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Bills Today

Bills Today: Buffalo makes franchise history through two weeks of the 2019 season

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1. Buffalo makes franchise history through two weeks of the 2019 season

The NFL schedule makers did not give Buffalo a friendly opening two weeks of the 2019 season. The Bills played a key division rivalry game in Week 1 and returned to MetLife stadium in Week 2 to face the Giants in week two. Each game was the opposing team's home opener and each time Buffalo came away with the win.

It is the first time in team history the Bills won on the road in weeks one and two of the NFL season.

"Good to get a win, especially on the road," head coach Sean McDermott said. "I thought the guys played hard. Give credit to the Giants. It was a hard-fought win for us and a tough place to play and I appreciate our fans showing up like they did for the second week in a row on the road. Tough to win, tough to win on the road, particularly two weeks in a row so lot of good stuff and I thought we got stronger the last couple of weeks. We're certainly going to learn and a lot, a lot to work on, a lot to improve this week as we go back to work."

The Bills have gone 2-0 16 times before, most recently in 2014. In those 16 seasons the Bills won two AFL titles (1964, 1965) and appeared in three Super Bowls (1991, 1992, 1993).

"A full 60 minutes of football and so, yeah, these are hard wins to come by so you celebrate them," McDermott said. "I'm extremely happy. I'm extremely proud of everyone on our team and the team we have back home in our building and it's just a great group effort."

2. Trent Murphy creating turnovers at a record pace

Trent Murphy recorded his first career interception on the Giants final drive of the first half. Ed Oliver tipped Eli Manning's pass into the air and a diving Murphy came down with it. It is his third straight game with a takeaway.

"Yeah, taking care of the football. We talk a lot about it in our building. Two biggest assets in our building are our people and the ball and that's real. When you take care of the football, that stat rarely changes in terms of wins and losses," McDermott said. "I was extremely proud of the guys that they took care of the ball today and we were able to get two takeaways, I believe it was, and that those were key takeaways. The play by Trent Murphy before the half was outstanding and a big momentum shifter for us."

Murphy's takeaway streak dates back to last season. He had a fumble recovery in the 2018 finale against Miami and one in the 2019 opener against the Jets. It is the longest streak by a Bill since Jordan Poyer in games 4-6 in 2018 and the longest by a Bills defensive lineman since at least 1988.

3. John Brown has quickly become one of Allen's favorite targets

John Brown has had an impressive first two weeks in a Bills uniform. His seven receptions in back-to-back weeks marks the first time a Bill has done so since Charles Clay in games 14 and 15 in 2016.

"It's been great," Brown said. "One thing about this league is that it's hard to win on the road and like I said, coaches do a great job of calling plays and we just executed."

There was one play that Brown wishes he could have back. He was wide open over the middle and an accurate pass from Josh Allen most likely would have ended up with a touchdown.

"Yeah, that's one play in particular," Brown said. "He's a person [who is] critical on himself – he's [critical] on himself hard. You like quarterbacks like that, so next time, I guarantee you he won't make that mistake again."

Still, Brown's 195 yards through the first two games of the season are the most by a Bill since Eric Moulds' 214 in 2003.

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