Isaiah McKenzie Show

What we all saw on Monday Night Football in Cincinnati was horrifying.

But what’s it like as an NFL player to think your teammate died on a football field? On our eighth and final episode of “The Isaiah McKenzie Show,” the Buffalo Bills wide receiver relives the trauma.

It’s true. Players thought they lost Damar Hamlin for good.

Then, Hamlin started breathing again.

Then, everyone headed into the locker room and it was veteran center Mitch Morse who spoke up.

From the field… to the locker room… to playing football again back in Buffalo… to what this all means for the Bills, McKenzie takes you through it all. Were players prepared to take the field again? How did Sean McDermott lead in the moment? How should we view the sport itself? We get into everything and take questions from the audience. It’s been a year full of adversity for both the city and the football team. As far as McKenzie sees it, this season has only one logical conclusion.

And as you all know, Hamlin has enjoyed a miraculous recovery. He’s already back in Buffalo.

A huge thank you to everyone who has come out to the live show all season long. Mister’s Bar & Lanes was packed Monday night. It’s been a pleasure.

You can watch and listen to the show right here at GoLongTD.com or within the Go Long Podcast feeds:

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Miss a previous episode from Season 2? Catch up below…

Ep 1: Inside the gender reveal and the beatdown of the L.A. Rams
Ep 2: What was running through the receiver's mind that final play?
Ep 3: “I couldn’t move”
Ep 4: The Bills-Chiefs rematch is here
Ep 5: It's gut-check time for the Buffalo Bills
Ep 6: Is this Isaiah's last dance?
Ep 7: How the Buffalo Bills find ways to win

Also: All episodes from Season 1 are archived on our site.

GoLongTD.com is completely powered by our readers. New to the site? Become a paid subscriber today to get all NFL coverage through the postseason:

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

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The psychology of a Super Bowl contender matters in mid-December.

Wins like this are a must.

The Buffalo Bills trailed by eight in the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins, yet found a way. So… how? How do you quantify getting slugged in the jaw and knowing how to respond? We turn again to veteran slot receiver Isaiah McKenzie for answers. He agrees that the 2023 Bills respond in ways past editions could not. A good sign for a team trying to get over the hump. As always, the conversation leads us many directions…

His critical plays on the game-winning drive. McKenzie converted a third-and-2 and then drew a defensive pass interference on another third down. He dissects it all.
Josh Allen’s Superman leap of a two-point conversion to tie the game. Like many Bills fans, McKenzie is concerned what all of this running could mean for Allen’s long-term health.
His thoughts on Jakobi Meyers’ lateral that New England a game, ripped by many as the dumbest play in football history. How is this possible?
Cole Beasley’s return. What was McKenzie’s reaction? They’re pals, of course, but our co-host wasn’t shy last week in saying he’d like the ball more.
The frigid temps that await in Chicago. Good God.
Your questions. We had some phenomenal submissions at Mister’s Bar & Lanes with the podcast turning into everyone sharing their best ghost stories.

You can watch and listen to the show right here at GoLongTD.com or within the Go Long Podcast feeds:

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SPOTIFY

YOUTUBE

Miss a previous episode from Season 2? Catch up below…

Ep 1: Inside the gender reveal and the beatdown of the L.A. Rams
Ep 2: What was running through the receiver's mind that final play?
Ep 3: “I couldn’t move”
Ep 4: The Bills-Chiefs rematch is here
Ep 5: It's gut-check time for the Buffalo Bills
Ep 6: Is this Isaiah's last dance?

Also: All episodes from Season 1 are archived on our site.

Go Long is powered by YOU. Join our community today. We’d love to have you. Both free and pay subscriptions are available. We have a Christmas special rolling, too...

As always, McKenzie loves hanging out with the fans afterward. Mister’s Bar & Lanes is located at 206 Main St, East Aurora, NY 14052.

Join us for the season finale on Monday, Jan. 9, at 6 p.m.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

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This has been an interesting season for Isaiah McKenzie.

To put it mildly.

Since our last episode, the Buffalo Bills’ wide receiver has experienced highs and lows. He tore up the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day for 96 yards and a touchdown. He caught all five balls thrown his way in New England for 44 yards. Then, in Buffalo’s 20-12 win over the New York Jets on Sunday, he had a pair of drops that ignited the furor of a Bills fan or two.

McKenzie always keeps it real for listeners of “The Isaiah McKenzie Show” here at GoLongTD.com. That’s the goal: Give everyone a true inside look at the life of an NFL player.

On Episode 6 of Season 2, The Face of the Franchise is candid as ever. A few topics discussed…

The offense’s malaise. What’s up? Where did the juggernaut of yesteryear go?
Collecting wins, making no apologies. It’s much easier to work through an offensive funk when you work your way to No. 1 seed in the AFC. Miami hasn’t been so lucky through its funk.
McKenzie’s drops. The elements have been a problem for all of the Bills’ receivers. He breaks it down. He hears your criticism loud and clear.
McKenzie’s role. He’s honest. He says the film doesn’t lie. It’s pretty clear that McKenzie believes he’s getting open and would like to see the ball more in this offense. It should also be noted that we recorded the pod on Monday night, before the Bills brought back Cole Beasley.
Dolphins rematch. McKenzie cannot wait to welcome Miami to the cold… even if he’d still prefer to play in a dome. How can the Bills lean into their homefield advantage.
A WILD travel story. Remember McKenzie’s tweet about needing a ride from Pittsburgh to Buffalo? He supplies the full play-by-play detail.
Last Dance? And, yes, Isaiah McKenzie absolutely buries the lede on our show. While taking questions, he mentions the idea of retiring in passing and… what!? It’s true. McKenzie says he seriously will retire if the Bills win the Super Bowl. (He’ll also enjoy his first sip of alcohol at that point, too.)

