Archives for September 2016

'The 14-yard penalty on Bills defensive tackle Jerel Worthy for using leverage to try to block a 49-yard field goal did not cost Buffalo points. The Bills’ defense held firm and forced the Ravens to settle for a field goal again. But it cost 1:52 off the clock. That would have given the Bills another possession.'

'A crowd of 71,104 showed up on a gorgeous day. There was a decent turnout of Bills fans.'

'Last season was Tyrod Taylor’s first as a starter, but he sure looked like a rookie Sunday.'

'Buffalo’s defense, criticized sharply after underachieving last year, showed up and played the game Rex Ryan promised when he became the head coach. The offense failed the Bills against the Ravens, who made fewer mistakes and cranked up their own defense in a 13-7 victory over Buffalo.'

'It was sadly reminiscent of so many road performances of the millennium, like a relic from the Dick Jauron era. Actually, at times it was a near-replica of last year's Tennessee game, when Taylor made a couple of extraordinary athletic plays in the late going to pull out a victory after doing nothing in the first half.'

'Good teams don’t beat themselves. They do the little things right. The Bills made a mess of the little things in the 2016 season opener.'

'The Buffalo Bills couldn't figure out how to win.'

'In his first opportunity to do so since signing his contract extension, Taylor was unable to come through.'

'Carpenter was wide right on a 49-yard field-goal attempt that could have tied the game, 10-10. His miss meant the Bills' opening drive of the second half ended after 11 plays and 44 yards.'

'McCoy rushed nine times for 39 yards and caught four passes for 12 yards in the first half. Buffalo's touchdown drive covered 75 yards over 12 plays and came at a good time.'

'Quarterback Tyrod Taylor didn't target a wide receiver, while running back LeSean McCoy managed just 6 yards on six total touches.'

'The team also announced that quarterback Cardale Jones (shoulder), cornerback Kevon Seymour (hamstring), running back Jonathan Williams (ribs), safety Colt Anderson (foot), center Patrick Lewis and linebacker Bryson Albright are inactive.'

'To put it succinctly, the Bills offense was putrid. It started poorly, it put together one scoring drive in the second quarter, and then failed miserably throughout the second half. And thus, on a day when Rex Ryan’s defense played very well and the game was so winnable, the offense couldn’t do it.'

'What a brutal performance by the offense.'

'The Ravens defense dominated as Buffalo ran nine plays for a net gain of two yards. … Baltimore possessed the ball for 10:36 and had five first downs compared to zero for the Bills. … No Bills’ WRs were targeted in the quarter, though Taylor threw only five times.'