Archives for November 2016

'“It’s just all love,” Harvin said in the locker room after Seattle’s 31-25 win over Buffalo. “Like I said, many people seeing the stories and thought everything was this and that, but all the teammates, we all gave each other love. So it’s nothing but love over there.”'

'QB Tyrod Taylor on the last play of the game: “We were just trying to get guys in the end zone. Eventually, Robert (Woods) scrambled and we just didn’t come away with it. I think Woods got pushed again, but we just didn’t come away with it.”'

'Buffalo would not have needed a touchdown if not for mistakes by the officiating crew at the end of the first half that cost the Bills a chance at a shorter field goal. Dan Carpenter eventually missed a 54-yard attempt on the final play of the half, only after Seattle's Richard Sherman got away with an unnecessary roughness penalty that wasn't called and a delay of game caused in part by the officiating crew standing over the ball.'

'"I'm not really sure what happened. I will say the refs were horrible at managing it," said Taylor, who had one of the best performances of his career throwing for 289 yards and running for another 43 yards, and giving Buffalo a chance in the closing moments. "They made some horrible calls throughout the game, too. It's not a thing where we're blaming the refs. I just think they need to be held accountable for that and at least give some explanation."'

'Ryan said it was "ridiculous" that Seattle's Richard Sherman was not called for unnecessary roughness when he crashed into Buffalo kicker Dan Carpenter as he attempted at 48-yard field goal. Sherman was instead called for offside and after some confusion and a Buffalo penalty Carpenter missed a 54-yard attempt on the final play of the half.'

'Buffalo coach Rex Ryan was optimistic late in the week that all three would be able to play. McCoy missed last week's game with a hamstring injury, while Alexander was questionable, also with a hamstring injury. Harvin was signed last Monday with Buffalo depleted at wide receiver and will make his debut against one of his former teams.'

'The Bills converted a third-and-21 on their final drive with a completion up the sideline to Robert Woods, and a roughing-the-passer penalty on Seattle moved the ball all the way down to the 23-yard line. Buffalo had first-and-goal from the 10-yard line before the game-saving stop by the Seahawks.'

'"I just didn't feel like the actions and the contact, because we were shutting the play down, warranted a foul," Anderson said.'

'He was hurt on a 1-yard touchdown run by Mike Gillislee. The Bills announced that Wood would not return to the game. He was replaced on the team's next possession by Ryan Groy.'

'"Ridiculous," Ryan said after the game. "Absolutely ridiculous. [Officials' explanation] doesn't matter [because] it was wrong. It's clear what happened: The guy roughed our kicker. Jumps offside and roughs our kicker."'

'At the end of the half, all hell broke lose. The Bills lined up for a 54-yard field goal with three seconds to go when Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman jumped offsides at the line. Sherman proceeded to run into Carpenter as he attempted the field goal but was only flagged for the offsides. After a delay of game penalty, the Bills got backed up once again to try a 54-yard field goal. Carpenter would miss the 54-yard attempt as time expired in the half. The score remained 28-17 in favor of the Seahawks.'

'But come on, man. I'm lugging around a 16 year (ton?) playoff drought as it is. I don't have any room in here for ignoring the kicker getting blasted and YOU forgetting to reset YOUR play clock. What, with all the layers of mind numbing replay garbage you're telling me there's no recourse when the clock gets screwed up through your own ineptitude?'

'With Stephon Gilmore and Ronald Darby as the two starters, the Bills thought they had two bonafide shutdown corners coming into the season — but what they’ve gotten this year is a maddeningly inconsistent duo that just doesn’t have anywhere near the success as they had. In fact, they have become weaknesses of the defense at times, and an area for offenses to pick on.'

'While everyone is buzzing over the debacle at the end of the half costing the Bills the game they still had a chance to win. For a second time on national TV this year the Bills defense was embarrassed in the passing game. Rex Ryan's defensive genius title has taken a severe hit since coming to Buffalo. The Bills offense moved the ball surprisingly well early to make this game fun. The well-coached Seahawks made adjustments and started shutting down the Bills offense in the 2nd quarter while the Bills had no answers defensively in the first half. To the Bills credit they fought to the end but once again when Taylor had a chance to win a game with a fourth quarter comeback he failed again. He had his best passing game as a pro but franchise QBs finish games.'

'Rex Ryan lost his cool in that debacle at the end of the half and had to be held back by EJ Manuel. Curious call to run a draw play on 3rd and 20 in the final minutes but they were in position to win. He asked his team to leave it all out on the field and then did. Problem is he called it a must win and they didn't win. Where do they go from here? '