Bills Vs. Redskins Game Breakdown

It's officially been 16 seasons since the Buffalo Bills have missed the playoffs. 16 seasons. This drought is old enough to get it's learners permit and driver's license. It's almost old enough to vote too. This drought drags on one year longer as the Bills forgot to show up to Washington D.C. last Sunday, putting on a dumpster fire of a performance. It only took 3 Redskins possessions to put the game away for Buffalo. Buffalo's season, no matter how it ends, will be a disappointing ending to a year that was started with such hype. Let's break down the game.

Offense: The offense was just awful until it no longer mattered. They pulled the game close in garbage time, which is a routine the Bills like to follow when the game is out of hand. They finished with 452 yards of total offense, which is a good game in most situations. Buffalo got most of those yards when the game was considered "over," though. Buffalo committed no turnovers, but it didn't do a whole lot of good, as they still couldn't get the ball moving. It was a dreadful performance, and the only notable performances were by 2 key players, so let's talk about them.

Tyrod Taylor's day was not great early on, but he finished strong and anybody could tell he was the real leader of this Buffalo offense. He finished his day 16/27, 212 yards, 2 TD's, and 0 INT's. He also added 79 yards on the ground with 9 rushes. He looks like he has control of the huddle, and proved he can still make plays with his feet when the rest of the team is having a rough time. He continues to turn the ball over at an extremely minimal rate, throwing only 1 INT since October. Although I think it's too soon to consider him our franchise QB, he is making a strong case to be that guy.

The other notable performance was by WR Sammy Watkins. He makes his presence known in every game, as long as he's thrown the ball! He reeled in 5 catches for 111 yards and  2 TD's. He also looks to be a player this team can really build around, along with Tyrod Taylor. He makes an impact when he's given the chance to, and overall he plays hard. He's a true playmaker, and just needs his opportunities. 

As far as the defense goes, it was a circus. Kirk Cousins lit them up with 308 yards and 5 total TD's, and the ground game of the Skins carved up the Buffalo D for another 123 yards. There wasn't much to take away from this game defensively. They had nothing going on Sunday, and the lack of communication came to a head this game. This defense needs a changeup, and Rex has his work cut out for him.

Overall, it was just a miserable performance from the whole team. With Tyrod and Sammy as bright spots, this team can start to see where they can build around. The last 2 games are meaningless, but still, they face an awfully banged up Dallas team this Sunday. It will be interesting to see how the Bills finish, and it will be an offseason that will come with many changes. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

Sources:

Stats: http://espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=400791695

Image #1: http://media.nbcwashington.com/images/652*435/502108128.jpg

Image #2: http://img.ccrd.clearchannel.com/media/mlib/2079/2015/12/default/buffalo_bills_v_washington_red_0_1450629461.jpg

Bills Vs. Eagles Game Breakdown

The Buffalo Bills have their backs up against the wall...again. They've dropped their 7th game of the season against the Philadelphia Eagles, and their playoff dreams are nearly over the edge. Penalties came up strong again on Sunday, and ultimately it did just enough to kill multiple Bills drives. They have now fallen to 6-7 on the season, and with the Jets winning their game Saturday, the Bills now find themselves 3 games behind the New York Jets team. This Bills team has been inconsistent all year, and it's come to a head as their playoff hopes are in shambles. Buffalo lost a tough one to Philly in Shady McCoy's homecoming game 23-20. Let's break down the game.

Offensively, the Bills looked good on paper. 418 yards of total offense, 35 minutes TOP (Time of Possession), 18 first downs. Those numbers don't tell the whole story though. Multiple times, the penalties killed the Bills. It seemed like they could never get good field position, especially late in the second half. Tyrod threw the ball well for the most part, but was inaccurate or under duress on several of his passes. In addition, 2 key turnovers killed them, one of them being a muffed punt. Stupid mistakes was the key to this game.

Tyrod Taylor finished his day 19/36, 268 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. Tyrod's interception was his first since October, and although it came at an awful time in the game, he was trying to make a play, and making a turnover is unlike Tyrod. It's a rare occurrence, and he'll only get better as he gains more experience. I still believe Tyrod's talents are not being fully shown like they were earlier in the season. Tyrod needs to rush more with the ball and throw down the middle. The coaching staff seems to like making Tyrod throw deep, which is great, but he can do so much more. If Taylor can get in a groove and play his game, he'll be as dangerous as ever.

