Archives for November 30, 2015

'I still think this team has the tools to be great but for some reason they’re just not there yet. It’s frustrating because you see flashes of greatness like Sammy Watkins’ performance in the first half and think ‘why can’t they do that more often?’'

'But the only backing off the Bills did on Sunday was away from being a viable playoff contender.'

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'Rex Ryan, who could never figure out when or when not to pull that red challenge flag out of his pocket, and the rest of the Bills’ coaching staff didn’t. The Bills’ defense, which couldn’t handle a third-string running back or Alex Smith’s passing or running, didn’t. Tyrod Taylor, who was on fire for a half and then struggled with the Chiefs’ defensive adjustments in the final two quarters, didn’t.'

'Kansas City adjusted at halftime by giving the Bills different looks, he said, and “those guys get paid, too.” He understands Tyrod Taylor didn’t want to force the issue and throw an interception. But an offense so rhythmic, so unstoppable in the first half suddenly resembled the Bills offenses of old. The days of Trent and JP, of punts and more punts.'

'The play obviously should have been challenged. CBS cut to a shot of Rex Ryan. An assistant in the press box, detached from the sideline madness and with the help of TV monitors, presumably was instructing Ryan what to do.'

'How do I count the ways? Offense, defense, game management, even the post-game interviews, Ryan came out on the short end. The offense, after a fabulous beginning, allowed the Chiefs to take Sammy Watkins out of the game. The defense got shredded by an average offense with a crippled offensive line.'

'In this 2015 season nearing the brink, blitzing was not an emphasis.'

'Where was Rex Ryan’s challenge flag on the pass ruled incomplete for Chris Hogan with 2:39 to play?'

'The Bills didn’t lose because of poor or uninspired effort. They lost because they weren’t good enough in any respect, coaching or playing, to meet the challenge of winning a game with so much on the line. They lost because, defensively, they couldn’t handle the frustrating style of play that the Chiefs employ with a super-intelligent quarterback (Alex Smith) who is an exceptional game manager and an extremely dangerous runner, and a scheme that generally causes death by a million paper cuts. They lost because, offensively, they couldn’t sustain tremendous first-half momentum. They lost because coach Rex Ryan didn’t know when or when not to challenge plays. They lost because they were out-coached on both sides of the ball.'

'The Bills’ top pass rusher has enjoyed an excellent season, but he wasn’t enough of a factor on a day when the Bills needed to harass Alex Smith.'

'That's how bad the Bills coach mismanaged almost every conceivable situation in his team's 30-22 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Fourth downs were part of the problem, as was Ryan's failure to correctly use his challenge flag and his decision to go for two points after a touchdown late in the third quarter.'

'Granted, officials on the field should get the calls right. This was another bumbling Sunday for the zebras. But Rex Ryan’s problems with challenges went from comical to mind-boggling.'

'Sunday’s victory over New Orleans was the fourth straight for Houston, taking them from 2-5 to 6-5, right in the thick of the races for both the AFC South championship and a wild-card playoff spot.'

'Cohen found that out earlier this month when the NFL blew the whistle on his plans to air the Monday night Bills game against the Patriots with a cease-and-desist letter. His foul? The screen at the drive-in is too big.'