Archives for November 27, 2016

'Even with Watkins back, the Bills’ passing game may still have a tough go of it, as the Jaguars have allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards this year at 2,096 and the Bills have thrown for an NFL-low 1,857.'

'Win all three, and the Bills would be in excellent shape to push toward the playoffs. Lose one, and things get a little dicier. Lose two and forget it, because the Broncos and Chiefs, currently each 7-3 and due to meet tonight, are the AFC wild-card leaders at the moment, and neither appears likely to collapse.'

'“I think it was 14 quarterbacks in there over the two years,” Hackett said. “We were never lights out [good offensively], but it was hard because we never had a lot of continuity at quarterback.”'

'Their rally from a 24-point deficit complete after Corey Graham’s 44-yard interception return for a touchdown, the Buffalo Bills were two stops from completing a win over the Jaguars last October in London.'

'To make room for Watkins, the Bills placed safety Robert Blanton on injured reserve. Blanton hurt his foot in the Bills' 16-12 victory in Cincinnati last Sunday.'

'Wide receiver Percy Harvin was listed as questionable after missing practice Thursday and Friday because of an illness.'

'The team wants to be careful with Watkins as his conditioning and stamina are not where they need to be.'

'This is a game, like last year against Jacksonville, that the Bills should win. They are the better team on paper, they’re playing better football than the Jaguars are at the moment, and Jacksonville is an opponent that is not a good match against the Bills formula of running the ball and forcing turnovers on defense.'

'Gus Bradley is now 14-44 as an NFL head coach. His .241 winning percentage is the worst in the Super Bowl era among coaches with a minimum of 50 games coached. If there’s a reason for the Jaguars players to get up for Sunday’s game in Buffalo it’s their offensive coordinator (Nathaniel Hackett) and assistant coach (Doug Marrone) making their returns to Western New York, where both were employed until Marrone decided to leave his job as the Bills’ head coach at the end of the 2014 season. All that’s well and good, but I like Buffalo in this one — led by LeSean McCoy seven days after thumb surgery — to notch its sixth win.'

'“I think he’s good to go,” said Ryan. “He won’t have a full workload, but we’re definitely going to get him in there.”'

'Jacksonville Jaguars assistant head coach offense/offensive line coach Doug Marrone is no stranger to WNY. Marrone, former Bills head coach (2013-14), will be in familiar territory when he returns to Buffalo.'

'“That’s one thing I’ve noticed about being out eight weeks,” Watkins said earlier this week. “I would say my legs are fresh and I’m moving way faster than other guys. It’s really just about reading defenses and just getting the feel of running routes.”'