News and notes from Monday media availability with Bills head coach Sean McDermott, offensive coordinator Joe Brady and defensive coordinator Bobby Babich.

Benford locks down Metcalf as Buffalo's pass defense trends upward

The Bills defense as a whole hasn't had the smoothest of journeys this season, but their pass coverage unit has been among the league's best since coming out of the bye. Buffalo's EPA (expected points added) allowed per dropback in Weeks 7-13 ranks 4th-best in the NFL, an improvement from 9th in Weeks 1-6.

After giving up just 108 total passing yards to the Steelers, the Bills have the league's top passing defense at 163.2 yards per game. Buffalo has held 9 of their 12 opponents so far to under 200 yards passing.

On the season, only the Eagles, Broncos and Texans are allowing a lower completion percentage to opposing QBs than the Bills (59.5%). Buffalo also ranks 6th in the NFL in opposing QB passer rating (80.9)

Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich believes one factor that has contributed to the success of the secondary in recent weeks has been the cohesion of the group, citing "change in the lineup because of injuries" that occurred early in the season.

"There was a lot of different moving parts," he said. "But I think we're starting to get in a flow and a rhythm, and those guys are doing a pretty good job limiting the pass game."

One wrinkle that was on display in Pittsburgh was CB Christian Benford shadowing WR DK Metcalf throughout the game. Benford shared postgame that it was in the game plan for him to follow Metcalf no matter what side of the formation the WR lined up on.

"Wherever he was going, I was going," he said.

McDermott detailed Monday that the Bills don't always use that approach but felt it was best for this week's game plan and trusted Benford to get the job done.

"It's really growth," he said of Benford. "Last year was one of the first times we ventured into that schematic version of our defense."

According to NextGenStats, Benford lined up against Metcalf 13 times, 10 of which came in man coverage, and did not allow a single reception during those snaps.

"I thought Christian really did a great job of limiting their number one receiver last night. And give Bobby credit and the defensive staff in terms of the plan as well," McDermott said.

Injury updates heading into Week 14

The Bills only had one new injury to report coming out of Sunday's victory over the Steelers as DE Joey Bosa is dealing with a hamstring injury.

"We'll see where that goes," Sean McDermott said.

McDermott shared that LT Dion Dawkins remains in concussion protocol after missing Week 13 while LB Terrell Bernard (elbow), RT Spencer Brown (shoulder), WR Joshua Palmer (ankle) and TE Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) are all "improving".

The Bills will be without kicker Tyler Bass (groin) for the remainder of the season after he underwent surgery last week. Bass hasn't appeared in a game this season while dealing with the injury and was placed on injured reserve prior to Week 1.

McDermott explained that the team and Bass tried to let the injury heal on its own without surgery but that wasn't successful.

"We thought it was going away, then it wasn't going away as he tried to get himself back ready. And so the surgery — the decision to get surgery — was almost made up for him. So that's the decision we went with," he said.

In his place, Buffalo has relied on Matt Prater throughout all 12 games. The veteran kicker is 17 of 19 (89.5%) on field goals this season and 34 of 37 (92%) on extra points.

Cook's pregame text sets tone for backup tackles

Prior to Sunday's game, RB James Cook III sent a morning pregame text to backup offensive linemen Alec Anderson and Ryan Van Demark as both players were in line to get the start.

"I told them I trust them and believe in them," Cook said. "And just let's go get a win."

Anderson and Van Demark were thrust into the starting tackle roles against the Steelers with Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown out with injury. It was the first time this season Buffalo played a game with more than one starting offensive lineman injured.

Buffalo's ground game flourished to a tune of a season-high 249 yards and six runs with gains of 12+ yards. Cook logged his NFL-leading seventh 100-yard rushing performance on a career-high 32 carries.

"I saw Jimbo pregame, and he just had that look in his eyes," Joe Brady said. "He was ready to rock yesterday, he had full confidence in the guys up front. He knew Vandy and Alec were going to be good to go."

McDermott shared that while Cook is a quiet-natured person, he is undeniably a leader on the team and someone the locker room rallies around.

"The energy he comes to the sideline with, you can feel he has a presence, even when sometimes things aren't going our way or his way, or what have you. That energy — we feed off of that," McDermott said.