Archives for December 15, 2014

‘And, so … yes. The Bills, who are 96-142 since that Nashville nightmare, could finish with double-digit victories for the first time in these past 15 years. And if they do, and if the gods are kind, that would mean they’d qualify for the playoffs all this time later.’

‘Their defense is generating national discussion for its championship-level dominance and extraordinary depth. Doug Marrone’s presumably murky future could very well have been settled. With an 8-6 record, two games better than his first season in 2013, a legitimate case can be made that he assured himself of a third year as the team’s head coach.’

‘”It was frustrating,” Rodgers said. “They did a good job on defense, kind of slowed us down a little bit. We had some opportunities and didn’t execute very well on them.”‘

‘”The secondary made a lot of plays,” said Graham, who blamed himself on the play when Jordy Nelson dropped a certain TD pass. “We’ve got a good group. Guys go out there, ball out and lay their head on the line. No matter who we go against, we compete.”‘

‘Nobody would have blamed Marrone for cracking a smile afterward, but he looked the same way Sunday as he did after a Week Three loss to San Diego. Still, he knew this was a big one. His players certainly did. They understood what he had been through this season with his uncertain future hanging over the franchise.’

‘”When Duke went down, he was ready to go,” Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore said of Rambo. “I could see it in his eyes on the sideline. I could just see the confidence.”‘

‘And although Rodgers wasn’t helped by his own surprising incompetence and multiple drops by his receivers, Buffalo’s defense can take a large chunk of credit for making the top candidate for league MVP look like he had no business on an NFL field.’

‘Doug Marrone might have saved his job Sunday. The Bills have improved from last year by at least two wins and will avoid a losing record for the first time in 11 seasons. The fact that they beat an elite opponent significantly enhances the victory’s luster. That offense, though …’

‘Last week NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport tweeted the possibility of the Raiders moving to Los Angeles next season is “very legitimate,” while CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported Sunday that it’s well known inside NFL circles that both the Raiders and Rams would like to relocate.’

‘Third-string safety Bacarri Rambo, forced into action by injuries, was among many defensive stars with both interceptions of Rodgers.’

‘Hans and Franz may have pumped Rodgers up for those funny State Farm commercials, but it was the Bills’ defense that took the air out of his MVP campaign and made him look like … well, like Kyle Orton.’

‘Rodgers is having the best season of any quarterback in the NFL, but he never looked comfortable, never seemed to be in sync with his receivers, and much of that had to do with the Bills’ play. This wasn’t luck. Well, outside of that dropped Jordy Nelson pass that would have been a touchdown. The Bills’ defense outplayed the best offense in the NFL, and they did it despite getting absolutely zero help from its own inept offense.’

‘The offense was horrible, gaining just 253 yards and scoring no TDs, but when you beat one of the best teams in the league, all bets are off. The defense and special teams more than made up for Orton’s lousy performance and delivered one of the biggest wins in recent memory.’

‘And, behind Buffalo’s inspired ‘D’ Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, arguably the NFL’s best this season, had his worst game as a pro.’