SalSpeak
By Sal Maiorana
SalSpeakSep 28, 2020
33. The Bills are AFC East Champions
It was a moment 25 years in the making, and now it has happened. The Bills blew out the Broncos and clinched the AFC East title for the first time since 1995. And they did it with perhaps their best overall performance of the season.
32. Sunday Night Football Takedown for the Bills
Playing on the biggest stage of the week in the Sunday night window, the Bills overcame a tough start and hammered the Steelers 26-15. They are now oh so close to winning the AFC East division, and they can take care of that piece of business this week.
31. The Bills Most Complete Performance of the Year
Josh Allen may have played the best game of his career as he threw for 375 yards and four touchdowns against a pretty good 49ers defense in Buffalo's 34-24 victory. And while the offense was great, the defense and special teams were very good, too. That was a full 60-minute performance which improves the Bills' record to 9-3.
30. Bills Defense Shows up in Victory Over Chargers
Not a great day for Josh Allen and the Bills' offense, but the defense showed up in a big way and helped secure the 27-17 victory over the Chargers.
29. The Bills Suffer Another Nickname Defeat - The Hail Murray
I'd say it's unbelievable, but it really isn't for the Bills. This team has a penchant for losing games in the most inexplicable of ways, and it happened again when Kyler Murray threw a 43-yard Hail Mary TD pass to DeAndre Hopkins with two seconds left to beat the Bills 32-30. Wide Right, Music City Miracle, and now the Hail Murray. Ugh
28. Bills deliver a signature win over the Seahawks
Josh Allen topped 400 yards passing for the second time year, and the Bills defense rattled Seattle's Russell Wilson into five sacks and four turnovers in a 44-34 victory. It was exactly the kind of game many expected, but most, like me, had the Seahawks winning. No doubt, quite a statement for the Bills.
27. The Bills beat the Patriots, the Bills beat the Patriots!
It took mass destruction of the Patriots roster in the form of free agent defections (including some guy named Brady), COVID-19 opt outs, and a bunch of injuries, but the Bills finally beat New England at home for the first time since 2011, and for just the sixth time in 41 games since Bill Belichick became Patriots coach.
26. Bills Take Care of Business Against the Woeful Jets
It certainly wasn't artistic in any way - what game could be when you don't score a touchdown and win on six field goals - but the Bills will take it. Their defense played tremendous in the second half, and the Bills beat the winless Jets 18-10. It was good enough against this opponent, but they will need to be better moving forward.
25. Two Straight Prime-Time Flops for the Bills
The Bills once again laid an egg on national TV with their 26-17 loss to the Chiefs. The run defense was horrid, Josh Allen was unimpressive, and now the Bills 4-0 start has become 4-2.
24. The Postmortem on Another Frustrating Yankees Flameout
This crazy, weird, unprecedented Yankees season came to a horrific end when Aroldis Chapman gave up a losing home run to the Rays in Game 5 of the ALDS. And so, Sal and Charlie Ricker are left to clean up the mess and look ahead to a very interesting offseason to come.
23. Yankees Stay on a Roll in Game 1 vs. Rays
After knocking out the Indians in the wild-card series last week, the Yankees bats kept singing in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Rays, the big blow a stunning grand slam by Giancarlo Stanton. Sal and Charlie Ricker have plenty to say about it all.
22. The Bills Just Keep Winning, And Josh Allen Keeps Impressing
The Bills improved to 4-0 with their 30-23 victory over the Raiders in Las Vegas. Another big day for the offense, and some big moments for the defense to help secure the game. And now the Bills hope they get to play in Week 5 against the Titans.
21. Yankees Limp Into What Could be a Very Short Postseason
There's really no other way to describe the Yankees season other than to call it disappointing. But, they are in the playoffs and they'll have a chance to turn things around, though it won't be easy against the pitching-rich Cleveland Indians.
20. An Amazing Bills Victory Over the Rams
The Bills blew a 28-3 lead in the third quarter before rallying at the end to pull out a 35-32 victory that people will remember for quite some time.
19. Yankees Have Plenty of Questions in This Final Week
It seems like it just started - because it did - but now we're in the final week of the MLB regular season. Sal and Charlie Ricker size up the Yankees with the postseason just around the corner.
18. Josh Allen Lights up the Dolphins
The Bills improved to 2-0 with an offensive explosion of a performance against the Dolphins, a 31-28 victory that featured 417 passing yards from Josh Allen, and 524 yards overall.
