Archives for December 2016

'Then again, the Bills could lose to the winless Cleveland Browns next week.'

'"We're fighting for everybody's job," veteran safety Corey Graham said. "When you lose, everybody's evaluated. It's not just about Rex. I mean, we're hoping we've got a job when we come in (Monday). That's just how it is."'

'Ryan looks like a dead man walking, too. You don't need some football czar to conclude that his model of football is outdated, and that his defense has been a miserable failure for much of his two seasons as the Bills' head man.'

'Time for Terry and Kim Pegula to fumigate the entire football department. Detoxify, disinfect and decolonize it. Then hose down the empty offices with Febreze.'

'The standards for Buffalo sports teams are so embarrassingly low that finishing .500 has become an achievement. If the Bills ever finish 10-6 again, you’ll see a statue of their coach outside the stadium.'

'The Bills failed to generate any noteworthy pressure on Roethlisberger. His interceptions and off-target throws had virtually nothing to do with being hurried and more the result of his confidence that he could get away letting even risky passes go because the turnovers wouldn't come back to bite him.'

'Le'Veon Bell, who didn't get really involved until the second half, rushed for 236 yards, a record against a Bills team. That means Ryan's defense has allowed two of the top three rushing games in franchise history in the last two months Miami's Jay Ajayi ran for 214 in the loss to the Dolphins in Week 7.'

'What about Sammy Watkins? Why aren’t the Bills force-feeding him passes? He was matched on cornerback Russ Cockrell much of the day. All we can presume is Watkins is far less than 100 percent.'

'Offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn, who was thrust into the role of calling plays after Greg Roman was fired in Week Three, will serve as the interim coach and will likely be offered the job next season. He has been a finalist for several coaching positions and impressed the Pegulas with his work this season.'

'The coach who wanted to “build a bully” watched his defense get its butt kicked over and over again by Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell, who broke the Pittsburgh single-game rushing record with a mind-boggling 236 yards and three touchdowns. But, hey, at least the Bills held Bell to less than 300 yards from scrimmage. He finished with “only 298.” If it wasn’t for Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger apparently having money on the under – he threw three interceptions, including two in the red zone – this could have been a blowout of epic proportions.'

'So this year's Bills and their vaunted defense has allowed the two worst rushing games in franchise history despite existing in a passing era.'

'The Steelers played mostly three-receiver sets in building a 14-7 first-half lead. To start the third quarter, Pittsburgh powered up with two backs, two tight ends and one receiver. They drove 82 yards for a TD, and 67 of it was on the ground. Bell ripped off a 24-yard run to the Buffalo 35. Fullback Roosevelt Nix took out Zach Brown, and Preston Brown couldn’t scrape over the top of a block in time to catch Bell.'

'Even though the Steelers’ superstar threw three interceptions, he still outplayed the Bills’ quarterback.'

'LeSean McCoy, who has looked so good so often this season, gained just 27 yards on 12 carries, an average of 2.3 yards per rush. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor gained 2 yards on three carries. A third of Buffalo’s team output of 67 yards came on a garbage-time 22-yard run by Mike Gillislee. But, hey, Reggie Bush gained 4 yards on his only carry, taking his season total from 1 to 5! Yes, it was that kind of day.'

'Play of the game: Bell's third touchdown run. He practically walked in from five yards, with Bills' defenders barely giving any effort in pursuit, to give the Steelers a 21-7 lead in the third quarter.'