Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Broncos Bills big game. Of course, as you know, it's
the Broncos first playoff appearance since twenty fifteen. Cannot wait
for the big game on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Yeah, and here's a fun conversation. Joining us now on
the KA Common Spirit Health Hotline is Buffalo Bills Beat
reporter for w g R Sports Radio five point fifty
and sideline reporter for the Buffalo Bills Radio Network at
Sale Capaccio Sale. Thank you so much for your time
this morning.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Oh you got it, guy. It's great to talk to
you in playoff week.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Hey, obviously here in Broncos Country, it's absolutely electric that
game at Empower Field on Sunday. Everybody's still in their
seats even though those a Chiefs blowout, just watching and
waiting and celebrating. What is the overall vibe and energy
right now in Buffalo heading into this game.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Well, first of all, you know we experienced that back
in twenty seventeen. The Bills had a seventeen year playoff drought, right,
I mean it was a long time. You know what
it's like to be out of the playoffs for quite
a few years, and you know, to have that vibe
and that feeling going in you just you know, it's
almost like you're playing with found money, and I totally
get that, so you can play loose on the other end. Now,
it's been you know, seven out of the last eight
years Wills have been to the playoffs and they haven't
(01:01):
gotten over the hump of the Kansas City Chiefs, And
you know, it's more kind of a nervousness because you know,
if your season ends on Sunday, it's a complete disappointment
and it's a failure to a lot of people because
this is a team that needs to get to a
super Bowl. They have what's likely the league MVP, and
Josh Allen certainly one of the best players over the
last several years. You're the number two seed, you're playing
at home, you have a rookie quarterback coming in. As
(01:22):
much as Bill's fans and the Bills, I'm sure respect
the Denver Broncos, you just can't lose this game. You
got to keep going on here because that's what the
season's about.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Sal I'm not saying you feel this way, but I'm
wondering if the overall sentiment, because I've heard this from
other places, that you guys are more thrilled, or I
would imagine anybody would be that you get to face
a rookie quarterback in Bonnicks and the Broncos versus facing
the Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Sure, I think look, I think they hope. They both
have their different you know, strengths and weaknesses. But I
don't think anybody really wanted to face Burrow in that offense,
you know, in the playoffs, because they can just score
so quickly and so well, and he's amazing, and they
have all these great receivers and it's really tough to
to hould the team like that down. Now that being said,
they don't have the kind of defense, doesn't have a
Broncos app everybody knows that as well. They're historic as
(02:06):
far as getting to the passer, there's challenges there. But yes,
I mean, look, Sean McDermott a very good defensive mind.
He has a very good record against rookie quarterbacks in
his career as a defensive coordinator, especially as a head coach.
I think that the preferred outcome going in the last
couple of weeks where Bills fans was give them the
Colts for the Broncos over the Bengals or even the
Dolphins because of its a division game, right guys, as
(02:28):
much as like you know, the outside looking at Hey, okay,
play the Dolphins the Bills. I don't think Bills fans
want to play the Dolphins. There's you know, division game
of familiarity. This is an opponent that you know, coming
two time zones to the East with a rookie quarterback. Yeah.
No one's saying that's an easy matchup. No matchups are
easy in the playoffs, but I do think getting a
rookie quarterback here on the road in this first playoff
start is something more preferable than some of the alternatives.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Tale you mentioned the strong suits of Broncos defense. The
strong suits, Josh Allen, what do you see when it
comes to the weaknesses that we might see in the
Broncos and the Bills.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Well, I think think one of the things that's given
the Bills trouble this year is teams that can really
run the ball, especially physically. And you know, the Broncos
aren't a terrific team at running the football. I mean,
you guys know that they can do it at times,
but that's something that they haven't been really proficient at
this year. So I think that that's something that helps
the Bills a little bit because their pass defense, well,
the numbers aren't there. Guys. You can look and say, well,
oh my god, if you look at the Bills numbers
(03:20):
on pass defense, I would caution not to do that.
They're a defense that allows you to get things underneath.
They allow the yards, but then they take the ball
away plus twenty four and turnover eight, which is amazing
this year. And then they get in the red zone
and they just don't let you score there as much either.
So I think the numbers are a little skew. Now,
third down defense has been a problem for the build,
and I think that's where, you know, maybe the Broncos
can take advantage. If they can find ways to get
(03:42):
to third and short, they can put the Bills a
little bit off balance. I think that's what they can do.
