Archives for October 2015

'Johnson, 29, is in his seventh NFL season, and is familiar with Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman. The quarterback signed as a free agent with San Francisco in 2012 before being released ahead of that season. He then hooked back on with the 49ers in 2014 on various weeks to serve as a backup to the team.'

'Once every few games or so, Marcell Dareus has the type of game that reminds you why he’s one of the best defensive tackles in the league. This game was one of those.'

'One key player to watch is WR Sammy Watkins who has missed the last two games with a calf muscle injury. After a vigorous on field workout Friday and another one Sunday in Tennessee, Rex Ryan is optimistic about Watkins chances of returning to the lineup.'

'Johnson spent most of the 2015 offseason with Cincinnati after signing as a free agent with the Bengals last April. He appeared in one preseason game for Cincinnati going 11-21 passing for 175 yards. The Bengals released him in late August and he was signed by the New York Jets where he appeared in their preseason finale going 7-12 passing for 82 yards. He also ran for 76 yards on seven carries. He was released by the Jets during final cuts in early September.'

'“We always have those little mistakes that you want to fix, but that was one of our best whole games we put together,” said Preston Brown. “We were out there a lot so to put that effort together was good.”'

'Afterward, Ryan maintained, “(Our) quarterback’s got the biggest heart. Man, it was tough sledding, but he’s got guts, he’s got heart. He wasn’t playing great, but at the end of the day he’s the reason we won the game.” How often have the Bills been able to say that about a quarterback over the last decade-and-a-half, especially given Sunday’s situation with offensive personnel?'

'Yet when the Bills slip into these offensive funks, offensive coordinator Greg Roman probably should feature Taylor's mobility. How many quarterbacks resemble a real-life Willie Beamen?'

'Dalton is no Tom Brady. He’s a well-chronicled 0-4 in playoff games. But the Bengals figure to be as challenging a test for the Bills’ defense as Brady’s Patriots were in Week Two. As of Monday, they were first in the NFL in total offense, first in yards per pass, second in yards per play, third in passing, seventh in rushing.'

'The Bills were fined $20,000 during the 2012 season for not properly reporting a wrist injury suffered by Mario Williams to the league. Although Williams played every game and took every rep in practice, the league determined the injury was significant enough to merit being listed.'

'This guy is really playing well, and I would have to believe some of the Gilmore hate will start to subside. For some reason fans have really ridden the 2012 first-round draft choice, and while he may not have been an instant star his first two years, he was tremendous last year, and he's been even better this year. He had three more pass breakups against the Titans, plus the game-securing interception with 1:32 left to play.'

'For those keeping score at home, Pro Football Focus has Gilmore and Darby as their No. 2 and No. 3 ranked cornerbacks in the entire NFL this season. Pro Football Focus doesn't have the definitive word on the matter, but considering Gilmore and Darby are the top two cornerbacks in the NFL in passes defended with 10 and 11, respectively, it's safe to say they are playing pretty well.'

'"It's always a concern, there's no question," Ryan said. "I can tell you this: He is beat up right now. He's sore. You ought to see him. He is sore. We knew he would be. Guys, he hasn't been 100 percent all season. He's had an ankle even through training camp. We really haven't seen the 100 percent Tyrod Taylor. Of course, you're always concerned when you're quarterback takes off with it."'

'Consider this: The Bills' offense mustered only 209 yards, and the Titans had the ball for 11 minutes longer than the Bills on Sunday. Normally that's not a formula for winning football games, but that's the benefit of having a dominant defense. And yes, this Bills group has shown plenty of signs in the first five weeks that it can be that type of defense.'

'I don't know why this is, but doesn't it seem that it takes a team two weeks to actually miss missing players. Buffalo was without playmakers Sammy Watkins, LeSean McCoy and McCoy's replacement Karlos Williams. The Bills made do a week ago but Sunday they were inept without them.'

'As for Williams, Ryan said the rookie was still taking part in the NFL's concussion protocol. However, Ryan indicated Williams is expected to be cleared after saying the Bills had no plans to add a running back; Cierre Wood went on season-ending injured reserve Monday.'