1. Josh Norman and Wegmans team up to help local businesses around Buffalo
Cornerback Josh Norman and his Starz24 Foundation are teaming up with Wegmans to support small local businesses that have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today Jan. 5 and tomorrow Jan. 6, Wegmans will be donating 100% of the proceeds from all the Meals 2Go orders to the Buffalo Business Blitz. The money will help aid local food vendors, restaurants and other small businesses in the Buffalo area. Norman has been so influential with giving back to Buffalo, and that started over the summer before he even took his first snap with the team. Bills Mafia show your support for local businesses and get some great Wegmans meals at the same time.
2. Bojorquez and McKenzie earn Special Teams honors for Week 17
In Peter King's Football Morning in America, he gave the honor of Special Teams Players of the Week to Corey Bojorquez and Isaiah McKenzie. The two players had phenomenal games against Miami and helped prove why Buffalo has one of the best special teams units in the league. Bojorquez led the NFL in average punt yards with 50.8 and had a 72-yard punt in week three which is the longest punt in the NFL this season. McKenzie who was filling in the Andre Roberts had the team's first punt returned for a touchdown since Marcus Thigpen in 2014. Here's what King had to say about the two Bills special teamers:
Special Teams Players of the Week
Corey Bojorquez, punter, Buffalo. Might have had the punt of the year late in the first quarter, and it came at the worst time possible for the Dolphins' sputtering offense and helped knock Miami out of the playoffs. Late in the first quarter, Miami up 3-0, Bojorquez booted from his own 45. The third-year punter from New Mexico angled to his right a high, deep punt, and it bounced and traveled out at the half-yard line. Miami, playing it ultra-safe with wobbly QB Tua Tagovailoa, went three-and-out and punted. Buffalo took over at midfield and drove for the go-ahead TD. Buffalo scored three more touchdowns before halftime and the rout was on—started by a simple, perfectly placed punt.
Isaiah McKenzie, wide receiver/punt-returner, Buffalo. The versatile fourth-year player, picked up off waivers from Denver in 2018, had the greatest day of his NFL life—and it only took one quarter. After catching seven and 14-yard TD passes from Josh Allen in the second quarter, McKenzie took a punt from Miami's Matt Haack at his 16-yard line and sprinted through traffic to the left. Then his speed took over on his way to the 84-yard TD. Gorgeous return set up by excellent blocking.
3. Tyler Matakevich earns this honor from PFF after Week 17 performance
Pro Football Focus came out with its Team of the Week for Week 17 and they gave props to Tyler Matakevich for his performance on Sunday. He was their secret superstar of the week after playing 48% of all defensive snaps, having the second-most tackles and two passes defensed against the Dolphins. Matakevich is just one of the key players that adds so much depth to this roster and is one of the Bills best special teams players.
SECRET SUPERSTAR OF THE WEEK: LB Tyler Matakevich, Buffalo Bills
For just the third time in his five-year NFL career, Matakevich on Sunday against the Dolphins logged substantial playing time on defense in a regular-season game. He played just 187 total snaps prior to Week 17 of this season but saw the field for 40 this past week in the second half of play after Buffalo took a three-touchdown lead on the Dolphins. While it may have been a blowout, Matakevich made the most of those snaps with an impressive 89.4 PFF grade that earned him PFF Team of the Week honors. With the Dolphins playing from behind and in dire need of a W for a playoff spot that they ultimately fell short of, Matakevich spent the bulk of his reps in coverage for Buffalo and made a couple of great plays on the ball in zone. One was nearly an interception for Tua Tagovailoa.