Lesean McCoy had a typical Lesean McCoy day, racking up over 100 all purpose yards as usual over his past several games. He put up 74 yards on 24 carries and 35 yards on 4 receptions. He is as explosive as ever, and although he didn't have a huge game back in his home town, he still played hard and had a productive day.

As far as receivers go, Robert Woods went off, putting up 106 yards on 5 receptions. With Sammy's 5 catches going for 85 yards as well, they were a great duo. Sammy Watkins still needs to get the ball more though. He is often times overlooked, even when he's wide open. He also needs to get thrown to in the middle of the field. His speed seems to only be used down the sideline, and as a player who looks to be a potential NFL superstar, he needs more targets ALL OVER the field.

The defense was not too strong on Sunday, and with all the injuries, it was obvious they were needing some help out there. Kyle Williams, Aaron Williams, Nigel Bradham and Stephon Gilmore were all hurt for Sunday's game. The Eagles found some room to run and Sam Bradford also had time to pass, as the pass rush was not always there. This is a confusing defense to watch at times. They've got to find a way to bounce back over the course of this season and into the next.

Overall, it was a loss that should've been a win. Buffalo had many opportunities to take the lead, but could not find a way to do so. With it looking like the playoffs are out of the Bills' grasp yet again, frustrations are beginning to grow all across the Bills fanbase. Why is the defense doing so poorly? How come Sammy's not being thrown the ball enough? Why are the Bills so undisciplined? These are questions that must be addressed somehow. This team is too good to be losing this many games. The Bills are down and out, but not dead yet in the playoff race, and although they're living on a prayer, crazier things have happened. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

Sources: http://espn.go.com/nfl/matchup?gameId=400791524
Image #1: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Image #2: Elsa/Getty Images

Bills Vs. Texans Game Breakdown

December football is back, and it is as meaningful as ever. The season is now 4 games away from it's conclusion, as the Bills pick up a huge victory against a streaking Texans team. The Bills are now 6-6 and in the heart of the Wild Card race. Buffalo's victory was hard earned, as they kept the penalties down and stuck around defensively and offensively throughout the game. It was an impressive performance, and although things got tight late, Buffalo found a way to come through in the clutch. Buffalo is still behind the Jets at 3rd in the AFC East, as they moved to 7-5 this week with their OT victory over the Giants. Let's break down the game.

The Bills had a decent offensive day, and were an extremely balanced team through the air and on the ground. They totaled 390 yards of total offense, as Taylor put up 203 yards through the air, and the rushing game putting up another 187 yards. Buffalo's offensive attack scored touchdowns on both of their first offensive drives, and although things stalled in the second half, they managed to move the ball 65 yards downfield, capped off by a 40 yard reception by TE Charles Clay.

Tyrod Taylor was in full command of the Buffalo Bills offense on Sunday afternoon. He was poised, calm, collected, and efficient as always. He put up 203 yards, in addition to an extra 28 on the ground. He tossed up 3 TD's and put up another on the ground. He finished his day 11/21, 203 yds, 3 TD's (+1 rushing TD) and 0 INT's. That last number has been of Tyrod Taylor's biggest assets. His ability to not turn the the ball over has given Buffalo a chance in every game they've played this season. Tyrod is consistently proving he could be the Bills QB for some years to come.

Sammy Watkins has been electric since the bye week (when he's been targeted of course), and this game was no different. He managed to pull in just 3 receptions on his 4 targets, but managed to put up 109 yards and 1 TD. When Sammy gets loose, he can be one of the most electric WR's in the league. Charles Clay also contributed, putting up 4 receptions for 66 yards and the game-winning TD. Robert Woods also caught a TD.

Another game, another 100+ yard performance for Lesean McCoy. He's been the Bill's workhorse since the bye week, and it's paying off. He put up 112 yards on his 21 carries, and is as elusive as ever. He's proven himself in this offense so far, and will continue to do so as he has a big game coming up against his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles.

One last important matchup was the Bills offensive line going up against JJ Watt. They shut JJ down, allowing him to get in on and make only 4 tackles. Jordan Mills and Craig Urbik did an excellent job shoring up the right side of the O-line which was plagued by injuries.

