8:53 PM ET
Detroit – A little over 48 hours ago buffalo bill As a football game in Detroit was about to begin, coach Sean McDermott spoke to the media outside his home with a pile of snow.
With practice canceled for that day, McDermott spoke about the uncertainties in the Bills’ travel schedule and the unknown conditions of players, coaches and staff due to a snow storm passing through western New York.
Right after that news conference, McDermott and his wife, Jamie, received messages from neighbors and friends asking to help in any way they could.
“Our plowman couldn’t make it, so our neighbor called a front loader to clear the snow and then our normal plowman came one more time,” McDermott said. “It was great just talking about it, not sure what’s going to happen, not sure if we’re going to be able to get out, and my wife and myself get five, six text messages from neighbors and friends , ‘Hey, whatever you need, we’ll be there to help you.’ It’s very special.”
Despite more than 77 inches of snow falling in New York’s Orchard Park, the Bills made it to Detroit and came together 31-23 win Over that cleveland browns, But it took enormous effort on the part of the Bills staff and the greater Buffalo community to make it happen.
The game was moved to Detroit on Thursday evening to allow resources in the area to be prioritized for other purposes, but to get the team to the game, everyone at the facility and then made their way to the airport on team buses. Had to make Most of the work came from Bills’ employees. But McDermott wasn’t the only one reaching out to the community.
“How much we appreciate all the people back in Buffalo who helped us get here and [are] Thanks to them,” McDermott said. “And everyone back in Buffalo who’s currently digging again, we’re thinking of you guys and that was for you.”
Players in the locker room postgame shared stories of how neighbors and fans came by to shovel out the driveway or shared their snowblowers, including quarterbacks josh allenPeople with big tractors had come to dig it out. tight end dawson knox She said she looked out of her window Saturday and about 10 neighbors were shoveling her long driveway. wide receiver Gabe Davis Then went to pick him up and the tight end Tommy Sweeney,
Knox said of his neighbors, “They came without asking or saying anything to me.” “And I’ve got a long driveway too, so they’re working hard.”
McDermott picks linebacker von miller and puncture Sam Martin In the way of convenience.
“I walked out of my house at the facility and picked up Vaughn and Sam, and down the road came the big plow,” McDermott said. “And I think he stopped, and we got out, we took a quick picture, and he did a great job clearing the road so we could get out of the development there.”
linebacker tremaine edmondsInactive for the game due to groin and heel injuries, was carted home via defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, Security Jordan Poir Said that he was shoveling for about two hours and the whole neighborhood was coming to help. Teammates talk about the linebacker’s video tyrell dodsoncarrying his bag over his head, and running back Devin Singletary Making their way through snow-covered roads as their homes were not accessible by vehicle.
A variety of team staff members organized the effort and came to help players out of their homes. Bills Executive Vice President/COO Ron Rakuia moves to left tackle dion dawkins’ House is unable to get his car close enough to his house for Rakuia and VP of communications Derek Boyko to make sure he’s okay.
“I was worried until that last minute when I [saw] “Ron and the boys’ faces are on the street,” Dawkins said. I said, ‘Okay, I have a ride. I’m on my way.'”
On top of the logistics for the game, the team held only one normal day of practice due to the weather and a variety of illnesses throughout the week. Phillips still had the flu but played 27 defensive snaps. wide receiver Isaiah Mackenzie Was out of practice on Thursday with a “real bad” stomach virus.
But all the efforts paid off. Despite a slow start, especially from offense and Allen, the Bills fell apart in the second half and limited Brown running back Nick Chubb 19 rushing yards on 14 attempts, the fewest rushing yards in his career with at least 10 rushing attempts.
The Bills’ running game is getting even with running backs Singletary and James Cook each finished with 86 rushing yards. Outside of the game-ending knee, the offense scored on seven straight possessions to close things out with the kicker tyler bass Makes all six of his field goal attempts. It was Bass’ second career game in which six field goals were made, tying four others for the most such games in NFL history.
The win halted a two-game losing skid, but now begins a very short week with many players unsure of what their path will look like when they get back home. “I have no idea,” Phillips said when asked what he expected things to look like when he returned.
“I mean, literally it would be the same [from when the team left]Dawkins said.[Fans might help out again but] If they don’t, we’re shoveling houses and taking that ‘show’ to our left and our right.”
The Bills will then return to play in Detroit on Wednesday Lions on Thanksgiving. In preparation for the quick turnaround, while the graphics and songs remained the same as at Orchard Park’s Highmark Stadium, the team used the visitors’ side of everything at Ford Field.
“I think what coach and [general manager Brandon] Beane and the organization drove us here, took us to the locker room where we’re going to be on Thursday, I think, on the same sideline, so we’re able to visualize and as we walk out Said, “How will it be when we get back in a few days.” Thursday.”
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