Archives for December 2016

'Watkins was officially listed as "did not participate" on Wednesday's injury report. He played 25 plays (45%) in the win over Jacksonville, catching three passes for 80 yards. He declined interview requests in the locker room after Wednesday's practice.'

'"When you talk about our offense going down there and end up getting the go-ahead score, kicking a field goal to put us up, and putting the defense back out there on the field, it's up to us at that point to end the game," Mack said. "That's what me and (quarterback) Derek (Carr) talked about before that series, and we wanted to make sure we went out and did it."'

'"Is he a project? Yes, certainly it’s a project," coach Rex Ryan said. "[I" target="_blank"> don’t anticipate him doing anything right now because he doesn’t know the plays or anything, but let’s take a shot, see what we got in this young man and maybe he can do some things."'

'Taylor's overall numbers in these situations aren't great, but Sunday was one of his better statistical performances. He completed three of his four passes for 49 yards, including a nicely thrown 16-yard touchdown to Justin Hunter in the front corner of the end zone.'

'That was why Ryan wasn't about to take the bait the other day when a reporter asked him about the fact there was quite a bit of booing in the first half of last Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.'

'I lied. No, I mean, we’re okay. We’ll be okay. We’ve had some, but you’re right. A couple of weeks ago, we had come back off that bye and we felt good. But, you know, it’s the National Football League and things happen. And that’s why your depth – what did Marv Levy used to say? Depth is a great thing as long as you don’t have to use it. But I think – in this league, you have to use it. Hopefully, we’ll get these guys back sooner than later.'

'"We picked New Era Field because it sounds really intimate and homey," Marciniak said. "Even though there’s 70,000 people in the stadium, it feels more personal."'

'I see us as a good, hardworking community that deserves better, but wonder what dastardly thing the City of Chicago did to warrant Cubs fans having to wait 108 years between championships. Heck, at this point, I’m only asking for a playoff appearance, not a world championship.'

'“I think the big thing, something we don’t talk about, is how we protect the football,” Ryan said. “I think it’s an NFL record now, through 11 games, the least amount of turnovers, and I think that bodes well for us. I know our record is not great right now, 6-5, but, if you continue to play like this and we’re able to get some turnovers on defense, I think that’s obviously how you win in this league.”'

'“We support every player we have, but you have to move on and that’s exactly what we have to do,” Ryan said. “We support him, he’s got the ability to play in this league a long, long time, but every player, not just Seantrel, has to abide by the rules set forth by the NFL.”'

'"They do a lot of different things," linebacker Preston Brown said. "I mean we all know they got a great quarterback back there, dealing the ball to all good receivers, good running backs. They do a lot of different formations, five wides, extra tackle, bring in guys and run the ball downhill."'

'“They’re fourth in the league in passing, 10th in rushing. We know it’s an outstanding offense,” Ryan said. “They have a lot of weapons; we’re going to struggle to match with them regardless.”'

'Buffalo's six turnovers are the fewest through 11 games in NFL history. The previous low over that span was eight shared by five teams, most recently Kansas City last year. The single-season record is 10, set by New England in 2010 and matched by San Francisco the following season.'

'The severity of the injury is unclear and it's not known whether it will affect his status for Sunday, when Buffalo (6-5) plays at Oakland (9-2). Watkins declined to speak to reporters during a brief appearance in the locker room.'

'The Bills become Thomas' second team in three days. He was signed Monday by the Lions, who listed him as a tight end. Thomas played quarterback with the Giants in the preseason.'