The Bills BULLY the Steelers in BOUNCEBACK WIN: O-line, JAMES COOK & the DEFENSE lead the way

The Bills BULLY the Steelers in BOUNCEBACK WIN: O-line, JAMES COOK & the DEFENSE lead the way

to get a big win on the road. Sean McDerm talked about this week being road warriors and the Bills were that today. This is the Buffalo Plus podcast. All right, welcome to the Buffalo Plus podcast. Mike Catalana, Dan Fates back in Rochester. I am Jenna Katro. Please be sure to like, comment, subscribe, and share. We’re here in Pittsburgh. The Bills picking up the win today 26-7 against the Steelers in this game. The Bills now move to eight-4 on the season. We’re going to talk about the offensive line play, the run game, Josh Allen, all the stuff. Defense as well. But first, I want to start really big picture. Bills get a big win, an important one in terms of the playoff standings, tiebreaker, a big night for them here in Pittsburgh. We talk about a lot of times the more physical team wins. They were the more physical team in this game. offensively with the O line for the running game. We’ll talk specifically about the guys who filled in who were great defensively led by Shaq Thompson. I said to him, when games are like this, he’s like, we love it like this for the defense because they got to play in a lowscoring game and make big plays. Look, is it the prettiest game in the world? Absolutely not. You know what’s pretty to now be 8-4 and get rid of the mess that happened down in Houston and look forward. And I thought they needed a game like this. Nowhere near perfect, but they needed a game like this and it was really really big for them. Yeah, it was ugly to start, but the way that the the defense helped them out in this game, the offense and the run game got things going. And this to me is a hindsight win. I think that you can learn from this game. You take the win, you move on, but you’re also helping yourself in terms of the standings, where this team is at, and also just the smiles. Like, I know it sounds silly, but we’re with this team every single week. You you ride the roller coaster of the highs, the lows. Coming off the field in Houston, there was there was not tears, but you could tell how dejected this team was to get a big win on the road. Sean McDermott talked about this week being road warriors, and the Bills were that. Today, you’re out here on the field at the end of the game when they’re all celebrating out here before they go in. As they’re coming in, Shawn McDermott is waiting at the edge of the locker room, which was cool. And he is shaking hands with everybody, slapping hands. Alec Anderson picks him up in the air. Like that was fullon team victory because look it, you know, Josh Allen wasn’t throwing for 350 yards. Great runs. We’ll talk about his runs, too. But at the same time, it was the offensive line, it was the defense. You know, it was one of those games that, like you said, ugly here in Pittsburgh. Believe me, you think this is ugly. How do you think the Pittsburgh fans feel watching that? But the Bills needed it and got it done. And while there are things certainly to work on, there’s a lot of things to be impressed by how they played today. Credit to the O line. Yeah. Credit to Alec Anderson and Ryan Vandermark. No Deion Dawkins in this game. No SP Spencer Brown in this game. We knew that would be a challenge. But then coming off the week they had or the game they had against Houston where Josh Allen got sacked eight times, 12 quarterbacks hits for those two players to play the way they did and the entire line just in general. We talk and we joke about like, oh, a bounceback effort. That was that was impressive what they did. What did you think when Alec Anderson got the two penalties on false starts? I was like, oh boy, here we go. You know, cuz those were killers. And the first couple of drives for this Bills team, I was like, you know what? But then he settled in as did the rest of the team. You saw it come together. But yeah, and early on I was like, you can tell he’s a younger player getting more time. But I think he fell into the flow of the game. But early on I was like, yeah. Well, I said to you, I joked when we were like having coffee or something this morning. I said, “Watch the watch the offensive line pitch a shut out in this one.” Now, I said that look, this was not a big passing game for them. Wasn’t like Josh was hanging back in the pocket for a long time and and they were protecting him. They did a very good job. The only time he really got hit was when he ran the ball, including the cheap shot. Yeah. And we can cheap. Yes. Yeah. Well, that’s that came from Tom Dano, a Pittsburgh guy. Oh, perfect. Uh, but at the same time they did that, but I thought maybe they could do that cuz Josh was going to get the ball out of his hands. But to run for 249 yards and really dominate like TJ Watt is a great player. You didn’t really notice him on the field. You really didn’t. And here’s what Josh Allen, he was asked by our friend Matt Bove of WKBW after the game. Just he asked Josh, not as a teammate, but as a friend, what was it like to see your guys Alec Anderson and Ry Ryan Vandermark play the way they did out here today? It’s so cool. Um, again, those are two guys that you never ever have to worry about their work ethic or their want or their