Archives for November 25, 2014

‘”All indications are we are 100 percent ready to roll back at Ralph Wilson Stadium, have a good week of practice and get ready for the Browns after this game,” Brandon said. “None of the reports that I have would lead us to think otherwise.”‘

‘Fullback Frank Summers is inactive with a neck problem and will miss his first game this season. Tight end MarQueis Gray, linebacker Randell Johnson, tackle Cyrus Kouandjio, wide receiver Marquise Goodwin and defensive ends Jarius Wynn and Bryan Johnson are also inactive for Buffalo.’

‘Boobie Dixon rushed for a touchdown and blocked a punt that was recovered in the end zone for another score, helping the Bills (6-5) keep their playoff hopes alive.’

‘he Lions organization tried its best to make the Bills feel at home. The hosts even painted the Bills logo at midfield and encouraged the 56,044 fans, who got free tickets, to cheer for Buffalo. “I don’t think we would have been as prepared if they didn’t open up their arms to us,” Marrone said of the Lions.’

‘”It was a busy week, wondering if we were going to play a game, if we even were going to practice for a game,” he said. “Stuck in the house, it didn’t seem likely. The people in Buffalo made it happen. They cleared the roads for some of the players to get out. They wanted us to play this game. It was really for them, the city of Buffalo.”‘

‘They need to rely on veteran quarterback Kyle Orton and their stable of young receivers to overcome an unspectacular running game. Orton completed 75 percent of his passes Monday to offset the relative ineffectiveness of the three-headed running back rotation. Subtracting Anthony Dixon’s 30-yard touchdown against the worn-down Jets defense late in the fourth and the Bills only gained 86 yards on 28 carries. They came into the game averaging a modest 3.9 yards a carry.’

‘With the game comfortably in hand, EJ Manuel took the field for the first time since Buffalo’s loss in Houston, but simply handed the ball off three straight times.’

‘The Bills were 54 percent on third down efficiency, outgained the Jets 336-218, they intercepted Michael Vick once, blocked a punt for a touchdown and sacked the two Jet quarterbacks seven times. Hmm, I think they were ready to play.’

‘Early in the game it looked like quarterback Kyle Orton was channeling his previous two performances into the team’s game in Detroit. He received some help along the way from his receivers with fantastic catches, but Orton was as efficient as the Bills could have asked for. Orton completed 24-of-32 attempts for 230 yards and two touchdowns, and more importantly, helped lead the Bills to convert on all three (!) of their red-zone opportunities – which has been an outright rarity to the 2014 campaign. Orton even showed to be lightning on his feet, rushing for a 10-yard gain and a first down when the left side was there for the taking. He’ll have a much stiffer test against a Cleveland Browns team that has one of the top young cornerbacks in the game, but it was a step in the right direction.’

‘You guys get the feeling that, for whatever emotional lifts are worth, just having Fred Jackson around is worth whatever they have to pay the guy? He’s like an aggressive-running Yoda for this team, the emotional leader they don’t necessarily have in their HC.’

‘The Bills took all the emotion of a very unusual week and took it all out on the New York Jets as the Bills won a “home” game in Detroit against the Jets 38-3. Kyle Orton completed 24 of 32 passes for 230 yards including touchdown passes to Robert Woods and Scott Chandler. Woods made four fantastic catches including a David Tyrell type catch and a great acrobatic catch for his touchdown. Boobie Dixon blocked his second punt of the season that was recovered by Manny Lawson for a touchdown. A Duke Williams interception setup a Fred Jackson touchdown run in the rout. Dixon added a 30 yard touchdown run and the defense had seven sacks including two each by Mario Williams and Jerry Hughes.’

‘Kyle Orton was rock solid as he completed 75% of his passes on hitting 24 of 32 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns. He struggled early with is accuracy but made the plays when he had to. Grade A: Orton holds on to the job for at least another week.’

‘Buffalo’s offense had been struggling in the red zone, but looked sharp going three-for-three inside the 20 against the Jets. Kyle Orton was responsible for two of the scores with touchdown passes to Robert Woods and Scott Chandler, who also both scored TDs in the first meeting with New York.”

‘”First of all I just want to say shout out to the Buffalo community,” said Boobie Dixon, who had a touchdown run and a blocked punt that led to another touchdown, which put the game away in the second half. “That was definitely for them. It’s been a struggle all week. I know they’re back home struggling and we’re going to go back home and fight with them. That was definitely for them, but we just rallied together. We know we needed this game. It was a must win and we got the ‘W’.”‘