You can watch and listen to the show right here at GoLongTD.com or within the Go Long Podcast feeds:

APPLE

SPOTIFY

YOUTUBE

Miss a previous episode from Season 2? Catch up below…

Ep 1: Inside the gender reveal and the beatdown of the L.A. Rams
Ep 2: What was running through the receiver's mind that final play?
Ep 3: “I couldn’t move”
Ep 4: The Bills-Chiefs rematch is here
Ep 5: It's gut-check time for the Buffalo Bills

Also: All episodes from Season 1 are archived on our site.

Go Long is powered by YOU. Join our community today. We’d love to have you.

Both free and pay subscriptions are available:

We have two shows left! As always, McKenzie loves hanging out with the fans afterward. Mister’s Bar & Lanes is located at 206 Main St, East Aurora, NY 14052.

I’ll also have copies of “The Blood and Guts: How Tight Ends Save Football” to sign:

Monday, Dec. 19
Monday, Jan. 9

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

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Pro football will always be more mental than physical. Beyond the 4.3 speed colliding at all conceivable angles, wins and losses are determined between the ears.

So, let’s say hello to the 2022 Buffalo Bills.

An ultra-talented team — the odds-on Super Bowl favorites — have struggled for 2 1/2 games now. And they’re also fresh off one of the most insane finishes you’ll ever see in a sporting event. On this episode of the Isaiah McKenzie Show at Mister’s Bar & Lanes in East Aurora, NY, the team’s slot receiver relives the finish in painstaking detail. From Dalvin Cook’s 81-yarder to the goal-line stand to the overtime interception, it’s still hard to wrap your brain around this 33-30 Vikings win.

McKenzie can relate to Allen’s rut, too.

He lived it. He’s been down. He explains why exactly the sport is so mental and how Allen can snap out of this funk.

Everything is discussed this episode…

Buffalo’s second-half woes. Why does this look like a completely different team after halftime?
His plays from the game. Yes, he stepped out of bounds on Allen’s first interception. And, oh yes, he heard all of you screaming at home to get out of bounds on that field-goal drive at the end of the fourth quarter.
How suffocating is that feeling of pressure as a pro athlete? Fans, gamblers, the front office. As McKenzie explains, players feel the heat from all angles.
Justin Jefferson’s catch heard ‘round the world. Cam Lewis was understandably hurting after this loss — if the Bills DB knocks the ball down, the Bills win.
Isaiah McKenzie’s role the rest of the season. The Bills certainly could use a dependable receiver other than Stefon Diggs to shift this passing game to a higher gear.
How McKenzie met his girlfriend. (Cover your ears, kids.)

As always, the goal of this show is to take you beyond the press conferences and locker room. We want to bring you as close as possible to this league at Go Long. Live around Western New York? Come on out to one of our three remaining live shows at Mister’s. All dates are below.

You can watch or listen to the show right here at GoLongTD.com or within the Go Long Podcast feeds:

APPLE

SPOTIFY

YOUTUBE

Miss a previous episode from Season 2? Catch up below…

Ep 1: Inside the gender reveal and the beatdown of the L.A. Rams
Ep 2: What was running through the receiver's mind that final play?
Ep 3: “I couldn’t move”
Ep 4: The Bills-Chiefs rematch is here

Also: All episodes from Season 1 are archived on our site.

Go Long is powered by YOU. Join our community today. Both free and pay subscriptions are available:

We have three shows left! As always, McKenzie loves hanging out with the fans afterward. Mister’s Bar & Lanes is located at 206 Main St, East Aurora, NY 14052.

I’ll also have copies of “The Blood and Guts: How Tight Ends Save Football” to sign:

Monday, Dec. 12
Monday, Dec. 19
Monday, Jan. 9

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

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We had a packed house at Mister’s Bar & Lanes in East Aurora, NY this week.

First, a huge thank you to the East Aurora JV Little Loop squad and all families who spent their Monday night with us. Quite a turnout for a player who didn’t even suit up in Buffalo’s 38-3 throttling of the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium the day prior.

I suppose that’s the pull of one, “Lil Dirty.” Isaiah McKenzie was in pure form again for Episode 4.

