ORCHARD PARK, NY (WKBW) — It's no secret Bills cornerback Levi Wallace struggled in the team's win over San Francisco last week. In fact, following the game, defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier shared fans' frustrations.
“Whoever's opposite [Tre] White, they're gonna get work for sure. There were definitely some plays out there he’d like to have back," Frazier said. "There were some moments where you’d like to see him get a hand on some of those balls and it didn't happen. There were other times where he was in position and was able to help us and make some tackles. He didn't make enough plays to make them change their plans."
According to Pro Football Focus Wallace was targeted 12 times in their game against the 49ers, allowing nine completions for 146 yards and a touchdown. But one week later, Wallace is coming off a huge performance against the Steelers [one interception and three passes defended] that's now earning praise from fans and coaches.
"He's a winner," coach Sean McDermott said Monday to reporters. "Levi's a guy that continues to rise to the top and that's what winners do. We certainly appreciate that about him. Really proud of him and excited to watch him to continue to develop here for us."
Wallace came up big in the 4th quarter of Sunday night's game, intercepting Ben Roethlisberger as they were driving into Bills territory. Up by just nine points with seven minutes to go, Wallace's interception helped the Bills offense eat some more clock and seal the win.
"I was just trying to make a play," Wallace said after Sunday night's game. "[Jordan] Poyer's always talking about how big time players make big time plays in big time moments."
It's just the latest chapter in Wallace's career. The former Alabama product came to Buffalo as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and after sending time on the practice squad, made the active roster in early November of that year. He started opposite Tre'Davious White in 2019 and started the 2020 season after CB Josh Norman was battling an injury. After dealing with his own injury, which landed him on injured reserve, Wallace has been working hard to complement White on this Bills defense that's peaking at the right time of the season.
"He's had his back against the wall through his short NFL career but he shows the resiliency and the high character to fight back. That corner position is not an easy position easy to play," Frazier said. "To bounce back from those, to get on the horse again and start all over again, he's shown he can bounce back and last night was made evidence of that and that's the kind of resiliency he has."
