Bills need more from pass rush. Your guide to Week 15 vs. Panthers

Sean McDermott and Leslie Frazier were in agreement this week.

The Buffalo Bills’ head coach and defensive coordinator singled out the team’s four-man pass rush as an area that has not produced to the level needed thus far.

“One hundred percent. Yeah. Yes,” McDermott said when asked if he needed more from that group. “My answer is yes.”

The Bills enter Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers at Highmark Stadium ranked 28th in the NFL with 23 sacks. That is just one statistical measure of a defensive line’s performance, but it’s a number everyone in the organization recognizes needs to be better – especially considering 5.5 of those sacks have come from either a linebacker or member of the secondary.

In both dollars spent and draft capital used, the Bills have heavily invested in the defensive line. The return on that investment has not been satisfactory often enough through a 7-6 start.

“We’re not hurrying or hitting the quarterback often with our four as we would like," Frazier said. "There have been some games on occasion where we’re really good at disrupting a quarterback with our four rushers, our four primary rushers, but not on a consistent basis, not as consistent as we would like. We’re still trying to get it to where it’s more consistent. We like being able to rush four. It helps our coverage, it helps everything we’re trying to do on defense. We just need to get a little bit more on a consistent basis than what we’ve been getting.”

Last week’s first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a good example. The Bills sacked Bucs quarterback Tom Brady just once, and hit him twice. On several other occasions, Brady had more than ample time in the pocket.

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That forced Frazier to change his defensive game plan.

“In the second half, we brought a little more pressure,” Frazier said. “We didn’t feel like we were consistently making the quarterback speed up a little bit. So we had to bring a little bit more pressure in Matt Milano and some other blitzers. They ended up doing a good job of affecting him at times.”

While the second half against the Bucs was better defensively for the Bills, it’s not as simple as saying, “Just do that every week.”

As Frazier explains, “The problem it presents, depending on what type of pressure you’re bringing, it can leave your secondary in a lot of one on ones. You know, it’s more like risk/reward. So ideally, if you can rush four, I think every coordinator in the National Football League would say that would be the ideal way. But …if that’s not getting you the results you want, then you’ve got to find another way to do it. And that usually means bringing five or six. And the peril to that is, somebody’s in a one-on-one situation, and somebody has to win.”

According to advanced stats kept by Pro Football Reference, the Bills have blitzed 109 times this season, a total that ranks 24th in the NFL. By percentage of opposing quarterback dropbacks, the Bills blitz 23.5% of the time, which is 20th.

What’s interesting is that the Bills have hurried the opposing quarterback 71 times, which ranks fourth in the league, and their hurry percentage of 14.7 actually leads the league, so the pass rush is getting close.

For defensive end Jerry Hughes, however, that’s not good enough.

“We honestly got to be better,” Hughes told The Buffalo News on Friday. “I live, and I'm pretty sure the rest of the guys in the D-line room will say this, too -- we live for sacks. We want to be able to tackle the quarterback and make it a physical and violent game for him -- make it a long day whenever they're playing the Buffalo Bills. We've got to be better in that area as far as getting to the quarterback, and then once we do that, either get him down or get the ball out of his hands. That's something we know we've got to be better at. We just haven't been good this year.”

According to Pro Football Reference, the Bills have 41 quarterback knockdowns, tied for 14th, and 132 total pressures, which combines sacks, knockdowns and hurries. That’s tied for eighth.

“I just look at our pressure rate,” defensive line coach Eric Washington said. “First of all, I look at whether or not we actually affected a play in a passing situation or on third down for the benefit of our defense. Are we getting off the field, and is that a function of what we're able to do in terms of forcing the quarterback to throw the ball out of bounds? … Are we winning our one on ones consistently? Is the completion percentage of the quarterback or the quarterback rating, again, a function of our prowess, what we're doing as a group and what we're able to do as individual rushers? Those are the things I look at in evaluating how we're working and whether or not we're headed in the right direction.”

Opposing quarterbacks have a rating of 67.7 against the Bills this season, which is the lowest in the NFL.

“We understand that we've got to figure out ways to get to the quarterback, so we can cause some kind of disturbance in their passing rhythm so they're not just catching and throwing the ball,” Hughes said. “We're trying to take pressure off the secondary as well as just being an active member of the team, so we can help cause turnovers, create the short fields to help our offense score points. We understand those are the things we've got to do. It's just a matter of doing them on Sunday.”

There was an unmistakable sense of frustration in Hughes’ voice as he spoke Friday, which is understandable. The 33-year-old has just 1.5 sacks and six quarterback hits in the final year of his contract.

"Yeah, absolutely. Like I say, we want to help our team, and we understand that in doing so, we've got to make it a long day for the quarterback,” he said. “For us to have a successful game, that's what we've got to do as a front and we've just got to do it better and we've got to do it faster.”

It begs the question – why has that happened more often? It’s not for a lack of investment. According to contracts website spotrac.com, the Bills have $43.5 million invested in their defensive line this season. That’s the most in the NFL. General Manager Brandon Beane has used first- or second-round draft picks on Ed Oliver, A.J. Epenesa, Greg Rousseau and Boogie Basham. Additionally, Star Lotulelei and Mario Addison were big-money free-agent additions.

Addison leads the team in sacks with four, followed by Rousseau (3), Lotulelei (2), Basham (1.5), Hughes (1.5), Efe Obada (1.5), Justin Zimmer (1), Eli Ankou (1), Oliver (0.5) and Epenesa (0.5) among defensive linemen.

“I also want to keep some level of patience because quite a few of those players are young,” McDermott cautioned. “When you look at Greg Rousseau, who’s starting for us at left defensive end; you look at A.J. Epenesa as a second-year player; Boogie Basham a first-year player and Ed is still considered young overall in this league. So, there’s some youth there and yet at the same time, it’s such a critical part of a good defense, to be able to affect the quarterback with four - stop the run and affect the quarterback with four.

"We’ve got to continue to emphasize that. It’s been emphasized, I should say, but it’s got to show up, in particular more than it did this past week.”

A potential fix

A couple of key members of the defensive line pointed to one thing when asked what has led to such inconsistency.

“We've got to be a lot more unified as a rush unit,” Hughes said. “We've got to hunt together. That starts with us up front. If we're not hunting together, then we don't really help out our defense. It's just little things -- better hand placement, violent hands. We have to get there quicker, because we know how important it is to disrupt the quarterback, especially around this time of year.”

Defensive tackle Harrison Phillips echoed a similar sentiment.

Bills DT Harrison Phillips believes in building with others, on and off the field

Phillips was named the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which honors both service off the field and excellence on it, for the second year in a row.

“You have to work together to create a solid pass rush,” he said. “You’ll see countless times, a guy will win clean but if another guy is in his rush lane or in his quadrant of the rush, guys can escape or at least step up and get the ball out quick. That’s definitely an area we want to improve upon. We’ve had the same mindset all year. I think we’re just gonna continue to work our system and our games, and have whoever is out there gel together really well and have good rush redundancy and rush overlap.”

Washington is the one in charge of getting the Bills on the same page when it comes to the rush.

“I absolutely love the effort that we get from our guys. You've got to look at this season in totality,” he said. “I look at all of the circumstances that we've been faced with, and some of the decisions that are made offensively because of the threat of our rush and some of the things that we're able to do. ... I love what we've been able to do.

"When you look at the game the other night, we had a lot of passing attempts from the quarterback and we didn't have as many hits as we would like to have. That's one circumstance. When I look at the balance of the season and some of the opportunities that we've gotten and what we've done with those opportunities, I feel pretty good about that.”

The Bills have the No. 3 third-down defense in the NFL, allowing conversions 33.7% of the time. On third-and-long situations, defined as 7 yards or more, the Bills lead the league in allowing conversions just 14.8% (12 of 81) of the time.

“Certainly I'm not going to let one game color or create the false perception that the guys up front have not, first of all, given maximum effort, or they haven't affected the game as one-on-one pass rushers or as a group of rushers on third down or in obvious passing situations,” Washington said. “We want more from everything. We want more consistency in every aspect of our defense. Point of attack, run defense, etc. The guys are focused on that. They're aware of that, and they're working as hard as ever to continue to improve that as we move forward.”

Stopping the run, too

Peaks and valleys are to expected in any season. Right now, when it comes to rushing the passer, the Bills are in one of those valleys. The team has just four sacks and 12 quarterback hits over the last four games -- a stretch in which the Bills have gone 1-3.

“One of the things we don't control is an offense throwing a screen pass or offenses that are choosing to utilize six or seven guys in protection and chip us. Those aren't excuses. Those are factors,” Washington said. “So we've had some outstanding circumstances and I think we've got some circumstances just like you have with any aspect of your football team that we want to continue to grow and develop the individual people who are part of that and then obviously how we're able to meld that into a formidable group that we can really depend on in obvious passing situations.”

Scouting Report: Josh Allen has put up massive numbers against NFC opponents

The question of how much Allen will be able to do on the ground despite a sprained foot looms over this game. 

Of course, the pass rush is just one part of the defensive line’s job. The big guys up front are also responsible for setting the tone in run defense. Again, that’s an area the Bills have had a good deal of success, ranking tied for 12th in the league in yards allowed per game.