The defense had a solid day, but it wasn't flashy. They forced 1 turnover late in the game, and got to the QB twice, while giving up 401 yards of total offense. The CB's did a good job of shutting down Deandre Hopkins, although he made his presence known in the latter half of the game. Buffalo is still suffering from injuries on the defensive side of the ball, as they're missing 4 key starters. They've got work to do going forward, but still, they're getting better.

Overall, it was a solid win for Buffalo, but there was no time for celebration. The playoffs for Buffalo start now. They've got a lot of work to do and still need help from other matchups to make it into the playoffs for the first time in 16 years. The Bills are still going forward without key players, such as Nigel Bradham, Stephon Gilmore, and Kyle, Aaron, and Karlos Williams. The next 4 games for Buffalo are extremely important, and are all winnable games. There is no margin for error going ahead, and with Tyrod at the helm of this ship, this team has a legitimate chance to win out and find a way to make it. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

Sources:
Stats: http://espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=400791611
Image #1: (Bill Wippert | The Associated Press)
Image #2: (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)

Bills Vs. Chiefs Game Breakdown

For the 11th time in 14 seasons, the Bills are looking at a 5-6 record going into December. They've dropped their most recent contest in Kansas City on Sunday. The game was plagued with poor officiating, and more importantly, poor coaching. There were several dubious calls made by both the referees and Rex Ryan, not to mention the lack of use of some lethal personnel *cough* Sammy Watkins *cough.* The Bills have dropped 4 of their last 6 contests and now rest at 10th in the AFC and 3rd in the AFC East. Let's break down the game.

The offense was explosive in the first half as they jumped up to an early 10-0 lead. Sammy Watkins and Tyrod were having great days, not to mention Shady was running the rock solidly in the ground game. The offense looked as if it was unstoppable in the first half. Then, when the second half came around, everything fell off. Sammy Watkins was invisible, Tyrod was missing more passes, and before you know it, KC was taking the lead. 2 key turnovers didn't help matters either. The Bills ended the day with 25 first downs and 415 yards of offense.

Tyrod Taylor finished his day 21 for 38, 291 yards and 3 TDs. He had a pretty good outing, but had he targeted Sammy more than just a couple times in the second half, his day could have been even better. Tyrod turned the ball over via a fumble, and that's usually not something he does often. Tyrod could be more efficient with his throws though, and could have completed more than just 21 of his passes. In the past 2 weeks, Tyrod's completion % have fallen into the mid 50's.

Sammy Watkins had a monster first half, and that's all you can really say. He was invisible, and often times never even looked at in the second half. His first half consisted of 6 receptions for 158 yards and 2 TD catches, which were beautifully thrown by Tyrod Taylor. He was the heart of Buffalo's receiving game today, which should be a common theme considering the value he has to this football team.

Lesean McCoy had his 5th game in a row with 100+ yards from scrimmage, putting up 70 yards on the ground and 31 yards in the air. He also added a touchdown on a 10 yard reception in the 3rd quarter, in which he made several guys miss. He's finally the RB we've all expected him to be. He needs to see the ball as much as possible.

The defense came out strong, but slowly let the game slip away. They gave up 413 yards of their own, and let Alex Smith throw 2 TD's and 255 yards on an easily beatable Bills secondary. Darby had his first poor game as a rookie as he got beat for 2 Chiefs TD's. The Bills had no pressure on Smith all day either. There's not much to say about the defense, as they just simply did not deliver.

The Bills have been extremely inconsistent this season. Which Bills will show up on Sunday, when they return home to take on the Houston Texans? The Bills playoff chances are not dead, and they have a chance to make a run coming up, but it starts this Sunday. A 9-7 record will not cut it. Coaching needs to step up, along with some key players in backup roles. With LB Nigel Bradham out, with rookie guard and right tackle John Miller and Seantrel Henderson out as well, there will be some holes in this Buffalo team. Standout rookie Karlos Williams will also miss his 4th game of the season. Buffalo has their work cut out for them, but now's the time when true teams will learn what they've got. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

