Then, to open the second half, both teams headed back to their respective locker rooms for 30 minutes due to a lightning delay.
Only in 2020, right?
Thankfully the game resumed, and the feed was fixed. Because this was not a game that any Bills fan could afford to miss.
We’ve seen statement games before from this franchise. Jim Kelly’s unlikely scramble for a last-second touchdown in this very same stadium instantly comes to mind. Josh Allen had one last year in front of a national TV audience against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving.
But this one felt like another step up from that Thanksgiving performance. This looked like the Bills team that we’ve been waiting to see for decades. It was a dynamic, explosive and aggressive performance that ended with Allen throwing for 417 yards and four touchdowns in a 31-28 victory.
The Bills didn’t just put their foot on the gas. They took the Ferrari out of the garage, warmed it up and went drag racing for four straight hours.
“I think some defensive head coaches take the approach of continuing to pad their side of the ball and then they like winning a 11-9 game,” said Bills head coach Sean McDermott, reflecting what appears to be a bit of a change in philosophy. “Whereas, I guess for me I don’t like winning 11-9. I like winning, but I just feel like to have a good football team that can sustain success you need to have a balanced football team. So Brandon Beane and his staff did a great job of continuing to look offensively what we could add to what we had, and so I think you’re seeing the result of some of that.”
This story is from the October 2020 edition of Bills Digest.
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This story is from the October 2020 edition of Bills Digest.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
TRACKING TRAINING CAMP
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1st & Ten with STEFON DIGGS
Stefon Diggs had one of the best seasons ever by a Bills receiver in 2020, and he’s looking for an encore. Diggs was clearly amped up and ready to go as the Bills began their preparations for the new season, leading the huddle and supporting his teammates as they kicked off training camp in Orchard Park. Diggs recently touched on his goals for the upcoming season for both himself and the team in an informative discussion with members of the media. Here are the highlights from that discussion.
RUNNING BACKS: TOP AVAILABLE FREE AGENTS
Aaron Jones, Packers 5-9 • 208 pounds • 27 years old A fifth-round steal in the 2017 draft out of UTEP, Jones is equally proficient in the running and passing games. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards the last two years, and caught 49 and 47 passes, respectively. He’s also a touchdown machine with 30 TDs the last two years (25 rushing and 5 receiving). The son of two career Army officers, he’s a tough, driven player and the kind of guy players want on their team.
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QUARTERBACKS: TOP AVAILABLE FREE AGENTS
Dak Prescott, Cowboys 6-2 • 235 pounds • 27 years old A solid starter who has a nice TD-INT ratio over his first five seasons (104-40), Prescott is an accurate thrower and very mobile. However, he’s coming off a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle, so it remains to be seen if this will impact his game moving forward.
TIGHT ENDS: TOP AVAILABLE FREE AGENTS
Hunter Henry, Chargers 6-5 • 250 pounds • 29 years old A very talented player, Henry has had issues staying healthy, unable to complete an NFL season, including missing the entire 2018 season with a torn ACL. But when healthy, he’s a terrific all-around tight end who really connected with Justin Herbert in 2020 with 60 catches. Henry is very good at finding holes in zone coverage.