Buffalo Bills vs Jacksonville Jaguars: Tyler Bass is AFC special teams player of the month

ORCHARD PARK – The Buffalo Bills will make the second of their three trips to Florida this season on Sunday when they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars and their rookie head coach, Urban Meyer, and their rookie quarterback, Trevor Lawrence.

The Bills routed the Dolphins in Miami 35-0, and they also have an upcoming trip to Tampa Bay in early December to play Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers.

The Bills are coming off a 26-11 victory over the Dolphins at Highmark Stadium which improved their record to 5-2 and enabled them to remain 1.5 games ahead of the improving New England Patriots. Jacksonville was thumped 31-7 in Seattle and has a record of 1-6.

Here’s what has been going on this week at One Bills Drive:

Tyler Bass is AFC special teams player of the month

The Bills lead the NFL in points per game at 32.7, and they lead the NFL in fewest points allowed per game at 15.6. If that isn’t already an embarrassment of riches, on Thursday their kicker was named AFC special teams player of the month for October.

In the games against Houston, Kansas City, Tennessee and Miami, Bass made all 10 of his field goal attempts and all 13 of his extra point attempts for a total of 43 points. For the season he is 16 of 17 on field goals and 23 of his extra points and his 71 points rank second in the league behind New England kicker Nick Folk’s 76.

Bass’ only missed kick this season came from beyond 50 yards, and he is on pace to break his team record of 141 points scored which he set as a rookie in 2020 when he made 28 of 34 field goals and 57 of 58 extra points. Without question, Bass may be the best sixth-round draft pick in Bills history.

“T-Bass, he’s so slim, his stature doesn’t seem like big, super strong, but when it comes to having the leg, I think he can kick from like 60-something, whatever,” said wide receiver Stefon Diggs. “I know I’m always gonna be there to celebrate with him. I think special teams is huge for us, cause T-Bass brings a little swag, too. He’s not your normal field goal kicker.”

Behind the scenes of the Manning Cast

Actually, there really wasn’t any behind the scenes to discuss because Josh Allen said when he appeared on the ESPN alternative broadcast of Monday Night Football featuring Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, it’s completely unscripted.

There were no discussions beforehand of what would be talked about, no emails or outlines, it’s just the Mannings and their guests, and the conversation is free flowing.

“It’s all spontaneous,” said Allen, who appeared during the third quarter of the Chiefs 20-17 victory over the Giants. “No idea what they’re going to talk about at all. So, yeah, again, and it’s live, so knowing that, your heart’s racing a little bit. It’s kind of nerve-wracking, so I was trying not to do anything stupid. You just don’t want to do the wrong thing, say the wrong thing. You don’t want to come off and sound dumb. I felt like I did my job, just go in there and answer some questions. It’s not my job to comment on the game or call play by play.”

Allen said his teammates gave him a couple jabs relating to his performance.

“Davis (Webb) was happy, I gave him a little shout out, nice mustache,” Allen said. “And he played with Eli, so just trying to have something common to talk about. A couple of guys said that I was boring. But that’s fine with me.”

Who said that?

“Micah Hyde? But he’s a hater, so it’s all good,” Allen said with a smile. “Talking with two guys that I grew up watching and idolizing. And you know, they’re great from their own perspective, and it was really fun for me.”

Bills get first look at Trevor Lawrence

Jacksonville chose the former Clemson standout with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft and he has been their starter since Week 1.

Not surprisingly, Lawrence’s rookie season has featured some painful lessons as he tries to acclimate himself to the NFL, which is in no way like the ACC. The talent is evident, but the struggles have been predictable, especially when you consider the lack of talent around him in Jacksonville.

Of course, Sean McDermott tends to focus on the positive and he said he has been impressed with what Lawrence has done across his first seven NFL starts despite a 59.6 completion percentage and nine interceptions against eight TDs.

“You watch him on TV just in his career at Clemson and the games he played in and the job he did, played at such a high level,” McDermott said. “He seems to be, at least outside looking in, a class young man that’s off to a good start in his career.”

McDermott was asked whether he thinks rookie quarterbacks are more ready to play right away than they’ve ever been..

“I think it varies, by situation, by individual,” McDermott said. “I think Trevor is a really good quarterback. He’s going to have a long successful career in this league, I’m sure and again, like I’ve said before, we have a lot of respect for who he is and how he’s played and who he is off the field also.”

Aaron Rodgers news has the Bills attention

The NFL was rocked Wednesday by the announcement in Green Bay that star quarterback Aaron Rodgers tested positive for the coronavirus and will not play in their showdown against the Chiefs Sunday.

The Bills have an issue of their own because on Tuesday they placed quarterback Jake Fromm and wide receiver Tanner Gentry, both members of their practice squad, on the reserve/COVID-19 list when they tested positive.

As of now, after testing Wednesday morning, there does not appear to be an outbreak on the team and it may have been contained to those two players. Still, it’s a reminder – especially the Rodgers situation – of how the virus can still have a big impact on a team.

“We hope,” coach Sean McDermott said when he was asked if he thinks the Bills dodged a bullet. “I mean, I’m not a doctor so I can never say confident, I don’t want to use the word confident, but yeah, we did the best we could and we’re going to continue to try and do the best we can and try and limit the spread by the habits we use here and hopefully outside the building also.”

Offensive line may have another combination

McDermott said Wednesday that offensive tackle Spencer Brown would either not practice, or perhaps be limited in what he does, and if that’s the case, that would seem to indicate that his availability for Sunday’s game could be in doubt.

Brown missed last week’s game against Miami with a back injury so Daryl Williams replaced him at right tackle, Jon Feliciano switched to right guard, and Ike Boettger got the start at left guard.

However, Feliciano is definitely not playing against the Jaguars because he suffered a strained calf late against the Dolphins and could miss several weeks. If Brown can’t play, it would mean Cody Ford – who was benched after three games – would have to go back into the starting lineup at right guard.

McDermott said that Ford has worked hard since he lost his starting job, and it seems as if he trusts him to return to the lineup if need be.

“My confidence (in Ford) hasn’t really changed,” McDermott said. “I know it says, ‘Well, how can you say that?’ But I think what Cody’s done – which I think is great – is he’s gone back to the drawing board and tried to adjust some things technique and fundamental wise and he’s put himself in a position now to come out here and do a good job for us.”

Sal Maiorana can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @salmaiorana.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills vs Jacksonville Jaguars: What McDermott, players say