Sex Toy Thrown on Field During Patriots vs. Bills 2022 NFL Playoff Matchup
Jan 16, 2022
Orchard Park, NY - January 15: Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary (26) is untouched by New England Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson (27) as he enters the end zone with his second touchdown of the game. The Buffalo Bills host the New England Patriots in a AFC wild-card game Saturday night January 15, 2022 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Amid the Buffalo Bills dominating the New England Patriots on Saturday night in their playoff matchup, one member of Bills Mafia decided to contribute to the evening by throwing a dildo onto the field.
Of course, the main storyline from the game was Buffalo's offense scoring at will. On a brutally cold night in Buffalo, Josh Allen and his group of weapons brought the heat.
The Bills weren't messing around. They looked the part of legitimate Super Bowl contenders Saturday.
Bart Scott Suggests Josh Allen Use Viagra to Help Circulation for Bills' Playoff Game
Jan 13, 2022
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Orchard park, N.Y., Sunday Jan. 9, 2022. (AP/ Photo Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Former NFL linebacker Bart Scott
provided some unique advice to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen
ahead of Saturday night's playoff game against the New England
Patriots, which could feature wind-chill temperatures below
zero.
"Take some Viagra before the game,
baby," Scott said Thursday on ESPN's Get Up (via TMZ Sports).
"That'll get that circulation going right."
The 2006 Pro Bowler, who played
numerous cold-weather games during an 11-year career with the
Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets, insisted it was a genuine
statement.
"Viagra was first a heart
medicine, right? So, it builds up circulation, which makes sure it
gets circulation to the feet," Scott said. "I swear, I'm
not trying to be funny."
While players and fans must prepare for
downright cold conditions, WGRZ meteorologist Elyse Smith noted
neither the severe winds nor snow should factor into the game:
Conditions for this game are not just going to be "chilly." This is serious cold for Saturday night with temperatures in the single digits & wind chill values at or below zero.
When the AFC East rivals faced off at
Buffalo's Highmark Stadium in Week 13, significant wind gusts
severely limited the team's typically high-powered offense and allowed
the Pats to score a 14-10 win with quarterback Mac Jones throwing
just three passes.
Cold temperatures can still be an
issue, but they shouldn't eliminate large portions of the playbook
like wind or snow could.
Allen said Tuesday he's struggled with
circulation issues in his feet, so keeping them warm will be his
focus throughout the AFC Wild Card Round matchup.
"My toes get really cold and they go
numb a little bit, so keeping those suckers as warm and as dry as
possible as well as the hands, obviously, that's a big emphasis for
quarterbacks," he told reporters. "You need your hands to throw
so keeping those extremities as warm as possible."
It's unclear whether Allen, or any
other player in Saturday's game, will take Scott up on his idea to increase blood flow,
though.
Josh Allen, Bills Clinch 2022 NFL Playoff Berth with Win Over Falcons, Ravens Loss
Jan 2, 2022
Foxborough, MA - December 26: Buffalo Bills Josh Allen completes a touch pass against the New England Patriots during second quarter NFL action. The New England Patriots host the Buffalo Bills in an NFL game on Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
For the third straight year, and the fourth time in Sean McDermott's five years as head coach, the Buffalo Bills are headed to the playoffs.
Buffalo clinched a playoff berth Sunday with a 29-15 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. That win coupled with the Baltimore Ravens' 20-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams secured a spot for the Bills.
The McDermott era has largely coincided with the Josh Allen era at quarterback, and that partnership has been incredibly successful. Allen has had another elite season. Entering Sunday, he had thrown for 4,048 yards, 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 65 percent of his passes.
He's also rushed for 619 yards and four scores, making him one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in football.
But while Allen, Stefon Diggs and Devin Singletary lead one of the scarier offenses in football, Buffalo's defense was also giving up an NFL best 287.9 yards per game and just 17.6 points per game (third in the league) through Week 16.
While that unit has its weaknesses—a mediocre pass rush, for one, that has managed just 26 sacks—it's been one of the better defenses in football.
It shouldn't be a surprise this Buffalo team is again heading to the playoffs. Last year's group reached the AFC Championship Game, falling to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. While Andy Reid's charges once again look like the class of the AFC, the rest of the conference is wide-open.
These Bills are a threat, in other words, and one that is coming on strong with three straight wins. Anything less than a title will be deemed a disappointment in Buffalo, even after an up-and-down regular season that saw them lose five of eight games between mid-October and early December.
The Bills are peaking at the right time. Allen and Co. are looking for a chip.