Sources:
Stats: http://espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=400791504
Image #1: http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/003/550/612/hi-res-7bf97d56206ecde655b5cd5638050ca4_crop_exact.jpg?h=310&w=527&q=70&crop_x=center&crop_y=top
Image 2: http://cdn.tegna-tv.com/-mm-/3e28f5add56b1d95047b9361300d55b1516b97d7/c=164-0-3327-2378&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2015/11/29/WGRZ/WGRZ/635844216599476506-USATSI-8962420.jpg

Bills Vs. Patriots Game Breakdown

The refs have reached an all time low in the NFL. It has become absolutely ridiculous how much control the zebras have over a game and how often they abuse that control on a weekly basis. Games have been decided countless times this season over an extremely poor call by any given ref in any given week. Although the NFL never seems to care much about it, something must be done about how games are officiated in this league. The officials are putting too many games at risk of going one way or another with many of the calls they make, especially the ones in crunchtime. With that said, the poor officiating was just one of the themes of the game in a 20-13 Buffalo Bills loss against the New England Patriots in Foxborough. The Bills fall to 5-5, but still remain 2nd in the AFC East. Let's break down the game.


Offensively, this game was a mess for the Buffalo Bills. They were only able to get 319 yards of total offense, and could only muster up 13 points on the board. You won't win many games on the road, against the Patriots, by just scoring 13 points. The playcalling was rather poor at times, and the execution just wasn't there as Tyrod Taylor had often missed passes, especially the ones he usually makes.

Speaking of the Bills QB, his day was uncharacteristic for Tyrod Taylor. He kept his consistency by not turning the ball over, but he was unable to find a receiver in the endzone, and overall he managed to only complete 55% of his passes. He went 20/36 for 233 yards, and he should've played a lot better. He missed a lot of deep throws down the field, and despite Sammy Watkins being open on multiple occasions, Tyrod could not find his #1 receiver. He was injured toward the end of the game, and that also showed in his play, as he often had little to no power on many of the late balls he threw. Tyrod had a bad game, which is common for a relatively new quarterback. He'll need to play better to keep giving the Bills a chance to win, along with staying healthy from here on out.

As far as the receiving core goes, Chris Hogan was the player of the day. He had 6 passes caught for 95 yards as he was often left open. Lesean McCoy also had a relatively busy day through the air picking up 41 yards on his 6 receptions. Watkins and Clay were both rather quiet, contributing only 4 receptions for 53 yards combined. Tyrod's poor day showed as buffalo's receivers could really never get hot during this game.

Lesean McCoy on the other hand, has had his 3rd monster game in a row. With his 82 rushing yards and his 41 receiving yards, he has now eclipsed his 3rd game in a row where he has had over 100+ yards from scrimmage. He is now fully healthy, and that really is showing in his game. Buffalo fans are really seeing how elusive, shifty, and explosive he can be. He was the heart of the running game on Monday night, as Karlos Williams could only gain 11 yards on his 6 carries. Karlos was unable to break the rookie scoring record, but he will still continue to be productive in the Bills offense as long as he is used in the rushing and passing game.

The defense on the other hand, had a rather dominant day against the New England Patriots. They were putting pressure on Tom Brady all day, and although the front 4 was only able to achieve 1 sack, they made Brady's day miserable, hitting him over a dozen times. They held the Patriots to just 356 total yards and held Brady to a 20/39 for 277 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT performance, and in terms of Brady, that's getting shut down. In addition, the Bills were stingy in the ground game, giving up a total of only 85 yards. Rex's defense has finally shown up over the past few games, and that will be big going forward.

I'm going to jump into one final topic before I wrap this up, and that will be about the referees. Like mentioned in the first part of this post, the refs have been a joke. This game could've been completely different had calls not gone one way or another. There were a few calls in particular that really caught my attention.

One of these calls robbed the New England Patriots a seemingly easy touchdown, but still, the refs managed to compromise (rather unfairly), and it wound up costing the Buffalo Bills. The ref blew an inadvertent whistle on a completion to WR Danny Amendola, which Amendola had room to run after the fact. The refs discussed after the whistle, and gave Rex Ryan a seemingly random 15 yard call, and stated that the ball would be spotted after the reception, because it was a completed pass before the whistle, which was not true. The whistle blew while the ball was in mid air, and that means the down should have been replayed. Then, they gave Rex a ridiculous call for "interfering," because he had a foot on the white chalk. Even when the ref messed up, they still molded their messed up call to go toward the way of the Patriots, instead of calling it fairly down the middle.

