Orchard Park, NY — Together for years like it’s decorated buffalo bills safety, mica hyde When Jordan Poyer Known for speaking the same language being a very efficient communicator for the defense.
asked about certain things Cincinnati Bengals Topic Sunday afternoon they may have needed a translator.
“Good question,” said Poyer, shaking his head and looking at the floor of Highmark Stadium’s locker stall. “Honestly, I don’t know. I’m sure you’ll get something out of it, but it will be a whole new game.”
A few minutes ago Hyde pulled up his socks and stopped to think.
“You can learn a lot,” Hyde said. 1 play. “
Three weeks ago, Buffalo and Cincinnati had a nightmare after playing nine minutes and two seconds.
Bills safety dummer Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest If you make a normal tackle, it will fall down. It took CPR and a defibrillator to bring Hamlin back to life. He remained unconscious and was on a respirator for two days.
of NFL Canceled the game, wiped all stats, and removed the broadcast from the replay service. Officially, the game does not exist.
But it happened.
Now that we know Hamlin is recovering— He was able to reunite with his teammates at One Bills Drive last week — Anyone can revisit the Bengals’ seven offensive plays and the Bills’ 11 plays at Peycole Stadium without guilt.
Their rematch was set for Sunday. Bills beat Miami Dolphinsand a few hours later The Bengals escaped the Baltimore RavensThe winners will meet at 3pm on Sunday at Highmark Stadium.
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How much is their shortened matchup footage worth?
“I know it’s hard for my men to watch because of Damar,” Bills said as he left the guard Roger Saffold“But you have to look at it in detail. I don’t think it’s professional for us to consider any of those plays.
“When it comes to this kind of game, it’s a game of chess. Preparation will be key.”
Bengals coach Zach Taylor leaned into Poyer’s uncertainty about the value of nine fresh minutes between teams playing two games each.
“I’ve never been in a situation like that in my life,” Taylor said. It was 2 weeks ago. There is a balance there. What to adjust and what to keep, both teams will deal with that.”
Coaches and players can gain nuanced insight from each formation, blocking scheme and stunt, but use 18 snaps to see what happened the rest of the way or how to bet. should not be evaluated.
Buffalo tied 7-3 on each possession, but opened as the 3.5-point favorite on Sunday.
“This is an incredibly small sample size,” said Sam Monson, Lead Analyst at Pro Football Focus. “In 18 offensive plays, charger was 7-0 at jaguar, had the ball and was about to score again and take command. Anything over 18 plays.
“It was certainly interesting that Cincinnati were leading the game and doing well, but who knows how the next 120 plays played out?”
That said, 18 offensive plays, 1 pass interference penalty, 1 field goal, 1 extra point, and 3 kickoffs packed substantial action.
If coaches find value in getting a peek at their opponent’s formation before calling timeouts at key moments like 1/4 inch, then 9:02 in the game footage should provide a valuable clue.
“There is so much to learn,” Saffold says. “We can see how they attack us. We can see the defense in front of us.
“Both offenses were moving the ball very well. It was going to be a shootout.”
Play-by-play and stats have been removed from most sites, so those who haven’t seen the show have to take Saffold at his word.
Cincinnati won the coin toss and wanted the ball. Tyler Bass’s kick is a touchback.
in the first snap, Joe Burrow arced a deep ball on the left sideline of Jamal ChaseBills Cornerback Tredavius White A pass interference flagged 29 yards.
A burrow connected to a tight end Hayden Hurst 4 yards. Joe Mixon Rushed 5 yards.bills slot cornerback Taron Johnson He left the game with a head injury. Burrow picked up a first down on a 2-yard run and found Hurst again with 21 yards.On the next play Burrow found Tyler Boyd 14-yard touchdown.
“They scored on their first drive,” Hyde said.
Taylor’s offense left many early scores in the film. Counting the nullified contests in Week 17, they popped seven touchdowns on their opening drive. They started with field goals three times.
In Sunday night’s playoff three games, ravens.
“We’ve had touchdowns on opening drives before,” Poyer said. “We were able to settle in as defense and counter-punching.”
However, the Buffalo defense had to wait three weeks to fight back against Cincinnati’s initial salvo.
For a month, the Bengals were glowing from jumps.
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Opener of the playoffs, the first three series against the Ravens in the regular season finale, the only completed series against the Bills, and in Week 16. new england patriots, the Bengals scored six touchdowns and three field goals with no punts or turnovers. All against quality competition.
“The first 15 plays are scripted,” Hyde said. recently returned to practice“They flow, they’re in rhythm. As a defense, you shouldn’t panic about it.”
The Bills’ defense surrendered six touchdowns on their opening drive.
“Teams usually plan their first 15 plays pretty well,” Poyer says. It’s important to be able to handle it.”
After all, Bill’s veteran safety may still speak the same language.
Buffalo responded to Cincinnati with a long and eclectic Field Gold Live.
Josh Allen strike Stefon Diggs Throw 17 yards and then misfire Isaiah MackenzieAllen ran 9 yards. Devin Singleterry I ran 3 yards to move the chain. Allen scrambled 5 yards and found Diggs again at 9 yards. James Cook I took the next two carries for 18 yards.
Later I found that Allen was rarely used Reggie Gilliam He gained 7 yards at what would have been a fullback’s second target in almost three months. Allen’s next two throws fell incomplete.
“We probably have the same game plan,” Bates said. As for the first few drives, we don’t know his first 15 plays, so I can’t say much. They feel how we are adjusting to things and everything else. ”
There are 15 play references again.
Bass made a chip shot and kicked off with a short. Travion Williams, returned it 26 yards. Mixon ran for 7 yards and Burrow threw. tea higgins 13 yards across the middle on the last play.
“It’s like watching the next opponent’s preseason three game,” Hyde said. “I pay attention to what the starters did on the first drive, but I understand they might change it. You never know.”
Saffold pointed out that all NFL matchups are guessing games, regardless of known information. Teams go deep into film chambers, sometimes for years, in hopes of unearthing strategic hints.
“We’re going back to Square One,” said Bates. “They don’t know what we’re doing. We don’t know what they’re up to this week. Watch the tapes like any other week and be ready.” Make sure you are there.”
Bills defensive tackle Tim Settle I didn’t want to go into the details of what happened three weeks ago.
Either way, he figured all the information would be devoured and adjustments would be made.
“We’re not trying to go back in time,” Settle said. “You couldn’t say anything. The game started too early, but whether they try the same or not, we’re ready.
“We’re not going to beat around Bush for nothing. Let’s get straight to the point. We’re in this situation. They can’t get Joe Montana up there.” It doesn’t matter, we’ll keep pushing them.”
contribution: Paul Denner Jr. and Jay Morrison
(Photo: Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
