–Linebacker Lorenzo Alexander is now 35 years old, the second-oldest player on the team, but he certainly hasn’t shown his age. Against the Vikings, Alexander was credited by Pro Football Focus with eight quarterback hurries, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup on his 39 snaps.
“The guy’s unreal, just in terms of his effort,” coach Sean McDermott said. “There was a play in the game in the fourth quarter, I think it was about seven minutes to go, and he’s literally rushing the passer falling backwards but his feet kept going. That’s great leadership by example, and our young players need to continue to watch guys like Lorenzo, to develop the habits that are so necessary at this level. There are a lot of talented players in this league, but when you can combine the habits with the talent like Lorenzo has been able to do, you get a front row seat to see what it’s all about.”
Alexander has also been a rock to lean on in the linebacker room for second-year weakside man Matt Milano, and rookie middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.
“There’s a group of guys that I count on, a core group of leaders that have gotten in front of this football team and have led by example, led verbally, have been servant leaders,” McDermott said, including Alexander in that group. “And the guys really follow that group overall, and I would say that every team is different, and this team is starting to take on a shape of its own and learn its own identity, and I think guys are starting to figure out who they are in the group and embrace that as well.”
–Cornerback Tre’Davious White is three games into his second season in the league, and because he plays in Buffalo he’s not on the radar too often, but he is quickly becoming one of the best cover cornerbacks in the league. He basically shut down Stefon Diggs Sunday, but he does that to most receivers he faces. “That’s my calling this year as a defensive back,” White said. “Being the No. 1 corner on this team is, follow the best guy on every team and try my best to limit the big plays. So far these first three weeks, I’ve been doing a great job of that.”
White won’t get an argument from defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. “I marvel at Tre’Davious at times,” he said. “I realize he’s only in his second season and here we are matching him up with other people’s top receivers, and we did some of that his rookie year as well and he doesn’t blink. He competes every single snap, he prepares the way you need to prepare over the course of the week, and he’s really amazing in a lot of ways. He allows us to do some things that, otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to do.”
Safety Micah Hyde, who made the Pro Bowl last season, said of White, “I told him in the offseason he can be the best corner in this league. Like coach says all the time, it’s a process, we understand that, but he’s been putting in the work and I think he’s mentally ready to take that leap. I’m excited to see what he can continue to do.”
BY THE NUMBERS: 4 — Times since 1986, the year Jim Kelly came to Buffalo, that the Bills have been double-digit underdogs in back-to-back weeks. Last week and this week, and it also occurred in 2007, 2010 and 2012.
