Here’s the Bills news of note for Oct. 30.
By Jadon Ceravolo / Contributing Correspondent
1 – Bills best home start since 1995
Sunday’s 34-14 win over the Oakland Raiders lifted the Buffalo Bills to 4-0 on the season at New Era Field. It’s the first time since 1995 that the team has started off that hot at home.
Buffalo’s ninth-year center, Eric Wood, talked after the game about defending their dirt.
“We put a lot of emphasis on winning home games. Playoff teams win home games. 4-0 is a great start,” he said.
Last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, head coach Sean McDermott became the first Bills head coach in franchise history to win his first three home games. On Sunday he extended that winning streak to four games.
The Bills are one of four teams in the NFL with an undefeated mark at home. The other teams include: the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, and Seattle Seahawks.
Linebacker, Lorenzo Alexander, had three tackles for the Bills on Sunday. He joined the team in 2016, but he’s well aware of the importance of winning in Orchard Park.
“We have a motto we want to defend our dirt… You always want to be able to play hard, especially in front of our fans and play well and win for them,” he said. “Obviously with the history here there’s been a lot of heartache so we want to continue to play hard each and every week, continue to get better and everything else will continue to take care of itself.”
2 – McCoy has found his groove since the bye week
The chatter around the Bills running game struggles can officially come to a halt. LeSean McCoy has rushed for 242 yards the past two weeks since coming off the bye. On Sunday against the Oakland Raiders he had a season-high in rushing yards.
McCoy erupted for 151 yards on 27 carries. His highlight reel play was a 48-yard touchdown that extended the lead to 20 points. Quarterback, Tyrod Taylor, discussed the focus that’s been put into getting the ground game going.
“As an offensive unit and an offensive line and the running backs are just dialed in more so in the focus and execution of our run and it showed the past two weeks,” he said.
McCoy’s no stranger to surpassing the 100-yard mark. Sunday’s strong showing was his 35th career 100-yard rushing day. In the last five seasons he also had eight games with 150-plus rushing yards, twice as many as the next-closest player. Those players include: Le’Veon Bell (4), Jay Ajayi (3), Adrian Peterson (3), and DeMarco Murray (3).
Buffalo’s five-time Pro Bowl selection explained the changes made resulting in his recent success.
“Since the bye we’ve been sprinkling in different schemes, different runs. You know stuff we’ve been successful with in the past and this year also,” McCoy said.
“Guys up front, we talked about just letting them dominate the line of scrimmage. Give me some one-on-one opportunities, give me some lanes, and they did that Sunday.”
3 – Holmes has a nose for the end zone at home
Buffalo’s first-year wide receiver, Andre Holmes, had his biggest game with the team on Sunday. He reeled in the first touchdown of the game for the Bills. It was Holmes’ third score on the season, all of which have come at New Era Field.
Sunday’s contest was against the Oakland Raiders, the franchise Holmes played with for four years. Quarterback, Tyrod Taylor, talked about their connection and the importance behind it.
“Andre was definitely pumped up for this one playing against his former team,” Taylor said. “As far as the touchdown pass I remember when we broke the huddle he told me if I don’t have Shady [LeSean McCoy], because Shady was first [option] on that play, that he’d be working in the back of the end zone. I was able to buy some time and he’s one of our taller receivers, so he’s definitely one I can find when I’m moving around. He did a good job of focusing in keeping two feet in and securing the catch to the ground.”
Holmes had another play aside from his touchdown that was pivotal. It was a 36-yard strike from Taylor along the sidelines on third-and-13. Six plays later the Bills capitalized and crossed the end zone for a score. Holmes explained what resulted in converting on the third-and-long.
“It was cover two. I had to convert with the route I had and I just got in the hole,” he said. “I’m pretty good at having awareness as far as where the sidelines at. It’s kind of like an instinct thing. Really it wasn’t as hard as it may have looked.”
Holmes’ final stat line was three catches for 51 yards and a touchdown. With his third score of the season he now leads the Bills in receiving touchdowns.