Consulting With The Coaches

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Bills notebook | Greg Rousseau's stellar stretch, Josh Allen's poise and looking ahead to Miami

Oct 28, 2024 at 06:07 PM

Alec White

Content Coordinator

News and notes from media availability with Bills head coach Sean McDermott, defensive coordinator Bobby Babich and offensive coordinator Joe Brady.

Buffalo's coaching staff discussed the team's play in Sunday's 31-10 over the Seahawks, Josh Allen's poise after his first INT and and looked ahead to their first home AFC matchup of the season.

Rousseau's recent stellar play coincides with Miller's return

It's been an impressive couple of performances strung together by DE Greg Rousseau. The fifth-year edge rusher recorded his first career game with two pass deflections on Sunday along with two tackles for a loss. That stat line came on the heels of a career-high six QB hits in Week 7.

"Greg did some really good things. He was physical at times where he needed to be physical. He got his hands up, affected some passes," McDermott said of Rousseau's day against the Seahawks.

Rousseau is fifth in the NFL in QB pressures (38), according to Pro Football Focus and has two times as many TFLs (8) as the next highest player on the team (AJ Epenesa).

Rousseau's stellar play has been one of the many bright spots this season and Bills DC Bobby Babich credits a lot of that success to the defensive end's mindset.

"Greg's getting the mindset of 'the only person that can stop me is me', and that's really important," Babich said.

In other words, Rousseau has the confidence and trust in himself that he can play consistently at a high level.

"Having that mindset consistently is really important. And then Greg executes, Greg's a very good listener, and he executes what we deemed as the plan, and I think that's showing to pay off," Babich said.

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The consistency of Rousseau in 2024 has been important for the Bills as they've had to adjust defensively with edge rusher Von Miller missing the last four games due to a suspension.

Miller, who is eligible to return in Week 9 against the Dolphins, had three sacks in the first four games of the season prior to his suspension. The Bills are looking forward to welcoming the veteran back.

"It'll be good to have Von back," McDermott said. "I'm sure he's been chomping at the bit to get back."

Buffalo believes adding another option to their pass rush group will bode well for the defense as a whole as the team's schedule shifts to the second half of the regular season.

"We've got to rush together, and that's when you can really affect the quarterback, and the rush and coverage can work together," McDermott said.

Biiiiiig dubs!!!!!!#BUFvsSEA | @FDSportsbook pic.twitter.com/HwYcz5QWjl
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 28, 2024

Allen shows poise after first INT of 2024

It was bound to happen at some point. After 203 passes, Bills QB Josh Allen had a pass intercepted for the first time in 2024.

While you never want to turn the ball over, much less have it happen in your own territory, both McDermott and Brady praised Allen for having a quick memory and not letting it affect him on the next series.

The Bills defense got a fourth down stop from their own 1-yard line, so no damage done in terms of the scoreboard. Allen quickly reset on the sideline, then came back and guided the Bills to a 12-play, 93-yard touchdown drive in the rain to take a two-score lead.

"He continues to mature and his command of our offense being in some critical situational football environments has been important for us as well and our team success. He is the unquestionable leader of our football team and this organization," McDermott said.

The 93-yard TD drive was the Bills' second scoring drive of 90+ yards in the game, marking the first time the Bills have had two 90+ yard TD drives in the first half since the 1993 season.

"He's just playing comfortably and trusting the guys around him," Brady said of Allen.

Brady shared that one thing that's stood out to him this season is Allen's mastery of the offense and the confidence the QB has in the players on offense.

"Just understanding how defenses are playing him. Trusting the wideouts are going to be where they need to be and the tight ends are going to be where they need to be," he said.

Looking ahead to Bills-Dolphins

The Bills will have their first home divisional game of the season in Week 9 when they host the Dolphins, a team they beat 31-10 in Miami in Week 2.

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa returned to play in Week 8 after missing four games due to a concussion. He threw for 234 yards and a score in his return, helping lead the Dolphins to their highest point total of the season (27).

McDermott shared that he'll be diving into the Dolphins film later Monday night but early impressions of what he's heard is that Tagovailoa's return makes Miami a dangerous team to face.

"It appears, obviously, that he's back and playing at a high level. So they're a good team, a good offense. We're gonna have our work cut out for us this week," he said.