Bills go extra mile to keep reserves ready

Backups made the difference in Sunday’s victory

Bills players Ja’Marcus Ingram and Cam Lewis were not expected to be crucial factors in Buffalo’s win over the Cardinals on Sunday, but the backups played key roles in stopping Arizona’s offense to earn the comeback victory.

Ingram’s pass coverage on the final play of the game stopped the Cardinals from being in position to score and win. Lewis’s 10 tackles were the second-most on the team.

Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said Bills coaches take pride in making sure their backups are ready if they are called upon during the game. Making that happen is largely about both coaches and players putting in the time.

“Last year, we used to come in at 7:30. Day started at 8:30, so we’d be here at 7:30 just getting the extra notes, just because you don’t get a lot of reps,” Lewis said. “You want the starters to get as many reps as possible (in practice), just to get comfortable with the game plans. (For reserves) getting the extra meetings in, the extra one-on-one time, the extra watching film, just to make sure if you get thrown in there, you’re ready to go.”

“Meeting early, like Cam talked about, staying late with coaches and stuff like that. Just all of the extra,” Ingram said. “Going above and beyond. That’s something that’s unique about this place.”

Extra hours of coach availability is not typical around the high levels of football. Going above and beyond during the week helped the Bills to overcome adversity in their week one matchup. Despite an early two touchdown deficit and injuries on both sides of the ball, the team held the Cardinals to a scoreless third quarter while putting 14 points back on the board.

Head coach Sean McDermott says his players’ preparedness is an organizational effort, from top to bottom.

“It’s really the whole building, I think it’s the coaching staff. I think it’s the way we develop the players, hopefully not just the player, but the person,” McDermott said.

“They treat everybody the same–as far as preparing like we’re going to play–even if you’re on practice squad. Even if you don’t know if you’re going to be active that week, they treat everybody the same,” Ingram said.

McDermott adds that the players part is wanting to learn and do the work. There is a correct DNA that makes a backup willing and able to do the work required to be ready when their opportunity unexpectedly comes.

“Something as simple as being coachable is huge,” McDermott said. “I know that sound pretty basic… but if one isn’t coachable and think they know it all, that’s hard to break through.”

There’s one other thing that helps keep Bills backups focused: the lack of distraction. Ingram says Buffalo isn’t New York or LA and there isn’t a ton to do. Life for Bills players quickly becomes football and family.

“This is our family,” Ingram says of his teammates. “This is what we do for a living. So, we’re able to put in the extra time.”

It’s no small part of the reason why Buffalo began 2024 with a win.

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