'I expect success with those guys' | Stefon Diggs not surprised other Bills pass-catchers are stepping up in big moments

Jan 11, 2024 at 05:25 PM

Patrick Warren

Contributing Correspondent

Buffalo Bills Practice, Super Wild Card, January 11, 2024 at 1 Bills Drive.

Since the Buffalo Bills' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12, Stefon Diggs had not exceeded 50 receiving yards in a single game after starting the season with five games with 100 or more receiving yards in the season's first six games.

That changed Sunday night, when Diggs caught seven passes for 87 yards, including a key 36-yard shot from Josh Allen that set up the Bills' first touchdown in their 21-14 win over the Miami Dolphins.

"It was cool. I've been trying to just stay at the same level," Diggs said after practice Wednesday. "I had an okay game. I've had better games, so I didn't really think too much of it. I've just been steadfast, staying in the right mindset, trying to be a good teammate, trying to lead my team the right way and stack these wins."

Diggs' mentality towards his downtick in production and his approach towards the Bills' comeback from a 6-6 record to the No. 2 seed in the AFC mirror each other.

"Our group is definitely resilient, especially considering that at one point everyone was like, 'there's no way they'll make the playoffs,'" Diggs said. "But for us, we just stayed in the right mindset, took it week by week. We knew it was going to be a roller coaster for everybody else and even though we had some losses, we knew we were a good team."

As Diggs saw his target share decrease over the four games before the Miami game, he enjoyed watching other pass catchers on the offense contribute to the Bills' 5-0 record in December and January this season.

"I get more excited seeing other guys have success than myself, because with myself I expect success. I expect success with those guys, I expect them to make plays, when they make those huge plays, I'm like 'alright, you're coming along," Diggs said.

Wide receiver Khalil Shakir led the Bills in receiving yards against Miami, including catches of 46 and 28 yards. Over the past five games, the receiver has averaged 2.8 receptions for 40.2 yards per game.

Trent Sherfield caught his first touchdown of the season against his former team on Sunday night on a wild tipped pass from Allen, keeping his eyes on the ball and his feet in bounds as he made the play.

"Honestly, you can't draw it up better than that, it was crazy," Sherfield said. "I see the ball come out of Josh's hand from the jump and I see the ball get tipped up in the air ... and as I'm gauging it, I'm like, 'I can still get my feet down and catch it,' and so when the ball came down I just let my body go dead and kept my feet in."

To round out the list of pass catchers who had made an impact, rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid has strung together back-to-back games with over 80 yards receiving for the first time in his young career.

"I've seen his demeanor, and when I say demeanor I mean not when good things happen but when bad things happen. Like as a pro and as a young player, you see how guys handle adversity and I look him in his eyes and I can tell he brushes it off like, 'I'll get the next one,'" Diggs said.

Related Links

The Bills offense will be in need of the wide range of options in their passing attack when they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday in the Super Wild Card round of the playoffs.

After the Bills' win over the Dolphins, Diggs told his quarterback "four more," signifying how many games stand between Buffalo and a Lombardi Trophy.

"That's been our goal. That's what we always wanted, that's what we've been preaching about for a long time," Diggs said.

The Bills have shown their commitment to that goal, climbing back from a 6-6 record and battling back from a waft of injuries with a serious chance to make a run in the playoffs.

"When we were losing, nobody really jumped out of the wheelbarrow," Diggs said. "For us, we just stayed focused on what matters most to us. So battle-tested is a good word because adversity hit us multiple times in multiple ways. We had Tre'Davious (White) get hurt, Josh got banged up. Things happen throughout the season that kind of show you the will to win is real and we're going to continue to be resilient."

'A cannon for an arm'

When Josh Allen eventually decides to call it a career, the Bills quarterback has started to build up quite the acting portfolio should he ever decide to take to the big screen after his playing days are over.

Most recently, Allen partnered with Paramount+ as a part of their "A Mountain of Entertainment" brand campaign series – with a second ad set to air during the Super Bowl on CBS.

The advertisement features Allen with a variety of television characters and personalities, including Peppa Pig and Tony Romo, as the quarterback and "Transformers" villain Decepticon Scourge get into a throwing competition.

Check out the full video here.

Injury report

Wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee), tackle Dion Dawkins (hand/illness), linebacker Tyrel Dodson (shoulder), cornerback Rasul Douglas (knee), Deonte Harty (personal), tight end Dawson Knox (illness) and safety Taylor Rapp (calf) did not participate Thursday's practice.

Running back Ty Johnson (concussion) was limited while quarterback Josh Allen (neck), edge rusher Leonard Floyd (vet rest), safety Damar Hamlin (shoulder), safety Micah Hyde (neck), edge rusher Von Miller (vet rest) were all full participants.

Buffalo's final injury report of the week will be released following Friday's practice.