Archives for November 24, 2014

‘The Bills are in a tough spot in this game, losing a valuable homefield advantage in a contest that they likely must need in order to have any hope for the playoffs. With a loss the Bills will drop to 2-6 in the conference, which will all but erase any hopes of them stealing a wildcard berth in a tiebreaker scenario. The Jets are playing loose, coming off a bye week and off a game in which they stunned a Pittsburgh team that was playing as well as any offense in the NFL. Kyle Orton must have a big game for the Bills to win, because they won’t be able to depend on a huge turnover advantage like they did last time around. This is the ultimate test in adversity for the Bills with what they’ve gone through this week and what this game means to the outcome of the 2014 season. It will likely be a close game, but this is not the same Jets team as the one the Bills saw in October. The fast track at Ford Field for Michael Vick and Percy Harvin could end up being the difference.’

‘Jets 19, Bills 10.’

‘As Bills’ President and CEO, Russ Brandon, noted, “It was a full-on effort by everyone … the organization, the NFL, the Lions. So many people have taken a lot of steps to make this happen and it’s gone seamlessly from the time we left Buffalo.” But he added, “No one feels sorry for us … there’s nothing positive from having to move a game. When you take the great fans that we have, the experience at Ralph Wilson Stadium, and playing in the outdoor elements in November, that’s what you live for when you play Buffalo Bills football.’

‘To be sure, the real problem is for Bills’ boss Doug Marrone, thought to be coaching for his job over the season’s last six games. Thus, a major weather calamity that canceled practices, cost a home game, totally disrupted the routine and deprived his team of the advantage of both the crowd and the elements was the last thing Marrone needed while trying to remain employed.’

‘I spent some time Friday with the three NFL executives who spearheaded the nuts and bolts work of moving the game from snowbound Ralph Wilson Stadium in the south Buffalo snowbelt, where six feet of snow fell, to Detroit. And if you’re a logistics nerd, as I am, what league executive vice president Eric Grubman, director of football operations Blake Jones and senior vice president of football operations David Gardi laid out was pretty methodical-and you’ll understand exactly why the decision was made.’

‘Las Vegas actually favors the Bills to win tonight. They opened as four-point favorites. Once the game was postponed and relocated, it was taken off the board and reset, with the Bills giving as many as 2.5 points.’

‘Bills 20, N.Y. Jets 17.’

‘They’ll get no sympathy here. The Bills are the last NFL organization that deserves sympathy over a change of venue. Remember, they gave away a regular-season home game to Toronto six years in a row in the name of profit and regionalization.’

‘”Normally I’d be out at the stadium tailgating, but I’m here,” Johnson said. “I’ve got a case of beer and friends are stopping by. We’ll tailgate as long as the beer holds out.”‘

‘”We all know the situation,” said Marrone. “No one is going to feel sorry for us. We’ve got to go out there and play, and when we play we’ve got to go out there and compete and win. That’s what our job is. We understand that and I told them what I felt was the truth; we have to man up and we have to go after it.”‘

‘Bills 20, Jets 16.’

‘”We know when we get on that field that no one’s going to really care what you went through,” Bills coach Doug Marrone said. “You have to go out there and win a football game.”‘

‘Connell grabbed another member of the Bills’ staff and brought two Skid-Steer loaders because a plow truck wasn’t going to be enough. They had to move seven feet of snow from in front of the couple’s home to dig them out.’

Snowstorm and Detroit home game could undo Buffalo (New York Daily News)

Not to be cold, but NY Jets are best opponent for beat-down Bills (New York Daily News)

NY Jets players say Rex Ryan should stay (New York Daily News)

Scalpers selling free Jets-Bills tickets for $125: report (New York Daily News)

Jets out to pay Bills back for Week 8 beatdown (New York Post)

On ‘neutral’ ground, Jets must make use of Buffalo’s rough week (New York Post)

Riding momentum, Vick says he’s ready to take on the Bills (New York Post)

Jets have big advantages in rescheduled game with Bills (Newsday)

Detroit radio station touts #GreenMonday to back Jets (Newsday)

Percy Harvin and Sammy Watkins highlight 3 Jets vs. Buffalo Bills matchups to watch (Newark Star Ledger)

Free Jets-Buffalo Bills tickets being scalped for up to $125, per report (Newark Star Ledger)

Jets-Buffalo Bills predictions: Our staff picks for Monday night’s game (Newark Star Ledger)

Jets set for odd scenario (Bergen Record)

Jets matchup: Week 12 vs. Bills (Bergen Record)

Vick Leads Rejuvenated Jets Into Matchup Against Spiraling Bills (Wall Street Journal)

Jets-Bills tickets won’t bring a profit (ESPN New York)

Free tickets gone within 10 minutes (ESPN New York)

Bills expect packed Ford Field (ESPN New York)

Saalim Hakim & T.J. Graham on the Fast Track (NewYorkJets.com)

Final Week 12 Injury Report (NewYorkJets.com)

Bills feel at home at Ford Field (Detroit News)

Fans scramble for free tickets to NFL game at Ford Field (Detroit Free Press)

Watch Ford Field, Lions make displaced team feel welcome (Ann Arbor News)