NFL Exec: Patriots Can't 'Go Toe-to-Toe with' Bills, Need 'an Element to Boost Them'
Dec 27, 2021
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) during an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
The Buffalo Bills moved into first place in the AFC East after beating the New England Patriots 33-21 on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
On Monday, an AFC executive provided his thoughts on the Pats' performance.
"New England could not go toe-to-toe with Buffalo," the executive said, per The Athletic's Mike Sando. "They needed an element to boost them—special teams, or the weather, or something like that—and they did not have it. It’s tough to beat Buffalo when their formula for four downs is hitting."
New England's defense in particular had no answer for Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who completed 30 of 47 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns despite missing wide receivers Gabriel Davis and Cole Beasley after they were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Allen also added 64 rushing yards.
New England excelled running the ball, with Damien Harris rushing for 103 yards and three touchdowns, but rookie quarterback Mac Jones completed just 14 of 32 passes for 145 yards and two interceptions.
Buffalo also outgained New England 428-288 and possessed the ball for over 35 minutes. The Bills also led for the game's final 39 minutes.
The Pats may have been a step or two behind the Bills on Sunday, but they did go toe-to-toe with Buffalo earlier this year, taking down their AFC East rivals 14-10 on a cold and windy December night in Orchard Park, New York.
New England called for 46 rushing attempts versus three passes as the Pats ran for 222 yards. Allen struggled throwing in the windy conditions, going 15-of-30 for 145 yards and one touchdown.
However, the Bills are now in the driver's seat for the division crown. While both teams have 9-6 records, Buffalo has the tiebreaker edge thanks to a better division record. The Bills are also playing good football after an uneven first 13 games that saw them start 7-6.
Meanwhile, the Pats are going in the wrong direction, losing 27-17 to the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 18 before falling to Buffalo. They are still in great position to earn a playoff berth, but New England's chances to win the division are now out of its hands barring a Buffalo loss.
The Bills will close the season by hosting the Atlanta Falcons (7-8) and New York Jets (4-11) at Highmark Stadium. The Pats will host the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-13) before visiting the Miami Dolphins (7-7), who play at the New Orleans Saints (7-7) on Monday.
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.
Report: Some NFL Execs Believe Unvaccinated Players Shouldn't Be Paid on COVID List
Dec 26, 2021
TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 12: Buffalo Bills Wide Receiver Cole Beasley (11) walks to the locker room before the regular season game between the Buffalo Bills and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 12, 2021 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Several team executives reportedly believe that unvaccinated players who miss games because of COVID-19 shouldn't receive game checks for those absences, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
That report comes in the wake of Cole Beasley, who has been vocal about his decision to remain unvaccinated and has faced multiple fines for violating the league's coronavirus protocols, missing Sunday's game after being put on the reserve/COVID-19 list:
The $14,600 fine has been doubled on more than one occasion via video monitoring by the league. One source estimated the $100,000 total sum, another source believed it was just short of that amount.
There are several team execs who believe it's one loophole that needs to be revisited for 2022, believing an unvaccinated player who lands of the Covid-19 reserve list should not be paid if he misses a game or games. This is the first time Beasley has landed on the list.
It's hard to imagine the NFL Players Association ever agreeing to unvaccinated players forfeiting game checks for COVID-19-related absences.
The COVID-19 pandemic has remained a major storyline for the NFL this season, especially in December as the omicron variant has entered the fray. The league had to postpone three games last week as a result of outbreaks on various teams.
Missed this yesterday while flying back from LA: NFLPA president JC Tretter says the NFL wanted to cancel Seahawks-Rams, and neither team's players would have gotten paid.
Union put a stop to that, 3 games got postponed--and COVID testing went from mandatory to random. https://t.co/z4l7ZfgV1v
That led the NFL to change its coronavirus protocols. Vaccinated players and coaches will no longer be tested weekly but now randomly, a result of two-thirds of positive test results around the league last week for players who were asymptomatic, per ESPN's Kevin Seifert.
The NFL, in turn, is asking vaccinated players and coaches to self-report any symptoms they may have so they can get tested. For players looking to avoid missing important games down the stretch, however, it's fair to question whether that honor system will hold up.
Additionally, vaccinated coaches and players had to previously post two negative tests, 24 hours apart, before they were removed from the reserve/COVID-19 list. But the new protocols don't require a negative test and instead "there are now a series of new combinations of single negative tests and cycle threshold (CT) readings that can in theory have a player back as soon as one day after a positive test."
Unvaccinated players are still subject to daily testing, and if they test positive are still out for a minimum of 10 days.