love for their teammates. They continue to grind and again like I said earlier, they’ve been kind of the offensive jumbo tackle, swing tackle type uh situations, but um they did not blink tonight and for us to go in there against that against that defensive um line unit, um that’s some special stuff and I I could not be more proud of them. the level of play that our starters have set for us. Uh whether it’s Spencer and Dion or me and Vandy out there playing, we’re back there to protect 17 for as long as he needs it. And we executed that tonight. And it feels pretty good. I mean, uh shout out to Alec. I mean, great great guy. Comes comes every day prepared and his first start came at right tackle, which is awesome. And uh he did a great job in the run game. I mean, all five all five of us did did really well. I feel like uh you know we just put our heads down and and just started driving drive the ball down the field and it was awesome. Yeah, not only did they play well, but the rushing offense just in general and we can get into James Cook, Josh Allen also making history. Cool. Uh you know, he does that. So I just think overall though it was like it could have been a huge detriment to this team and tonight they turned it into a positive. Absolutely they did. the entire line. I could see Conor McGovern coming off the field, you know, as the guy we talked about this during the week, like he’s leading this line and he’s got two guys pretty inexperienced certainly in those roles like Josh said about like they fill in as that. There’s one thing filling in as the sixth guy, there’s another thing going every snap. So to be able to do that, James Cook was pretty good. He he knew his teammates were counting on him. Now he deflects credit all the time. He’s like, I’m just doing my job. But I think he was pretty happy with the way he played. He also told us, and I meant to mention this to you, that he texted those guys before the game and told him he loves them and he says, “I’m excited about what’s going to happen today.” And you know, that’s a different kind of leadership out of a guy like James Cook. He said he did that early in the morning and he was ready. Cuz I asked him, “Was it any different for you?” And he’s like, “No, these guys were ready to play.” So, you know, he trust his own. I’m learning this with you all. Look at that. That’s why I’m saying that though. Yeah, I think he did. You’re right. That is a different type of leader, but also it was their opportunity. There were a couple holes out there too where I was like, I could run through that. Like there was moments where Did you ever think about running out there? First half, yeah. Second half, no. Yeah. But um No, James Cook continues to have a phenomenal season. And add in Ray Davis. Ray Davis had a really nice day, too. So the couple times they’ve gone over 200 yards, it’s been obviously when Ray’s gotten more carries. That was really big during that stretch when they just kept moving the ball, moving the ball down the field. There were some moments where you looked at James Cook and you’re like, “That dude’s gas. He needs to take a break.” But then you had Ray Davis in there and he did a really good job of picking up the yardage, too. So, it was nice to have that combo out there. Ty Johnson also made a couple big plays in big moments for this team. Yeah. Overall, I mean, if we’re going to critique the offense, I would say like what was it? Uh James Cook was the leading receiver today with 33 yards. Like three wide receivers caught passes. Gabe Davis, Brandon Cooks, and then Keon had the touchdown. Um, but they didn’t need to do that today and they still got the win. They’re going to need it. We know they’re gonna need it, right? But this was not that game. I am not critical of the game plan at all in this one. You had backup tackles out there. You had a defense that you thought you could get to the second level on running the football. And also, I don’t know if this is breaking news, that Steelers offense just stinks. And they beat up Rogers. It was like, and I’m sure this joke was made on Twitter, but my internet wasn’t loading. It was like if you think the Bills offense is bad. Yeah. The Steelers offense was like, hold my beer. Yeah. No doubt. Wow. Yeah. That is depressing to watch. So, I did want to mention the one thing. You know, the first half wasn’t a lot. You just mentioned the Bills made the mistakes. It cost them from getting points. James Cook had the fumble. They get the touchdown. Bills are driving down at the end of the half. I have no idea. I don’t know if Sean was asked about what they were doing at the end of the first half. I when they they called the timeout then they were going to go for it. He was not it was a weird they got the three points and you’re like all right that was a very costly penalty and they got the penalty but then they still lined up again. So I I didn’t understand the the whole thinking behind that, but it ended up being the three points. And then Josh at halftime because I asked him about it and he started out by saying you asked Josh Allen. I asked you I talked to him. Imagine and he said I I actually said score, stop, score. Not realizing at the moment like the Bills don’t have the ball first. Yeah. And then the defense went out and scored and then they got a stop and