Nick Sabato

Sabato: Bills can't play with their food every week without expecting to choke ORCHARD PARK — Drake Maye and the New England Patriots are coming. At some point they are going to be the top challengers for Buffalo Bills AFC East throne.

"Where else would you rather be?" The #Bills had plenty of chances to humble #Patriots QB Drake Maye and didn't. Instead #Buffalo learned that just showing up isn't enough to win.
www.niagara-gazette.com/sports/sabat...

Connor McGovern ran to the locker room with a trainer. #Bills

Four offensive penalties and two fumbles. #Bills are lucky to be down three.

Dawson Knox appeared to be early on that play. First time this season the #Bills haven't scored a touchdown on their opening drive.

#Bills won the toss. They deferred to the second half.

Let's get this show on the road. #Bills

With Oliver and Sanders out, there's a chance the #Bills mix up their pass rush and kick some defensive ends inside on passing downs. Rousseau has played rush DT in the past. Solomon played the Hoecht hybrid role in camp. Maybe Landon Jackson gets some chances inside.

The games that he didn't get carries could have been going to the wrong hole, missing a protection call, not understanding what was happening during the week. Or Dorsey being pass happy. But for every Cook there is White, Rousseau, Oliver, Kincaid, Dawkins, Allen, Torrence, Coleman, Davis, Brown etc

And his snap count ballooned the last quarter of 22, which says he started to understand running/blocking assignments. Cook is also a better zone runner and Dorsey ran 60% gap scheme. But his lack of early playing time had nothing to do with just being a rookie.

They wanted him to be a third down back early, but he had drops. And he also couldn't pass protect. It's not like he was a workhorse at Georgia.

Cook fumbled five times and had nine drops his first two seasons. Turning point was Denver in 2023 when he got benched and came back possessed. It's hard for rookies to play on good teams.

Jackson isn't ready. Neither was Cook. He struggled in pass pro and couldn't hang onto the ball.

Hoecht will have a higher snap count than Solomon, especially on early downs. That's an issue right now. Solomon is still more of a rusher but he's not better than Bosa, so someone has to play run downs.

What's the right balance? 60%? Then you're not talking about a big gap.

The Bills have talked about wanting Bosa's snap count to be lower. They have talked more about him staying healthy than anyone I can remember. I also haven't ever heard Von's last ACL tear being a product of overuse. @bangedupbills.bsky.social

Caught up with Jimmy Ciarlo the other day about making his NFL debut. Calling up two defensive tackles also puts doubt into Ed Oliver being ready to go.

Bills can put AFC East in a headlock by keeping rising star Drake Maye in check ORCHARD PARK — Buffalo Bills-New England Patriots role reversals is still a bit strange, even after five years.

The #Bills can take a three-game lead in the AFC East five games into the season. But they are going to have to keep #Patriots quarterback Drake Maye in check as he appears to be one of the NFL's rising stars.
www.niagara-gazette.com/sports/bills...

Don't expect the Bills' No. 1 rushing offense to back down from Patriots' No. 2 run defense ORCHARD PARK — Surely this is the week the Buffalo Bills turn Josh Allen loose and let him air it out, right?

A change in identity under Joe Brady has built the No. 1 rushing offense in the NFL and it's why the #Bills aren't likely to avoid testing the Patriots' No. 2 run defense.
www.niagara-gazette.com/sports/dont-...

Shaq Thompson showing he's everything the Bills want in a mentor while proving he can still play ORCHARD PARK — “Watch the man in front of you!”

Hype man? Mentor? Those are the roles Shaq Thompson agreed to when he signed with the #Bills. But he's also proving that despite major injuries, he can still play 11 years into his career.
www.niagara-gazette.com/sports/shaq-...

Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau isn't sounding alarms despite limited early sack production ORCHARD PARK — Signing an extension doesn’t just mean a bigger paycheck. It also means increased expectations.

Greg Rousseau is a snapshot of the #Bills' pass rush. He's creating plenty of pressure, but not putting enough hits on quarterbacks. But he's not sounding alarms despite having half a sack through four games.
www.niagara-gazette.com/sports/bills...

Buffalo Press Box Episode 90: Just Win, Baby The Buffalo Bills didn't what was necessary to fend off the winless New Orleans Saints. Is winning not enough anymore for some fans? Area of concerns, how the roster will look when their injured playe...

• Why wins all count the same
• #Bills injury situation
• Matchup with Patriots
• #Sabres goalie and defensemen situations
• @billhoppe.bsky.social's takes on bat flips and Major League.
share.fireside.fm/episode/sMvb...

Spencer Brown, Ed Oliver and Matt Milano all went through individual drills. Didn't see any wrapping on Oliver. Milano has a harness on his right shoulder. #Bills

Tale of the tape: Schematic change leads to drop in Bills' splash plays against the run ORCHARD PARK — There is a price to be paid for the way the Buffalo Bills play defense.

Why isn't the #Bills run defense up to standard? And how is it going to get better? Let's see:
www.niagara-gazette.com/sports/tale-...

Punter Cameron Johnston (foot/ankle) will miss some time, but Sean McDermott doesn't know how much. He also said they will in bring in punters to evaluate. No decisions on Tyler Bass, Maxwell Hairston and Tylan Grable, who are eligible to come off IR today. #Bills

Bills notebook: Cole Bishop's interception showcased his talent, James Cook hits Bills milestones ORCHARD PARK — Cole Bishop watches. He listens. He learns.

Cole Bishop's second-quarter interception was a complete package of why the #Bills drafted him in the second round last year. Plus, James Cook his franchise milestones and a glimpse into potential roster shake-ups coming soon.
www.niagara-gazette.com/sports/bills...

Sabato: Bills know adjustments are needed but wins all count the same in the NFL ORCHARD PARK — The first version of this column excoriated the Buffalo Bills.

In a game too close for too long, the #Bills ultimately finished with more points and yards than the NFL average, while holding the #Saints under the league average (as expected). Winning is hard and there should be no apologies for how ugly it looks.
www.niagara-gazette.com/sports/sabat...

The #Bills just kicked a field goal to push a two-score game to a two-score game rather than using their MVP quarterback to get three yards and effectively end the game.

It took almost 52 minutes of game time for Dalton Kincaid to get a target. Clearly that's not a player who should have to wait until the fourth quarter to be part of the offense. #Bills