Archives for November 2011

‘He hit 13 of 16 field-goal attempts – including a 55-yarder – and had 55 points in eight games with Detroit last season. Rayner’s most productive season came in 2006 with Green Bay, where he hit 26 of 35 attempts and had 109 points in 16 games.’

‘The Buffalo Bills are offering a package of discounted tickets in a bid to fill a combined 57,000 unsold seats available for their final three home games.’

‘Rayner kicked for Oakland in a Week 7 loss to Kansas City when Sebastian Janikowski was sidelined with a hamstring injury. He did not attempt a field goal or extra-point attempt in the 28-0 loss.’

‘The Bills made the decision to end Williams’ season after he met with a foot specialist in North Carolina.’

‘Rayner is all too familiar with serving as an injury replacement in the NFL. Last season he appeared in eight games with Detroit as he filled in for long time Lions kicker Jason Hanson after he was placed on injured reserve with a sprained MCL.’

‘”You never breathe easy when you lose an All-Pro player,” Gailey told Buffalobills.com. “That is a huge loss for our football team when he’s not in the game. Not only by his play, but by his leadership and the energy he brings to the game.”‘

‘For all the great strides the Bills have made this season on offense, the defense has not progressed the way one would hope. There was a coming out party in Toronto last week against a pitiful Washington offense, but the unit has yet to show any kind of consistency.’

‘Scott Norwood’s return to Ralph Wilson Stadium was quick, quiet, and unassuming – just the way he likes it.’

‘ “In this league, you’ve got to play a full game, you’ve got to play 60 minutes. In the past we’ve played 30 minutes and snuck away with a win but that’s not going to happen every week.”‘

‘A Clay man returning from a Buffalo Bills game was charged Sunday with felony driving while intoxicated with a child in the car, state police said.’

‘The Bills converted just 3 of 11 (27 percent) on third down in Sunday 27-11 loss to the Jets.’

‘So at the midpoint of his second season, Spiller is wandering into bust territory. No other running back has gone in the top 10 in the last three drafts. Nowadays, a back has to be a rare talent to go that high, a difference-maker.’

‘Williams has missed the team’s last three games because of a foot injury, believed to be bone spurs irritating his Achilles tendon.’

‘Much to the dismay of those who expected otherwise and would love to call us out for being glass half-empty jerks, I’m not burying the Bills either. They had a lousy game, their first one of the year. I thought they’d have a few of those by now, and not be 5-3, so good for them.’x

This was Buffalo’s biggest test on home turf since 2004 and it flopped. From here on in, with the spotlight that accompanies a playoff race becoming more intense with each passing game, can the Bills learn to win when the stage continues to grow?