Bills' McDermott: 'I Have the Utmost Respect for' Bill Belichick; 'He’s The Standard'
Dec 27, 2021
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott applauds toward his players during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Sean McDermott is making sure he doesn't create any headlines this time around.
The Buffalo Bills head coach spoke to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, remarking that he has the "utmost respect" for Bill Belichick after his team's 33-21 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday at Gillette Stadium:
“I’ll talk about that quote, first of all. I know what I meant to say, and I have the utmost respect for Bill. And it was more about what I and our team didn’t do. And things sometimes take on a life of their own, I guess. But look, Bill Belichick makes me a better coach. He’s the standard. And so he just … he challenges even the opposite coach to continue to grow. It’s so hard to beat his team.
“And at the end of the day, I’m just very thankful for the opportunity to bring our team here, and I thought our guys played really hard today.
McDermott made headlines—and some enemies in New England—after telling reporters to "not give more credit than we need" to Belichick after the Patriots' Week 13 win over Buffalo.
That game was notable as the Patriots won despite throwing the ball only three times, the lowest number thrown in a game since 1974 and the fewest in Patriots franchise history.
McDermott's team responded with a dominant offensive effort in the Week 16 rematch, with Josh Allen throwing for 314 yards and three touchdowns while adding 64 yards on the ground.
Josh Allen, Bills Beat Mac Jones, Patriots to Control Destiny in AFC East
Dec 26, 2021
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 26: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills looks to throw the ball as Christian Barmore #90 of the New England Patriots applies pressure during the first quarter at Gillette Stadium on December 26, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
The Buffalo Bills control their own destiny in the AFC East.
Josh Allen and the Bills picked up an enormous win in Foxborough on Sunday, beating the New England Patriots 33-21 behind three touchdown passes and 64 rushing yards from the star quarterback.
While both teams now sit at 9-6 and split their head-to-head matchups this season, the Bills have a better record in the division (4-1) than the Pats (3-2) with two games remaining.
So if the Bills win out against the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets, two games in which they'll be the prohibitive favorites, the divisional title will be theirs for the second straight season.
The Patriots, meanwhile, have now lost two straight games and gone from fighting for the top seed in the AFC to battling with a slew of teams for a wild-card berth.
Key Stats
Josh Allen, BUF: 30-of-47 for 314 yards and three touchdowns; 64 rushing yards
Stefon Diggs, BUF: Seven catches for 85 yards and a touchdown
Isaiah McKenzie, BUF: 11 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown
Mac Jones, NE: 14-of-32 for 145 yards, two interceptions and a sack
Damien Harris, NE: 18 carries for 103 yards and three touchdowns
Jakobi Meyers, NE: Six catches for 59 yards
Isaiah McKenzie, Unexpected Hero
Coming into Sunday, Isaiah McKenzie had rushed six times for 35 yards and caught seven passes for 38 yards this season. He was pretty far down the pecking order when it came to distribution of touches in Buffalo. So you'll be excused if you never saw his massive performance coming.
Isaiah McKenzie joins Cole Beasley (two times) as the only Bills to surpass 10+ catches in a game this season.
McKenzie led the Bills in receptions and receiving yards against the Patriots. He was one of four Bills to find the end zone. With Cole Beasley on the reserve/COVID-19 list and unavailable to play, it was McKenzie who served as Allen's preferred target on underneath routes.
And boy did he step up.
i’ll tell you what, it’ll be difficult to relegate Isaiah McKenzie back to his old role after this game. Stepping up on his number is called
Talk about a crucial moment to have a career game.
Mac Jones Had a Performance to Forget
For much of the 2021 season, the Patriots haven't needed Mac Jones to do much more than manage the game, allowing a solid run game and stout defense to lead the way.
But on Sunday, the Pats needed Jones to come up big. The rookie couldn't deliver.
Mac Jones was ragged today, put 🏈 in a lotta bad spots, missed a lot of open guys, too many misses & regrettable decisions. Just wasnt as sharp as we’ve seen, as ya need to be in a game like this. Future for him is bright & he did make some nice plays. Two different things, obvi
To Jones' credit, he played better in the second half after a brutal start, guiding the Pats to two touchdown drives in the final 30 minutes. But his rough start left the Pats in a hole, and with the defense struggling to slow down Allen and the dangerous Bills offense, it was a hole that proved insurmountable.
What's Next?
The Bills host the Falcons on Jan. 2 at 1 p.m. ET on Fox, while the Pats host the Jacksonville Jaguars that same date and time on CBS.
NFL Rumors: Patriots' Josh McDaniels Eyed for HC Role by Owners for Mac Jones' Season
Dec 26, 2021
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 06: Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach Josh McDaniels of the New England Patriots walks to the field prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 06, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is reportedly "garnering head coaching consideration once again," according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.
His work with rookie quarterback Mac Jones this season has been "getting attention among owners mulling a potential coaching search."