Washington pointed to the fourth-and-1 tackle for loss made by Addison against the New Orleans Saints of an example of things going exactly according to plan. Oliver burst through the line of scrimmages as the three-technique defensive tackle, while Addison set the edge and finished off the play.

However, the team’s breakdowns in run defense have been impossible to ignore, notably Jonathan Taylor's 185 yards and four rushing touchdowns for the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots' 222 yards on 46 carries in a game in which they attempted only three passes.

The Bills' 42 runs of 10 or more yards allowed represent 13% of the opposition's total running plays, according to Sharp Football. The percentage ranks seventh worst in the league.

“We were able to effectively take that away in that situation (against New Orleans). You have that piece, and then you have the explosive runs that obviously we're trying to eliminate as an entire defense,” Washington said.

“I can't say enough about what we've done in terms of penetrating and setting edges and creating negative plays in the run game. We just have to make sure that we stay out of wrong types of extremes. We can't be extremely good, and then turn around and be extremely in the other way. We're working to address that. That's been minimal in terms of when that’s happened, but it's been highly visible.”

When the Bills run: Quarterback Josh Allen is also the Bills’ best running back. Allen became just the fourth player to throw for at least 300 yards and rush for at least 100 yards last week when he threw for 308 and rushed for 109, accounting for three total touchdowns against Tampa Bay (Carolina’s Cam Newton, Seattle’s Russell Wilson and Baltimore's Lamar Jackson are the others). The question of how much Allen will be able to do on the ground despite a sprained foot looms over this game. Carolina ranks 20th in the NFL against the run, allowing 115.3 yards per game. Devin Singletary has 112 carries for 547 yards this season, which makes him the Bills’ first running back since Travis Henry from 2001-03 to gain at least 500 yards in each of his first three seasons. EDGE: Even.

When the Bills pass: The NFC has seen enough of Allen. Since the beginning of the 2020 season, the Bills’ quarterback is averaging 330.1 yards passing per game against NFC opponents, which leads the NFL. Allen also leads the NFL over that same time frame with 3.3 passing touchdowns per game against NFC opponents and is second with a passer rating of 115.4. Allen might not find it quite as easy to throw this week, though, given that the Panthers enter the game leading the NFL in passing yards allowed per game, at just 177.7. Bills receiver Stefon Diggs needs just two catches to reach 80 for the season. When he gets there, Diggs will join Eric Moulds as the only receivers in franchise history with back-to-back seasons of 80-plus catches. EDGE: Bills.

When the Panthers run: Carolina’s best player, running back Christian McCaffrey, has played just 10 games since signing a four-year contract extension worth up to $64 million before last season. He’s out for the season because of an ankle injury. Carolina was 4-3 with McCaffrey in the lineup and just 1-5 since he got hurt. In his absence, rookie Chuba Hubbard has taken over as the lead back. Hubbard had his fourth rushing touchdown of the season last week and is one of just three rookie running backs with at least 450 rushing yards and 150 receiving yards. EDGE: Bills.

When the Panthers pass: As the old saying goes, when you have two quarterbacks, you really don’t have any. That’s the spot Carolina is in, as Cam Newton and P.J. Walker are expected to get time against the Bills. Newton’s return to Carolina was a nice story, but he’s 0-3 this season as a starter and has overall lost 11 straight with Carolina. He’s turned the ball over four times in the last two games. Newton and Walker will have to watch out for Bills safety Jordan Poyer. According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Poyer has allowed a passer rating of 24.8 when targeted this season, which is the lowest in the NFL among all players targeted at least 20 times. Overall, the Bills’ defense has limited opposing quarterbacks to a rating of 67.7 this season. EDGE: Bills.

Special teams: The Bills have a big statistical advantage in kickoffs, as Carolina averages 27.7 yards allowed per return, which ranks 31st, while the Bills’ average of 24.7 yards per return is fifth. A strong return game has helped the Bills to an average drive start of their own 32.2-yard line, which is second in the NFL behind only the Patriots (32.6). Panthers punt returner Alex Erickson averages 8.3 yard per attempt, which is tied for 10th. EDGE: Bills.

Coaching: Panthers head coach Matt Rhule made an abrupt change at offensive coordinator during Carolina’s bye in Week 13, firing offensive coordinator Joe Brady and replacing him with senior offensive assistant Jeff Nixon. Could Rhule, who coached the defensive line at the University at Buffalo from 1999-2000, be next? Three consecutive losses and two wins in the past 10 games has Rhule on the hot seat. The Panthers haven’t shown much improvement, and a disastrous final month just might prompt a change. Bills coach Sean McDermott, on the other hand, will have to build on a strong second half against Tampa Bay in hopes of rescuing a season that started with such promise. EDGE: Bills.

Prediction: Bills 31, Panthers 13

Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who sprained his left foot in last Sunday's game, is expected to start this week against the Carolina Panthers. He was a full participant in Friday’s practice and was not listed with an injury status for the game.

Left tackle Dion Dawkins has tested positive for Covid-19, putting his status up in the air for Sunday. Dawkins, who was hospitalized with Covid last summer, could potentially play based off updated protocols from the NFL. Because he is vaccinated, if he tests negative and is asymptomatic, he could be in the lineup.

For Allen, coach Sean McDermott said a big factor was what the medical team has seen. Allen was limited in Wednesday’s walkthrough and Thursday’s practice.

“I'll start with what the medical team has shared with me and that's that they're comfortable with where he's at and he continues to trend in the right direction,” McDermott said Friday. “And then what I've seen through my own eyes at practice, just yesterday (Thursday), he seems to be again, able to execute the job description that goes along with the quarterback position.”

Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (knee) was listed as doubtful on the injury report. McDermott said earlier Friday during a radio appearance on WGR550 that Sanders would not play, but Sanders was upgraded to doubtful. He did not practice this week.

Defensive tackle Star Lotulelei (toe), running back Taiwan Jones (knee), and defensive end A.J. Epenesa (ankle) are listed as questionable. Epenesa’s injury was new on Friday, and he was listed as a limited participant in practice. Lotulelei did not play against Tampa Bay due to the toe injury.

Defensive end Jerry Hughes (foot) was a full participant in practice, as was tight end Tommy Sweeney (hip). Both were limited Wednesday and Thursday.

The Bills had virtual meetings on Friday as a precaution, as teams around the league has seen a drastic increase in positive Covid tests. McDermott said they even considered not practicing. Linebacker Tyrel Dodson was also placed on the Reserve/Covid list Monday. Dodson tweeted that he was asymptomatic.

“I know a lot of people my age, don’t believe into the severity of Covid,” Dodson tweeted Thursday. “But it’s real, I know we’ve kind of shied away from the seriousness of it as a society but continue to keep others in mind. I am vaccinated (and) still got it. Just keep other in mind.”

McDermott said Dawkins’ summer bout with Covid was at the front of his mind when he heard that the left tackle tested positive for Covid again.

“That's the first thing, the first place your mind goes to, right? How this person will handle it,” McDermott said. “In this case, he's had it before and certainly had some challenges there. So, we're going to do all we can to support him and make sure that, No. 1, he is as healthy as possible, or can get as healthy as possible, as soon as possible.”

Welcome to this week’s Bills Mailbag. Since Festivus is right around the corner, it’s only right that we start with the airing of grievances. Not surprisingly, a lot of you have many of those when it comes to NFL officiating. That’s understandable after last week’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and it’s a good place to start …

Chuck Zernentsch asks: I guess in today's NFL, you can grab, mug, interfere with a receiver, but all is forgiven if you turn to look at the ball. Clearly, Stefon Diggs was interfered with in the end zone, but no call, as that might have decided the game. When we have some contact, it's interference. Not saying we didn't interfere, just that the enforcement was clearly not consistent. Is the NFL deliberately, perhaps unconsciously, influencing games?

Gerald Volpe asks: Never been one to complain about the officials. It all kind of evens out. That being said, at what point does the NFL step in and put a stop to this referee/Tom Brady love affair? Two weeks ago was bad with the Patriots and Bill Belichick. Sunday was worse.

Gary Gates asks: Now, don't get me wrong and I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but do you think the officiating in the Tampa game was a little one-sided? … It seems like Tom Brady and company got a lot of calls their way. Buffalo being a small-market town wouldn't draw the attention or viewership of a Super Bowl like Tampa Bay and New England – Brady vs. Belichick. Am I crazy? Your thoughts?

Jay: As I tweeted after the game, I rarely blame officials, because I believe there are plays that happen after bad calls are made that can change the outcome of a game. In this case, however, the Bills have a right to be furious. Diggs was interfered with; multiple officials had eyes on it; and no flags came out. It was a game-altering play. If the Bucs are penalized, the Bills have first-and-goal at the 1-yard line and very likely win the game. As referenced above, it did not seem like the calls went both ways, which adds to the feeling of the Bills being cheated.

Shoutout to John Kryk of the Toronto Sun for digging up this wild fact this season: The Bills have been flagged for defensive holding 14 times this season, while that call has gone against a defensive player playing against the Bills just twice (interestingly enough, both calls have been against Miami cornerback Xavien Howard – one in each of the games against the Dolphins).

Al asks: Conspiracy? I know the coaches’ take – we can’t control the penalties (not) called. What is nice is that finally it’s being mentioned in the media and by commentators doing the game. What is your take on the lack of penalties not being called?