A few topics discussed…

His health. McKenzie was surprised the Bills held him out against Pittsburgh, but watching this blowout as a spectator was fun and he expects to return this week against Kansas City. (Even if McKenzie is still milking this concussion to get out of chores around the house with his girlfriend.)
Gabe Davis’ Moss-like breakout game.
Thirteen Seconds. As, yes. Thirteen seconds. Replay our final episode from Season 1 if you’d like. McKenzie thinks back to that playoff loss once more, and explains how the team moved on into the offseason. Have the Bills used the epic meltdown as motivation or are they trying to forget it and bury it? Through history, we’ve seen teams in this position choose both routes.
He has never sipped alcohol before in his life. Seriously. McKenzie explains why he’s always avoided booze. And if the Bills win it all? McKenzie promises he’ll drink for the first time ever.
Sean McDermott showed players a documentary on Team USA’s 2008 “Redeem Team” last weekend. What was the purpose behind this?
George Costanza.
With the Little Loopers in-house, McKenzie turns back the clock to when he first got into football. Believe it or not, he was an offensive lineman and he has always loved getting hit.
Once more, we open things up for a lengthy Q&A with you all… McKenzie takes the fans up on their salsa dance request, too.

As always, the goal of this show is to take you beyond the press conferences and locker room. We want to bring you as close as possible to this league at Go Long. Live around Western New York? Come on out to one of our four remaining live shows at Mister’s. All dates are below.

You can watch or listen to the show right here at GoLongTD.com or within the Go Long Podcast feeds:

APPLE

SPOTIFY

YOUTUBE

Miss a previous episode from Season 2? Catch up below…

Ep 1: Inside the gender reveal and the beatdown of the L.A. Rams

Ep 2: What was running through the receiver's mind that final play?

Ep 3: “I couldn’t move”

Also: All episodes from Season 1 are archived on our site.

Go Long is your source for longform journalism in pro football. We’re completely powered by you. We’d love it if you joined our community today:

Here are the remaining dates for our live recordings at Mister’s Bar & Lanes in East Aurora, NY:

Monday, Nov. 14
Monday, Dec. 12
Monday, Dec. 19
Monday, Jan. 9

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

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Why exactly are pro football players different than the rest of us?

Exhibit A: Mister’s Bar & Lanes in East Aurora, NY on Monday night.

Isaiah McKenzie could not even move after absorbing a vicious hit in Baltimore that knocked him out of the Buffalo Bills’ 23-20 comeback win. And yet, he cannot wait to venture across the middle of the field again. He loves the physicality. He knows that’s what separates him as a slot receiver.

Make no mistake, too. This was a scary moment.

On Episode 3 of “The Isaiah McKenzie Show,” the 5-foot-7 receiver takes everyone through the collision and the aftermath. Concussions are obviously back in the NFL headlines and we’ve seen quite a few motionless players sprawled on the turf in NFL games this season. We all love the sport’s violence but, holy, it comes with a cost. McKenzie details exactly what that cost is.

He does believe his mind is doing just fine… even though he’s currently using this concussion to get out of cleaning dishes at home with his girlfriend. When you come from where McKenzie did in South Florida — yes, a bullet once grazed him — you’ll gladly accept football’s inherent risks.

Also, on this episode, we dig into Buffalo finally winning a close game.

McKenzie refers to Sean McDermott as a “dad” and Brandon Beane as the “cool uncle” in taking all of your questions.

As always, the goal of this show is to take you beyond the press conferences and locker room. McKenzie says himself at the end of this pod that he never wants to spew mindless cliches as if part of a “cult.” His raw honesty is refreshing. We want to bring you as close as possible to this league at Go Long. Live around Western New York? Come on out to one of our five remaining live shows at Mister’s. All dates are below.

You can watch or listen to the show right here at GoLongTD.com or within the Go Long Podcast feeds:

APPLE

SPOTIFY

YOUTUBE

Miss a previous episode from Season 2? Catch up below…

Ep 1: Inside the gender reveal and the beatdown of the L.A. Rams

Ep 2: What was running through the receiver's mind that final play?

Also: All episodes from Season 1 are archived on our site.

Go Long is your source for longform journalism in pro football. We’re completely powered by you. Subscribe today:

Here are the remaining dates for our live recordings at Mister’s Bar & Lanes in East Aurora, NY:

Monday, Oct. 10
Monday, Nov. 14
Monday, Dec. 12
Monday, Dec. 19
Monday, Jan. 9

As a reminder, right now, you can pre-order “The Blood and Guts: How Tight Ends Save Football” at 30% off and receive a signed bookplate. Just click this link.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

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Hindsight is a beautiful thing. These last 48 hours, we’ve all been hyper-analyzing Isaiah McKenzie’s every step that final play against the Miami Dolphins.

Could he have gone out of bounds? Should he have collapsed? What was he thinking in real time?

On Episode 2 of “The Isaiah McKenzie Show,” we get answers. In immense detail, the Buffalo Bills wide receiver takes you all inside his mind.

The Bills fell to the Dolphins, 21-19. It was unbelievably frustrating, too, considering they outgained the home team by a whopping 497 yards to 212. McKenzie is also well aware that Buffalo ran 90 plays to Miami’s 39… in a sauna of a stadium. With the heat index soaring to 100 degrees, Bills players were melting one by one.

Honestly, this might’ve been one of my favorite chats with the team’s “Face of the Franchise.” We launched this show at Go Long to take fans beyond the insipid press conference and beyond the locker room for moments like this, for when we’re hoping for real stories behind everything we saw on Sunday.