But I think because they don't run the ball as well,
the Bills can focus a little bit more on bow
Nicks making sure they contain him, don't let them, you know,
get out with his legs on the other side of
the ball. I know that I've seen some things and
you guys can tell me that the Broncos linebackers in
coverage have been a bit of an issue this year,
but those are very very good with their past catching
(04:04):
running backs James Cook, Ty Johnson, Ray Davis. This same
situation happened in Detroit a few weeks ago, and the
Bills had a great game plan and they just attacked
the linebackers over and over and over again, and the
Bill's running backs at a great day catching the football.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Well, to use the Star Trek phrase, the prime directive,
as you know, sal is to somehow contain Josh Allen.
And as somebody who knows Colorado State football intimately, I
got to see Josh Allen as a quarterback for Wyoming
tear us up. And of course we always say what if,
because Josh Allen could have been a Denver Bronco. But
I'm going to set that aside for a moment because
I think we have our quarterback. And I love seeing
Josh Allen thrive in a market in a town where,
(04:36):
whether in the fandom and the closeness of the community,
is successful for him. Having said that, I don't want
to see him have success. Obviously. This Sunday you alluded
to a little bit of this sal there's there's optimism,
cautious optimism by by by Bills fans and by the
Bills community. But there's full pressure on the Bills. Whereas
you say, the Broncos are coming in, they have nothing
to lose, So the full pressure is on Buffalo.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Yeah, no doubt about it. You know, the pressure is
very much on the Bills. Look at if if the
Bills were to lose this game, it's going to be
open season on Sean McDermott on Monday on all of
our radio shows, because he already gets it from the
fan base a lot, because hey, you've had this great quarterback.
You're supposed to be a defensive mind. But it's broken
down to the playoffs. There's been some mistakes. You haven't
gotten to the promised land. And his greatest Sean mcdermot't
Ben is winning percentage is outrageous, it's incredible. And he's
(05:19):
taken this team to the playoffs seven out of eight years,
a five straight division titles. Now it's not winning a
super Bowl, guys. Now, looks the funny thing is going
into this year. Back in August, the Bills were not
picked to be this good. They were supposed to take
a step back. No step on bigs, no Gay Davis,
no Jordan Puyer, michaeh Hi, Mitch Morris, all these It
was like, hey, or figure, just taking a step back.
It's a reset year for cap purposes. The Jets were
the money line favorite in Vegas to win the East.
(05:42):
If you had said to me, what's the successful year
back in August, I say, look, if they could win
the division again, and that'd be amazing, That'd be a
great coaching job. Well guess what now things have changed.
Now you won the division. Now you're the number two seeds,
you have have the league MVP, who I think is
going to win it. You need to get to the
super Bowl now, I mean that's really what the directive is.
So there is a lot of pressure on the Bills
say this though, you know, for Josh Allen and all
(06:02):
the things that were said about his turnovers over his
first several years in the league, I believe he has
and I think this might be true even after last
year's playoffs completed. I think of all the quarterbacks who
started a minimum like ten games in the playoffs, he
has the lowest interception percentage of any of them. In
the history of the league. He's been very good in
the playoffs, protecting the ball, making good decisions, and this
year he's done that at even higher level. Throughout the
(06:24):
regular season. I think he only has six interceptions total,
he only has two lost fumbles. He's making great decisions.
But you know, look, if this is a great Denver
Broncos defense, they bring a great pass rush. I will say, though,
one thing that's going to maybe help the Bills. As
great as Patrick Sutana as a believe, I hope you
respect for it. He's incredible. Those don't have that one
guy anymore, so I don't know how they're going to
employ him. The Bills really bite into this. Everybody eats mantra,
(06:44):
so they want to put Patrick Setannan Amari Cooper. Well,
there's Kali Shakir and Keyan Coleman and the running backs.
They want to put it on someone else. Josh will
look there, and if you want to play man to
man defense, that's been the Bugabooper teams, you turn your
back to Josh Allen and then he just suddenly kills
you with his.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Legs, Salan wrapping up with you. I just wanted to
have this up oportunity to ask, because I'm still astounded
and amazed by it. But are you amazed about the
recovery and the play of Damorrow Hamlin?