Jay: My take is with the amount of attention this issue has received this week in Buffalo, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the Bills benefit from at least a couple of questionable calls this weekend against Carolina. To answer the first part of the question, though, no, I don’t believe there is some sort of grand conspiracy at work against the Bills. The league just has an issue with poor officiating. It could take a step toward fixing that issue by making all officials full-time employees, but it so far has refused.

Paul Basinski asks: Why not sit Josh Allen on Sunday against the Panthers? He played his heart out last week, lost in spite of it, and is dinged up, as well. Better to let Mitchell Trubisky start against a Carolina team that he can probably beat and rest Allen for the big rematch against the Patriots in two weeks?

Jay: Because the Bills can’t afford another loss, and playing without Allen, brings that into the equation. If the Bills had nine or 10 wins, I’d entertain the idea. They don’t. They very well might need to win every game the rest of the way just to get into the playoffs, because their conference record (5-5) is not strong. Allen, of course, gives them the best chance to win. If the medical staff determines he’s healthy enough to get on the field, that’s exactly where he needs to be Sunday.

Bills QB Josh Allen expected to start; tackle Dion Dawkins tests positive for Covid

“I'll start with what the medical team has shared with me and that's that they're comfortable with where he's at and he continues to trend in the right direction,” coach Sean McDermott said Friday about Allen.

Jim asks: Do you think it should have been four-down territory when the Bills were at the 2-yard line with less than 2 minutes to go? Tom Brady's record is 35-4 against the Bills!

Jay: Let’s correct a few things here. No. 1, Brady is now 33-3 against the Bills. Still pretty good. No. 2, the Bills had a fourth-and-2 from the Bucs’ 7-yard line, with 25 seconds and no timeouts remaining. According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats Decision Guide, Sean McDermott made the right decision to kick the tying field goal. Here is the official explanation, from nfl.com: “The NGS Decision Guide strongly agreed with McDermott's decision to kick a field goal, favoring it by 3.4 percentage points in expected win-probability value. The Bills had a 53.6% chance of picking up the first down if they went for it, but a failed conversion would have ended the game in a Buffalo loss. Plus, even if the Bills had successfully converted, they were out of timeouts, meaning Josh Allen and Co. would have needed to rush to spike the ball and stop the clock, assuming they didn't score on the play. The upside of going for it was limited, given that the Bills would still only have a 73% win probability if the offense gained the necessary yards to gain without scoring, while the downside was a guaranteed loss.”

That’s what the numbers say. The gut feeling here is that McDermott also made the right call. It’s possible the fourth-down failure in Tennessee was on his mind. It’s also true the Bills have generally struggled in short-yardage situations, so running the ball was likely not an attractive option. McDermott also had to feel pretty good about the way his offense was moving the ball and the way his defense was playing in the second half, so extending the game, in my mind, was a defensible position for him to take.

Alan Camhi asks: The debate rages on about a new stadium, but one issue never seems to come up, but is vital to any argument that this region's identity is tied to the Bills: naming rights. If, as is universally acknowledged, we taxpayers will be paying for the lion's share of the cost, then why do the Pegulas retain naming rights – as well as being able to pocket the money from the sale of these? Does it really enhance this region's identity on a national broadcast when the venue is named after some obscure corporate entity? The people who pay for the stadium should have the final say. My proposal, hardly original: return to naming it after the team's original owner, with one small addition. … What seals the deal for me is what his foundation, under the direction of his widow, has done to transform the cultural and recreational landscape of this region with unparalleled generosity, most recently the gift of $100 million in grants. So, going forward, how about the Ralph and Mary Wilson Stadium?

Jay: It’s a nice thought on your part, Alan, and you won’t get any disagreement from me, given the generosity of the Wilson foundation. Truthfully, though, most have been preoccupied on where – and how – a stadium will get built. If those questions are answered, then it will be time to turn our attention to the name. We’ll have to see the breakdown of public-private money, but the Pegulas will most likely retain naming rights, which will then most likely be sold to the highest bidder. I’d say it’s unlikely the stadium will be named after the Wilson family, but your heart is in the right place with the idea.

David Strack asks: We agree on the debacle that is the offensive line. What makes this an even larger failure is the trade of All-Pro Wyatt Teller for a ham sandwich to the Browns. How can he justify that?

Paul in Glendale, Ariz. asks: It appears the weakest part of the Bills' roster is the offensive line. Why did we get rid of Wyatt Teller? He's been one of the best guards in the AFC, and would really help our line right now.

Jay: We’ve covered the Teller trade several times in the mailbag, so I’ll make this quick. The Bills traded up in the second round to draft Cody Ford in 2019, the year after Teller’s rookie season (it should be noted Ford was drafted as a tackle – not a guard). The team also signed Mitch Morse, Quinton Spain, Spencer Long and Jon Feliciano in free agency that offseason, so Teller slid down the depth chart. Because of those additions, Teller wasn’t going to make the 53-man roster. Getting something for him in a trade at the time looked like the right move. Hindsight being what it is, it was an obvious mistake, although it shouldn’t be pinned solely on General Manager Brandon Beane. The offensive coaching staff has to take some responsibility for not seeing Teller's potential. Let’s also not discount the possibility that the player simply improved after leaving the Bills, too. Perhaps being traded was the spark he needed to ignite his career. No matter what happened, it’s tough for the Bills seeing what he’s become.

Mark from Depew asks: What are your thoughts on trying a more straight-ahead, power runner – Antonio Williams – to try to get the running game going? As of now, the running backs we are using aren’t getting the job done.

Norm Hummel asks: With the Bills’ run game totally ineffective, why, why, why, won’t they give Antonio Williams a shot? Can it be any worse?

Jay: It’s not a bad idea. The issue is, the Bills have needed players at other positions. For example, last week against the Bucs, the team promoted linebacker Joe Giles-Harris and defensive tackles Brandin Bryant and Eli Ankou from the practice squad. Giles-Harris was called up in part because A.J. Klein was on the reserve/Covid-19 list, while Bryant and Ankou came up because Star Lotulelei was out with a toe injury. That didn’t leave room for Williams.

Jeff Miller asks: What makes a good returner? Obviously catching the ball every time without fumbling, but what do the coaches look for in a player, even going back to training camp, in deciding on that player? Let’s turn the Panthers into toothless cubs.

Jay: As you mentioned, Jeff, ball security is McDermott’s No. 1 priority. After that, speed and vision are huge factors. A good returner has to have an ability to correctly read blocks to see where the open space is going to be, and then needs the speed to hit that hole and outrun defenders. The shiftiness to make the first tackler miss in the open field is also a must.

Tim Rzeznik asks: I may be too optimistic and definitely showing my age, but this season has a feeling just like the 1989 season. The Bills had just come off playing in the AFC championship and were a chic pick of the pundits. They were known as the "Bickering Bills" but most of that was a result of the inconsistencies they displayed, particularly along the O-line. The Tampa game had a feel like the playoff game versus the Browns. What came of it was the birth of the no-huddle offense and a renewed sense of purpose by the players that they understood, play all in or go home. Am I foolish, or are there games or game situations that "open" the players to respecting the necessary preparation and effort that it takes to win in the NFL?

Jay: I wouldn’t call you foolish at all. It’s hard to shake the feeling the Bills thought they could show up this season and waltz into the playoffs. For all the talk about how the NFL is a “one week at a time” league, the Bills still lost to the Jaguars. Given what was expected of this team this season and seeing what has happened in Jacksonville since, that’s on a very short list of the worst regular-season losses in franchise history. A game like that doesn’t happen unless there is a part of the Bills that thought simply showing up that week would be enough. The Bills have said all the right things about preparing the right way this season, but that result gave me serious pause.

Jack Meara asks: Bills got fat after last year. Paid everyone to stay – no hunger. Can we beat Kansas City? Obviously, yes. Can we beat anyone else elite in the AFC? No. If we miss the playoffs in a 17-game schedule with the same personnel, heads need to roll! No settling for almost. Our payroll and staffing dictate otherwise!

Jay: Let’s pump the brakes a bit. Yes, missing the playoffs would be a huge setback, but the Pegulas recently signed McDermott and Beane to contract extensions. The last thing the Bills’ owners need to do is pay another coach and general manager not to work for them. The Bills have their franchise quarterback in place. They’ve had a bizarre statistical season, and it’s true, put themselves in real danger of missing the playoffs. While that would be a massive disappointment, it would not erase the good McDermott and Beane have done since coming to Buffalo. They have more than earned next season to get things going in the right direction.

Herb asks: Matt Haack seems to be getting his punts off faster recently. Are there stats available on time to punt? Might his style have changed due to the wind against New England?

Jay: There are no stats that I’ve been able to find for time to punt, which is somewhat surprising given that there are no shortage of analytics sites that track all sorts of statistics. I checked after Haack had his punt against the Steelers blocked in the season opener. It definitely feels like it takes him a long time to get punts off, so it’s possible Haack has made changes in his mechanics to speed up the process.

Glenn Gaviller asks: Why are the Mannings yapping during my football games? They have 165 other hours in the week to talk nonsense. They are like the drunk guy you watch the games with who won’t shut up during plays. Can ESPN simulcast the actual game on one of their several other stations for fans tuning in to watch actual football?