You can always watch and/or listen to the full episodes right here at GoLongTD.com and within our main podcast feeds:

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Much was discussed this hour…

The heat. Bills-Fins was a scene straight out of the 1982 “Epic in Miami.” What exactly does it feel like to lock up with cramps, need IV and puke your lungs out in the locker room? McKenzie compared this game to a battlefield.

The final play. McKenzie knew he needed to gain yardage for kicker Tyler Bass after catching a short pass over the middle. McKenzie also knew he needed to stop the clock. He relives it all second by painstaking second... right to that clock hitting 0:00. Yes, he heard from fans, too. One sent him a pretty hilarious picture telling McKenzie what he should’ve done.

Finishing. It’s the last hurdle this Super Bowl contender must clear. Why do the Bills’ struggle late in games?

Ken Dorsey’s freakout. Players loved it and players have seen this side of the Bills offensive coordinator many times before.

The rivalry. Real hatred between the Bills and Dolphins is finally back after a 20-year hiatus. McKenzie assures Buffalo cannot wait to play Miami in the cold.

Up next: Lamar. Ahead of Buffalo’s playoff win over the Ravens in 2020, McKenzie played the role of Lamar Jackson on the scout team in practice. Even though he’s actually a big part of the offense now, he hopes that continues.

McKenzie vs. Hyde. My co-host is ruthless. The safety’s neck injury only ramps this up.

Your questions! We had some gems.

Go Long is your source for longform journalism in pro football. Want features delivered right to your inbox? In addition to all of our podcasts? We’re completely powered by you. Subscribe today right here:

All eight episodes of Season 2 are being recorded LIVE at Mister’s Bar & Lanes in East Aurora, NY. Here are the remaining dates:

Monday, Oct. 3

Monday, Oct. 10

Monday, Nov. 14

Monday, Dec. 12

Monday, Dec. 19

Monday, Jan. 9

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

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Not all gender reveals hit the mark. Many crash and burn.

Not all touchdown celebrations pan out, either.

Yet, Isaiah McKenzie certainly nailed this one. After scoring his first touchdown of the 2022 season, the Buffalo Bills’ slot receiver screamed “It’s a boy!” into the camera. As we all know now, the message was for his sister. The side-by-side videos quickly went viral.

There was much to discuss on Season 2, Episode 1 of “The Isaiah McKenzie Show.” We relived the Bills’ 31-10 smackdown of the Los Angeles Rams live from Mister’s Bar & Lanes in East Aurora, NY.

McKenzie dissects the two plays you all saw at home: his drop that led to an interception and his moment of redemption in the third quarter. His seven-yard touchdown catch says so much about playing in the slot. It’s a thinking man’s position.

How are the Bills handling historic Super Bowl expectations? An absurd amount of people are betting on this team to win it all. Fans may be nervous, but the players are not.

Stefon Diggs vs. Jalen Ramsey. It was not a fair fight. McKenzie, who describes himself as Diggs’ personal “babysitter” explains how Diggs went off.

What surprised him most from the win? The Bills’ dominant defensive line. (Even if Von Miller can’t dance.)

The last half of the show, McKenzie brings it back to the offseason. He could’ve signed with seven different teams as a free agent. Other clubs offered him more money than the Bills. But the receiver who arrived in Buffalo way back in 2018 says he wanted to finish the job right here because of his bonds with teammates.

How did he blow up in training camp? Good ‘ol fashioned hard work, and McKenzie got the message loud and clear when the team signed Jamison Crowder.

Ken Dorsey’s first game calling plays as the Bills’ offensive coordinator. McKenzie likes what he sees.

Go Long is an independent newsletter that covers pro football through a longform lens. Subscribe today to get all stories, all podcasts, all analysis delivered to your email inbox:

The purpose of this show? To go beyond the press conference and the locker room. We want to give fans — the ones pouring millions of dollars into this sport — an authentic view of the sport. Something beyond poll-tested, sanitized cliches. Season 1 of The Isaiah McKenzie Show was a riot, so we’re back.

You can watch or listen to all episodes right here at Go Long.

If podcasts are your thing, all episodes will also be shared within the Go Long Podcast feed. Here is Episode 1:

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And, remember, you can watch the show LIVE at Mister’s Bar & Lanes in East Aurora, NY. The remaining seven episodes will all be on Mondays at 6 p.m. (EST):

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

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Western New Yorkers love them some Isaiah McKenzie. We saw that right away on Thursday night.

A huge, huge thank you to everyone who packed Mister’s Bar & Lanes for our final live episode of the season.

It’s easy to see why the Buffalo Bills wide receiver is so beloved, too.

You won’t find many NFL players this authentic and this honest with the public through the stressful ups and downs of an NFL season. And, really, that was the goal with this show at Go Long — to give all football fans a true look inside into this league. Poll-tested press conferences often only reveal so much. And, holy, what an emotional roller-coaster this 2021 season has been for McKenzie, from the kick return called back in Tennessee to getting benched by Sean McDermott after a 41-15 loss to the Colts to playing hero in Foxborough to one of the most insane finishes you’ll ever see in an NFL game.

