Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘Barring an unlikely run to the postseason, there’s about the same chance the Bills pick up Taylor’s option next year as there was for Buffalo to beat New England on Sunday: Zero.’

‘It was simply horrendous, and you really have to ask yourself how it’s possible that an NFL team can be so incompetent when trying to pass the ball? Tyrod Taylor played through a knee injury, but I really don’t think a healthy Taylor would have done much more than 9 of 18 for 65 yards with an egregious interception at the goal line. He’s not good enough, and if it’s not plainly clear by now, I don’t know what else I can offer as proof. His receivers are a joke, and I get that. But the QB has to be better or the entire operation is doomed to failure, and that was the case again Sunday.’

‘The truth is, the Patriots got extremely lucky with Brady because no one in the NFL – not a single scout, general manager, personnel director, or coach – envisioned that he’d ever be more than a backup in the NFL, or perhaps a middling starter, given his college resume.’

‘Patriots 31, Bills 20.’

‘LeSean McCoy’s 74 touchdowns since 2010 are second only to Gronkowski’s 76.’

‘I understand the limitations Dennison inherited – a game-managing risk averse quarterback, zero playmakers at wide receivers after Sammy Watkins was traded, and some soft spots on the offensive line, but it was on Dennison to make things work, and he hasn’t. This was a team that needed a creative mind to squeeze every drop out of the sub-par talent, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Dennison hasn’t done it.’

‘ “I thought it was the wrong move,’’ said Ryan about being asked to bench Taylor last season. “I thought it sent the wrong message to the locker room, that ‘It’s OK, we’re not going to play him, because we’re out of it, but it’s OK to play you.’ How’s that guy going to feel? Well they went out and got beat by the Jets’ JV team, that’s what happened to them last year. We’ll see how they (Giants) respond.’’’

‘When he came to Buffalo in the trade that sent cornerback Ronald Darby to Philadelphia during training camp, Matthews was looked upon as a player who would help offset the departure of Sammy Watkins who, that same day, was dealt to the Rams. Instead, he has been a vast disappointment as he has just 24 catches for 268 yards and a touchdown in nine games for Buffalo.’

‘ Simple math says a 4-1 finish and 10 wins puts Buffalo in a lot better shape than 3-2 and nine wins, a scenario that will leave them playing tie-breaker roulette.’

‘But let me, the guy lovingly referred to as Ebenezer, remind Bills fans of the dose of reality that will arrive at New Era Field Sunday afternoon in the person of Tom Brady and the rest of those dastardly, despicably evil New England Patriots.’

‘If anyone saw this coming, props to you. And props to the Bills who ended their losing streak on the strength of a superb effort from a defense that had been the laughingstock of the NFL in allowing 135 points the previous three games. They handcuffed a Kansas City offense filled with weapons that simply weren’t firing and gained just 236 yards in the game.’

‘Of course, it’s a bit premature to call the Bills all healed. Let’s wait to see what happens this week when the world champion Patriots come to Orchard Park for the first in a three-game homestand. But for now, this was a day to rejoice because, as the Bills made mention of in some of their postgame comments and tweets, not many people gave them a chance to win, and they enjoyed doling out some crow.’

‘An outstanding job by Sean McDermott to out-coach his mentor, Andy Reid. McDermott’s team was reeling, partly of his own doing thanks to the QB fiasco from last week, but he had them ready to play in a hostile environment. He and Leslie Frazier put together a winning defensive game plan and Reid never really had any answers. Good job by Danny Crossman with the special teams plan against a team that has some legit returners. Now, as for offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, that just wasn’t good enough. The second half was a nightmare, and the Bills need to start figuring out how to move the ball consistently, not to mention score.’

‘The Bills have gone from 5-2 darlings of the NFL, to 5-5 laughingstocks, and now they’re confronted with a tremendously talented — albeit scuffling — Chiefs team in a place that his historically difficult for road teams to win, particularly the Bills.’

‘Greg Gumbel, play-by-play; Trent Green analyst, Jamie Erdahl, sideline reporter.’