17. Yankees Back on Track Heading into the Homestretch
Charlie Ricker joins Sal to break down the week that was for the Yankees, a much-needed five-game win streak on the heels of that awful five-game losing streak they endured. Also, a look ahead to a big series with the Blue Jays, and the possible return of some of the walking wounded.
16. Bills 27, Jets 17: It Shouldn't Have Been That Close
The Bills opened the 2020 season with a rather routine 27-17 victory over the Jets in a game that did not reflect the final score. The Bills dominated across the board, led by quarterback Josh Allen who had a career day.
15. The Yankees Stink Like They've Rarely Stunk Before
It is almost unfathomable how bad the Yankees have played the past two-plus weeks and now, an almost unthinkable situation has arisen. If this continues, they may not make the playoffs.
14. Tough Decisions for Bills as They Cut to 53
The Bills will have to cut several players who would have made their team in the past, and who will likely find jobs elsewhere in the NFL. That's what happens when you build a sturdy roster that has quality starters backed by competent reserves. In this episode, Sal offers his 53-man projection.
13. That was Some Week for the Yankees
The Yankees played the Mets five times in a span of three days, and every game was filled with highs and lows. In the end, while the Yankees could have easily lost all five, they managed to win three, mainly because the Mets are the Mets. Sal and Charlie Ricker break it all down.
12. The Bills False Positives, and Why Can't the Yankees Stay Healthy
This is a double dose of information as the first half is devoted to the Bills and the unfortunate false positive COVID-19 tests that caused a disruption on Sunday. You'll hear from Josh Allen and Sean McDermott. And then I welcome fellow Yankee fan Charlie Ricker from some Yankees talk, centered mainly on their inability to avoid injury.
11. Harrison Phillips and His Long Journey Back to the Bills
Defensive tackle Harrison Phillips missed almost all of the 2019 season with a knee injury, and Monday, his long road back to playing hit a milestone as he was on the field for the Bills' first padded practice. Plus, Sal shares some thoughts on the Yankees.
10. Sean McDermott Gets a Contract Extension; Blue Jays Make Their Buffalo Debut
The Bills announced a six-year contract extension for coach Sean McDermott, so I have some thoughts on that move. Also, I covered my first MLB game Tuesday night, the Blue Jays vs. the Marlins at Sahlen Field in Buffalo. And finally, some comments about the Yankees, of course.
9. Ed Oliver On His Arrest, Brian Winters on Joining the Bills
In this episode, Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver opens up about his arrest in May on suspicion of DWI, a charge that probably should have never been levied. And in the second half, some thoughts from new offensive guard Brian Winters who signed with the Bills after being cut by the Jets.
8. Stefon Diggs Finally Meets the WNY Media
In this episode, you get to listen to Stefon Diggs' first interaction with the Western New York media and hear his thoughts on being traded to Buffalo, what he thinks the Bills offense can be, and how he feels about playing with strong-armed quarterback Josh Allen.
7. Josh Allen: I'm Playing Because America Needs Football
In this episode, you can listen to Josh Allen's entire 16-minute Zoom call with reporters from Monday afternoon. He expressed several thoughts, one being that the main reason he'll be playing this season instead of opting out over fears related to coronavirus is that he wants to do his part to bring football back to the fans. They need it, he said, and he wants to be a part of it.
6. Jordan Poyer Says Bills Defense Can Be Better
The Bills safety spent time on Zoom with reporters and here are some of the highlights, including his description of what it's like to go to work at One Bills Drive in the COVID-19 times.
5. Hello Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott
On this episode, I've included some clips from general manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott as they met with reporters via Zoom on Sunday to talk all things Bills, COVID-19, and the weird way training camp will be conducted starting Monday.
4. A Very Strange Bills Training Camp on the Horizon
Mike Catalana, sports director at WHAM-13 in Rochester, joins Sal to discuss the start of a very different training camp for the Bills. These are strange times for everybody, including the reporters who at this point will not be able to talk to anyone in person this season. Sal and Mike also discuss Josh Allen, and how important it will be for him to upgrade his play on a team that his built to win right now.
3. All Rise as Yankees Rally Past Orioles
My thoughts on the Yankees comeback 8-6 win in Baltimore Thursday night, the awful start to the season for Gary Sanchez, and the red-hot start for Giancarlo Stanton as the Yankees get ready to host the Red Sox this weekend.
2. Star Lotulelei Opts Out of 2020 Season
The 31-year-old Bills defensive tackle will not play amid concerns over COVID-19. I have a feeling he won’t be the only player on the Buffalo roster making this choice.
1. The SalSpeak Podcast Returns
In the debut episode, I share some thoughts on the start to this bizarre 2020 baseball season for the Yankees.