McKenzie has discussed it all… even that hilarious reason he did not attend Notre Dame. If you missed any previous episodes, they’re all linked below.

This week? McKenzie guides everyone through the Bills’ surreal 42-36 overtime loss in Kansas City.

What was going through his mind sitting on the bench afterward?

Who said what in the locker room?

Why exactly was the defense sitting back in such soft coverage to his knowledge? Do players even know what happened?

Where is McKenzie at through his “5 stages of grief?”

McKenzie is just as flabbergasted as the fans. And, now, he’s a free agent. McKenzie discusses the next step, too. After proving himself with limited opportunities, free agency could be interesting. Does he want to be back in Buffalo?

You can watch and/or listen to The Isaiah McKenzie Show right here at Go Long.

Audio and video options are both available above.

Or, if podcasting is your thing, the shows are always available right inside the main Go Long Podcast feed on Apple and Spotify as well as its own standalone podcast feed on Apple and Spotify. All episodes also can be found on our YouTube channel.

Thank you again, everyone.

Go Long is a completely independent newsletter committed to finding a story you have not read (or heard) before. If you’d like to support independent journalism, you can upgrade to a full subscription right here:

Miss a past episode? You can catch up right here:

Ep 8: An inside look at '13 Seconds' and the ‘5 stages of grief’

Ep 7: One shining moment

Ep 6: What happened to the Bills?

Ep 5: ‘I was grazed by a bullet once’

Ep 4: The true story of 'Lil Dirty'

Ep 3: Why it's time for the Buffalo Bills to give him a scout team 'bonus'

Ep 2: Inside the Bills’ demolition at Arrowhead

Ep 1: From Miami Gardens to Orchard Park

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

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What a month it’s been for Isaiah McKenzie.

Not sure we’ve seen a turnaround quite like this anywhere in the NFL this season.

Way back when the Buffalo Bills were shellacked by the Indianapolis Colts, 41-15, the receiver/returner was promptly sent to the bench. Head coach Sean McDermott appeared to be making an example out of McKenzie after his fumble in the blowout loss. And right then, as he explains on this week’s show, McKenzie feared his career with the Bills may be finished.

He was inactive in New Orleans, then inactive against the Patriots at home.

McKenzie got called back up for a handful of plays in Tampa Bay and finally — with wide receivers Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis both on the Covid-19 list — McKenzie was needed. He did not disappoint, either. In Buffalo’s 33-21 win in Foxborough, he caught 11 passes for 125 yards with one touchdown. Again and again, quarterback Josh Allen looked for McKenzie in crucial situations and now Super Bowl hopes are very real again for the Bills.

On “The Isaiah McKenzie Show,” at Go Long, McKenzie digs into it all…

The benching. He breaks down his conversation with McDermott and what happened next personally. It took a few sleepless nights to get past his head coach’s decision. McKenzie was in his own head. This wasn’t easy.

How he dominated Bill Belichick’s defense. Not many receivers can live to tell these stories but McKenzie knew that in man-to-man coverage, no cornerback could keep up with him. So, he ate Myles Bryant's lunch.

His rapport with Josh Allen. He’s convinced they still have a rare connection that goes back to 2018 when Allen was a raw rookie out of Wyoming and he was just trying to save his NFL career after the Denver Broncos gave up on him. The two are tight. Allen believed in McKenzie with Beasley and Davis both out.

Spending Christmas Eve with complete strangers. It's the ultimate Western New York story, isn't it? McKenzie was hungry, let folks know on social media and, voila, all of a sudden he's at the kitchen table with a family. He explains how it all happened.

His Georgia Bulldogs are playing in the College Football Playoff. He wants a piece of ‘Bama in the title game, too.

Remember when McKenzie’s chest landed on the ball? He’s still feeling the effects of that one.

What does the future entail for McKenzie? He’s been joking with teammates that coaches only use him one game a year, so who the heck knows what happens next. Maybe now, a calendar year later, he is this team’s secret weapon.

You can watch and/or listen to The Isaiah McKenzie Show right here at Go Long. Audio and video options are both available above.

We do have one more in-person show scheduled at Mister’s in East Aurora, N.Y. for next week, though stay tuned to GoLongTD.com for updates.

Thanks, everyone.

Miss a past episode? You can catch up right here:

Ep 7: One shining moment

Ep 6: What happened to the Bills?

Ep 5: ‘I was grazed by a bullet once’

Ep 4: The true story of 'Lil Dirty'

Ep 3: Why it's time for the Buffalo Bills to give him a scout team 'bonus'

Ep 2: Inside the Bills’ demolition at Arrowhead

Ep 1: From Miami Gardens to Orchard Park

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

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No, this is not how the Buffalo Bills wanted to be playing football into late November. There is legitimate cause for concern.

Unlike last season, they’re not routing opponents with ease. The Indianapolis Colts effectively punched the Bills in the mouth, again and again, through a 41-15 win on Sunday.

So, what now? As we wrote at Go Long, the Bills’ problems run deep into the fabric of how this team was built. They’ll have a chance to turn things around quickly on Thanksgiving Day at New Orleans.

