The Buffalo Bills thoroughly dominated the New England Patriots on Saturday night, beating them 47-17 to advance to the Divisional Round of the AFC Playoffs. Here are my Arrows Up and Down:
ARROW UP
Coaching staff
The Bills were as prepared as they’ve ever been in Sean McDermott’s five year tenure as head coach, and that’s saying something. They had great game plans on both sides of the ball and were ready to play right away from the opening kick. McDermott and his staff put the team in a great position to win and pushed all the right buttons during the game to do it with authority.
Pretty much everything about the offense
It was about as dominating of an offensive performance as you will see in a playoff game. The Bills scored 47 points, rolled up 482 yards, ran for 174 yards, went 6-for-7 on third down (85.7%), scored a touchdown on every single offensive possession (other than the kneel down at the end of the game), and did not punt a single time (again). They averaging 6.0 yards a run and an eye-popping 8.9 yards an offensive play, the third most in a playoff game by any team since the merger.
A dominant defensive performance
The Bills defense made the Patriots work for every single yard they gained, and that wasn’t much. Only 305 yards of total offense for New England. The Bills hold them to 89 yards rushing. They sacked Mac Jones three times, picked him off twice, and the starting defense allowed 10 points as New England scored late in the game against mostly Buffalo’s backups.
Josh Allen
The Bills quarterback was sensational from the very start of the game and throughout, completing 21 of 25 passes (84%) for 308 yards and five touchdowns! He had a nearly perfect quarterback rating of 157.6. Allen also ran six times for 66 yards, averaging 11.0 yards per carry, accounting for a total of 374 yards of offense. Once again Bill Belichick and the Patriots had no answer for him.
Offensive line
Josh Allen was hardly touched all night. The Bills offensive line did not allow a sack and Allen had plenty of time almost every time he dropped back to pass. Not to mention the 174 yards they cleared the way for in the running game.
Devin Singletary
Singletary has been on the Arrow Up list pretty much every week over the last month. Once again he ran hard, with power, and was still his elusive self, carrying the ball 16 times for 81 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry and scoring two touchdowns. He also caught three passes for another 13 yards. His second touchdown run, when he got to the edge, was terrific.
Isaiah McKenzie
After having a career day against the Patriots the day after Christmas, McKenzie backed it up with another outstanding performance, contributing in both the run and pass game, carrying the ball three times for 29 yards, averaging 9.7 yards per carry, and catching three passes for 45 yards, totaling 84 total yards of offense.
Dawson Knox
Five targets. Five catches, which led the Bills on the day. 89 yards, which led all receivers in the game. 17.8 yards per catch, and two touchdowns, Including the first score of the game when he elevated atop of everyone and came down with the ball inbounds.
Touchdown pass to Tommy Doyle
Already up 40-10 with less than nine minutes to play, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and the Bills were simply toying with the Patriots as Josh Allen put on a tremendous play fake, rolled left and threw a touchdown pass to rookie offensive tackle Tommy Doyle who had reported in as an eligible receiver.
Micah Hyde’s amazing plays
There were plenty of “plays of the game” in this one, but maybe none better than Micah Hyde‘s interception of Mac Jones on the Patriots first drive of the game. It was a fantastic individual effort, not only running as far as he did but to be able to snag it just in time before it hit Nelson Agholor‘s hands for a touchdown, and also because it immediately changed the complexion of the game after the Patriots had moved the ball to the Bills 34 yard line. The Bills scored on the ensuing possession and it was basically "lights out" right away.
Later, Hyde picked up a punt deep in his own end that had bounced a couple of times and took it 52 yards the other way. He would have scored if not for tripping over linebacker Tyrel Dodson who was blocking for him. He finished the game with two total tackles, the interception, and another pass breakup.
Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano
The two Bills linebackers controlled the game from their positions, totaling 13 tackles, two quarterback hurries, and a pass breakup.
Defensive job on Patriots tight ends
Once again New England’s tight ends did not hurt the Bills in the passing game. Hunter Henry had the one and only catch for any of their tight ends. One.
ARROW DOWN
OK, so two extra points were blocked and the defense gave up four 4th down conversions……but, are you kidding me? I’m not going to be THAT picky after this beatdown, especially at 2:50 AM.
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