then the Bills scored. So he goes, I got to say that more often. which I thought was pretty funny. But from the start of that second half, Christian Benford Bosa, huge play, knocks the ball loose. It’s his fifth fourth forced fumble of the year. Okay. Benford takes it in. Wow. And then he throws a pick. Benford comes up with it. Uh that was Benford’s first touchdown as a pro. And so didn’t get it because I was running down the tunnel. Well, you were doing your job. You’re in there at halftime. You run out. It was so longunnel. It was on the first play of the first offensive play of the second half. So that’s when it Bills media like locker room is and where our media room is. It shared a wall so you could hear some of the stuff. Now I don’t think this is breaking news at the half. You heard a lot of like let’s go, let’s go. Let’s go. Then you also heard we need to turn the ball over. We need to get turnovers. And I was like oh. So coming out I was like what happened? And then also Aaron Rogers with like the band-aid over his Oh my gosh. That was I I tweeted out it looked like he was about to steal the Declaration of Independence. Look, I He’s had a tremendous career. He’s the gold jacket guy, like they say here. Yeah. He just He just can’t play anymore. This offense stinks. If you’re him, if you’re him, like, is this the way you really want to go out here? I mean I mean, apparently, I will say the the brace, I mean, that is that was that seemed like it was It’s not on his right arm. I know, but it just felt like some of the stuff when he was making like he couldn’t really I give him credit for playing football at 43 years old or whatever he is. Uh but I just I just don’t think he scares anybody. Yeah. And I don’t think it’s a big difference though. They got one off Mason Rudolph. So, um no, regardless of what it was, the Bills defense led by Shaq Thompson imposed their will in the second half of this one. Well, why don’t you explain that a little bit because I think when you’re thinking about this game, you’re thinking of, all right, the defense did a nice job. Joey Bosa, like you said, forced the fumble. Christian Benford made some big plays as well, but Shaq Thompson is a guy that I think we talk about a little bit, but we don’t really talk about all that much, but he made a move that was what you would say what a leader does. Yeah. He talked to the team. Now, he said it to us in a way like, “Yeah, talk to the team.” And then someone asked him, he said, “I’d like to keep that in house.” Shawn didn’t give the specifics on it, but Shawn McDermott said that Shaq talked to the team. Shawn McDermott said that essent essentially Shaq Thompson challenged the team last week about challenging them. Whatever way you want to think about it, but challenging them in terms of we need them, we need us to be better. And I think we talk about leadership styles. Some guys are the rah rah, some guys are doing this, but to have a player that’s is this is his first season in Buffalo, but obviously a veteran, obviously a guy that Shawn McDerman and Brandon Bean trust to kind of put that out there of of saying, “Hey guys, are we doing enough?” He can still play. That’s the thing. You can talk and I don’t think he’d be a guy talking unless he was playing. He can still play. When you see guys go backwards when they hit him, it’s Shaq a lot of times. It’s 45. I know he’s an older player, but you don’t feel like it looks like that when he is playing. I I think he’s been outstanding. I think he’s staying out there. Well, certainly he’s going to play a lot no matter what ends up happening. And uh I think he’s made a difference and then like I said, he loved the kind of game this was with the physical nature and them needing the defense. And the defense needed a game like this. Steelers or no Steelers, whoever it was, they needed a game like this and they really got it done. I think this is an example of sometimes it’s not always like the high-flying touchdowns and like Josh Allen throwing for a billion yards, but this is a type of game that can energize a team. They can be more physical. They can play like this. They can grind out games. They can have guys that aren’t traditional starters be out there and play well. And I think you can gain some momentum from games like this and in a style of play like this. No doubt about it. I mean, it was like it was fun to see them having fun. And I said this to you yesterday. Uh, so this would be Saturday, depending on when you’re listening to this. I said, “This hasn’t been like the most fun season.” Some few moments like that Baltimore game was incredible. Solid big wins like when they went beat up the Jets and then beat up the Panthers. I get it. Yeah. This was, I think, outside of the Ravens game because that was insane. As Dan likes to say, there was a concert at the end. Yes. This was the most fun I’ve seen this team have, especially the way they celebrated after the game. Galvanizing when Josh got hit. galvanizing offensive line running the ball, backups stepping up, Josh setting the record for quarterback touchdowns with 76 passing Cam Newton. That is, it’s not unbelievable because it’s Josh Allen, but that is so impressive. Like, that is NFL history. and not like the kind of stats where you’re like he’s the first quarterback to have two passing