Archives for October 2016

'“This is what good teams do,” defensive tackle Kyle Williams said. “We were able to withstand their first surge. … I think it was the turning point of the game. We talked about it on the sideline: They wen out, they struggled that first series (after halftime), had a couple penalties and we just said, ‘listen, we are not going to start like that. We have to put the foot to the gas and get going here.’ ”'

'“This is the first year that I’ve ever really been doubted,” McCoy said during his news conference. “Is this kid too good? Is he not good? Are we wasting our time? So to hear you say that, yeah, it can definitely drive you.”'

'But all nitpicking aside, this team has the look of a wild-card contender in a mediocre AFC. They're 4-2, a game back of New England in the AFC East. It's amazing to contemplate, but if they win in Miami, they could be playing for first place in the division — maybe the conference — when the Pats come to town in two weeks.'

'As much as the Bills tried to let the 49ers hang around in the first two quarters, their level of superiority — not to mention the Niners' level of incompetence — was never going to allow this game to be any more competitive than the final score indicated.'

'What play looks good on third and 20 from your own 26? How about let McCoy make magic? The 49ers rushed three and sat back in a zone. McCoy took a handoff off left tackle that would have been a 10-yard gain for 98 percent of NFL running backs. But McCoy made a jump-cut to the right. Niners linebacker Michael Wilhoite, in position, could only watch as Shady blew by him to the right sideline for 22 yards. First down. It allowed the Bills to get a field goal to end the half.'

'The Niners have one of the weaker offensive lines in the NFL, and it was outplayed by the Bills’ defensive front. San Francisco running backs carried 20 times for just 67 yards, a 3.35-yard average. Niners right guard Joshua Garnett is a rookie first-round draft pick who was making his first start. Center Daniel Kilgore has made 16 starts in six years. Left guard Zane Beadles is a former big-ticket free agent who washed out in Jacksonville and who struggles in pass protection. The middle three got no push against the Bills.'

'Go ahead and start the “LeSean McCoy for MVP” campaign. I’ll cast the first vote. It’s hard to imagine a player being more valuable to his team right now. The numbers are preposterous – 312 yards on 44 team carries, an average of 7.1 per rush. McCoy went for 140 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries. Tyrod Taylor sprinkled in some scrambles, the option worked again, the Wildcat produced another touchdown. In short, on a day the running game needed to eat, it feasted.'

'They belong to the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, Kaepernick at the University of Nevada chapter and Goodwin at the University of Texas, where he played with one of Kaepernick's advisers, Green Beret and Bronze Star recipient Nate Boyer.'

'Shortly before Ferrara began, the crowd started a “USA, USA” chant. Kaepernick was joined by teammates Eli Harold and Eric Reid in taking a knee. San Francisco’s Antoine Bethea and Rashard Robinson raised a fist as Ferrara sang.'

'Passers-by hurled occasional insults at the group as they knelt, telling them they were a “joke” and a “disgrace,” adding that, “all lives matter.” Various anti-Kaepernick T-shirts and beer koozies were for sale in the parking lots before the game, with inscriptions such as, "Stand up & shut up." One tailgate displayed a sign that said, "Cops eat free!"'

'The Bills will be favored to beat the Miami Dolphins in Hard Rock Stadium next Sunday and push their record to 5-2 after opening the season with two hideous defeats.'

'How comfortable was the win? EJ Manuel took over at quarterback for Tyrod Taylor with 9:05 left in the game. And he even led a touchdown drive.'

'LeSean McCoy and Tyrod Taylor showed off their magic feet in the Bulls’ 45-16 rout of the San Francisco 49ers Sunday.'

'Four straight wins hasn’t happened around here since 2008. It’s reason to celebrate. It’s been more than a decade since the Bills won five straight. They’ll go to Miami next week with a chance to do just that for the first time since 2004.'

'But the early results are certainly persuasive. On Sunday, in a windy stadium, the Bills scored 30 or more points for the third time in four with Lynn calling the shots, four of the last five overall. For the second week in a row, Lynn put together a run-heavy game plan to compensate for a weakened receiving corps and it worked to near-perfection.'