Archives for November 8, 2016

'The Bills were severely hampered in the fourth quarter by center Eric Wood leaving the game with an ankle injury. Backup center Patrick Lewis was inactive for the game, so reserve guard/tackle Ryan Groy had to take over. He struggled.'

'The play also ended Taylor's streak of passes without an interception at 190, which is the second-longest run in team history. Taylor set the record last season at 222.'

'He started the second quarter in style by hauling in a 17-yard touchdown with just his right hand, using his left arm to hold off safety Robert Blanton. With a minute to go in the half, Graham got just enough separation on Nickell Robey-Coleman to make a one-handed snag while falling to the ground.'

'The Bills took the lead back with a 10-minute, 17-play drive that was arguably their best of the season. Taylor was 5 of 6 for 32 yards on the drive while LeSean McCoy, Mike Gillislee and Taylor all picked up good yards on the ground.'

'"I’m not concerned at all," the Buffalo Bills' receiver said. "I’ve played this game more than half my life. I understand there’s a 100-percent injury rate. A lot of people who play it are going to suffer head trauma or a head injury at some point. I just don’t really worry about it. I pray about the things that I have in life, wake up thankful I’m able bodied and leave the rest up to God. I don’t really focus on that aspect of the game."'

'The streak, dating to 2010, was the second-longest for active wide receivers in the NFL, trailing only Atlanta's Eric Weems (127). The 49ers' Torrey Smith is next at 88.'

'Also inactive for the Bills are quarterback Cardale Jones, offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson, center Patrick Lewis, tight end Gerald Christian and wide receiver Brandon Tate (concussion).'

'This egregious performance by Rex Ryan’s beleaguered boys, allowing the heretofore struggling Seahawks offense to roll up 28 points, ultimately doomed the Bills in their gut-wrenching 31-25 loss to in front of a record, full-throated-as-always crowd of 69,084.'

'Almost no one saw this coming. I know I didn’t. The Bills and Seahawks playing a thrilling, high-scoring shootout was about the last thing I expected in Buffalo’s lone appearance on Monday Night Football this season.'

'Yes, the Bills lost, but how could I possibly fault that effort? The defense was horrendous in the first half, but it was mostly tremendous in the second half as the Seahawks really did nothing, gaining a mere 40 yards while scoring three points. Meanwhile, the offense put up 25 points, 30 first downs and 425 yards against one of the NFL’s premier defenses, right in its raucous backyard. It’s not often I say in a Bills loss that they deserved better, but they really did in this one.'

'"Well, he is mean-mugging like he's doing," Rex Ryan said. "Whatever, but the guy is a great player. I guess it wasn't as bad as I thought. I thought he roughed our kicker. It was a ridiculous play. Then he is over on the sideline basically taunting us, so I had some words. I think I said that you're too good of a player to act like an ass. I think that's what I said."'

'"I went straight for the ball. I didn't go for the kicker." Sherman then added, "He should have not kicked it. Maybe he wanted to. You know? I went for the ball. That's where I went. So when the ball gets tipped on a play, the rule is that if it's tipped there's no flag."'

'The officials were in the process of shutting the play down. Sherman jumped offside and he was unimpeded to the kicker so we shut that down. The referee didn't think that the contact was severe enough. He felt that players were coming together and he just didn't think it was a foul. We looked at it and it is a foul. It is no different than a defender coming offside and hitting a quarterback after the whistle blew, so it should have been unnecessary roughness.'

'"It's definitely tough to see him go down," quarterback Tyrod Taylor said. "Like you said, he definitely means a lot to our offense as far as getting protections and even in the running game. It's just a tough loss. We have to use this bye week wisely as far as getting Groy ready to play for the rest of the season. But it's definitely tough. We have to keep him in prayer and hope he comes back healthy."'

'White's presence actually helped settle the secondary down. In the second half, the Bills didn't allow a single touchdown. Unfortunately, the damage had been done. Wilson finished the game 20-of-26 passing for 282 yards and two touchdowns. He completed all 14 of the passes he threw to Jimmy Graham and Doug Baldwin for a total of 192 yards and two touchdowns.'