Two Bills Drive

'Yeah, it needs to get better just like a lot of areas on our team. We need to get better at a lot of areas. It’s still early in the process and I think we’d be making a huge mistake to say we’re good enough in this area, we’re good enough in that area, we’re not good enough in that area. We just have to continue to improve and get to know our team. I don’t think you really know your team, and I’ve talked about this before, until the end of October potentially, or the late part of October when you get to know all the guys on your team and what they do best. You can see we’re still tinkering with the roster in some spots, trying to get the right 53, and then you add the practice squad on top of that, the right practice squad. This is a work in progress.'

'"No, not at all. I look at the game analytically," he explained. "I am a real positive person. I am cheering players who play well no matter what jersey they are wearing. It is just like another game to me."'

'"Two years ago, it would've probably been different," Watkins told Rams reporters this week after going without a target until late in Sunday's game. "I would've probably gone to the media and been saying whatever, trying to get the coach's attention. That's how I used to do it back then. Like, 'I need more targets.' Then that comes to the coach, and me and him have to talk."'

'Those interested in joining the challenge for the first time can sign up at buffalobills.com/thechallenge. Returning participants can return there.'

'Game temperature: 78.'

'However, Taylor has been a good game manager, he’s taking care of the ball, he’s keeping the Bills out of bad situations by using his legs, and he also looks like a quarterback who is far more comfortable in Rick Dennison’s offense than he ever was in Greg Roman’s. The Bills need to get more dynamic in the passing game, but given the way they’ve played defense, they’re proving they can win with Taylor.'

'"I felt like I was consumed, and I was angry," Watkins told ESPN. "It was affecting my relationships with the coaches and with the players. I wanted to be great so bad, but I was also selfish, too. Because there were some games that we won and I didn't get the ball, and I was upset. I looked at both sides of it, like, yeah, it is a point where you want to be great, but you also have to understand what we have on this team."'

'"I would say this: the thing I've been most impressed with about LeSean is his growth as a teammate," McDermott said. "You watch, and I would say probably more so for me than anyone because of our relationship and because of how it got started years ago in Philadelphia and now coming full circle years later. Just to watch him evolve, mature and it's not that he wasn't a teammate, it's just that's what happens when you grow and you've been in the league for so many years. You start to understand what this is all about. It's so much more about team stats, wins and losses than it is about individual results, individual stats."'

'"I think he fell back in love with the game," Downing told reporters in Oakland. "During training camp, maybe late in OTAs, I was talking to you guys and said something along those lines that you could see him passionate about the game again. He just really enjoys coming to work and putting in a hard day's work. That's what it takes to be a good quarterback in the league. It's fun to see him doing that and enjoying himself again."'

'Sitting in the Bills' locker room, Thomas rattles off a list of people who helped him get to this point, people who picked him up when he needed it most. His high school football coach and guidance counselor. A neighbor he calls Miss Christina, who acted as a second mom at times. Now it's his wife helping him through the trials of his NFL career.'

'"He's ready," McDermott said. "He's ready and he'll only get more and more ready as he puts the time in this week, just like our team. I thought he came in on a big stage last week and handled himself well for his first real, live game action. What's important is where we go from here. I think Matt clearly understands that and then it's important that we do things around Matt to help him as he continues to grow with his career at this point."'

'Marcell Dareus has a big contract, but little to show in terms of production on the field this season. Dareus has been limited on the field due to an ankle injury, but the defensive tackle needs to show urgency soon to have any chance of remaining on the roster long-term. Cedric Thornton has been starting in Dareus' place and playing decently. When asked if Dareus was a starter, Sean McDermott simply said there was a competition at the position. Dareus sounds like he is running out of time to impress McDermott.'

'The one player who's status remains up in the air is cornerback EJ Gaines who suffered a groin injury last week. On the play the injury occured, Gaines still forced a fumble, but might be unable to play against the Bengals as he's officially listed as questionable.'

'This certainly feels like a 10-9 game. Given the fact that the Bengals are at home and in a near must-win situation, I think they find a way to keep their season alive. They go into their bye the following week, and they know doing so at 1-4 would be a disaster. The last time a Bengals team started 0-3 at home was 2008.'

'Starting safety Micah Hyde (knee) and backup cornerback Shareece Wright (back) are also listed as questionable.'