Another call cost the Bills 42 seconds on their final drive. Robert Woods caught a 9 yard pass from Tyrod Taylor. at 1:51 left in the 4th quarter. The refs decided to review the first down ruling, and they never stopped the clock, or put the lost time back up on the clock. The next snap from Buffalo's offense came with 1:09 left. That 42 seconds could have been several more plays for the Buffalo Bills, and that could've ultimately been the game changer.

The last call, which is a smaller referee blunder than the last 2, cost the Bills one final Hail Mary opportunity. Sammy Watkins caught a 16 yard pass from Tyrod Taylor with 2 seconds left, and rolled out of bounds. He was untouched and nobody was near him. Still though, the referee mistook Sammy's actions as "surrendering himself," which led to the ref calling the clock to still run. That rule is an NCAA rule, though. Sammy had every right to roll out of bounds and stop that clock with 2 seconds left. It was just another one of many awful calls by the refs that night.

I'm not one to complain about the refs every single week, but when a game is as poorly officiated as this one, it has to be brought up. I'm not saying that the poor calls were Buffalo's excuses for losing the game, because they also blew many chances that they did have. The zebras did not do the Bills any favors, though. Buffalo now rests as the 8th seed in the AFC, in a 4 way tie between 3 other teams. Buffalo's game against the Chiefs on Sunday is a must win if they want to stay in the driver seat for the wild card race, which is now starting to heat up. Bills will be without Kyle Williams and Mario Williams against the Chiefs, which are 2 huge blows. Buffalo will have to overcome the odds and pull out a win. Happy Holidays, thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

Sources:
Stats: http://espn.go.com/nfl/playbyplay?gameId=400791717
Image #1:  (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Image #2: http://images.ischoolguide.com/data/images/full/36137/new-england-patriots-vs-buffalo-bills.jpg?w=600

Bills Vs. Jets Game Breakdown

Three weeks ago, Bills fans felt as if their team's season was over. A devastating loss to the Jaguars in London seemed to have put the season on ice, even though there were still 9 games left in the season. Now, this Buffalo team has won 2 games in 4 days, and with a 5-4 record, are sitting in the 6th playoff seed, just behind the 6-4 Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bills pulled out the red "Color Rush" jerseys and overcame a talented Jets team on Thursday night by a score of 22-17 to move to 2nd in the AFC East. Let's break down the game.

The game was not pretty...in fact, it was ugly. Rex did what Rex wanted against his former team as it was a defensive battle for most of the game, especially in the early going. The first 4 possessions of the game resulted in punts before New York finally put up a field goal. From then until the 4th quarter, it was all Bills. They put up 22 unanswered points as the defense and special teams smothered their former quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick and his Jets. The offense put up some numbers but it was the defense that lead the way.

The offense wasn't terrible, as they put up 280 yards of offense. Although the offense sputtered and stalled late, they put 17 points up throughout the first 3 quarters of the game. It was truly the defense that came up huge. The offense came through when it was required, though.
Tyrod Taylor was under duress nearly all game, as he was sacked 4 times. His day was good enough to the lead the offense as he went 17/27 for 158 yards, a touchdown and 0 interceptions. Tyrod's ball protection is one of his greatest assets, as he has not thrown an interception since week 4 against the Giants. He's turning into a quarterback Buffalo can rely on to get the job done, as long as he's not forced to throw 40+ times a game.
The Bill's leading receiver was Charles Clay as he hauled in 5 passes for 52 yards. Karlos Williams also added his catch for 26 yards and a touchdown, which he now has 7 TD's in 6 games. He is only the 2nd rookie RB in NFL history to score a touchdown in his 1st 6 NFL games. The passing game was certainly not prolific, and Sammy Watkins was not visited very often by Tyrod on his trip to Revis Island. Sammy caught a key pass on 3rd down in the 4th quarter, in which he absolutely lost Revis, to put Buffalo in the position to kill the rest of the clock out.
Lesean McCoy is also looking back to his old self as he took the rock 19 times for 112 yards. He's been shifty and quick and can cut on a dime for the first time all season in the past couple of games since the bye. That's how he was advertised when the trade was made back in March. Karlos Williams also added 24 yards on 7 carries.


