Archives for December 2016

'“I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to get into another player,’’ Ryan said. “I know the angle you guys are taking and I see that their team’s won eight of nine. I can tell you that much.’’'

'Bills 23, Dolphins 19.'

'The Colts (7-7) have to lose either at the Raiders (11-3, 8-2) on Saturday (seems likely) or home against the Jaguars (2-12) next week (not likely) unless interim Jacksonville coach and former Bills boss Doug Marrone wants to do his former team a favor. Who knows, maybe history will repeat itself and Marrone will quit before the job is done.'

'Branch posted an image that seemed to take a shot at Incognito for not having a true killer instinct. It showed Branch on top of Incognito from the first matchup between the teams in Week 7.'

'Whaley: Let's put it this way, none of us know our future. Look where we are. We owe it to our fans and our owners to keep it focused on Miami, because we're still in this. As small a chance as everybody says we have, we still have a chance, so we have to get our focus, not only from our coaching staff, our management, but the whole organization and especially the players to take care of business this weekend.'

'The Bills will get rushing yards against Miami, and this might sound goofy, but that's not the full key to beating Miami. Miami utilizes a Wide-9 scheme that essentially takes a lot of the onus for defending the run off of the defensive line and puts it on the linebackers. Kiko Alonso has been outstanding overall this season, but the outside linebacker spot is completely the biggest hole on this team. If Koa Misi could've stayed healthy (he never can and will likely be a cap casualty this offseason) and if Jelani Jenkins could stay healthy (another likely offseason cut) then this IS a team that would be far better against the run than they are, as well as defending tight ends.'

'Miami will start quarterback Matt Moore on Saturday and Buffalo head coach Rex Ryan has referred to the last time Moore and Ryan were on the field together several times this week. Moore lead the Dolphins to a 19-17 win on the road against Ryan’s New York Jets in the season finale of the 2011 NFL season. On that day, Moore went 22/32, with 135 passing yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. But multiple current Bills were also on the field that day, including Charles Clay, Dan Carpenter, and Richie Incognito, who all played that day for Miami.'

'In order for the Bills to have any hopes of playing a meaningful game Week 17 against the New York Jets, they will need to not only beat the Dolphins today, but also have both the Baltimore Ravens (8-6) fall to the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5) and the Denver Broncos (8-6) lose to the Kansas City Chiefs (10-4) on Christmas Day. Then, in Week 17, they will need to beat the Jets, have the Cincinnati Bengals (5-8-1) beat the Ravens, the New England Patriots (12-2) take care of the Dolphins, the winless Cleveland Browns (0-14) beat the Steelers, The Houston Texans (8-6) defeat the Tennessee Titans (8-6) and the Oakland Raiders (11-3) topple the Broncos.'

'Barring Rich Kotite-type organization calamity, teams that fire head coaches after two seasons are teams without strong ownership and without a sound plan.'

'"Let's put it this way: None of us know our future," Whaley told radio station WGR 550 during an interview Friday. "Look where we are. We owe it to our fans and our owners to keep it focused on Miami, because we're still in this."'

'Despite reports from ESPN and other outlets about Ryan's job security, the Bills have yet to release a statement about the coach. Owner Terry Pegula issued a statement Dec. 30 last year, during the final week of the season, supporting Ryan and Whaley.'

'The Dolphins have been on a roll over their last eight games, and the win over the Bills in Miami has certainly served as a catalyst to get their acts together. However, with all the injuries they have suffered over the course of the season, they are currently playing above the talent that they’re putting out there.'

'This is a tricky one. The Dolphins are still competing for a wild card berth while the Bills, though mathematically still alive, are really just playing out the string. And yet I think the Dolphins, without Ryan Tannehill, may struggle on a cold day in Buffalo. I like the Bills in a close, defensive struggle.'

'Below we take a look at the games that most significantly impact Buffalo’s slim playoffs hopes.'

'Dolphins DE Mario Williams, TE MarQueis Gray, S Bacarri Rambo, T Sam Young, TE Dominique Jones and linebacker Kiko Alonso all spent time on Buffalo’s roster. Flying north to take on their former teammates this weekend, they’re no strangers to New Era Field.'