Archives for September 26, 2016

'“We know what everybody thought of our football team, and we knew that we were better than that,” Buffalo head coach Rex Ryan said. “We showed up today.”'

'"I just think that if you don't use it, it's a mistake. Because I know how difficult it is to defend against a running quarterback," Bills head coach Rex Ryan said. "That's something that we have that's unique about our football team, to have a guy that's the fastest quarterback in the league."'

'Ryan will be back in the blender soon enough, but for one day, he earned the right to exhale and joke.'

'The Bills improve their record to 1-2 and face a New England Patriots team next week that has many questions surrounding their quarterback. Rex Ryan may be off the hot seat for now, but he must find a way to maintain this success.'

'The Cardinals combined for just 2 yards net offense and no first downs on their first five possessions. Palmer finished 26 of 50 for 264 yards and was sacked five times.'

'"Steve Grogan can play quarterback. If Belichick's playing quarterback, we're coming after him, I promise you that."'

'Playing without top wideout Sammy Watkins (foot) and left tackle Cordy Glenn (ankle), the Bills rediscovered the rushing attack that led the NFL last season to secure their first victory. In their first game since promoting running backs coach Anthony Lynn to replace fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman, the Bills gained 209 yards on the ground after totaling 151 in the season's first two games.'

'"We were really, obviously, embarrassed by the type of play that we had last week," Bills coach Rex Ryan said. "We had to really look deep and try to help ourselves and come up with different ways and change the look on them."'

'"I know how difficult it is to defend against a running quarterback," Ryan said. "That's what we have to be ready [for] in case Edelman quarterbacks, right? I have a funny feeling he isn't going to be Brady back there."'

'The Bills would come out for the second half with the same aggressiveness that they started the game by forcing the Cardinals to go three-and-out on their first possesion. After another poor punt by the Cardinals to give the Bills excellent field position, the Bills would once again find the endzone this time by a 20-yard Tyrod Taylor touchdown scramble.'

'Give Rex and the defensive staff credit for coming up with a new look to baffle Palmer and company. The Bills used a seven defensive back personnel grouping a number of times in the game and it derailed Arizona’s passing game. They also did it while playing without starting cornerback Ronald Darby who was inactive due to a hamstring injury. At halftime, the big three passing weapons of Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and John Brown had combined for just three catches on 12 targets for 20 yards.'

'Arizona didn’t get its first first down until there was 9:25 left in the second quarter. At that point the total yardage was 186-7. By the end of the game, Arizona outgained Buffalo 348-296, but the Bills only turned the ball over once while Arizona had four picks against and a botched field goal attempt that was ruled a lost fumble by Drew Butler.'

'Regardless if it was the right move to fire Greg Roman, and regardless if he's the right head coach long-term, Ryan got his team ready to play – and play well – after all that happened since last Friday. A lot of distractions. A lot of pressure. A very good opponent and staring 0-3 in the face. It would have been easy to pack up the helmets and shoulder pads and go home. Yet, Rex's Bills not only kept it together, they rallied behind one another for a big victory.'

'Despite not having cornerback Ronald Darby in the lineup due to a hamstring injury, the Bills secondary remained strong, intercepting Palmer four times in the final six minutes as the Cardinals threatened to rally down 33-18 late in the game.'

'The Bills just collected a 33-18 win over the Arizona Cardinals at New Era Field, but then near the end of the conversation during his post-game press conference, the Bills head coach brought up the idea of his Week Four opponents — the New England Patriots — playing wide receiver Julian Edelman at quarterback.'