Jay: Well, we’ve found our Scrooge for the week. Glenn, the “regular” broadcast is on ESPN. The Manning Cast is on ESPN2. Just flip the channel.

Thank you, as always, for the questions. They can be submitted via email to jskurski@buffnews.com or via Twitter, @JaySkurski. Merry Christmas to all!

Here is how News sports writers see Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers at Highmark Stadium. The Bills are a 10.5-point favorite.

Jay Skurski: Josh Allen’s injury status, of course, looms over this prediction. We’ll go into making it operating under the assumption Allen will play. The signs have been positive in that regard early in the practice week. If he does, the Buffalo Bills should feel good about their chances, even though the Panthers have a low-key solid defense, including a secondary that ranks No. 1 in passing yards allowed per game. As Dion Dawkins said this week, “The time is now.” The Bills can’t afford another loss, especially against an inferior opponent. It's hard to see that happening. The No. 1 goal for the Buffalo defense is to take away the football – something Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has shown a willingness to do recently. If that happens and the Bills' offense can jump out to an early lead, that will take some of the pressure off in what is – like the remainder of the games – a must win. Bills, 31-13.

Katherine Fitzgerald: How effective the Bills are will depend on how much Allen is limited with his foot injury, but I think they can handle the Panthers. Regardless of Allen’s situation, the Bills need to use Sunday to start solving their run game in a meaningful way, and in a way that gets more out of the running backs. It’s critical for the long term, but also in facing a Carolina team whose strength is pass defense. The Panthers are allowing just 177.7 passing yards per game, best in the league, and are strong against chunk plays. It hasn’t been enough to carry the team. Carolina has lost eight of the last 10. The Panthers' offense has been depleted by injuries. The Bills can capitalize, giving Buffalo a win in the quasi-reunion game. Bills, 30-17.

Mark Gaughan. The big mismatch of this game should be the Bills’ defense vs. the Carolina offense. Carolina’s offensive line is a weakness. The Bills should win the line of scrimmage when its defense is on the field. Plus, the Panthers don’t have their best weapon, all-purpose threat Christian McCaffrey. The worst-case scenario for the Bills is to get into a lot of third-and-long situations and let Carolina's speed rushers pin their ears back. Giveaways will fuel Carolina's upset hopes. I like Zack Moss to be active this week. The Bills should try to play a little more physical against the Panthers’ speed rushers. If that means ending a few drives with punts, so be it. The Bills’ defense should give the offense the luxury of some early failures. Like it or not, the Bills are going to need the run game to carry a little bit of the load down the stretch. You don’t want to be utterly one dimensional in New England next week. Bills break it open in the second half. Bills, 27-13.

Jason Wolf. The Bills have lost two consecutive games for the first time this season, while the Panthers have dropped three straight and eight of their last 10. While Carolina hasn't been eliminated from the NFC playoff race, its postseason hopes are on life support. The Bills, meanwhile, still have a chance to win the AFC East and host a playoff game. But it may require running the table. Carolina's pass defense ranks second in the NFL behind only the Bills, which could make for an interesting challenge, should Buffalo choose to sit Josh Allen, who has a sprained foot, in favor of backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. The Panthers' run defense, however, is middling. This could present an opportunity for the Bills to take pressure off their quarterback by making the much-maligned running game a priority. Bills, 24-17.

Rachel Lenzi: To make the playoffs, the Bills must treat the final four games of the regular season like the playoffs. In a four-game playoff chase, it’s the old cliché of one game at a time. But against the Panthers, the rushing offense can’t come down to Josh Allen, who has been hobbled by a left foot sprain – unless the Bills choose to sit Allen and turn to Mitchell Trubisky, another important decision that could impact the Bills’ playoff chase. The Panthers are in the midst of a quarterbacking crisis of sorts. Sam Darnold is on the shelf with a shoulder injury and Cam Newton hasn’t shown much tangible proof that he can retake the reins of a team that’s fumbling towards disarray. This is where the Bills need to pounce on the Panthers. Bills, 30-17.

Here is how the AFC playoff picture looks after Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers:

1. Kansas City 10-4

Week 15: Beat Chargers 34-28.

Remaining: vs. Steelers, at Bengals, at Broncos.

2. New England 9-5

Week 15: Lost at Colts 27-17.

Remaining: vs. Bills, vs. Jaguars, at Dolphins.

3. Tennessee 9-5

Week 15: Lost at Steelers 19-14.

Remaining: vs. 49ers, vs. Dolphins, at Texans.

4. Cincinnati 8-6

Week 15: Beat Broncos, 15-10.

Remaining: vs. Ravens, vs. Chiefs, at Browns.

5. Indianapolis 8-6

Week 15: Beat Patriots 27-17.

Remaining: at Cardinals, vs. Raiders, at Jaguars.

6. Los Angeles Chargers 8-6

Week 15: Lost to Chiefs 34-28.

Remaining: at Texans, vs. Broncos, at Raiders.

7. Bills 8-6

Week 15: Beat Panthers 31-14.

Remaining: at Patriots, vs. Falcons, vs. Jets.

In contention

8. Baltimore 8-6

Week 15: Lost to Packers 31-30.

Remaining: at Bengals, vs. Rams, vs. Steelers.

9. Pittsburgh 7-6-1

Week 15: Beat Titans 19-14.

Remaining: at Chiefs, vs. Browns, at Ravens.

10. Las Vegas 7-7

Week 15: Beat Browns 16-14.

Remaining: vs. Broncos, at Colts, vs. Chargers.

11. Miami 7-7

Week 15: Beat Jets 31-24

Remaining: at Saints, at Titans, Patriots 

12. Cleveland 7-7

Week 15: lost to Raiders 16-14

Remaining: at Packers, at Steelers, vs. Bengals.

13. Denver 7-7

Week 15: Lost to Bengals 15-10.

Remaining: at Raiders, at Chargers, vs. Chiefs.

Good communication again will be critical for the Buffalo Bills’ offensive line Sunday against the exceptionally fast Carolina Panthers’ defense.

Carolina has two of the fastest edge rushers in the NFL in Haason Reddick and Brian Burns. Reddick runs the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds, Burns in 4.53. That’s wide receiver speed.

The Panthers rank fourth in the NFL in sacks per pass attempt. When they get offenses in third-and-long situations, they will “spin the dial” late, creating a lot of false pressure looks, moving guys in and out of rush lanes.

What exactly does the center communicate at the line of scrimmage? The Bills’ Mitch Morse and former Bills center Eric Wood offered some insight this week.

Every play has a blocking scheme or a pass protection built into the call. If it’s a pass play and the Bills need to switch the protection call, the Bills have quarterback Josh Allen call the change. That’s the way New England always did it with Tom Brady, and Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was trained in the New England system.

Bills' Gabriel Davis thanks Josh Allen for trusting him, expects big boost in playing time

When the linemen get to the line of scrimmage, most of the time the center is saying something to the guards next to him, even if it’s just confirming the call.

“Absolutely, you say something most plays,” Morse said. “What’s being said is dependent on the play, the situation you’re in. One of the old sayings is, ‘No secrets need to be kept on the field.’ You’d rather the guy across from you know what you’re doing and all five of your guys knowing than have four of your guys know and one of your guys not knowing. You’d rather have everyone on the same page.”

“Even though we should all know the play call, I’m confirming, hey we’re going to slide in this direction,” Wood said. “The reason you double-confirm it is when you have the most valuable asset in your organization at quarterback, you want to make sure we’re all on the same page.”

Obviously, the defensive linemen and linebackers line up in different spots on a lot of plays. This requires communication by the center.

“So when the center comes up, often times there’s this process of identifying the Mike linebacker,” Wood said. “The Mike linebacker generally is the middle linebacker, but it doesn’t always have to be. Then, some offenses use a count system off of that. The Mike linebacker is zero, then the next guy at the linebacker or secondary level might be one and so on. ... You’re identifying the Mike linebacker, and then who we’re going to go to on that particular play, and each individual person’s blocking assignment is generally based off of that.

The line is recognizing whether the defense has more players on one side of the formation or the other.

“For a run play,” Wood said, “a lot of times what a center is talking is A: who we’re going to block on the play; and B: what the combinations are going to be. So, do I need a little bit of help from my guard before he makes his way to the linebacker on this play? Or, can I get him one on one, and now you go help the tackle?”

If the line is facing a great player like the Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ behemoth Vita Vea, and that guy lines up over Morse’s shoulder, then the center might signal to his guard he needs a little more help. But the center probably only needs to say a word to his guard to signal that kind of help.

“I’ve clocked in hours with Ike during the week, for instance,” Morse said, referring to video studying with Ike Boettger. “Maybe Ike and my verbiage on the line might not be expansive. Maybe it’s just one word or two words, understanding each other, because we’ve put time on task together. That just locks us in. We’re on the same page. It’s not anything lengthy, especially with guys you’ve played with.

“You shape a whole game plan, run and pass, around a player as generational as Aaron Donald. You have a game plan, run or pass, vs. him. You got guys like Aaron Donald, Vita Vea, you have to account for them. They’re just that disruptive in the run and the pass.”