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Yeah, I am. I was on the field obviously when
everything happened in Cincinnati just over two years ago. Guys,
to go from that moment to where we are now,
for this guy to be the starting safety on a
team that is the number two seed in the AFC,
it's pretty remarkable. And look, Damar, actually here fans think, yeah,
he's not good enough, he shouldn't be starting. They would
(07:29):
rather see the rookie Cold Bishop. There's a lot of that,
and I get it. Cold Bishop is going to have
a great future. He's a very good athlete. He's played
well over the last several weeks when he's had to play.
Tomorrow has been a bit injured. Now he's back, but
I will tell you, look, the Bill still had that.
Heear to that philosophy, keep everything in front of you,
don't get beat deep, and Tomorrow is the perfect soldier
for that. He's not the best athlete in the world,
but he's smart. He knows the system. He keeps everything
(07:50):
in front of him. He could make a tackle when
he keeps everything in front of him, and the Bills
will allowed the fewest pass plays over the top than
any team in the league. And I think it's a
testament to what he's done. And you go back to
two years ago and now for him to work, it's
hard to have with everything else. Here's what I will
say to guys, and I know we got to go.
I think it doesn't want to I don't want to get
this lost. Mar Hamlin's had a great recovery on the field,
and it's amazing and remarkable. What he's done off the
(08:11):
field has superseded that. He has been an advocate for change.
These AEDs and the CPR courses that you're seeing throughout
high schools and little leagues and pop warners around the country.
A lot of that is the direct result of DeMar
Hamlin working with all the people and team that he's
worked with over the last couple of years.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Amen to that. Sale Beats a reporter for the Bills
WGR Sports Radio five point fifty n sideline reporter for
the Bills Radio Network. It's Sale, capaccio, Sale, Thank you
so much time for your time this morning. Good luck
on Sunday. Say hi to our girl Susie Wergin on
the sidelines as well for that game.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
I love it. I love Susie. Will we always say
hi when we get a chance. She's the best. I
love it. She does the she does the thing from
John Clayton a few years ago to honor him with
the pictures, so we've done that as well. Can't wait.
And if I see her, if I see her on Saturday,
I'll buy her some wings to guys. How about that?
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Nice? Thanks, Thal, You've got it.
Broncos Bills big game. Of course, as you know, it's
the Broncos first playoff appearance since twenty fifteen. Cannot wait
for the big game on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Yeah, and here's a fun conversation. Joining us now on
the KA Common Spirit Health Hotline is Buffalo Bills Beat
reporter for w g R Sports Radio five point fifty
and sideline reporter for the Buffalo Bills Radio Network at
Sale Capaccio Sale. Thank you so much for your time
this morning.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Oh you got it, guy. It's great to talk to
you in playoff week.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Hey, obviously here in Broncos Country, it's absolutely electric that
game at Empower Field on Sunday. Everybody's still in their
seats even though those a Chiefs blowout, just watching and
waiting and celebrating. What is the overall vibe and energy
right now in Buffalo heading into this game.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Well, first of all, you know we experienced that back
in twenty seventeen. The Bills had a seventeen year playoff drought, right,
I mean it was a long time. You know what
it's like to be out of the playoffs for quite
a few years, and you know, to have that vibe
and that feeling going in you just you know, it's
almost like you're playing with found money, and I totally
get that, so you can play loose on the other end. Now,
it's been you know, seven out of the last eight
years Wills have been to the playoffs and they haven't
(01:01):
gotten over the hump of the Kansas City Chiefs, And
you know, it's more kind of a nervousness because you know,
if your season ends on Sunday, it's a complete disappointment
and it's a failure to a lot of people because
this is a team that needs to get to a
super Bowl. They have what's likely the league MVP, and
Josh Allen certainly one of the best players over the
last several years. You're the number two seed, you're playing
at home, you have a rookie quarterback coming in. As
(01:22):
much as Bill's fans and the Bills, I'm sure respect
the Denver Broncos, you just can't lose this game. You
got to keep going on here because that's what the
season's about.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Sal I'm not saying you feel this way, but I'm
wondering if the overall sentiment, because I've heard this from
other places, that you guys are more thrilled, or I
would imagine anybody would be that you get to face
a rookie quarterback in Bonnicks and the Broncos versus facing
the Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Sure, I think look, I think they hope. They both
have their different you know, strengths and weaknesses. But I
don't think anybody really wanted to face Burrow in that offense,
you know, in the playoffs, because they can just score
so quickly and so well, and he's amazing, and they
have all these great receivers and it's really tough to
to hould the team like that down. Now that being said,
they don't have the kind of defense, doesn't have a
Broncos app everybody knows that as well. They're historic as
(02:06):
far as getting to the passer, there's challenges there. But yes,
I mean, look, Sean McDermott a very good defensive mind.