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has "told others around the league about his belief that McDaniels could be a very successful head coach in this league, sources said, and is strongly endorsing him."
Jones has had a solid rookie season, throwing for 3,168 yards, 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing 69 percent of his passes. More importantly, the Patriots are 9-5 in his starts.
Jones' development, coupled with McDaniels' history working with NFL legend Tom Brady, is surely appealing to rebuilding teams with young quarterbacks or an eye on drafting a player at the position this offseason.
The 45-year-old McDaniels has spent the last 10 years as the Patriots offensive coordinator. In the previous nine seasons, the Pats have ranked top-10 in points scored eight times (and are on pace this season to make it nine) and top-10 in yards six times.
He also worked as the team's offensive coordinator between the 2006-08 seasons before taking the Denver Broncos' head coaching job.
That tenure last just two years, marked by the decision to draft Tim Tebow with a first-round pick. While the Broncos did reach the postseason in McDaniels' first season, going 8-8, they were just 3-9 in his second season before he was fired.
McDaniels then spent one year with the St. Louis Rams as an offensive coordinator before returning to New England in time for its run in the 2011 playoffs that ended with a Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants.
He also had the chance to return to head coaching in 2018, when he agreed to coach the Indianapolis Colts before reversing course and staying with New England. The Colts even announced him as the next head coach before he flip-flopped. Indy ultimately appointed Frank Reich to the position.
As for whether that situation might dissuade NFL owners from pursuing McDaniels, La Canfora reported that while the decision "turned off some owners," the longtime offensive coordinator has still "had opportunities to interview for other head coaching jobs in the interim."
Mac Jones Gives Bitcoin to Patriots Offensive Line as Christmas Present
Dec 25, 2021
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) warms up during an NFL football practice, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Mac Jones is choosing a very 2021 gift for his offensive linemen for Christmas.
"I've been studying Bitcoin for a while now," the New England Patriots quarterback said, per Alex McShane of Bitcoin Magazine. "This year I just knew I had to give some Bitcoin to my teammates. So I reached out to Bitcoin Magazine and asked for help on how to give Bitcoin as a gift."
McShane noted Jones reached out to David Bailey, who is the CEO of Bitcoin Magazine and a fellow Alabama alumni, to facilitate the gift-giving process. The Patriots offensive linemen are receiving passes to the Bitcoin 2022 conference and subscriptions to the magazine.
New England's offensive line has certainly earned its presents protecting Jones this year.
The Patriots are 9-5 on the season and in first place in the AFC East. Jones could be well on his way to the Offensive Rookie of the Year and has completed 69 percent of his passes for 3,168 yards, 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
He is also the one first-round rookie quarterback in line to lead his team to the playoffs, as Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Justin Fields are all on struggling teams and Trey Lance is sitting behind Jimmy Garoppolo.
The offensive line has been a big part of the team's success and has given Jones enough time to thrive. Now he is giving them something in return.
Mac Jones Voted NFL 2021 OROY over Ja'Marr Chase by Execs: 'Poised Beyond His Years'
Dec 23, 2021
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 18: Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots looks on during the first half against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 18, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones climbed to the head of the rookie class in the eyes of NFL executives.
A group of 23 team officials gave Jones 11 votes for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award in a poll conducted by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase was second with nine votes.
"He's poised beyond his years," an AFC executive of Jones. "He has less 'rookie moments' than the others but really processes quickly within their offense, moves the team. He plays in rhythm, doesn't turn over the ball too much. He just plays like a vet.
Jones is an outlier among his fellow first-round signal-callers so far.
Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Justin Fields have struggled in their starting roles, and the San Francisco 49ers are taking a gradual approach with Trey Lance. Other than Jones, there wasn't another QB who received a single vote for Offensive ROY in Pelissero's poll.
The lowest drafted among the five, Jones has thrown for 3,168 yards, 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing 69.0 percent of his passes in 14 starts. While the 15th overall pick out of Alabama hasn't been a revelation, he has arguably exceeded expectations.
At the moment, Jones is the runaway betting favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year. He's -700 at DraftKings Sportsbook (bet $700 to win $100) with Chase (+400; bet $100 to win $400) second on the list. It's basically a two-horse race at this point considering Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is third at +6500.
Chase will have plenty of supporters arguing his case. The 21-year-old has hauled in 61 receptions for 1,038 yards and 10 touchdowns. He and Joe Burrow have picked up from where they left off at LSU in 2019.
But the NFL is a quarterback-driven league, and Jones will have a difficult resume to beat if the Patriots go on to remain in their current position to win the AFC East.
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Patriots' Bill Belichick Voted 2021 NFL Coach and Executive of the Year by Execs
Dec 23, 2021
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick on the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger)
As the architect of the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick's hard work hasn't gone unnoticed in 2021.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero polled 23 executives from NFL teams, who voted Belichick as not only the Coach of the Year but also the Executive of the Year.