The fans who pour millions of dollars into the NFL don’t get the full story unfortunately with locker rooms closed off to the media this season, which is one reason we started the Isaiah McKenzie Show — he is willing to give everyone a real feel for how this league works through the ups and the downs. As always, McKenzie is honest this episode. He digs into the loss, the mood and his own fumble at the end of the first half.

We also discuss McKenzie’s highly successful BBQ restaurant in Miami. It has become an incredible passion of his with “La Traila Barbecue Miami” voted the No. 1 BBQ spot in South Florida.

And for a good half-hour, McKenzie takes everyone’s questions at Mister’s Bar & Lanes in East Aurora, NY.

You can catch the Isaiah McKenzie Show right here at GoLongTD.com or wherever you get your podcasts. It has its own feed on Apple and Spotify, while we also include the show on our flagship Go Long Podcast Apple and Spotify feeds.

All full videos are posted at the Go Long YouTube page, too.

I appreciate everyone for coming on out or listening/watching wherever you are.

We still have four episodes to go, one of which will be held at Mister’s on Jan 3. Feel free to make your reservation for that show today.

Go Long is a newsletter dedicated to enterprising pro football journalism. Free and paid subscriptions are both available. You can support this publication best by subscribing here:

Miss a past episode? You can catch up right here:

Ep 5: ‘I was grazed by a bullet once’

Ep 4: The true story of 'Lil Dirty'

Ep 3: Why it's time for the Buffalo Bills to give him a scout team 'bonus'

Ep 2: Inside the Bills’ demolition at Arrowhead

Ep 1: From Miami Gardens to Orchard Park

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

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Central to the Buffalo Bills’ turnaround last weekend was the man known as “Lil Dirty” himself.

Isaiah McKenzie injected needed life into the Bills against the New York Jets as only McKenzie can with some pregame battle cries, a big punt return and his first touchdown of the season.

On Episode 5 of The Isaiah McKenzie Show, here at Go Long, the receiver/returner takes you inside the team’s massive energy shift. How can a team look so bad one week and so good the next? He explains. Buffalo needed this 45-17 win with much tougher games ahead.

Afterward, the team’s head coach praised McKenzie, too. Sean McDermott noted McKenzie’s maturation and the fact that he doesn’t come from much.

So, here on the show, we take a deeper look into McKenzie’s upbringing down in Miami Gardens… and he shares a story few people in his life know. A bullet easily could’ve taken his life.

It’s quite chilling, to say the least. So many of his friends weren’t so lucky.

And, finally, McKenzie has some fun breaking down the Bills’ wacky wide receiver room. Without question, this position group could have its own sitcom with Stefon Diggs (“He’s the queen, the Madonna”), Cole Beasley (“Vaccine Boy”) and Emmanuel Sanders (“Splinter”) all supplying the laughs and tears on a day-to-day basis.

Little do people know that McKenzie is one trying to keep Diggs calm, too.

Thanks for watching and listening, everyone. Remember to submit questions for McKenzie to golongtd@gmail.com.

As always, you can get every single episode in these posts right at GoLongTD.com, and wherever you get podcasts. The Isaiah McKenzie Show is available on the Go Long Podcast and also has its own Apple and Spotify channels. If YouTube is your thing, all 10 episodes can be found on YouTube.

As a reminder, half of the episodes will be held right at Mister’s Bar & Lanes in East Aurora, N.Y. We still have two left if you’d like to hang out with us in-person — on Monday Nov. 22 (6 p.m.) and Monday Jan. 3 (6 p.m.). It’s a rip-roarin’ good time. Hope to meet you there and, also, paid subscribers to Go Long get first dibs on a table. The first three shows were all jam-packed so feel free to upgrade at the button below and make your reservation online right here. (Just include your email in the special request section so we can confirm your subscription.)

Miss a past episode of The Isaiah McKenzie Show? Catch up right here:

Ep 4: The true story of 'Lil Dirty'

Ep 3: Why it's time for the Buffalo Bills to give him a scout team 'bonus'

Ep 2: Inside the Bills’ demolition at Arrowhead

Ep 1: From Miami Gardens to Orchard Park

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Teammates said he smells… and has bad breath… and talks too much junk so, of course, we had to give Isaiah McKenzie an opportunity to snipe back here on Episode 4 of The Isaiah McKenzie Show at Go Long.

On the Buffalo Bills’ own sponsored video clip on social media, McKenzie was roasted good.

McKenzie doesn’t hold back with his response.

From there, we learn more about the real “Lil Dirty” on the Isaiah McKenzie Show, live from Mister’s Bar & Lanes in East Aurora, N.Y.

The nickname does have merit. He explains. Turns out, Stefon Diggs is to blame for the nickname taking off, too.

McKenzie tends to fall asleep any given moment. Maybe it’s a team meeting. Maybe it’s on a hardwood floor at home. Without warning, McKenzie passes out any second of any day. His sister offers some insight, too.

The team’s 26-11 win over Miami. How did Buffalo turn it around? This sure wasn’t looking good at halftime. McKenzie again offers a rare peek behind the curtain, explaining who spoke up in the locker room to get this offense rolling. Also, do such motivational speeches work? And can guest speakers like Phil Mickelson really resonate?