He has a very good record against rookie quarterbacks in
his career as a defensive coordinator, especially as a head coach.
I think that the preferred outcome going in the last
couple of weeks where Bills fans was give them the
Colts for the Broncos over the Bengals or even the
Dolphins because of its a division game, right guys, as
(02:28):
much as like you know, the outside looking at Hey, okay,
play the Dolphins the Bills. I don't think Bills fans
want to play the Dolphins. There's you know, division game
of familiarity. This is an opponent that you know, coming
two time zones to the East with a rookie quarterback. Yeah.
No one's saying that's an easy matchup. No matchups are
easy in the playoffs, but I do think getting a
rookie quarterback here on the road in this first playoff
start is something more preferable than some of the alternatives.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Tale you mentioned the strong suits of Broncos defense. The
strong suits, Josh Allen, what do you see when it
comes to the weaknesses that we might see in the
Broncos and the Bills.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Well, I think think one of the things that's given
the Bills trouble this year is teams that can really
run the ball, especially physically. And you know, the Broncos
aren't a terrific team at running the football. I mean,
you guys know that they can do it at times,
but that's something that they haven't been really proficient at
this year. So I think that that's something that helps
the Bills a little bit because their pass defense, well,
the numbers aren't there. Guys. You can look and say, well,
oh my god, if you look at the Bills numbers
(03:20):
on pass defense, I would caution not to do that.
They're a defense that allows you to get things underneath.
They allow the yards, but then they take the ball
away plus twenty four and turnover eight, which is amazing
this year. And then they get in the red zone
and they just don't let you score there as much either.
So I think the numbers are a little skew. Now,
third down defense has been a problem for the build,
and I think that's where, you know, maybe the Broncos
can take advantage. If they can find ways to get
(03:42):
to third and short, they can put the Bills a
little bit off balance. I think that's what they can do.
But I think because they don't run the ball as well,
the Bills can focus a little bit more on bow
Nicks making sure they contain him, don't let them, you know,
get out with his legs on the other side of
the ball. I know that I've seen some things and
you guys can tell me that the Broncos linebackers in
coverage have been a bit of an issue this year,
but those are very very good with their past catching
(04:04):
running backs James Cook, Ty Johnson, Ray Davis. This same
situation happened in Detroit a few weeks ago, and the
Bills had a great game plan and they just attacked
the linebackers over and over and over again, and the
Bill's running backs at a great day catching the football.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Well, to use the Star Trek phrase, the prime directive,
as you know, sal is to somehow contain Josh Allen.
And as somebody who knows Colorado State football intimately, I
got to see Josh Allen as a quarterback for Wyoming
tear us up. And of course we always say what if,
because Josh Allen could have been a Denver Bronco. But
I'm going to set that aside for a moment because
I think we have our quarterback. And I love seeing
Josh Allen thrive in a market in a town where,
(04:36):
whether in the fandom and the closeness of the community,
is successful for him. Having said that, I don't want
to see him have success. Obviously. This Sunday you alluded
to a little bit of this sal there's there's optimism,
cautious optimism by by by Bills fans and by the
Bills community. But there's full pressure on the Bills. Whereas
you say, the Broncos are coming in, they have nothing
to lose, So the full pressure is on Buffalo.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Yeah, no doubt about it. You know, the pressure is
very much on the Bills. Look at if if the
Bills were to lose this game, it's going to be
open season on Sean McDermott on Monday on all of
our radio shows, because he already gets it from the
fan base a lot, because hey, you've had this great quarterback.
You're supposed to be a defensive mind. But it's broken
down to the playoffs. There's been some mistakes. You haven't
gotten to the promised land. And his greatest Sean mcdermot't
Ben is winning percentage is outrageous, it's incredible. And he's
(05:19):
taken this team to the playoffs seven out of eight years,
a five straight division titles. Now it's not winning a
super Bowl, guys. Now, looks the funny thing is going
into this year. Back in August, the Bills were not
picked to be this good. They were supposed to take
a step back. No step on bigs, no Gay Davis,
no Jordan Puyer, michaeh Hi, Mitch Morris, all these It
was like, hey, or figure, just taking a step back.
