Archives for October 5, 2015

'The Giants defense stifled the Bills offense throughout the first half and made a crucial goal line stand early in the fourth quarter in holding Buffalo to its lowest point total of the season. The Bills continued to show a lack of discipline with 16 penalties for a total of 46 this season.'

'Glenn attempted to play after having his left ankle taped on the sideline but lasted just one play. Cyrus Kouandjio replaced Glenn at left tackle.'

'The Bills need their defensive lineman to earn their money. Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus, Jerry Hughes and Kyle Williams are collectively counting more than $40 million against the salary cap this season. Against the Giants, they combined for 13 tackles, one for a loss. None of them recorded a sack or a quarterback hit. Hughes also took two personal foul penalties, and Kyle Williams was the culprit on the illegal formation infraction.'

'"I get it, no question about it," Ryan said after Sunday's game. "We can focus on the negatives and all that — and I get it, that's your guys' job — but you might not understand the game the way I understand [it" target="_blank"> because I've been on the other side. I've been a part of a 20-some-penalty performance by the Ravens, OK? And we went on and we fixed it. We'll fix it here."'

'McCoy sustained a setback and an MRI revealed a new tear in his hamstring. McCoy is expected to make a full recovery in three to four weeks, FOX Sports 1's NFL insider Mike Garafolo reported.'

'Another way to phrase “lack of mental focus” for Buffalo: stupidity. The Bills were missing running back LeSean McCoy and receiver Sammy Watkins on Sunday, but those absences aren’t why the team lost. They lost because they just did not play like a particularly smart group.'

'Buffalo's offense finally began to show signs of life midway through the third quarter as Tyrod Taylor completed two third down passes and got some help from a pass interference penalty to put the team in scoring position. Miscues plagued them again however as a seven yard loss was followed up by missed 30 yard Dan Carpenter field goal to keep the score at 16-3. After the defense came up big, it was the offense again failing to punch it in the end zone on the next possession as a 4th and goal was thwarted at the one yard line.'

'So far, we've seen the Bills dominate an Indianapolis team that is no better than average, at least when it plays outside the AFC South. The Bills crushed what looks more and more like a pathetic Dolphins team. But Buffalo was smacked around by New England, the AFC's elite, and played a stinker against a Giants team that is better than the Colts but not at the Patriots level.'

'"Give me a team that's got some fight and will compete to the very end, right, wrong or indifferent, no matter how good the officiating is or whatever. It makes no difference to me. I'll take a team with some competitive fight and some spirit. Is 17 penalties ridiculous? Absolutely, 100 percent it's ridiculous, and so you say what you want, but I'll take a team that'll fight. I'm proud of this team, and we'll keep fighting. Eventually we'll find a way to win. Eventually we'll find a way to eliminate penalties."'

'This team is a reflection of its head coach, Rex Ryan. Like him, they’re emotional and passionate and aggressive. And that’s ok. In fact, it can be a really good thing when all of that is channeled the right way. But it can also be a detriment when it isn’t. And that’s been the case twice now in four games. Somehow, Ryan, his staff, and the players have to get a handle on this and really soon. Because it’s on all of them, not just the coaches and not just the players.'

'If once is an accident and twice is a trend, the Bills have a serious problem on their hands.'

'For the third time in four weeks, and not to mention the third time in three home games, the Bills accrued a double-digit amount of accepted penalties against them.'

'The Bills ended the game with 17 accepted penalties for 135 yards. Those penalties granted the Giants seven first downs compared to the Bills’ total of nine first downs throughout the game.'

'Added up, Buffalo failed to add at least 20 attainable points from the scoreboard. Which if added to the scoreboard, would have boosted the Bills above the Giants at a hypothetical 30 to 24.'

' “Give me a team that’s got some fight and will continue to the very end – right, wrong or indifferent, no matter how good the officiating is or whatever,’’ he continued. “It makes no difference to me.” '