'If I can go, I'm going to go': Bills QB Josh Allen optimistic on foot injury

“He's working through it, he's a tough guy,” coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday. 

Against Donald, the offensive line probably is going to slide in his direction a lot of the time in pass protection. That doesn’t mean all five guys slide in his direction. NFL teams rarely do that, because that would leave a running back to block a defensive end. It almost always means a half-slide in his direction. A lot of teams refer to that as a “jet” call. Three guys slide Donald’s way to pick up Donald and the defensive end, as well as the linebacker on that side (if he blitzes). Or maybe the running back is responsible for that linebacker. That leaves two offensive linemen to block man-to-man against the two defensive linemen on the other side in a five-man protection.

“The most popular protection, for terminology, is jet protection, which would be a half-slide protection, and it might be an R or an L word,” Wood said, referring to a three-man slide right or left. “This side of the line is man – they’re one on one. This side of the line is going to block the three most dangerous.”

During Wood’s Bills career, he was responsible for changes in protection calls, not the quarterback. But many veteran quarterbacks now take charge of the protection.

“On my first three teams in the league, including the Bills, the center was in charge of all the protections,” said Ross Tucker, who played for the Bills in 2003 and 2004 before going to New England. “When I went to New England, they were the first team where the quarterback handled all that, which was unusual to me. But now it’s become a lot more standard. The quarterback was in charge because they’re standing up, so they can see things a little better. No. 2, the quarterback needs to know who’s getting blocked and who’s not, anyway, if it’s a pass, and the quarterback can get you into a better run play if needed. Brady is phenomenal at that.”

Eat light. Burns and Reddick split their time almost equally on either side of the line. So Bills tackles Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown will have to be ready for both. Dawkins was asked about preparing for their speed.

“Just watch what I'm eating in the week, honestly, truly,” Dawkins said. “Like if certain days I want to just enjoy a nice heavier meal, I'll just skip it, and I'll just wait until that following week. So in my mind, I'm mentally saying, well, I should be a little bit lighter and I should be moving just a little bit quicker. So salad over steak for this week. Salad over steak.”

How we see it: Will Bills beat the Panthers in Week 15?

How do The News' sports writers see Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers at Highmark Stadium?

The 30,000-foot view. The Panthers still have to solve their quarterback problem. Owner David Tepper has been rumored to covet Houston’s Deshaun Watson, but the Panthers are short on draft capital if they want to get into the bidding for the sidelined QB. In the 2022 draft, they have no second- or third-round picks. Their second-rounder went to the Jets in the deal for Sam Darnold. Their third-rounder went to the Jaguars for cornerback C.J. Henderson. They may have to include a young star to try to outbid others for Watson. Darnold has underwhelmed this year. He’s 4-5 with seven TD passes, 11 interceptions and a lowly 35.4 passer rating. Darnold is virtually guaranteed to be on the Panthers’ roster next season, because his salary for 2022 is a fully guaranteed $18.8 million. There’s no benefit to releasing him.

Sixth-round pick. The Bills are due to get Carolina’s sixth-round pick in 2022 as a result of the August deal that sent defensive end Darryl Johnson to the Panthers. Johnson has appeared in only two games for Carolina and has seen only 10 snaps on defense. He was on injured reserve for six weeks.

TAMPA, Fla. – Buffalo Bills fans wanting to see more of Gabriel Davis got their wish Sunday.

The second-year receiver played 65 offensive snaps during a 33-27 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium – 83% of the offensive total. In both total snaps and percentage, that represents Davis’ most extensive playing time of the season.

Davis came through with a pair of big plays late in the Bills’ comeback, including a 4-yard touchdown reception that cut Tampa Bay’s lead to 27-24 with 4:54 remaining and a fourth-and-4 conversion on the tying drive. Davis was short of the first-down marker when he caught the ball, but managed to fight his way past the sticks.

Here are four more observations from the Bills’ loss to Tampa Bay in Week 14:

1. Jon Feliciano was limited to work on special teams. The veteran guard, who returned after spending five weeks on injured reserve because of a strained calf, played just four snaps on special teams – the team’s three extra points and one field goal.

2. Greg Rousseau’s playing time is trending down. Since playing 59.4% of the defensive snaps against Indianapolis in Week 11, the Bills have started to scale back their rookie defensive end’s snap percentage. Rousseau has gone from 59.4% to 56.1%, 45.1% and against the Bucs, 39.8%, which worked out to 33 defensive snaps. He finished without a tackle.

3. Dane Jackson went the whole way. The second-year cornerback played all 83 defensive snaps. He led the team with a pair of passes defensed. Jackson was one of seven Bills to play 100% of the defensive snaps. He was joined by Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Taron Johnson, Levi Wallace, Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds.

4. Isaiah McKenzie returned with a limited role. After being inactive in each of the past two games, McKenzie played 11 offensive snaps. He caught his only target for a 5-yard gain.

Quote of the game

“I think we had a good talk at halftime. Guys responded well. I know the score is what the score was. But I’m proud of our team and how we fought in that second half and that's who we are. That's the team I've grown to love and to know, really. Guys that are just resilient guys that want to fight for each other. And again, it is what it is. The score is what the score was. But to come out and play that way, I'm proud of our team of how we did it. So we wish the end result was different, but I'm super, super proud of our guys.” – Quarterback Josh Allen

Game ball: Josh Allen

It was in many ways a legendary performance by Allen, who strapped the team to his back and carried it to the doorstep of becoming one of the best comebacks in franchise history. In the end, the Bills fell just short, but the team’s players and fans seem to have an even greater appreciation for the performance, leadership and guts their quarterback plays with.

Stat of the game: 2-13, 15.4%

That’s the Bills’ successful conversion rate on third downs, an absolutely atrocious number that shows how difficult it was for the offense to remain on the field at times. Contrast that with the Bucs going 8 of 16 on third down, and that’s a massive swing.

Coming attractions

It’s reunion week, as Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott lead several former members of the Carolina Panthers up against their former organization. Carolina visits Highmark Stadium at 1 p.m. Sunday. Here are three things to know about the Panthers …

1. Old friend Cam Newton is back. After being released by the Patriots at the end of training camp, Newton was out of football for a time. The former league MVP reunited with the Panthers, however, after Sam Darnold suffered a shoulder injury. The reunion has not gone great. Newton has been benched in each of the past two games, including Sunday when he went 15 of 23 for 178 yards and threw a pick-six in a 29-21 loss to the Falcons. He also added 47 rushing yards and a touchdown. Coach Matt Rhule said Monday that Newton and P.J. Walker will both continue to play. 

2. Their hot start is long gone. The Panthers were one of the early season surprises in the NFL, racing out to a 3-0 start. Things have come off the rails since then, though, as Carolina will come to Buffalo having lost eight of its past 10 games. “Man, it’s hard to put a finger on it. There are so many things that we let slip through the cracks as a team – not just as an offense or defense or special teams – as a complete team,” left tackle Cam Erving told reporters after Sunday’s loss.

3. The offensive line has been a revolving door. Carolina started its ninth combination up front against Atlanta on Sunday, as rookie Brady Christensen and Dennis Daley stepped in for injured guards John Miller and Michael Jordan. Right tackle Taylor Moton is the only consistent player on Carolina’s offensive line.

Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule has a clear memory of the first time he saw Tyler Matakevich play. Rhule was on the coaching staff at Temple University at the time, and on the recruiting trail. 

“I went up to Milford Academy in Upstate New York and they put me in a back room,” Rhule told Buffalo media Thursday. “I was sitting by myself with a bunch of DVDs. I was watching this kid from Connecticut play linebacker. I said, ‘He’s a pretty good player.’

“I went out and they had like a three-hour practice in the mud, and I watched him play all day, make play after play, love playing. I remember calling Steve Addazio and saying, ‘Coach, you’re just going to have to trust me on it. There’s this undersized linebacker at Milford Academy who’s someone we should offer.’ “

A linebacker and special teams ace, Matakevich is a captain for the first time with the Bills this year. Nearly 10 years after committing to Temple, Matakevich will now face his former coach this Sunday when the Bills host the Panthers.

Buffalo News: Matt Rhule told us about the first time he saw you play. What do you remember of that day?

TM: Oh, yeah, We were up in in New Berlin, New York. I was at Milford Academy. And there, at the end of the year, they do like a little combine. They do all the drills and stuff, and they have a scrimmage. And, shoot, there'd be like 75 coaches there. (Division I), (Division II) and stuff, and Coach Rhule was there.

We were doing Oklahoma drills – I mean, you can’t do Oklahoma drills anymore, but back in the day, we could. We did Oklahoma and (I) made a big hit. And I think that sort explained itself. So we were definitely excited. And he brought me in when he was there after that. I mean, I was definitely bummed though, because it's crazy. He found me when I was at Milford, and then when I actually got to Temple, he went to the Giants for a year. Then, the following year, he came back to take the head (coach) job. So it was like crazy emotions – excited, then sad, then excited again.

BN: How hard was that scrimmage, with three hours in the mud?

TM: Oh my gosh, yeah – it's so nuts. Especially because you're 17, 18 years old, you know what I mean? And you had all the college coaches there, definitely all different types of emotions. You're anxious, you’re excited. You might be nervous a little bit. But it's funny, I tell everybody, it's one of the best decisions I ever made, going to prep school. Maybe at the time, you don't think that, but looking back, it definitely is, and definitely grateful for that experience.

