Archives for September 2016

'"Steve Grogan can play quarterback. If Belichick's playing quarterback, we're coming after him, I promise you that."'

'Playing without top wideout Sammy Watkins (foot) and left tackle Cordy Glenn (ankle), the Bills rediscovered the rushing attack that led the NFL last season to secure their first victory. In their first game since promoting running backs coach Anthony Lynn to replace fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman, the Bills gained 209 yards on the ground after totaling 151 in the season's first two games.'

'"We were really, obviously, embarrassed by the type of play that we had last week," Bills coach Rex Ryan said. "We had to really look deep and try to help ourselves and come up with different ways and change the look on them."'

'"I know how difficult it is to defend against a running quarterback," Ryan said. "That's what we have to be ready [for] in case Edelman quarterbacks, right? I have a funny feeling he isn't going to be Brady back there."'

'The Bills would come out for the second half with the same aggressiveness that they started the game by forcing the Cardinals to go three-and-out on their first possesion. After another poor punt by the Cardinals to give the Bills excellent field position, the Bills would once again find the endzone this time by a 20-yard Tyrod Taylor touchdown scramble.'

'Give Rex and the defensive staff credit for coming up with a new look to baffle Palmer and company. The Bills used a seven defensive back personnel grouping a number of times in the game and it derailed Arizona’s passing game. They also did it while playing without starting cornerback Ronald Darby who was inactive due to a hamstring injury. At halftime, the big three passing weapons of Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and John Brown had combined for just three catches on 12 targets for 20 yards.'

'Arizona didn’t get its first first down until there was 9:25 left in the second quarter. At that point the total yardage was 186-7. By the end of the game, Arizona outgained Buffalo 348-296, but the Bills only turned the ball over once while Arizona had four picks against and a botched field goal attempt that was ruled a lost fumble by Drew Butler.'

'Regardless if it was the right move to fire Greg Roman, and regardless if he's the right head coach long-term, Ryan got his team ready to play – and play well – after all that happened since last Friday. A lot of distractions. A lot of pressure. A very good opponent and staring 0-3 in the face. It would have been easy to pack up the helmets and shoulder pads and go home. Yet, Rex's Bills not only kept it together, they rallied behind one another for a big victory.'

'Despite not having cornerback Ronald Darby in the lineup due to a hamstring injury, the Bills secondary remained strong, intercepting Palmer four times in the final six minutes as the Cardinals threatened to rally down 33-18 late in the game.'

'The Bills just collected a 33-18 win over the Arizona Cardinals at New Era Field, but then near the end of the conversation during his post-game press conference, the Bills head coach brought up the idea of his Week Four opponents — the New England Patriots — playing wide receiver Julian Edelman at quarterback.'

'Hughes helped win the Bills the game against Arizona. The penalty was an awful one to take, but, it was merely an exception to the following rule: Hughes dominated the Arizona offensive line.'

'I’m still not sold on Rex Ryan, but on this day I have to give him his due. He totally out-coached counterpart Bruce Arians while guiding a team without three of its best players – Sammy Watkins, Cordy Glenn and Ronald Darby, each of whom watched the game in street clothes because of injury.'

'A huge win in a desperate situation with several big players being sidelined allows the fans to feel good for a week.'

'Buffalo’s running game resurfaced in a big way as they rolled up better than 200 yards on the ground under new offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn. LeSean McCoy rushed more over 100 yards and had a pair of touchdowns in the victory, while Taylor rushed for 79.'

'“Yeah a couple of oddball formations,” said Tyrod Taylor. “Definitely (makes it harder) for the defense. They can’t (hide things) as easy bringing in different personnel, lined up in different formations. It just keeps them unbalanced. But at the same time we’re calling our regular offense, we’re just moving out of different formations. But I think Coach Lynn did a good job of that mixing it in early against their defense.”'