touchdowns uh 100 yards on the ground and like did this one play like the most rushing rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. You know what I’m saying? Sometimes they cherry pick the stats. That’s awesome. No, no doubt about it. And the way he got it on that run and he showed a lot of emotion. Yes, that’s the most kind of emotion I’ve seen. You could tell he’s really fired up. I think the emotion was mostly for the actual touchdown. Oh, yeah. I don’t think it I don’t He doesn’t I don’t think he cares about that. Believe me, I think it’s I think he feels good. It’s nice to have a record, especially when, like you said, it’s an NFL record. So, this is not like just the team or just whatever it is. Josh had no idea that was for an NFL record. In my opinion, it was the emotions of the game, the late hit, of the grinded out style, of the physicality. This is the most I’ve ever seen Josh being jawing with another player. came. It was I look Yeah. very fortunate to be on on the sidelines for a lot of Bills games. Josh will sometimes in passing, you know, do a little something. They were both jawing at each other for a while. Didn’t he just get the sportsmanship award for the NFL for the Bills? He did. And I’m not saying it’s bad sportsmanship, but he and Cam Hayward going at it. And Cam Hayward, it’s not like Christian Wilkins. Cam Hayward is like a one of those guys in the league. Been around a long time. He’s one of those players. Josh got him to take an unsportsmanlike taunting penalty after Josh threw the touchdown pass. That is which is pretty Yeah, that is pretty impressive. And they were going at it. You guys saw it. If you read lips, go right ahead. They were going at it pretty good. And uh that fired up his teammates, too. There’s no doubt about it. We were joking on the sidelines. We were like, I didn’t know these teams hated each other that much. It felt like it. That was It felt like it. It was the late hit, though. I do think that did a lot because hey by the way no but just real quick NFL what are you looking at there was a slide what are you doing well seriously they protect quarterbacks and Josh clearly slid that was pretty and I know we’re not talking about 1983 here in 2025 NFL that is a penalty all the time and I was surprised they didn’t pan but you saw the players basically come off the bench or they were there they were pissed but but it it it again galvanized this team and I thought it was great. Yeah, I think it was one of those things that really lit a fire and sometimes Josh has joked about how like he sometimes likes to take a little bit of of a hit or whatever, but I think for the rest of the team it was like don’t you mess with Josh Allen. No doubt. Um, a couple of things I wanted to say about the passing game. Look, Brandon Cooks was out there. He was getting caught a pass. Uh, he tried to go to Shakir over the middle. Like Josh was behind him. Like the wind was somewhat impactful, wasn’t it? Early. Um, I thought it was pretty substantial in moments. Definitely more so in the first half than the second half. The interception to Gabe, I thought it was a little miscommunication. I think Gabe sort of stopped. I don’t mean stop stop, but like slowed. I think maybe thought he was going to turn up on the on the route there instead of going through. Josh, I think threw it to a spot, but the miscommunication for that and he was behind Shakira on that one. He threw a couple of bad balls. Like it wasn’t a great passing day by any stretch. Though the play he made to get it to uh Coleman for the touchdown, that was a nice fake. Yeah, you did. Oh, so hard. Well, so do the Steelers defense, so you have that in common with them. But he made the plays and uh I think he loves games like this. Like you said, the numbers don’t matter to him. No, it’s about winning and the team winning. And that was as I mean, Josh was pretty excited. I’d say the way he talked with us, he was talking about his teammates. He talked for a long time, which was good. It was great for us. Yeah, it was good. So that was fun. I think we mentioned this earlier in the week in the podcast, like he felt he seemed very refreshed after going to Wyoming and then now postgame today. The win obviously matters and helps in that equation, but it seemed like he had a lot more spirit. What do you want to say? Like what’s the proper word for that? Okay, I’m gonna I’m channeling my inner Dan Fates because I do want to take credit for this. I said it on our podcast during last week that I saw Josh talk to the group in Wyoming and then I heard his speech and I thought it would revitalize him. Then he said, you know, it was great for him to go out to Wyoming, get his number retired. It was good. And I thought he played like a guy with more energy, but a little more of a joy like he likes to talk He does. He does. that he doesn’t I feel like that’s not well no it is pretty well known in terms of like oh yeah within the NFL I don’t know if a lot of fans do that because Josh is like obviously very outward in terms of him with the community he met Nathan Link before the game 11-year-old cancer survivor that was really sweet um but yeah no I thought he got that back a little of that Josh Allen the way he ran the ball uh the way he was with his teammates he made plays and um and look like I said