Are opponents trying to hurt Josh Allen after plays? That appeared to be the case at the end of this win. Allen was not thrilled with Christian Wilkins of the Dolphins.

Sadly, McKenzie has never heard of Jim Croce (or Christmas Vacation or George Costanza or Comedy Central), but we do learn which musician he listens to exclusively before every game. His answer may surprise you. Slow, sad music is what actually gets McKenzie’s mind right.

He’s living out of a hotel today, but that wasn’t the case as a kid. McKenzie takes us all back to growing up in a one-bedroom apartment with eight siblings in Miami Gardens. Cockroaches and mice became his close friends.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are up next so, naturally, we wonder if his head coach Sean McDermott would ever get caught up in the, uh, shenanigans their head coach did. You probably know the answer to that one and McKenzie, again, is hilarious when it comes to his head coach.

Your questions. McKenzie answers everything for a good 20 to 25 minutes, promising to give one young fan in attendance the football if he scores a touchdown against the Jaguars.

Thanks for watching and listening, everyone.

We’ve got six eps to go, two of which will be held at Mister’s Bar & Lanes in East Aurora, N.Y.

Tables fill up fast so if you can make one of the final live shows — Nov. 22 and Jan. 3 (both at 6 p.m.) — be sure to make your reservation on the Mister’s Bar & Lanes website via OpenTable today. Paid subscribers to Go Long get first dibs on a table so, if you’d like, upgrade right here as well.

McKenzie loves hanging out with fans afterward. It’s a family-friendly environment, so feel free to bring your kids.

Ep 3: Why it's time for the Buffalo Bills to give him a scout team 'bonus'

Ep 2: Inside the Bills’ demolition at Arrowhead

Ep 1: From Miami Gardens to Orchard Park

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

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It’s high time for Isaiah McKenzie to get the ball more in Buffalo. (A 101-yard kick return is proof of that, right?)

It’s not time for anyone to hire Isaiah McKenzie as their next babysitter. (This story will crack you up.)

He’s masterful at getting underneath the skin of teammates. (Just ask Micah Hyde.)

He runs for miles… upon miles… upon miles every practice. (And sure wouldn’t mind a scout team “bonus” in his next deal.)

These are just a handful of the many truths we learn on Episode 3 of the Isaiah McKenzie Show. Again, we record live from Mister’s Bar & Lanes in East Aurora, N.Y., and it’s a rollicking affair. We start off by reliving the Bills’ 34-31 loss in Nashville, where McKenzie was nearly the hero. His touchdown with three minutes to go was called back on a hold. From there, we look back at the moments that made McKenzie growing up. The questions from folks in the audience were fantastic, too.

You’ll get the inside story on Dawson Knox’s two-point throw with a broken hand.

With Halloween around the corner, McKenzie power ranks his top 5 candies.

And I think you’ll enjoy McKenzie’s take on “taunting” in the NFL.

A huge thanks to everyone who came on out to pack Mister’s. Remember, we’ll be there on site for three more episodes at the dates below. Make your reservation today. Subscribers to Go Long get first dibs at a table. Just note your email address in the comments section on Open Table or let them know on the phone.

Monday, Nov. 1 (6 p.m.-7 p.m.)
Monday, Nov. 22 (6 p.m.-7 p.m.)
Monday, Jan. 3 (6 p.m.-7 p.m.)

You can catch all 10 episodes of the Isaiah McKenzie Show, throughout the season, right here at GoLongTD.com, over on the flagship Go Long Podcast, on its own Apple and Spotify feeds and, of course, YouTube.

Have a question for McKenzie? Email us at golongtd@gmail.com.

Thanks, everyone.

Go Long is a newsletter dedicated to enterprising pro football journalism. Free and paid subscriptions are both available. You can support this publication best by subscribing here:

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

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To fans, the Buffalo Bills’ 38-20 domination of the Kansas City Chiefs felt like more than just another regular season win. This was the team that knocked the Bills off in the AFC title game, after all.

To players, it sure felt special, too.

On Episode 2 of the The Isaiah McKenzie, we relive the Buffalo win — from the weather delay to the budding Chiefs rivalry to Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes. McKenzie signed with the Bills in 2018, so he’s seen Allen’s maturation up close. What may surprise you is that he had no clue who Allen even was upon arriving in Western New York.

The receiver explains just how much his quarterback has grown since that rookie year.

And, big picture, Sunday night’s result is giving the 2021 Bills a ton of confidence.

“We know — we know — that we have to beat them,” McKenzie said on this week’s episode, “to show not only just them, but the world, that we come to play this game to win this game to show you that we’re not just any Buffalo Bills team. We’re not just a Buffalo Bills team that’s around to make it to the AFC Championship Game or have potential to make the playoffs every year now. We’re trying to win something bigger than that.

“The Chiefs, last year and the year before, were the standard. Patrick Mahomes. Tyreek Hill. Travis Kelce. I can go down the line. Tyrann Mathieu. They were the standard. Those guys had been winning. In order to beat them, you have to find winners that want to beat them.

“We’re trying to win and we know we have to go through them.”