BN: I feel like since there's just so many connections between the Carolina Panthers and the Buffalo Bills, some of these Temple connections are almost a bit relatively under the radar this week. What will it be like to see Matt Rhule this weekend?

TM: Oh, gosh, I'm so excited. It’s funny, I remember right when I first signed out here to Buffalo, I'll never forget, I was working out with Dion (Dawkins). And we called, we were FaceTiming Coach Rhule. And just seeing him, and he's in Carolina Panthers gear and stuff. (Dion and I) were just working out together still. Shoot, what was it, five, six years since Temple, you know? It's just funny how those relationships never change. You just pick up right where you left off. But I'm definitely excited to see all those guys, because I know there's at least like seven guys on the roster, and then there's a bunch more coaches and stuff like that. So I definitely can’t wait.

BN: Now that you’re a team captain with the Bills, is there anything you’ve learned about yourself while taking on that role?

TM: Oh, absolutely. I think every single day, I'm sort of learning something new, not only about myself, but just about the game of football. We hang out all the time around here, around the facility, a bunch of guys, and just talking about whether it's just ball or just life, and all the things going on in today's day. It's sort of special – you’ve got that bond, you’ve got that relationship with guys where you feel comfortable enough to really talk about anything. And it just makes work that much more fun. You enjoy it a lot more just being around all these guys.

BN: Your pregame ritual is cleaning your house. Why do you do that?

TM: Oh my gosh. Honestly, I have no idea. I think it's just I feel so anxious. Right before game day, I’m definitely anxious, nervous a little bit, so I gotta do something. And I just always find myself straightening up the house and stuff. So after a successful day at the office, I can just come home and relax.

BN: I’m sure with your pets, too, it’s a constant thing?

TM: Oh yeah. Our floors – I hate cleaning the floors, because every time the dogs go out, gotta wipe their paws. … I just can't wait for it to be really cold – I know people are gonna hate me for this, but once it gets really cold and frozen, their paws aren’t a mess.

BN: What are your dogs like?

TM: I have an Irish settler-lab mix. Her name's Bailey. She’s about to be five this month. I got her when she was like eight weeks old. And then I’ve got another guy, Cash. He’s part husky, slash part Malamute. He’s really a mutt, he’s got a lot. He’s three right now. … They’re comical now. They’re always laying together.

Cash won’t go outside unless Bailey goes out with her. … I rescued both of them through an organization called Show Your Soft Side. So I always love talking about that, just because it just helps bring awareness to abused dogs and rescued dogs and cats – to all animals. Just really helping out to bring more awareness to rescuing animals rather than maybe possibly getting a breed.

Quarterback Josh Allen again was limited in practice Thursday with a foot injury.

He was limited in Wednesday’s walkthrough, as well. Still, his teammates thought he continued to improve as the team prepared for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers at Highmark Stadium. 

“He looked good,” wide receiver Gabriel Davis said.

“Yeah, good. Josh has been doing everything to get his self right and every day he’s getting better,” left tackle Dion Dawkins added. “Josh is handling his situation pretty well.”

Allen suffered a foot sprain late in Sunday's overtime loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and left the stadium in a walking boot on his left foot. 

In addition to Allen, defensive end Jerry Hughes (foot), defensive tackle Star Lotulelei (toe) and tight end Tommy Sweeney (hip) were limited Thursday.

Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (knee) and running back Taiwan Jones (knee) did not practice for the second consecutive day.

For the Panthers, quarterback Matt Barkley (illness) and cornerback A.J. Bouye (foot) did not practice Thursday. Barkley, who spent two and a half seasons with the Bills, was a new addition to the report.

Wide receiver D.J. Moore (hamstring) and guard Michael Jordan (hamstring) were limited in practice. Guard John Miller (ankle) and linebacker Jermaine Carter Jr. (groin) were full participants. 

Some Buffalo Bills fans who were upset about referees not calling pass interference Sunday in the loss to Tampa Bay have spun their frustration forward. VIA: Visually Impaired Advancement, a Buffalo nonprofit that works with the visually impaired community, is the beneficiary.

The donations began when Hunter Schinabeck, a Massachusetts-based Bills fan, researched some options of where he could donate in Buffalo, leading him to VIA. When the nonprofit shared his reason for donating on Twitter, it took off.

“We thought this could be a great educational piece,” said Samantha Burfiend, marketing and communications manager for VIA.

They were clear that the donations will be going to people who are visually impaired in Western New York.

“While we recognize that NFL referees are not visually impaired, $17 makes an impact on VIA to help individuals who are visually impaired,” VIA tweeted.

As of Wednesday, more than 1,200 donations totaling more than $40,000 have come in. Part of that was thanks to an anonymous donor Wednesday, who said they would match the first 500 $17 donations, totaling $8,500.

We have seen an incredibly charitable day! Our new total is $40,000. We appreciate your support #BillsMafia! We will keep you updated. #VisuallyImpairedAdvancement #GoBills pic.twitter.com/DM2GYjymD8

— VIA: Visually Impaired Advancement (@viawny) December 15, 2021

The majority of the donations were for $17, a nod to quarterback Josh Allen, but there were also donations of $14, for wide receiver Stefon Diggs, and $31 for the sum of Allen’s and Diggs’ jersey numbers. Allen looked to Diggs in the fourth quarter on a play where Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis III was grabbing Diggs and was not flagged.

The organization said the money will go toward education, vision rehabilitation, job training, job placement and support for people of all ages. Clients range from babies to those older than 100 who are legally or totally blind. VIA also has an integrative work model.

“A large population of our employees are visually impaired themselves,” Burfiend said.

The number of individual donations in such a small timeframe was unprecedented for VIA, Burfiend said. Employees and clients who are visually impaired took note.

“They want to say, ‘Hey, we’re also Bills fans. This is also bringing us in,' " Burfiend said.

The organization also has worked with the Bills in the past, relaying feedback from people who are visually impaired to help ensure that game day experiences are equitable, Burfiend said.

“It should be equal, the same way it is for somebody that is sighted,” Burfiend said.

VIA’s CEO, Tammy Owen, will hold a news conference Thursday about the donations.

VIA used to be known as the Olmsted Center for Sight, and Burfiend said an added bonus of the outpouring of donations and social media reach was a new wave of awareness for the nonprofit.

“This is getting us back into the community,” Burfiend said. “Maybe there is someone who’s visually impaired … and they can find us, and they can give us a call, and we can help them and support them, and using donations toward that support.”

Most of you are going to dislike this based on everything I read on social media. Let’s get that out of the way off the top.

Tremaine Edmunds still is an asset to the Buffalo Bills’ defense.

Yes, I wish he would make more big plays. More tackles for loss, more pass breakups, a couple more interceptions. He doesn’t make enough splash plays. No argument.

But his size, length and range are important to the Bills’ defense. His tackle production has been remarkably consistent over four years.

The Bills play a lot of two-deep coverages, and a lot of zone coverage overall, which has helped them allow the fewest big-play passes in the NFL since 2017. They ask their middle linebacker to cover a ton of ground in the middle of the field. Edmunds does it well. It’s not easy to find someone who does it as well.

'If I can go, I'm going to go': Bills QB Josh Allen optimistic on foot injury

“He's working through it, he's a tough guy,” coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday. 

Am I saying general manager Brandon Beane should give him a new contract this offseason, given the fact Edmunds is entering the final year of his rookie deal at a steep, $12-million cost for 2022? No. Let’s see how it plays out.

I’m saying kick the decision down the road, even though his cap figure is tough to bite off next season. Give him another year, for sure. Only then should you let him leave in 2023 or franchise tag him and then work on a giant new contract for '23, when the salary cap takes another jump.

The bar is high for Edmunds, as it should be, given the fact he was picked 16th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. Beane gave up a third-round pick to move up six spots to get him.

Edmunds suffers in comparison to retired Carolina great Luke Kuechly, who played in essentially the same defense. Kuechly’s big-play numbers in his age 22-23 seasons blow away those of Edmunds, starting with tackles. Kuechly had 309 in those two years. Edmunds, still only 23 this season, is on pace for 230.

“The Luke Kuechly comparison I think would be unfair to most, if not all, linebackers that are out there,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday. “He’s a once-in-a-lifetime player, I can assure you that. But overall a middle linebacker, he’s in the mix. That’s where he’s positioned in the middle of the defense, and I think Tremaine does a really good job with handling our operation, play in and play out. I think he’s taken a step in that area this year. Those plays over the middle, those plays in the run game, pass game, what have you, he’s going to continue to work his tail off to be productive in those areas. There’s obviously some work to do there and we’re confident he’ll continue to work on it.”

Scouting Report: Josh Allen has put up massive numbers against NFC opponents

The question of how much Allen will be able to do on the ground despite a sprained foot looms over this game. 

What do the analytics say? Pro Football Focus rates Edmunds 26th this year among the top 50 off-the-ball linebackers with the most snaps. Matt Milano is eighth. Pro Football Focus does a great job documenting hundreds of metrics. I’m suspect of its linebacker grades.