It's a reset year for cap purposes. The Jets were
the money line favorite in Vegas to win the East.
(05:42):
If you had said to me, what's the successful year
back in August, I say, look, if they could win
the division again, and that'd be amazing, That'd be a
great coaching job. Well guess what now things have changed.
Now you won the division. Now you're the number two seeds,
you have have the league MVP, who I think is
going to win it. You need to get to the
super Bowl now, I mean that's really what the directive is.
So there is a lot of pressure on the Bills
say this though, you know, for Josh Allen and all
(06:02):
the things that were said about his turnovers over his
first several years in the league, I believe he has
and I think this might be true even after last
year's playoffs completed. I think of all the quarterbacks who
started a minimum like ten games in the playoffs, he
has the lowest interception percentage of any of them. In
the history of the league. He's been very good in
the playoffs, protecting the ball, making good decisions, and this
year he's done that at even higher level. Throughout the
(06:24):
regular season. I think he only has six interceptions total,
he only has two lost fumbles. He's making great decisions.
But you know, look, if this is a great Denver
Broncos defense, they bring a great pass rush. I will say, though,
one thing that's going to maybe help the Bills. As
great as Patrick Sutana as a believe, I hope you
respect for it. He's incredible. Those don't have that one
guy anymore, so I don't know how they're going to
employ him. The Bills really bite into this. Everybody eats mantra,
(06:44):
so they want to put Patrick Setannan Amari Cooper. Well,
there's Kali Shakir and Keyan Coleman and the running backs.
They want to put it on someone else. Josh will
look there, and if you want to play man to
man defense, that's been the Bugabooper teams, you turn your
back to Josh Allen and then he just suddenly kills
you with his.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Legs, Salan wrapping up with you. I just wanted to
have this up oportunity to ask, because I'm still astounded
and amazed by it. But are you amazed about the
recovery and the play of Damorrow Hamlin?
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Yeah, I am. I was on the field obviously when
everything happened in Cincinnati just over two years ago. Guys,
to go from that moment to where we are now,
for this guy to be the starting safety on a
team that is the number two seed in the AFC,
it's pretty remarkable. And look, Damar, actually here fans think, yeah,
he's not good enough, he shouldn't be starting. They would
(07:29):
rather see the rookie Cold Bishop. There's a lot of that,
and I get it. Cold Bishop is going to have
a great future. He's a very good athlete. He's played
well over the last several weeks when he's had to play.
Tomorrow has been a bit injured. Now he's back, but
I will tell you, look, the Bill still had that.
Heear to that philosophy, keep everything in front of you,
don't get beat deep, and Tomorrow is the perfect soldier
for that. He's not the best athlete in the world,
but he's smart. He knows the system. He keeps everything
(07:50):
in front of him. He could make a tackle when
he keeps everything in front of him, and the Bills
will allowed the fewest pass plays over the top than
any team in the league. And I think it's a
testament to what he's done. And you go back to
two years ago and now for him to work, it's
hard to have with everything else. Here's what I will
say to guys, and I know we got to go.
I think it doesn't want to I don't want to get
this lost. Mar Hamlin's had a great recovery on the field,
and it's amazing and remarkable. What he's done off the
(08:11):
field has superseded that. He has been an advocate for change.
These AEDs and the CPR courses that you're seeing throughout
high schools and little leagues and pop warners around the country.
A lot of that is the direct result of DeMar
Hamlin working with all the people and team that he's
worked with over the last couple of years.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Amen to that. Sale Beats a reporter for the Bills
WGR Sports Radio five point fifty n sideline reporter for
the Bills Radio Network. It's Sale, capaccio, Sale, Thank you
so much time for your time this morning. Good luck
on Sunday. Say hi to our girl Susie Wergin on
the sidelines as well for that game.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
I love it. I love Susie. Will we always say
hi when we get a chance. She's the best. I
love it. She does the she does the thing from
John Clayton a few years ago to honor him with
the pictures, so we've done that as well. Can't wait.
And if I see her, if I see her on Saturday,
I'll buy her some wings to guys. How about that?
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Nice? Thanks, Thal, You've got it.
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