Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘ Yes, if it’s December, it can only mean one thing: scoreboard watching, because the Bills aren’t in control of their playoff destiny.’

‘Meaning, if Taylor can practice this week, he will start against the Colts, not Nathan Peterman. “We’ll see,” McDermott said. “We’ll take it one day at a time; everything is a little fluid right now, it’s Monday, we’re in the early stages of the medical evaluation.”’

‘The good teams in this league pass, and they pass well. Their running game complements their passing game, unlike in Buffalo where the only chance the Bills have to move the ball and score points is hope LeSean McCoy has a good day. Since 2003, the Bills have ranked higher in the league stats in rushing than passing 14 out of 15 years, and what has that gotten them? The exception was the Kyle Orton season of 2014.’

‘After the game, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was caught on camera by a Rochester cameraman from WROC-TV apologizing to Bills coach Sean McDermott and saying the action by Gronkowski was “bull—-.”’

‘”Good. … Good for him.”‘

‘Sunday afternoon at New Era Field, it was death by a thousand cuts for the offensively-inept Bills as the Patriots slowly and methodically picked away until yet another victory over Buffalo was complete.’

‘The final was 23-3 at the tomb known as New Era Field, and it felt worse than that. When it was over, the one takeaway I had, the same one I always have whenever these two teams play, was one of hopelessness.’

‘Barring an unlikely run to the postseason, there’s about the same chance the Bills pick up Taylor’s option next year as there was for Buffalo to beat New England on Sunday: Zero.’

‘It was simply horrendous, and you really have to ask yourself how it’s possible that an NFL team can be so incompetent when trying to pass the ball? Tyrod Taylor played through a knee injury, but I really don’t think a healthy Taylor would have done much more than 9 of 18 for 65 yards with an egregious interception at the goal line. He’s not good enough, and if it’s not plainly clear by now, I don’t know what else I can offer as proof. His receivers are a joke, and I get that. But the QB has to be better or the entire operation is doomed to failure, and that was the case again Sunday.’

‘The truth is, the Patriots got extremely lucky with Brady because no one in the NFL – not a single scout, general manager, personnel director, or coach – envisioned that he’d ever be more than a backup in the NFL, or perhaps a middling starter, given his college resume.’

‘Patriots 31, Bills 20.’

‘LeSean McCoy’s 74 touchdowns since 2010 are second only to Gronkowski’s 76.’

‘I understand the limitations Dennison inherited – a game-managing risk averse quarterback, zero playmakers at wide receivers after Sammy Watkins was traded, and some soft spots on the offensive line, but it was on Dennison to make things work, and he hasn’t. This was a team that needed a creative mind to squeeze every drop out of the sub-par talent, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Dennison hasn’t done it.’

‘ “I thought it was the wrong move,’’ said Ryan about being asked to bench Taylor last season. “I thought it sent the wrong message to the locker room, that ‘It’s OK, we’re not going to play him, because we’re out of it, but it’s OK to play you.’ How’s that guy going to feel? Well they went out and got beat by the Jets’ JV team, that’s what happened to them last year. We’ll see how they (Giants) respond.’’’

‘When he came to Buffalo in the trade that sent cornerback Ronald Darby to Philadelphia during training camp, Matthews was looked upon as a player who would help offset the departure of Sammy Watkins who, that same day, was dealt to the Rams. Instead, he has been a vast disappointment as he has just 24 catches for 268 yards and a touchdown in nine games for Buffalo.’