"He's just kind of reinvented himself," said one executive from the AFC. "Not the scheme, but whole new free agency (approach), spent all the money, got a rookie quarterback, bunch of new pieces and it's all kind of come together. Took a year off, and now they're back. It's amazing what he's doing."
Order has been restored in the NFL. After winning seven games and missing the playoffs in 2020, the Patriots are 9-5 and first in the AFC East.
New England's fortunes last year were inversely correlated to those of Tom Brady, who went on to win a Super Bowl in his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That didn't become any larger referendum on Belichick beyond leading many to wonder whether the Pats should've tried a little harder to retain Brady.
The legendary coach showed he was in no mood for a rebuild as New England handed out $164.5 million in guaranteed money last offseason, the most in the league, per Over the Cap. The team also tabbed Mac Jones to lead the new era at quarterback.
Spending a lot of money is seemingly the most straightforward way back to contention, but it hasn't been a recipe for success in recent years for every team.
In less than 24 hours, the Patriots have guaranteed over $137.5 million, placing them second in NFL history for most guaranteed money in a free-agent signing period. The record could be theirs before free agency officially begins at 4 pm Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/fEyRItUjvL
But three of the Patriots' top four receivers (Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry and Nelson Agholor) were free-agent signings. Matt Judon has 12.5 sacks in his first year in New England. Thanks in part to the return of Trent Brown, who has been limited to six games, and the addition of Ted Karras, the offensive line has allowed the fourth-fewest sacks (25).
Brady emboldened his legacy by adding a seventh ring without Belichick. If Belichick can turn around and do the same thing, it might be the best coaching job of his Hall of Fame career.
The New England Patriots have the defense and coaching to be dangerous in the playoffs. After their 27-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts , it's fair to wonder if Mac Jones is ready for the spotlight...
Scott Spina to Plead Guilty to Fraud in Tom Brady Patriots Super Bowl Ring Scheme
Dec 21, 2021
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) gestures before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Federal prosecutors announced Monday that a New Jersey man involved in a scheme to buy and sell Super Bowl rings will plead guilty to fraud.
In 2017, Scott V. Spina Jr. bought a New England Patriots 2016 Super Bowl championship ring from a Patriots player who went on to leave the team.
"When Spina obtained the player ring, he also received the information that allowed the former player to purchase Super Bowl rings for family and friends that are slightly smaller than the player rings," the U.S. attorney’s office statement said, per the Associated Press (via the Washington Times).
Prosecutors said Spina paid the player with a bad check and sold the ring to a Southern California broker of championship rings for $63,000. He then posed as the player he bought the ring from and ordered three more rings with "Brady" engraved on them. According to prosecutors, Spina tried to claim they were gifts for Tom Brady's baby.
Spina sold the rings to an auction house for $100,000 in November 2017, and one of them was auctioned off for more than $337,000 in 2018.
"The rings were at no time authorized by Tom Brady," the criminal complaint stated.
The 24-year-old Spina will plead guilty to five felony charges of wire fraud, mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. He is scheduled for a court appearance in Los Angeles next month and has agreed to repay the former New England player from whom he bought the first ring.
Bill Belichick: 'I Don't Understand' Why Colts' T.Y. Hilton Wasn't Ejected vs. Pats
Dec 20, 2021
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (13) gets in the mix as officials try to break up a scuffle during the second half of an NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
A fight between Michael Pittman and Kyle Dugger led to ejections for both players in Saturday's game between the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots, but T.Y. Hilton might have also deserved an ejection.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick thinks the veteran receiver should have been tossed for contacting an official.
"Bottom line is both players got ejected," Belichick said of the fight Monday, per ESPN's Mike Reiss. "I would say I understand that. Whether I agree with it or not, that's a whole another discussion. [But] I don't understand why T.Y. Hilton wasn't ejected for contacting an official. Intentionally or unintentionally, that has no bearing on the play. And those plays are reviewable and are reviewed."
The main scuffle was between Pittman and Dugger, leading to a wider altercation between the two teams.
Hilton was caught up in the pile and was seen pushing over an official when getting to his feet.
The NFL rules state "under no circumstance is a player allowed to shove, push, or strike an official in an offensive, disrespectful, or unsportsmanlike manner."
There is also an option for the replay official to "instruct the on-field officiating crew to disqualify the player" if an act is determined to be flagrant.
"Based on the rule, I don't see why T.Y. Hilton wasn't ejected," Belichick said. "I mean, he pushed an official. That was pretty clear. But that wasn't called at all. That's a clear-cut ejection to me."
Hilton remained in the game as the Colts closed out the 27-17 victory. Though the wideout caught just one pass in the win, the 32-year-old is a veteran leader for the Colts, and his impact likely goes beyond his on-field production.
The league will review the incident and could hand out additional punishment to the players involved.
The New England Patriots lost a pivotal AFC showdown with the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday night—an outcome that could have a huge impact on New England's bid for the AFC's No...
