1 - How multiple takeaways equal 'W's for Bills
With three takeaways on Sunday, Buffalo's defense gave fans flashbacks from the first half of the season. Forcing multiple turnovers has been vital for the Bills, as the team improved to 6-1 on the year when they do so.
The Bills have forced two or more turnovers in seven games this season. In those games, the team averages 24.9 points. They're 1-6 in games when they force one turnover or less, averaging an anemic 12.9 points.
Safety, Jordan Poyer, got the turnover train started against the Dolphins. He picked off Jay Cutler on Miami's third play of the second half.[
"We talk about it every week, how important taking the football away is," Poyer said. "The past three or four weeks we haven't been us taking the football away. To get back to that and be able to create turnovers to put our offense in good field position only helps the team."
Buffalo's defense has struggled to cause turnovers in the second half of the season. In Weeks 9-15, the team's only tallied six takeaways. In Weeks One-Eight, the team had 17.
On Sunday, the defense shook their recent struggles. Cornerback, Shareece Wright, came in for the injured E.J. Gaines and corralled an interception on his second play. It marked his first INT in a Bills uniform.
"I was just happy to get an interception," said Wright. "The first play I was in I almost had one. I had an opportunity again and took advantage of it."
The third and final INT for Buffalo was reeled in by rookie cornerback Tre'Davious White. He now has three picks in the past four games. That turnover by Cutler marked his third second-half INT against Buffalo. In his first 11 games, he only threw two second-half picks.
"Coach Frazier does a great job of emphasizing that throughout the week. If you're plus-two in a game your chances of winning the game is like 80-percent. That's our goal each and every week," said White. "At least get two takeaways and lead the turnover differential. We were plus-three, our chances jumped up to 90-percent and we came out with the win." Buffalo's three takeaways Sunday represented the first time since Week Eight they forced multiple turnovers in a game.
"During game study, Poyer threw out a stat in front of all the DBs saying, 'When Jay Cutler throws a pick in a game, he throws multiple picks.' So after the first one, we knew more were coming," said Micah Hyde. "Just playing Jay in the past, especially being down 21-6, he's going to throw the ball. He's going to try to get the ball into his playmakers hands and we were able to get a few more."
2 - Dirt successfully defended in McDermott's debut season
When Sean McDermott took over as Buffalo's head coach, he made it clear that winning at New Era Field would be critical. After Sunday's win, the team finished the year hot at home.
"That's huge. We know how important winning at home is. The guys talk about it a lot. We talk a lot about defending our dirt," said McDermott. "Playing in Western New York, it's a special place to play in this stadium in front of our fans here. I can't say enough about it in terms of the effort the fans put forth to come and support us and they've stuck by us all season long."
After Sunday's eighth-and-final home game, Buffalo improved to 6-2 at home for the first time since 1999. The Bills are now one-of-five teams in the NFL with six wins at home.
"From the very get go, coach McDermott was preaching protect our dirt, protect our home field," said Eddie Yarbrough. "Just like Kyle (Williams) said in the final team meetings, 'Hey, 6-2 at home isn't perfect, but it's pretty damn good.' We're definitely happy and will continue to build on that to eventually get that 8-0 home record. But we're definitely proud of that record."
With less than a minute in the game, rookie cornerback Tre'Davious White reeled in an interception to seal the win. He mentioned the message McDermott's delivered since the day he arrived in Buffalo.
"That's the message. That's been the message since coach got here. After the rookies got here, he emphasized that in rookie minicamp too," said White. "We did a great job. It's not where we want to be. We want to be at 8-0. A 6-2 record is not bad. Now we're going to New England and trying to continue to win and get to the playoffs and end the streak."
In celebration of Bills running back LeSean McCoy hitting 10,000 rushing yards, here are photos from his illustrious NFL career.
3 - McCoy the NFL's best TD maker since 2010
Bills running back, LeSean McCoy, ran for an impressive feat on Sunday aside from his 10,000 career rushing yards. He secured the most touchdowns in the NFL since 2010.
McCoy's crossed the pylons 77 times since 2010. He passed Rob Gronkowski who's scored 76 times in that span. Gronk failed to score on Sunday, resulting in McCoy passing him.
McCoy's two-touchdown performance had both a rushing and receiving score. His first TD was a four-yard run to give the Bills a 7-0 lead.
"The first run was just I ran to the right, guys blocked it up. My last guy's a safety and I just out ran him," said McCoy. "But I mean, they blocked it up. That's all I could say, the guys really blocked well."
McCoy's second score was a 16-yard pass from Tyrod Taylor to give Buffalo a 14-6 advantage. He toasted a Dolphins defender in one-on-one coverage.
"Then on the mismatch, it was a linebacker, which he knew it would be a hard match up," said McCoy. "But we've been working at that all week."[
Buffalo heads to New England in Week 16 for their final game against the Patriots. McCoy and Gronk will battle it out for the rights of most TDs since 2010.