Tampa weak-side linebacker Devin White is 44th out of 50. White is a stud. Chicago’s Roquan Smith, picked eighth overall in 2018, is 31st. Smith is great, in my view, the best player right now on the Bears’ defense, which is a top-10 unit. Baltimore’s second-year man, Patrick Queen, has a bad rating. He’s good, too.

Some things are hard to quantify, like the way Edmunds influences the quarterback. Throws on slants and hook routes don’t get made because his big frame is shading that direction. It’s harder to beat the Bills deep down the middle in Tampa 2 because of Edmunds’ range in coverage. He chases guys down quicker than average linebackers.

McDermott was asked Wednesday about Edmunds’ ability to cover space. Either the coach let it be known he wants more from Edmunds or he simply defaulted to his stock, bland answer on player evaluations. (My guess is it was the latter.)

“I think, like anything, there’s some plays where he’s done really well,” the coach said. “There’s some plays I’m sure he wants back. It’s a continuing effort to practice those areas and work with him on those areas to continue to grow.”

Bills fans donate $40,000 to Buffalo visual impairment charity to poke fun at refs

Some Bills fans who were upset about referees not calling pass interference Sunday in the loss to Tampa Bay have spun their frustration forward. VIA: Visually Impaired Advancement is the beneficiary.

Even in Tampa, Edmunds made a lot of good tackles. No doubt, on the 47-yard touchdown run, you’d like to see him take out Leonard Fournette rather than speeding straight for the pulling guard, even if that’s the way it’s coached.

“Guys wasn't in their gaps, and they hit us,” Edmunds said after the game of the TD run. “We've got to, in particular earlier in the game, find a way to eliminate explosive plays. We kind of dug ourselves a hole early.”

Likewise, Edmunds was in perfect position to stop Fournette on the third-and-1 run from the Tampa 15 in overtime. Greg Rousseau had done his job, stalemating the tackle. It was a head on play for Edmunds, and he didn’t stuff Fournette. The Bucs’ back gained the yard. Frustrating.

I admit I’m biased in favor of elite traits. Give me 6-foot-5, an 83-inch wingspan and 4.54 in the 40 all day, every day. A lot of fans might argue Edmunds has elite traits, but not elite instincts. Fair. But I think Edmunds’ processing has gotten better this year.

Fans are passionate. In their disappointment, they’re already eager for some heads to roll. That comes with having a fanbase so rabid that it got bigger, not smaller, during a 17-year playoff drought.

Take a deep breath on Edmunds. Did we mention he’s only 23? The Bills need more out of him. But he still has growth potential.

Andy Dalton was just trying to win a football game.

But the NFL quarterback's last-minute, fourth-down touchdown pass in the 2017 regular season finale not only lifted the Cincinnati Bengals over the Baltimore Ravens, it sent the Buffalo Bills to the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. And Bills fans showed their appreciation with their wallets.

More than 17,000 donors, in a display of grassroots generosity that snowballed on social media, combined to raise $442,000 for the Andy and Jordan Dalton Foundation, a nonprofit founded by the football player and his wife to benefit seriously ill and physically challenged children and their families.

A monthslong investigation by The Buffalo News found that nearly a quarter of the money – about $100,000 – went to the company that managed the nonprofit, a far larger share than is customary, according to industry experts.

The management company, Prolanthropy LLC, has helped create and operate dozens of nonprofit organizations for professional athletes since 2008. But its fees, while legal, are "wildly out of line," according to nonprofit oversight attorney Andrew Morton and other industry experts. Those fees drain resources from the people a nonprofit aims to help.

As The News raised questions, the Dalton Foundation ended its relationship with Prolanthropy and Jordan Dalton said it will donate all money directly to hospitals "so 100% of proceeds go to families in need."

"The financials, we weren't super involved in," Jordan Dalton said, speaking for herself and her husband. "But this thing means the world to us and I just more than anything value transparency and trust, so I want to do everything on my part to make sure everyone has answers."

The News reviewed thousands of pages of 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.

Among The News' findings:

• Prolanthropy charges more for its nonprofit management services than competitors.

Prolanthropy charged the Dalton Foundation 22.5% of all revenue received by the nonprofit for its various services, according to the contract.

"I draft these agreements for a living," said Morton, a partner at Handler Thayer LLP in Chicago and chair of the firm's sports and entertainment law group. "They are 5% to 10% most of the time, and I won't do one that's over 20%. That's the absolute outer bound."

Prolanthropy also takes 20% of the value of noncash donations, a rarity in the nonprofit sector, industry experts said.

• Prolanthropy's fees were only a portion of the Dalton Foundation's expenses.

Prolanthropy's fees don't cover all management and fundraising expenses. The Dalton Foundation paid $209,000 to Prolanthropy in 2018 for running charitable events, management and fundraising. It also spent $153,000 on other management and fundraising costs such as advertising, travel and office expenses, according to its tax records.

The records paint a similar picture in 2019, when the most recent publicly available documents show Prolanthropy collected $151,000 from the Dalton Foundation and the nonprofit spent an additional $217,000 on other management and fundraising expenses.

• These expenses leave less money for beneficiaries.

In 2018, the Dalton Foundation reported $444,000 of charitable giving and events – only 63 cents of every dollar spent. In 2019, charitable giving and events accounted for 56 cents of every dollar spent, according to the tax records.

Charity Navigator, a nonprofit watchdog group, expects efficient nonprofits to direct at least 70 cents of every dollar toward charity. Best-in-class nonprofits give far more. The Children's Hospital of Buffalo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of John R. Oshei Children's Hospital, spends 97 cents of every dollar on charitable programs, according to its three most recent federal tax returns. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, which received grants from the Dalton Foundation, spends 96 cents of every dollar on charitable programs.

• The nonprofit's publicly available tax documents cloud its giving.

Two independent nonprofit tax experts who reviewed the Dalton Foundation's tax returns at the request of The News said the nonprofit misreported that it awarded only $30,000 in grants in 2018 and 2019 combined, while a third expert said the accounting did not match his expectations.

In addition, the Ohio attorney general's office confirmed that Prolanthropy and the Dalton Foundation failed to publicly file required paperwork, including a renewed contract after it expired in 2016.

Jeffrey Ginn, the CEO and founder of Prolanthropy, did not respond to interview requests. Andrea Baker, the company's senior vice president and Dalton Foundation's managing director, cited a nondisclosure agreement to avoid discussing specifics about the business relationship.

"We embrace the fact that our business model makes us unpopular with the traditional nonprofit community, including charity watchdog groups," Baker wrote in an email to The News. "Prolanthropy is paid on a percentage basis to align the interests of both parties and to insure Prolanthropy is only paid based on performance and results actually attained. ... Prolanthropy believes that everyone, our clients, donors, and charity recipients all win in our model of focusing on combining the best practices, systems and processes of both the for-profit and nonprofit world."

The Daltons: Big decisions at age 22

Andy and Jordan Dalton were newlyweds when they created the Dalton Foundation in 2011, before the former Texas Christian University quarterback played a snap for the Bengals.

Charles "Dusty" Stanfield, a marketing professional they met through the player's agent, introduced them to Prolanthropy. The Daltons named him secretary and treasurer of the foundation. Stanfield described the job as "more of an advisory role as opposed to looking over specific numbers."

Jordan Dalton said paying Prolanthropy 22.5% of all money the nonprofit received seemed steep, but the couple was told all the company's clients paid the same percentage. They didn't explore other options.

"Honestly, we probably didn't take it serious enough," she said, "because we were 22 and right out of college and we just wanted to help people."

Taking a for-profit view of the nonprofit world

Prolanthropy bills itself as the "largest and most successful provider of full-service philanthropy management in professional sports." Baker, the Prolanthropy vice president, wouldn’t say how many nonprofits the company manages or how much money it raises. 

Tucked in a business park in Northern Kentucky, the company helps establish the executive board for each of its managed nonprofits, which hire the same accountant and conduct similar fundraising and charitable events. These often lead to accolades and favorable press.

Former clients Matt Birk and Charles Tillman won the NFL's most prestigious award for community service. Andy Dalton was nominated for the honor in 2016.

Ginn founded Prolanthropy a year after filing for personal bankruptcy in 2007 with more than $660,000 owed to creditors, according to court records. The bankruptcy case was settled in August 2007. Ginn described his business approach this year on a podcast hosted by country singer Matt Rogers, who emcees events for Prolanthropy's nonprofits.

"When I look at the not-for-profit world, I don't use the term 'not-for-profit' or 'nonprofit,' because even a not-for-profit who doesn't make money goes out of business," Ginn said. "You have to be able to pay your bills. You have to be able to fund the things that you do to help people.

"So a for-profit business or a not-for-profit business, you have to make money. You have be profitable. You have to be successful. I hate the martyrdom in the not-for-profit world. I hate that a lot of not-for-profits will reject sound business principles because those guys are 'for-profit.' The best not-for-profits marry both."

Prolanthropy's unusual fees

What makes Prolanthropy different from its competition is it offers professional athletes a ready-made charity. For the 22.5% fee, it handles everything from fundraising to event management to bookkeeping to public relations.

But the financial ramifications of its approach were magnified by Bills fans' spontaneous donations, which required no fundraising campaign.

"A management company should never enjoy a windfall just because a charity happened to have a good year in terms of raising donations," said Laurie Styron, the executive director of CharityWatch, a nonprofit watchdog group. "Nonprofit means nonprofit."

