Bills players get angry with media following loss to Patriots
On a cold, windy and snowy Monday night in Orchard Park, the New England Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills in a high school-esque football game. The run-heavy, defensive-forward affair saw the Pats steal the victory on the road and take a two-game lead in the AFC East.
For the Bills, it was a heartbreaking loss in so many ways. On top of failing to break New England’s one-sided game plan (Mac Jones threw three passes and the rushing attack combined for 222 yards), Josh Allen and Co. failed to capitalize on two golden opportunities in the fourth quarter.
Even though the Bills’ defense surrendered 14 points and allowed 19 total passing yards, that wasn’t enough to dodge some difficult questions from the media. Defensive backs Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde weren’t happy when WIVB reporter Jerry Sullivan asked if the team was embarrassed by the run defense’s effort.
Buffalo had been allowing fewer than 100 rushing yards per game this season, but Bill Belichick’s 46 attempts for 222 yards brought that total to 107.1 per contest and a troubling 176.7 over their last three. It was a sore subject for the guys at the podium and the end result wasn’t pretty.
Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde were not happy when asked if they were embarrassed by the run defence tonight. pic.twitter.com/5lwqZ8CRyh
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 7, 2021
Bills players got into an exchange with the media after losing to the Patriots.
Poyer immediately responded, “What kind of question is that?” and Hyde added, “What are we doing, bro?” Damien Harris’ 64-yard touchdown run ended up being the difference, and if you take that away, the Patriots would have only rushed for 158 total yards and just 3.5 yards per carry.
But … you can’t take that away! Sorry. It was only a matter of time before the Patriots broke one free behind their stacked offensive line, which is exactly what Belichick was angling for. With three capable backs in Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson and Brandon Bolden, this was always going to be a challenge for Buffalo.
Did the Bills need to get flamed by their own media, though? Patriots fans would say yes … but Buffalo fans? No need to add insult to injury after such a defeat.
As Micah Hyde was leaving the podium, he had this to say to WIVB reporter Jerry Sullivan, who asked the question about the Bills run defence. pic.twitter.com/Qigk975fzl
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 7, 2021
Did the media care to ask why the Bills’ only touchdown came after N’Keal Harry epically beefed a punt return to set up Allen and the offense on New England’s 14-yard line? Or that Sean McDermott called for a field goal into the wind and Tyler Bass missed the 33-yard try which forced the offense to have to score a touchdown instead of attempt a short field goal on the final drive?
If you’re going to ask a tough question, just make sure it’s directed at the right people and focuses on the appropriate subject. Either way, Patriots fans should enjoy watching the Bills spiral out of control with a game against the Buccaneers on deck.
