Every week during the regular season we get an opportunity to talk with the opposing head coach via conference call. This week it was Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott. I also scanned the Buffalo area media websites and the Bills website, to see what else the Bills players and coaches are saying about this week's matchup with the Lions.
Here's what they had to say:
1. McDermott has a defensive background and was asked about Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis. McDermott described Davis as active and playing with a downhill style. He emphasized the negative plays Davis has been able to generate this season.
2. Speaking of Detroit's defense as a whole, McDermott liked how active Detroit's front and linebackers are, but he really highlighted the play of cornerback Darius Slay.
"I have a lot of respect for a couple guys in their secondary," he said. "One of which is Slay. He's a guy I really liked coming out in the draft and he's backed that up just with the way he's played through the course of his career so far."
Slay is the reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Arizona last Sunday.
Meet this weeks opponents, the Buffalo Bills.
![HC Sean McDermott](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/qoei5ssbqbodqmdberir.jpg)
HC Sean McDermott
![WR Robert Foster
Backed up by Isaiah McKenzie and Ray-Ray McCloud III](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/f2gh0dhsplm4tjk5s0yi.jpg)
WR Robert Foster
Backed up by Isaiah McKenzie and Ray-Ray McCloud III
![LT Dion Dawkins
Backed up by Jeremiah Sirles](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/zo88j8qm4gb4zgb6igfm.jpg)
LT Dion Dawkins
Backed up by Jeremiah Sirles
![LG Wyatt Teller
Backed up by Vladimir Ducasse](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/rc7kly0rxz8xcav7aryb.jpg)
LG Wyatt Teller
Backed up by Vladimir Ducasse
![C Ryan Groy](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/n1hryuz65dh9mxaoo7hd.jpg)
C Ryan Groy
![RG John Miller
Backed up by Ike Boettger](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/xeyjko9du5sjkspmueqp.jpg)
RG John Miller
Backed up by Ike Boettger
![RT Jordan Mills
Backed up by Conor McDermott](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/qychtiifzvowk9yh90dr.jpg)
RT Jordan Mills
Backed up by Conor McDermott
![TE Charles Clay
Backed up by Jason Croom and Logan Thomas](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/jcln2v8fqtw6r1yppcuy.jpg)
TE Charles Clay
Backed up by Jason Croom and Logan Thomas
![QB Josh Allen
Backed up by Matt Barkley and Derek Anderson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/mmi48y3co6kx15vxgq1q.jpg)
QB Josh Allen
Backed up by Matt Barkley and Derek Anderson
![FB Patrick DiMarco](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/wlqaqoygc6ow3wgwibsw.jpg)
FB Patrick DiMarco
![RB LeSean McCoy
Backed up by Chris Ivory and Marcus Murphy](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/duozwfvikw2q1dnyckf7.jpg)
RB LeSean McCoy
Backed up by Chris Ivory and Marcus Murphy
![WR Zay Jones
Backed up by Deonte Thompson and Da'Mari Scott](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/tghdguznkwttbqvkxhwi.jpg)
WR Zay Jones
Backed up by Deonte Thompson and Da'Mari Scott
![DE Trent Murphy
Backed up by Shaq Lawson and Mike Love](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/y3ox9zzc0s7yawm4eahf.jpg)
DE Trent Murphy
Backed up by Shaq Lawson and Mike Love
![DT Kyle Williams
Backed up by Jordan Phillips](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/f34l7ezdvmtuaxcepey6.jpg)
DT Kyle Williams
Backed up by Jordan Phillips
![DT Star Lotulelei
Backed up by Harrison Phillips](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/igsxm0tbz2jsupeyedpm.jpg)
DT Star Lotulelei
Backed up by Harrison Phillips
![DE Jerry Hughes
Backed up by Eddie Yarbrough and Mike Love](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/ura8bf6b0ideepy8f72c.jpg)
DE Jerry Hughes
