Archives for December 16, 2013

‘Which QB is he though? The one who struggled so mightily early that a better team would have capitalized on every mistake and won going away or the skilled game manager who got the Bills back into the lead and kept them there?’

‘The Buffalo defense gave up 159 rushing yards to a Jaguars team that ranked 32nd in the league in rushing and was without its star running back. The Jags ranked last in the NFL on third downs, too, yet managed to convert 8 of 15 third-down plays against the Bills. And the Bills were on the verge of giving up an 80-yard, game-tying touchdown drive in the final four minutes.’

‘”I felt I went all week with the boys and whatever I can do to help out the team,” Johnson said. “I felt I should give it my all no matter what. It was tough, but we got the win, and I’m happy about that. I’m sure she’s happy about that.”‘

‘And that’s what happened at EverBank Field. Manuel, who was frightfully bad for a quarter, turned coolly efficient thereafter, throwing for two touchdowns and running for another as the Bills beat the Jaguars, 27-20, giving Manuel the first road victory of his brief NFL career.’

‘Doug Marrone wanted accountability from his players and staff. Looks like he got it this week. The Bills won for only the second time in seven games and snapped a two-game losing streak. A week after committing 11 penalties for 114 yards, the Bills had seven for 67 yards, and none of them were too costly. The game was strategized and managed well.’

‘he Bills made a defensive stand with just over 3 minutes to go. Jim Leonhard stopped Jordan Todman for a 4-yard loss back to the Buffalo 5. Two plays later Stephon Gilmore intercepted a Henne pass in the back of the end zone.’

‘In the end, the Jaguars made a few more, and Buffalo escaped with a 27-20 victory at half-empty EverBank Field.’

‘”He’s hard on himself, and we all understand it’s a difficult position,” Marrone said. “If everyone on this team was being evaluated like a quarterback, you can find a lot of things that are going on that’s not consistent. For him, does he have to get better? Yes he does, in a lot of areas, and he is, even though at times you can’t see it in the performance.”‘

‘”When I found out, I was already here,” said Johnson, who graciously talked to reporters following Buffalo’s 27-20 victory over Jacksonville. “I talked to coach and coach gave me the option (to play or not). I went all week with the boys, and whatever I can do to help out the team, I think I should give it my all no matter what. It was tough, we got the win, and I’m sure she’s happy about that.”‘

‘The Bills just happened to make a few less mistakes than the Jaguars and pulled the game out.’

‘The Bills won, and that’s all that matters, but they sure made the putrid, injury-depleted Jaguars look good at times. There were a few times where they could have put the game away, but they let the Jaguars hang on, and it took a fourth-quarter push to finish off the victory.’

‘EJ Manuel started out in the same way he played against Tampa Bay a week earlier – terrible. He was off his mark and threw an early interception. However, after that Manuel was pretty sharp and very efficient, finishing 17 of 24 for 193 yards, two touchdowns and the one pick. He connected with seven of the eight receivers that he targeted. Overall, this was a team he should look good against and he ended up looking OK. Would’ve love to have seen more. C+’

‘Sunday was a good victory for Marrone and the Bills. While the Bills struggled early on, the defense played well and eventually the offense got going. It was good, all-around effort. There’s still plenty to work on, but Marrone should be pleased with the performance.’

‘EJ Manuel’s rookie scorecard looks like this after 10 NFL starts. Three homefield wins. One homefield loss. Four road losses. One neutral-site loss (at Toronto, ahem).’