Archives for October 11, 2016

'Yeah, there are 11 games left, but many Bills fans are already assuming victories over San Francisco (1-4) Sunday at New Era Field and a week later at Miami (1-4).'

'“That’s huge,” outside linebacker Lorenzo Alexander said. “If you lead in the turnover ratio, you often times are winning games. So that’s’ what we pride ourselves on on defense. Our core principle is to take the ball away and score on defense.”'

'“It was amazing,” coach Rex Ryan said Monday. "(Special teams coordinator Danny) Crossman had us all ready. There was no question about it. We were actually wanting them to fake the whole day because we thought we were prepared for it.'

'The Buffalo Bills added some depth to their offensive line Monday, but it came at the expense of a valuable special-teams player.'

'Assuming they don't fall apart over the next month, the Bills will be in the thick of the wild-card chase heading into a tough four-game stretch from Nov. 20-Dec.11, after their bye week. They play at Cincinnati, vs. Jacksonville, at Oakland and home against the Steelers.'

'“It’s fair to say we’re looking at every option we have to be a good football team,” Kelly said on a radio show Monday, via CSN Bay Area. “I don’t think it’s different than any other position on our team. Obviously, that position gets the most notoriety, but I think we have to look at everything right now.'

'"The Jets game, we stunk up the joint, especially defensively, and that wasn't what this team looked like," Ryan said. "That wasn't what this defense looked like all training camp. That was disheartening, but it wasn't for a lack of confidences. I knew we could get the ship righted and right now, it looks like we're going in the right direction."'

'Buffalo hosts the 49ers Sunday, then plays in Miami in Week 7. Both of these teams are awful, the Bills should be favored to win both, and if they get it done, they’ll be 5-2 heading into a meat grinder that includes three games in succession against the Patriots and Tom Brady at home, at Seattle, and following their bye, at Cincinnati.'

'"Yeah, I know he was heavily criticized from some reason," Ryan said Monday. "I hope he gets criticized this week for a win, another win. I get the numbers weren't great. But I think our passer rating, one of our goals every week is to have a higher passer rating because I think that is a team thing. It is not just a quarterback it is an overall team deal. But we had a higher quarterback passer rating, so that was a good thing for us. There were four drops that were substantial yards that we left out there. And I think that, you just put the four completion on there I think his day looks much better.'

'"I had no idea that he was still the same player," Ryan said. "He might be a better player. How it happens, I'm not sure. Obviously I know one thing. It's hard work, and his dedication and all that. He's an outstanding teammate, too. You guys have no idea. He deserves all the credit."'

'"Well, I can honestly tell you this," Ryan said. "I might be the only guy in America that hasn't seen the video, hasn't seen debates or anything else. All my thing is, I'm under a rock. I'm focused on whoever we're playing and that's it. I don't know a whole lot about politics or anything, but right now, I'm strictly a football coach and that's all I am."'

'Henderson will give the Bills some much needed depth at offensive tackle behind starters Cordy Glenn and Jordan Mills.'

'The cornerback was given a 95.0 grade from Pro Football Focus for his effort in Buffalo's win over the Rams.'

'"It feels great," Ryan said, sweating through his sweater vest. "You know me. I'm just an average coach and I've very rarely won three straight games, so it feels great. We've just got to go for four now and that's where the focus is."'

'After rushing for 150 yards on 18 carries, McCoy was recognized by Peter King as one of his offensive players of the week. King wrote that Sunday's performance was the latest in McCoy's career renaissance.'