Report: Bills WR Cole Beasley's Fines for COVID Violations 'In the Range of' $100K
Dec 26, 2021
Wide receiver (11) Cole Beasley of the Buffalo Bills warms up before playing against the Indianapolis Colts in an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Orchard Park, NY. The Colts defeated the Bills 41-15. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley has forfeited around $100,000 because of violations of the NFL's COVID-19 protocols, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
The veteran pass-catcher received a fine in August for failing to follow the masking guidelines at the Bills facility. Mortensen reported that was the first of many to come:
The $14,600 fine has been doubled on more than one occasion via video monitoring by the league. One source estimated the $100,000 total sum, another source believed it was just short of that amount.
Beasley earns a $4.7 million base salary this season and collected another $2.7 million in various bonuses.
Losing out on six figures of potential earnings doesn't appear to have swayed the 32-year-old, who voiced his opposition to the COVID-19 vaccine in June. One month later, he said he wasn't "anti- or pro-vax" but instead "pro-choice."
The Bills placed Beasley on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, ruling him out for Sunday's AFC East clash with the New England Patriots. He addressed the situation on Instagram, writing that "Covid is not keeping me out of this game" but that "the rules are":
Vaxxed players are playing with Covid every week now because they don't test. One of my vaxxed teammates is in the hospital missing games. I'm sure he didn't get this same energy. Thank you for those who support. Everyone else, if you don't get what's happening then there is nothing anybody can do for you.
The NFL and NFL Players Association agreed to alter the protocols with numerous players landing on the reserve/COVID-19 list amid the spread of the omicron variant. Vaccinated players can return more quickly under the new rules, and asymptomatic players aren't required to be regularly tested if they're vaccinated.
In the case of unvaccinated players, the rules remain the same. Unvaccinated players who test positive for COVID-19 remain away from their respective team for at least 10 days.
Mortensen noted that unvaccinated players who miss games while on the reserve/COVID-19 list don't lose out on their game check. He spoke to multiple team executives who believe that is "one loophole that needs to be revisited for 2022."
Cole Beasley Placed on Bills' Reserve/COVID-19 List Ahead of Week 16 vs. Patriots
Dec 21, 2021
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley (11) runs the ball in the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
The Buffalo Bills placed wide receiver Cole Beasley on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Beasley is second on the team in receptions (76) and receiving yards (640). Should he miss Sunday's game, his absence will be felt in Buffalo's passing attack against the New England Patriots.
The 32-year-old garnered attention ahead of the 2021 season when he indicated he wouldn't receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
"I will be outside doing what I do," he wrote in a statement on social media in June. "I'll be out in public. If your scared of me then steer clear, or get vaccinated. ... I may die of covid, but I'd rather die actually living."
Beasley said in July he wasn't "anti- or pro-vax" but "pro-choice" instead.
The NFL hasn't been immune to the surge of positive COVID-19 cases due to the spread of the omicron variant. Forty-seven players landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, the most ever in a single day for the league.
In response, the NFL and NFL Players Association agreed to a change in the protocols that allows vaccinated players to return more quickly following a positive test.
The rules remain the same for unvaccinated players, however. If he tested positive and didn't receive the vaccine, then Beasley would have to stay away from the Bills facility for at least 10 days.
Josh Allen to Start vs. Panthers Despite Foot Injury, Bills HC Says
Dec 17, 2021
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) scrambles against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is expected to start Sunday against the Carolina Panthers despite nursing a foot injury, according to head coach Sean McDermott.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported later Friday that Allen was not on the Bills' injury report, which means the quarterback would play Sunday.
The fourth-year signal-caller out of Wyoming has completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 28 touchdowns (11 interceptions) and 3,524 passing yards for the 7-6 Bills, who are hanging on to the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC standings. He's added 87 carries for 531 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Allen was considered day-to-day with a foot sprain suffered during the Bills' 33-27 overtime loss to the Buccaneers, as McDermott told reporters Monday.
Allen missed four games during his 2018 rookie season because of a UCL injury in his right elbow. However, he hasn't missed time for anything otherwise during his career.
The No. 7 overall selection in the 2018 NFL draft broke out during his third NFL season, completing 69.2 percent of his passes for 37 touchdowns (10 interceptions) and 4,544 passing yards. He led the Bills to their first AFC East title in 25 years and their first AFC Championship Game appearance since 1993.
The 2021 season has not gone as well for Allen and the Bills as they fight to make the playoffs, though the quarterback's dynamic talents have kept them in the mix.
His presence will go a long way for the Bills as they look to beat a struggling 5-8 Panthers team before a matchup with the New England Patriots in Week 16.
