Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer each blitzed six times and each had a near interception. It was the most pass-rush chances for Hyde, and he had three hurries.

Special teams (4.0): All of Tyler Bass’ kickoffs exceeded 4.0 (excellent) hang time. Tyler Matakevich, Andre Smith and Jake Kumerow smothered a kickoff at the Carolina 18. Good for Isaiah McKenzie to rebound with a return to the 43 off a low kickoff, and Marquez Stevenson had two positive punt returns. Matt Haack only had one punt returned, but it went for 16 yards off a kick of only 3.7 seconds hang time. His punt from the back of his own end zone went for a solid net of 37 even though the hang time was only 3.45.