hey next week It’s Burrow. They’re going to be throwing the ball all over. You’re going to need to score more points. I don’t know how good this passing game can be. I think this is the way they win games. I I think Josh making plays. I think them running the ball. They have to play better defense. They’ll play against better offenses. But I do think I know they had the Tampa game. I think this is the formula. If this team’s going to do damage, this is the formula for them. A thousand%. My fear trust tree is that if you’re in a game where you need to pass the ball, it’s you’re going to be severely limited. We see what the run game can do, but the passing game has lacked. In this game, you didn’t need it, but there’s the fear that when you need to go to it, you don’t have that level. Let’s see what happens. Yeah, Kade should be back. Michael, we’re in the trust tree. Well, yes, that’s true. Is this thing rolling? I don’t know. I hope I for the We’ll see if they get Josh Palmer back soon. He could have played, didn’t play. I’m just saying Dalton Concincaid. Let’s see. I mean, if that helps in whatever way. I do like this. And you’re probably saying, “Why haven’t they talked about it?” I love them throwing the ball to the backs. Ty Johnson made another big third down and James Cook with a few catches. So, I like them throwing to the backs. I think that’s important. So, I think that helps the offense. And Joe Brady welcomed another baby baby girl is official. Okay. I didn’t tweeted it out after the game. Oh, that’s fant. So yeah, we had heard that that was close. Yeah, that’s got to be a lot on your mind when you’re coaching. I can’t even imagine. So, well, I wouldn’t be here. Congrat, but that’s a different story. Congratulations to the Bradies and they got a win. And look, Joe’s got his work cut out for him in terms of trying to, you know, he’s had some issues. The pass catching is a is a not a great thing. Yeah. But, um, they found a formula that worked. It worked for this game. Like I said, it’s different for Cincinnati than it is for Pittsburgh. They’ll have a different game plan uh or an adjusted game plan for that. But um Bills fans, enjoy your victory Monday. Yes, you get to talk a little. They’re eight and four. Uh while you’re watching this, maybe and if it’s before Monday Night Football, maybe the New York Football Giants decide to step up and and it’ll make things a little more interesting. If not, this was a big win. you know, they’ve beaten the Steelers, they’ve beaten the Ravens, they’ve beaten the Chiefs, you know, so they have wins against a lot of the teams that they could be fighting for. It’s so funny. Those sound like super quality wins, but some of those they’re kind of flailing a little bit, but it doesn’t matter. You beat you beat you beat them. And it’s wild. The Texans beat the Colts. That thing could the Colts, it looks like it’s going the long way for them. So, did they This is a narrative on NFL, like NFL live. Did the Colts peak too soon? Yeah. Or were they just a fraud? Okay. Well, yeah, but peak too soon also. Yeah, one or the other. Fraud alert. Yeah. Um, Patriots will have to deal with some adversity left side of their line dealing with injuries. So, what will that look like? But it’s the Giants, so we’ll figure it out. I don’t know. All right. All right. Please be sure to like, comment, subscribe, and share. Comment in your thoughts on this game. Comment in on Jenna’s outfit that if you were watching the game, you could probably see her on the sidelines. It was very prominent. I think he does my coat go to my ankles maybe. Yes, but you were down here on the field. A press box was a little little cool. Um could have turned the heat. They ran out of food before the start of the game. Yeah, the food in the press box. Kind of lame. I kind of lame. Permission to be honest. Well, it it’s tough. Like I know that this is a vaunted place to play. I think for Steelers fans it was hard to get into this game understandably so. But kind of lame. It’s kind of lame. Kind of lame. But again, hear me. Hey, they’ve had some bad football. They’ve had some bad football. I don’t I don’t blame him. No, but it just I don’t know. Yeah, it’s so hard. It’s wasn’t my favorite, but it was very cool. It was cool to come here. A lot of yellow. A lot of yellow. A lot of yellow. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So, anyhold, they would say, but that’s yellow. That’s yellow. That’s kind of I don’t know what it is. I would say that’s like McDonald’s yellow. Honestly, it is McDonald’s yellow. Yes. All right. All right. That’s it. I was making you uncomfortable. Let’s go get something to eat. Okay, please be sure once again like, comment, subscribe, and share for Dan who’s back in Rochester. We we will have plenty more coverage coming up this week as the Bills get ready to take on the Bengals Sunday in Orchard Park. For Mike Catalana, I’m Jenna Katrrol. Thank you so much for watching Buffalo Plus. This is the Buffalo Plus podcast.

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Mike Catalana and Jenna Cottrell break down the Bills 26-7 win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh. They talk what it means for Buffalo in the AFC standings, who won the day for the Bills and what’s next.

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