Two weeks ago, a winter storm hit America’s north-east. It got so bad in upstate New York that the Buffalo Bills had to postpone their game against the visiting New York Jets because Ralph Wilson Stadium was under several feet of snow.
Playing football in Buffalo means playing in the cold. So when temperatures hit a freezing point, that is when the Bills defence tends to heat up.
Since the snow has started to fall – the postponed game against the Jets was moved to Detroit – the Bills (7-5) have held their past two opponents to a combined 13 points and won both games with ease.
They visit another winter wonderland in the Rockies today, where the Denver Broncos (9-3) also like to play in the cold conditions and have one of the best quarterbacks the league has ever known in Peyton Manning.
Not that the Buffalo defence is intimidated by Manning or anything.
“If it’s daunting and you’re worried or you’re scared about [playing against Manning], I don’t want to play with you,” said Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams. “It’s a challenge, obviously. Great players. But we feel like we’re pretty good players, too.”
When talking about a Bills defence that ranks in the top 10 in the NFL against both the run and the pass, it always starts with the defensive line, and justifiably so.
Buffalo leads the NFL in sacks thanks to Jerry Hughes, Marcell Dareus and Mario Williams, who each have produced at least 9.5 sacks. But it takes more than a strong defensive line to get to where the Bills are defensively. Buffalo is fifth in the NFL in total yards allowed per game and have given up just 217 points, second-fewest in the league.
One year ago, the Bills could get after the quarterback, but stopping the run was a major issue. Three new starting linebackers have made a world of difference and turned the unit into one of the league’s finest.
Rookie Preston Brown has made a big impression, and Nigel Bradham has put a one-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on substance abuse behind him.
Bradham is ranked as the fourth-best 4-3 outside linebacker in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. And Brown, the wide-eyed rookie, ranks sixth in the league. Back in the summer, when Bills star linebacker Kiko Alonso tore aknee ligament, the talk was all about whether the Bills could replace him. Now, the linebacker position is one of the team strengths.
“I really like our linebackers,” Bills coach Doug Marrone said. “I think that each one of them brings a lot to the table.”
Even though the Bills defence still has a date with Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers and a second tilt against New England quarterback Tom Brady before the year is out, it will first try to contain Manning to gain valuable ground in the AFC play-off picture.
Having won two straight, the Bills are in the thick of a tightly contested division and enter December with a winning record for the first time since 2000.
So with four games left in the regular season, both the Broncos and Bills are already thinking about the play-offs and neither team wants to be left out in the cold.
agray@thenational.ae
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
Adele: The Stories Behind The Songs
Caroline Sullivan
Carlton Books
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If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Brief scores:
Manchester City 3
Aguero 1', 44', 61'
Arsenal 1
Koscielny 11'
Man of the match: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
'Ghostbusters: From Beyond'
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace
Rating: 2/5
'The Predator'
Dir: Shane Black
Starring: Olivia Munn, Boyd Holbrook, Keegan-Michael Key
Two and a half stars
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Match info
Uefa Champions League Group H
Juventus v Valencia, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs
Common to all models unless otherwise stated
Engine: 4-cylinder 2-litre T-GDi
0-100kph: 5.3 seconds (Elantra); 5.5 seconds (Kona); 6.1 seconds (Veloster)
Power: 276hp
Torque: 392Nm
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual/ 8-Speed Dual Clutch FWD
Price: TBC
Virtual banks explained
What is a virtual bank?
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority defines it as a bank that delivers services through the internet or other electronic channels instead of physical branches. That means not only facilitating payments but accepting deposits and making loans, just like traditional ones. Other terms used interchangeably include digital or digital-only banks or neobanks. By contrast, so-called digital wallets or e-wallets such as Apple Pay, PayPal or Google Pay usually serve as intermediaries between a consumer’s traditional account or credit card and a merchant, usually via a smartphone or computer.
What’s the draw in Asia?
Hundreds of millions of people under-served by traditional institutions, for one thing. In China, India and elsewhere, digital wallets such as Alipay, WeChat Pay and Paytm have already become ubiquitous, offering millions of people an easy way to store and spend their money via mobile phone. Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines are also among the world’s biggest under-banked countries; together they have almost half a billion people.
Is Hong Kong short of banks?
No, but the city is among the most cash-reliant major economies, leaving room for newcomers to disrupt the entrenched industry. Ant Financial, an Alibaba Group Holding affiliate that runs Alipay and MYBank, and Tencent Holdings, the company behind WeBank and WeChat Pay, are among the owners of the eight ventures licensed to create virtual banks in Hong Kong, with operations expected to start as early as the end of the year.
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Manchester United v Liverpool
Premier League, kick off 7.30pm (UAE)
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
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