Archives for September 2017

'The story of the second quarter was the Bills' defense, which sacked Cam Newton three times while keeping the Panthers out of the end zone (including the first career sack for Eddie Yarbrough). Safety Jordan Poyer had a key pass break-up in the end zone on a ball intended for Russell Shepard that forced the Panthers' second field goal, a 28-yarder.'

'The Bills' defense had some lapses, especially in containing quarterback Cam Newton, but should get credit keeping the score close despite being on the field for 11 minutes and 53 seconds.'

'"We've got people we've been sitting with for 20 years," Bob said a couple of weeks before the game, "but we're going to have to wear our Bills gear. We're going to be tough. We're going to handle."'

'By the end of the half, many fans on Twitter had seen enough and began clamoring for the team to replace Taylor with rookie Nathan Peterman. The Bills chose Peterman, who played college football at Tennessee and later Pittsburgh, in the fifth round of April’s draft. He won the backup job after outplaying T.J. Yates in the preseason.'

'"People are venting," said Jerry Marcinowski, 75, a retiree from Clarence, watching as Bills fans danced, as they pumped their fists and hollered, as they sang along to "Shout," with the song cranked to high volume. "They've been cooped up a long time, and everyone here knows this thing could have been a lot worse."'

'After a sub-par season opening performance in the Bills victory over the New York Jets, Harlan improved and had the kind of game expected of him.'

'For Taylor, I think the pass plays in which he turns into a runner after only checking his first read are more indicative of a lack of quarterbacking refinement and thereby are more important to track on a weekly basis.'

'Also included in the Bills' inactives are running back Joe Banyard, guard Vlad Ducasse, linebacker Jelani Jenkins, tight end Khari Lee, offensive tackle Conor McDermott and defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, who is out with a concussion and is the team's only player sitting because of injury.'

'Tyrod Taylor was unable to get anything working in the downfield passing game as his receivers are simply not able to get open, and most alarming, the offensive line was overmatched by a stout Carolina front seven. LeSean McCoy was completely shut down.'

'The Bills were beyond-belief incompetent on offense in their 9-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. They finished with 10 first downs and 176 yards (they had only 133 before their final drive); they had just 21 minutes of possession time, their longest play went for 15 yards, they scored a mere field goal, and even that was an adventure as Steven Hauschka’s kick caromed in off the upright.'

'Taylor, who struggled all day throwing the ball, completed a couple passes, and when he hit Andre Holmes on the left sideline for a first down at the Panthers 22 with just over a minute left, the unthinkable seemed possible. And then came the penalty flag, an offensive pass interference on Holmes, and the rally seemed to die right there.'

'When you’re considered the best running team in the NFL, and your offense is predicated on moving the ball on the ground, and you rush for 69 yards, that’s a recipe for disaster for the Bills. The Panthers were keying on McCoy because they know he’s the only real threat in Buffalo’s offense, and their big guys up front won the line of scrimmage which allowed Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly to do what they do. Take Taylor’s 55 scrambling yards out, and on designed runs, McCoy and Mike Tolbert carried 15 times for 14 yards.'

'Still, despite their struggles, the Bills were one botched pass play, on their final offensive snap, from stealing a win in front of 74,112 sun-splashed witnesses.'

'And even Newton admitted, “Sean has an unbelievable defense … very stout up front … guys in the secondary that can make plays and will make plays. (McDermott) knows things that can ruffle the (offensive) line’s feathers. But, at the end of the day, it was nothing that we weren’t prepared for.”'

'The Bills’ offense was a mess against the Panthers’ talented and aggressive defense. The Bills had just 176 yards of offense in the game and couldn’t sustain drives throughout the day. It was the third lowest offensive output since their Week 1 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in 2016 that helped get offensive coordinator Greg Roman fired. The Bills had issues all across the board on offense in this one.'