Bills news and notes: Poyer named Player of the Week, Buffalo dominates in second half

ORCHARD PARK - Former Buffalo Bills coach Marv Levy used to shrug his shoulders when asked about the importance of halftime adjustments.

It was Levy’s contention that fans and media made a little too much about changes the Bills may or may not have made to their game plans based on what was happening during the tiny 12-minute break because players usually spent that time resting, taking a bathroom break or perhaps getting some quick treatment.

Perhaps that was true back then, but it’s not the case under Sean McDermott.

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“I think the coaches have done a good job of communicating on the sideline what they’re seeing early in the game and then adjusting through the remainder of the first half, in particular at halftime, and then the players have executed,” McDermott said Wednesday.

Whatever the Bills are doing at halftime, it’s clearly working as they have outscored their opponents 63-7 after the break. The seven points allowed is the lowest figure in the NFL through four games since the Broncos allowed seven in 2009.

“Our coaches are going over the adjustments, like they'll talk and then come to the defense and be like, ‘OK, we're switching this, we're doing this’ and that's how we’re changing things,” cornerback Taron Johnson said.

Obviously, the offense is doing a nice job as well. The Bills have played to a 51-51 standoff in the first two quarters and then blown the doors off three of their four opponents thereafter.

• In Week 1, Buffalo broke away from a 10-10 halftime tie and routed the Rams 31-10.
• In Week 2 against the Titans, a 17-7 lead ballooned to 41-7 thanks to a 24-point third-quarter explosion capped by Matt Milano’s pick-six after Josh Allen had thrown a pair of TD pass to Stefon Diggs.
• In Miami, the Bills gave up their only score in the second half this year and it was a big one because it put the Dolphins ahead in a game they would win 21-19.
• And then in Baltimore, Buffalo blanked Lamar Jackson and turned what was once a 20-3 deficit into a 23-20 victory.

Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier pointed to that game, in particular, as one where the Bills did “not let the circumstances, the adversity that happened early on, let that affect what they were trying to get accomplished overall.”

“Even if things aren't going how we want it to in the first half, I feel like we just find a way,” Johnson said. "We’re always trying to keep them from scoring points, but during the second half, I feel like we're in good shape and we just tweak it and we're all settled into the game at that point.”

Tre’Davious White still not practicing

The star cornerback has now sat out the requisite four games after he was placed on the physically unable to perform list at the end of training camp, but there is still no indication of when the Bills will allow him to start practicing.

He was not on the field Wednesday as the Bills started preparing for Sunday’s game against the Steelers, and likely won’t be the rest of the week.

Once he gets out there, the Bills will have a 21-day window in which to activate him. If they don’t, he has to go on the injured reserve list and would have to sit out a minimum of four more games. That’s why, if he’s not ready to go, the Bills will probably hold off starting the clock on that three-week period.

This probably won’t be a game where the Bills miss White too much because the Steelers’ passing game, now being orchestrated by rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett, does not present many worries for a defense that ranks No. 1 in the NFL in fewest yards allowed passing, No. 2 in total yards and No. 2 in points.

Next week, the Bills have to face Patrick Mahomes and the explosive offense of the Kansas City Chiefs, and White would certainly be a welcome addition to the defense.

Justin Zimmer is back on Bills practice squad

The defensive tackle who was with the Bills the previous two seasons, was re-signed to the practice squad Tuesday. To make room for him and Miller, the Bills cut a pair of defensive tackles, C.J. Brewer and Prince Emili.

Zimmer was a solid rotational piece during the 2020 season and made one of the biggest plays that year when he forced a Cam Newton fumble deep in Buffalo territory in the final minute that preserved a victory over the Patriots.

Last season he suffered a knee injury in Week 6 that ended his season. In the offseason the Bills revamped their interior line by moving on from Zimmer, Star Lotulelei, Harrison Phillips, and Vernon Butler.

The signing of Zimmer may be in response to the continued absence of injured tackles Ed Oliver and Jordan Phillips who have missed the last three and two games respectively.

Jordan Poyer named AFC defensive player of the week

Poyer had a huge impact on the Bills’ victory over the Ravens and he was recognized for the award, the first time he has won it in his career. Without Poyer’s two fourth-quarter interceptions off Jackson, there’s a chance the Bills would have lost.

“He's extremely valuable,” said Frazier. “And the fact that we're missing Micah (Hyde) now has kind of raised his value from a leadership standpoint, as well as a play-making standpoint for us as a defense.”

In addition to his two picks, Poyer was in on six tackles and broke up a pass. Poyer sat out the Miami game with a foot injury and that’s the only game Buffalo has lost in the first four weeks.

However, he’s battling a rib injury that he suffered while making his end zone interception and he did not practice on Wednesday.

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