Archives for November 22, 2016

'If the Bills keep him — they have a 3-day window to opt out of the contract — it will mean $27.5 million to Taylor next season including a $15.5 million a bonus, but as the countdown to the season’s end continues, it seems more and more that the Bills’ decision-makers won’t have as much information as they need.'

'“I think a lot of it is, our guys upstairs do a nice job preparation wise. We’ll get together with the staff and we’ll discuss things,” Bills coach Rex Ryan said Monday. “We’re doing that even up until halftime, if you’re trying to make some adjustments. But if you’re going to make a major adjustment, sometimes you get that opportunity at halftime.'

'"That's the best two-win team I've ever seen," Ryan said. "That's the truth. I don't get it. Statistically, they're the seventh-rated defense in the league (in yards per game). They're ranked higher than we are on defense. Their offense is 21st in the league but now they're healthy outside and they got three guys that can really play.'

'"I really don’t know how realistic it is," Ryan said of that scenario. "I think I speak on behalf of every Buffalo Bills fan: We all are hoping he can play some. We’ll see how it goes. We’re obviously not going to put him out there if he’s in no condition to play."'

'In a down year in the NFL, they could go 5-1 or run the table. Considering the utter mediocrity of the league, it's maddening that they're not in a more favorable position. Success tends to run in cycles. Look at Arizona, Cincinnati and Green Bay. But somehow, the cycle never manages to land on the Bills.'

'But 16 years of watching the Bills fail to make the playoffs has prepared me for the ultimate reality that faces this team in 2016. The streak is going to reach 17, and Sunday’s triumph, and the expected victory against the Jaguars, merely prolongs the inevitable.'

'"You know I really don't know how realistic it is," Ryan said. "I think I speak on behalf of every Buffalo Bill fan we are hoping he can play some. But we will see, we will see how it goes. We obviously wont put him out there if he is in no condition to play."'

'It's tough to differentiate between the sarcastic and serious with Rex sometimes. He had his tongue firmly in cheek when referring to Blake Bortles as a franchise quarterback and didn't seem too thrilled about the fact that the Jaguars got much more preseason recognition than the Bills did. The fact remains, however, that the Bills only have five wins and can't exactly overlook anyone at this point.'

'Although Rapoport's report doesn't give Bills fans a timetable on his return, it sounds as though he'll be back on the field at some point this season.'

'According to Pro Football Focus, 20 of Taylor's aimed passing attempts did not travel more than 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. After Robert Wood's left the game in the first quarter, the Bills' passing offense didn't take many shots down field, but luckily the Bills didn't need the passing game against a hapless Bengals squad.'

'As previously mentioned, the Bills fell to the Jags in 2015, 34-31. Buffalo entered the game at 3-3 overall with the bye scheduled the following week. Jacksonville was 1-5 overall.'

'“Well it would be big for us obviously because I think right now (McCoy) is playing as well as any back in the league so yeah that would be nice if actually is indeed ready for Sunday, is going to play that would be great for us,” Ryan said.'

'The Buffalo Bills rise to the 10th seed in the AFC playoff picture with their win. Buffalo’s 2-4 AFC record still holds them down though. Ahead of the Bills are the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers, both also at 5-5, but they have winning percents in the AFC of .429 and .571, respectively. The Miami Dolphins (6-5) jumped to eighth-place with a 14-10 win over the LA Rams. The Denver Broncos (7-3) were on a bye and remained in the final wild card spot. The Kansas City Chiefs (7-3), who lost 19-17 to the Tampa Bay Bucs hold the other wild card spot. In the end, Buffalo jumped only one spot in the playoff race from 11th to 10th.'

'In already listing Woods as "doubtful," Ryan acknowledged he was more encouraged about McCoy's status.'

'"Obviously, those are some big ones," coach Rex Ryan said, referring to the double-whammy loss of Woods and McCoy as the Bills managed just two second-half field goals without them.'