Archives for December 2015

'Apparently you really do never know, because the Texans double covered Mulligan and allowed Clay to score the winning touchdown in a 30-21 win.'

'Even with the Bills playing backups at both right guard and tackle, Watt couldn't find a way to affect the game in the manner in which he normally does. He had one tackle for loss in the first half but finished with just four total tackles.'

'"It's gonna be special," Ryan said. "There's no question, it'll be special. We're not gonna send him out for warm-ups. Maybe that's what we need to do. But no, I think obviously it's gonna be special. He cares a great deal about a lot of those guys over there. His teammates and things, and you know what that community means to him, and he's a Pennsylvania guy. So obviously that's gonna be a huge game for him."'

'At this point, five teams have a realistic shot at the final two wild card spots. With a win over the Texans, the Bills now have a tiebreaker over them. They still find themselves behind the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers heading into Sunday Night Football. The Steelers play the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night and would fall behind the Bills in the standings with a loss.'

'"I think they did a good job executing what they were trying to do," Watt, who finished with just four combined tackles, added. "They had a few different things they were putting out there and trying a few different things. We just need to play better, we need to execute better, we need to do our jobs better."'

'Offensive coordinator Greg Roman seems to have tapped into the creative section of his playbook. The Bills went with some new looks against the Texans. That could have been due to the matchup against J.J. Watt. Hopefully the offense sticks with some of these same looks in upcoming games.'

'Buffalo’s hero was its ever-improving quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who threw for three touchdowns and ran for another against a Texans defence that had allowed two touchdowns, total, in its four previous games.'

'Reading holes opened by his pulling blockers and bruising fullback Jerome Felton, McCoy rushed for 112 yards on 21 carries. That included a 32-yard burst in the first half. McCoy did most of his damage in the first half with 72 yards on 11 carries that helped the Bills build a 21-13 lead.'

'The touchdown might have been prevented if Demps had stayed inside and accounted for Clay over the middle instead of helping with Mulligan. Or if Simon had gotten a bigger piece of Clay and then run down the field with him.'

'Houston's Brian Hoyer finished 26 of 44 for 293 yards with three touchdowns but was unable to deliver in the clutch. Hoyer threw four consecutive incompletions on the Texans' drive after Clay's touchdown.'

'"He is just getting better every week with leading this team, being a leader," receiver Sammy Watkins said. "He is the guy we are rolling with."'

'Taylor was 11 for 21 passing for 211 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 28 yards and another score as the Bills snapped a two-game losing streak to help their playoff chances.'

'Ground and pound is proving to be the Bills' blueprint for victory. Running backs LeSean McCoy, Mike Gillislee and Boobie Dixon combined with quarterback Tyrod Taylor to gain 187 yards on 36 carries (5.2 average). The Bills are now 6-0 in games when they attempt less than 30 passes – and 0-6 when they throw more than 30 times.'

'McCoy was later cleared by concussion protocol and returned to the sideline. He took himself off the field following a 3-yard rush and had his helmet taken away while being attended to by trainers. He had 83 yards on 14 carries to that point.'

'After a fourth down stop, the Bills kicked a field goal to go ahead 30-21.'