Backed up by Eddie Yarbrough and Mike Love
![SLB Lorenzo Alexander
Backed up by Deon Lacey](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/sfilrqqu8alcioiptcsm.jpg)
SLB Lorenzo Alexander
Backed up by Deon Lacey
![MLB Tremaine Edmunds
Backed up by Julian Stanford](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/tidf7vbbfthdtqwlcljd.jpg)
MLB Tremaine Edmunds
Backed up by Julian Stanford
![WLB Corey Thompson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/oqr2vomezwe2jp7ds9mv.jpg)
WLB Corey Thompson
![CB Tre'Davious White
Backed up by Lafayette Pitts and Denzel Rice](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/dmofipkkk2ff2lmtlurr.jpg)
CB Tre'Davious White
Backed up by Lafayette Pitts and Denzel Rice
![CB Levi Wallace
Backed up by Taron Johnson and Ryan Lewis](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/knlrun0arapo1x3tcmx3.jpg)
CB Levi Wallace
Backed up by Taron Johnson and Ryan Lewis
![SS Micah Hyde
Backed up by Siran Neal](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/smzhxi6jvh6hw3hpvsz8.jpg)
SS Micah Hyde
Backed up by Siran Neal
![FS Jordan Poyer
Backed up by Rafael Bush](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/ppwyytdcg5xr5lqziskh.jpg)
FS Jordan Poyer
Backed up by Rafael Bush
![PK Stephen Hauschka](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/dfgsyubxpbu8jr8sopol.jpg)
PK Stephen Hauschka
![P Matt Darr](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/jqhf53snhyzytlo9f7v8.jpg)
P Matt Darr
![H Matt Darr](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/b5nddbbnynfh2lxfos9a.jpg)
H Matt Darr
![PR Isiah McKenzie
Backed up by Micah Hyde and Marcus Murphy](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/y2hwmifxjicuwjarrwvo.jpg)
PR Isiah McKenzie
Backed up by Micah Hyde and Marcus Murphy
![KOR Isiah McKenzie
Backed up by Marcus Murphy](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/uqsrooa5vr1i9lijdnxr.jpg)
KOR Isiah McKenzie
Backed up by Marcus Murphy
![LS Reid Ferguson
Backed up by Harrison Phillips](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/mpb3lradxefttp8ght8m.jpg)
LS Reid Ferguson
Backed up by Harrison Phillips
3. Bills offensive coordinator Brain Daboll said the plan coming into the year was certainly not to have quarterback Josh Allen lead the team in rushing (490 yards) at this point in the season. Buffalo's running backs have been beat up and ineffective at times. But Daboll also said he won't discourage Allen from continuing to run when he sees the opportunity, as long as he protects himself and the football. Allen is an impressive athlete, and the Lions are very aware of his ability to make plays with his legs.
4. Bills running backs LeSean McCoy (hamstring) and Chris Ivory (shoulder) are banged up heading into Sunday's matchup. Asked about their availability for Sunday's game, McDermott had a little fun with the situation.
"Can you play at all?" he asked the Detroit reporter who asked the question.
McDermott seemed to think Ivory would be available if McCoy isn't.
5. Buffalo ranks No. 1 in the NFL in overall defense (290.6) and are also No. 1 against the pass (185.8) and No. 9 against the run (104.8), but they rank 20th in points allowed (24.6) and 27th in red zone efficiency (71.4 percent).
"Yeah, we haven't done as well in 2018 in the red zone," defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. "We've been struggling. We've got to go back, take a look at it real hard. We have to find a way to get better."
The Lions' offense ranks 27th in red zone scoring (48.8 percent), so something has to give Sunday in Buffalo in that regard.
6. After making the playoffs last season, the Bills have just four wins on the year and won't be making a return trip to the postseason. They knew the challenges of drafting a rookie quarterback and playing him, but McDermott said the goal isn't just making the playoffs. He believes Buffalo is aligned for a better future with Allen at the helm.