There’s X ‘n O talk on how his jet sweep action helps fuel this offense as well as the roots of his fearlessness as a returner — McKenzie once suffered a concussion back in high school that knocked him out.

We give McKenzie a chance to elaborate on his Notre Dame decomittment. Our clip from last week, nearing 200K views, seemed to trigger the Fighting Irish a bit. (Yes, McKenzie was told he couldn’t have, uh, sexual relations on campus.)

With Georgia ranked No. 1 in the nation, we also look back to McKenzie’s college days, his relationship with Kirby Smart and how dangerous he was at wide receiver. Mel Kiper Jr. once compared his game to Antonio Brown.

Finally, we received some fantastic questions from subscribers, including one on Sean McDermott. McKenzie takes it upon himself to loosen his head coach up around One Bills Drive.

Thank you everyone for listening and watching this new show at Go Long and feel free to share episodes with a friend. All air right here at GoLongTD.com, as well as Apple, Spotify and YouTube.

Live nearby? Hang out with us in real life. Five of these 10 episodes are held at Mister’s Bar and Lanes in East Aurora, N.Y., with the next show slated for Monday, Oct. 25, at 6 p.m. (EST). Go Long subscribers get first dibs on a table — and they go fast! — so be sure to reserve your table today and note in the Open Table comment section that you’re a paid subscriber with your email address to confirm.

The remaining live show dates are below:

Monday, Oct. 25 (6 p.m.-7 p.m.)
Monday, Nov. 1 (6 p.m.-7 p.m.)
Monday, Nov. 22 (6 p.m.-7 p.m.)
Monday, Jan. 3 (6 p.m.-7 p.m.)

Past episodes of The Isaiah McKenzie Show:

Ep 1: From Miami Gardens to Orchard Park

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

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And… we’re off.

What a fun time at Mister’s Bar and Lanes in East Aurora, NY launching “The Isaiah McKenzie Show” this week. Thrilled to share the show with all of our readers and listeners at Go Long right here.

We explained the premise last week, ICYMI. In a sport increasingly watered down by press conferences, the hope is for fans to really get to know one of its most dynamic personalities: Bills receiver/returner Isaiah McKenzie. These 10 episodes should show everyone a side of the game they haven’t seen before. McKenzie is one of a kind, so we’ll dive into it all: The Bills. The league. The world. His surreal background.

You can get all episodes via video or audio — whichever you prefer — right here at GoLongTD.com. Both formats are embedded in this post above. Further, you’ll be able to locate the show on Apple, Spotify and our YouTube channel as the files matriculate to those channels.

Longform storytelling is always the focus at Go Long and we’ll keep churning out the written word at our regular clip, but I’ve also had a lot of readers tell me they want to plug podcasts into their ears while they’re mowing the lawn, driving to work, changing diapers, etc. Hopefully The Isaiah McKenzie Show, Go Long Podcast and Ty & Bob Pod help accentuate our coverage here. (Note: Keep an eye out for our next big story dropping Friday AM.)

Here’s what’s cookin’ on Episode 1 with McKenzie…

The Bills’ current obliteration of opponents. They’re outscoring teams 118-21 the last three weeks. What’s the mood internally with Sean McDermott and all of the players? More importantly, into this rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs, is this a Super Bowl-or-Bust type of season for the Bills?

McKenzie’s unique role in it all. How do you hijack a game when you’re getting the ball a handful of times on “minimum wage?”

His career started in Denver and, honestly, should’ve ended in Denver. A flurry of muffs threatened to ruin McKenzie mentally. He opens up on how he totally refocused when the Bills threw him a life raft in 2018 — with advice everyone can apply to their own lives.

Growing up in Miami Gardens. It was not easy — and we’ll dig into this more throughout the 10 episodes — but McKenzie was sure to have a little fun as a kid, too. Too much fun, actually. One prank pulled on his grandmother is an all-timer… and led to a whupping he’ll never forget.

Struggling in school. He was no fan of class, no. Yet when college football became a real possibility, McKenzie started to shape up.

The, uh, reason McKenzie decommitted from Notre Dame. Don’t miss this. You’ll learn something new about this school today.

His new dog, “Papi,” is in the house at Mister’s.

Your questions. The last 15 minutes of The Isaiah McKenzie Show will always be about you and anything on your mind. McKenzie is asked who his best friend on the team is, his pregame ritual, his role on offense, Cole Beasley and what it’s like returning a punt with a tackler right in his face. (We’ll be sure to pass the mic ‘round next time, too.)

Thanks everyone. This will be a lot of fun.

Want to see a show in person? Make your reservation via Open Table through the Mister’s website. If you’re a subscriber, you get first dibs, too. (Our other five episodes are via Zoom.)

Monday, Oct. 25 (6 p.m.-7 p.m.)
Monday, Nov. 1 (6 p.m.-7 p.m.)
Monday, Nov. 22 (6 p.m.-7 p.m.)
Monday, Jan. 3 (6 p.m.-7 p.m.)

If you can’t make a show in-person, be sure to drop any questions for McKenzie to me at golongtd@gmail.com. And we’d love it if you subscribed to Go Long, right here, to get everything we have to offer:

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

Isaiah McKenzie Show: Recent Episodes

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