Capture Sports Marketing, which handles all aspects of nonprofit management other than legal and accounting work, charges a range of percentages depending on the project. Its founder, Chellee Siewert, declined to reveal specific figures but said the company has never come close to charging 22.5%. Its fundraising fee is based on net revenue, not gross like Prolanthropy, and it does not take a percentage of unsolicited donations "because that's not fundraising that we did," she said.  

The Players Philanthropy Fund, founded by former Ravens kicker Matt Stover, handles financial work for more than 300 athletes, but does not run events or fundraise. Stover said it charges 6%.

"I'm giving them nonprofit status, bookkeeping, a bank account, financial statements, gift receipts," Stover said. "I'm making sure that our 990 (tax form) is filed. I have to do an audit. I do all the state registrations. Sales tax. We set up the accounts inside of all the e-commerce sites for them. We have brokered deals with credit card processing to be extremely discounted. All those things, we're bringing to them and making it much cheaper than they ever could do on their own."

Beyond Prolanthropy's fees: lots of other expenses

Public records show nonprofits managed by Prolanthropy, due to its fees and other expenses, often spend less on charitable giving and events than watchdog groups recommend.

The Dalton Foundation's 63 cents in 2018 and 56 cents in 2019 – the share of every dollar spent that went to charitable giving or events – was low, but others were even less efficient.

The Emmanuel Sanders Foundation directed an average of 41 cents of every dollar spent toward charitable programs, according to its three most recent federal tax filings. Sanders, who signed with the Bills in March, said he no longer worked with Prolanthropy, though his nonprofit is managed by a former Prolanthropy employee. They declined to comment on their business relationship.

The Eric Wood Foundation, created by retired Bills center Eric Wood, directed just 33 cents of every dollar spent toward charitable programs in 2016, the last year under Prolanthropy's management, according to public records. It was dissolved in 2017, when Wood created a fund to directly support  Oishei Children's Hospital. Wood declined to comment on his experience with Prolanthropy.

After the outpouring of support from Bills fans, the Dalton Foundation gave $25,000 and electronics it valued at $12,500 to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, where it held a news conference to present the donation in August 2018. But the nonprofit appears to have spent more money on its trip than it gave to the medical facility. Its 2018 tax return cites $10,500 in direct expenses attributed to a fundraising event called the "Bills Campaign." The nonprofit also chartered a plane for the trip, board members said, which helps explain $30,000 in reported travel expenses, $25,000 of which was attributed to fundraising.    

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

Amy Floyd, the Dalton Foundation's managing director from 2011 until 2020, is no longer with Prolanthropy. She declined to comment.

Reporting clouds how the money is used

The Dalton Foundation's filings list only $30,000 in grants for 2018 and 2019 combined. But its tax attorney provided spreadsheets that show it spent $314,000 in those years on "awards and grants" for a program that helps families pay medical bills at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

The attorney, Joseph Carroll, a partner at Keith and Associates, a boutique law firm in Northern Kentucky that handles all Prolanthropy's clients, said the Dalton Foundation's charitable giving is lumped in with other expenses on the reports as "fees for services to non-employees."

That obscures the nonprofit's financial impact and efficiency, according to the three independent nonprofit tax experts who reviewed the Dalton Foundation's tax returns for The News. Reporting the payments as grants would have triggered additional financial disclosures about recipients and the amounts they received, information that also helps to guard against potential conflicts of interest.

"This 990 is not filled out properly. Period. Full stop," Morton said.

Carroll's response: "I think we can agree to disagree on that. It's a judgment call and people do it different ways."

Carroll said the donations to Cincinnati Children's Hospital do not fit the legal definition of grants.

"By taking the position that it's not a grant, then they don't have to itemize it," Morton said. "But it is a grant, and it's supposed to be itemized. It's not a judgment call. It's pretty clear cut."

Lack of transparency

Other than tax records and Prolanthropy's website, the relationship between Prolanthropy and its nonprofits is not conveyed to the public. There is no mention of Prolanthropy on the websites of its managed nonprofts, though the same address and phone number are listed at the bottom of each home page. Inquiries often go unreturned.

The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance cites the Dalton Foundation for failing or declining to respond to its questions.

Charity Navigator, another watchdog group, gives the Dalton Foundation a failing rating, below its threshold to "give with confidence." This is based on the nonprofit spending less than 70 cents of every dollar on charitable giving and events and because it's missing "key accountability metrics," including an independent audit.

Prolanthropy has a history of inefficiency and neglecting to perform fundamental tasks, including registering its managed nonprofits and itself as a professional solicitor with state authorities, according to a 2014 report by the Chicago Tribune. These issues persist.

The contract between Prolanthropy and the Dalton Foundation on file with the Ohio attorney general's office was submitted in 2015 and expired in 2016. Both entities were required to file an updated agreement and other missing paperwork before continuing to solicit Ohio residents, an AG spokesperson said.

"The Andy and Jordan Dalton Foundation is using the help of a management company to run the organization, instead of employing staff," said Matt Viola, Charity Navigator's vice president of program analyst operations. "While there is nothing wrong with this practice, there should be as much transparency as possible about this arrangement presented to donors, and the financial agreements between the two parties should be one that is as efficient as possible for the nonprofit."

IRS does little to police nonprofits

There are 1.54 million nonprofit organizations in the United States, accounting for $2.62 trillion in reported annual revenue, according to Statista, a market and consumer data firm. With some exceptions for religious organizations, each is required to file an annual Form 990 tax return with the IRS and navigate a patchwork of requirements that vary from state to state.

There is little oversight.

Charities that claim less than $200,000 in annual revenue – like those founded by most pro athletes – file abridged Form 990s with basic information and minimal to no disclosures. Those above the threshold – like the Dalton Foundation – are required to file the most comprehensive version.

All 990s are posted online for public scrutiny, but the IRS examines just a tiny fraction. It reviewed 2,004 of these forms in 2018, according to public records.

"I can show you countless examples of processed, accepted, filed, posted 990s with the most egregious errors that you can imagine. Like third-grade level mistakes," said Morton, the tax attorney. "You could do it in crayon. I'm a lefty and I could use my right hand and fill it out. It doesn't matter. The IRS doesn't even look at them. They just say, 'OK, thank you.' And they put it up online. ...

"The system is premised on public disclosure of accurate information. When information is either mischaracterized or omitted or disclosed improperly, the system fails."

***

Gratitude for foundation's work: 'I cried so many happy tears'

The people who benefited from the Andy and Jordan Dalton Foundation say it changed their lives.

The Dalton Foundation provides grants for medical expenses and equipment, electronics to entertain hospital patients, a trip for children and their families to Kings Island amusement park in Ohio, dinner for parents while the Daltons and volunteers entertain their kids and Christmas gifts.

In the two years preceding Andy Dalton's fateful touchdown pass on Dec. 31, 2017, the Dalton Foundation's assets had dwindled from $250,000 to $38,000, according to tax records. Thanks to the $442,000 influx from Bills fans, Jordan Dalton said she began approving a backlog of grant requests in January 2018.

Prolanthropy arranged interviews with beneficiaries at her urging.

Katie Pohlmeyer, a mother of four, said she and her husband would have spent the rest of their lives on a payment plan for their infant son's heart surgery without the grant made possible by Bills fans.

"I try really hard not to make money a high priority in our life, but I cried so many happy tears after that happened," Pohlmeyer said.

Noel Helton said the Dalton Foundation helped in 2015 when her daughter was diagnosed with a rare disease and medication cost $10,000 a month.

"I never would have imagined that filling out that grant request would have made such an impact on our lives as it did," Helton said.

Renee Jackson continued to volunteer with the Dalton Foundation after it helped pay for her brother's motorized wheelchair in 2015 and his funeral in 2018.

"The smile they put on my brother's face was so important to me," Jackson said.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital expressed gratitude for the Daltons' support in a written statement to The News, citing grants, the electronics hub and the couple's involvement in events. It declined to share the amount the Dalton Foundation has provided in assistance.

The Redwood Foundation, which serves children and adults with disabilities in Fort Mitchell, Ky., also received a technology hub with special equipment from the Dalton Foundation in 2017, which it valued at $11,417. Redwood received updated equipment in 2020, which it valued at $2,072.

"They were very, very generous," said Lisa Staub, a speech-language pathologist. "When the Daltons came to Redwood, when ESPN came to Redwood, (it helped) build awareness in the community that we exist."

Laurie Styron, the executive director of CharityWatch, cautioned about such testimonies.

"A few anecdotal examples don't tell the whole picture," Styron said. "That doesn't tell you if enough people were helped relative to the resources that were directed toward the charity. It's possible that so much more good should have been done, and you just have no way to verify that in some cases."

Jordan Dalton estimates she and her husband gave the nonprofit $300,000 between 2011 and 2019. She said they are glad they had the nonprofit despite Prolanthropy's big expenses.

"As hard as that was a pill to swallow at times, we were able to do what we did well because we didn't have to focus on all of the logistics and the accounting," she said. "We got to have our vision. We got to be one-on-one with the families. We got to build relationships. We got to speak life into these people. We got to do what we were passionate about, because Prolanthropy did the legwork. And that was the best decision for us."