The defense had an excellent day, holding Ryan Fitzpatrick and company to only 318 yards of total offense. The special teams also came through, putting up a key touchdown to spark the Bills on a kick return fumble. The Bills caused 4 turnovers, 3 of which were set up by standout player Bacarri Rambo. In the last 4 meetings, the Bills have committed 0 turnovers vs. the Jets, while the Jets have committed 15. This defense has the Jet's number for sure. The Buffalo defense dominated the Jets, and that's why Buffalo's been taking down the Jets in their last 4 match ups.

Buffalo has won 2 huge games in a row, and have another one coming up vs. the undefeated Patriots on next week's Monday Night Football. The Bills have looked like a much better team with all their weapons healthy, and with the recent losses of Patriots WR Julian Edelman and shifty RB Dion Lewis, the Patriots have to replace 2 key pieces. Buffalo's expectations aren't too high in a game in which the Patriots are favored by 7.5 points. This game will be extremely difficult as well considering it's not only on prime time, but it's also on the road. Buffalo will have their hands full, but anything's possible if they can limit big plays, get to Brady, and stop Gronkowski. Thanks for reading, and as always, Let's go Buffalo!

Sources:
Image #1: (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Image #2: (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Stats: ESPN.GO.COM

Bills Vs. Dolphins Game Breakdown

It's felt as if it's been forever since the Buffalo Bills have taken the field. After a disheartening loss in London to the Jags, the Bills, with fading playoff hopes and many injuries, had to come home, reset physically and mentally during the Bye week, and come out to face the Miami Dolphins, who were fresh off a beating to the Patriots. The Bye week did the Bills a lot of good, as they came out and crushed the Dolphins for the second time this season, by a score of 33-17. The Bills now reach 4-4 with a quick turnaround to a Jets game with huge playoff implications. Let's break down the game.

The offense had an excellent day, putting up 420 yards of total offense. The Bills started off their 2nd offensive drive with a touchdown, and never looked back, as they put up 3 more touchdowns and a field goal to put up one of the best offensive showings of the season. Buffalo made history by being the first team in NFL history with two 100 yard rushers and a receiver with 100+ yards. Buffalo's offensive superstars showed up today and were healthy, and that was the biggest reason Buffalo was able to come away with a victory.

Tyrod Taylor lit it up Sunday. Yet...he only threw 12 passes. Taylor finished 11/12 for 181 yards, with 1 TD and 0 picks. He also added 44 yards on the ground. Taylor's play has been flashy yet very efficient. Buffalo has not had quarterback play like this in years, so it's very refreshing to see that maybe, just maybe, the Bills have found themselves a gem.

Lesean McCoy and Karlos Williams also had monster days. Lesean McCoy kicked off his day with several good carries, one of which being a 48 yard touchdown in the first quarter. He finished with 112 yards on 16 carries. This is his first 100+ yard game of the year, which is exciting to see considering the injuries he's been battling. Karlos continued his dominant rookie campaign by putting up 2 scores and rushing for 110 yards on just 9 carries. Williams now has 6 touchdowns in the 5 games he's played. He should seriously be considered for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Sammy Watkins has been injured on and off all season, and most recently he got into an altercation with many fans over social media regarding his health. That was put in the rear view mirror on Sunday as Sammy caught 90+% of Tyrod's passes, putting up 168 yards on 8 receptions, including a touchdown and 2 deep bombs from Tyrod Taylor. Watkins looks healthy and that's huge going forward.

The Bills defense also came up huge several times, including a goal line stand at the end of the 1st half. Jerry Hughes racked up 2 sacks, a forced fumble, and recovered that same fumble. The defense held Miami to just 17 points and less than 400 yards of total offense. The offense stole the show on Sunday, but the defense had a few key stops.

The Buffalo Bills looked great, and they should considering they're as healthy as they've been all year. Still though, key players are nursing injuries such as Kyle and Aaron Williams. Buffalo pulled off a great win, but don't have much time to celebrate, as they must travel to New York on Wednesday to take on the 5-4 Jets on Thursday Night Football. They took a step forward, but still have a long road ahead, as 5 of their next 6 games are on the road. With a 4-4 record, Buffalo is not even close to out of the playoff race...in fact, with a win on Thursday, Buffalo moves into the playoff picture as the 5th seed. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

Sources:

Stats: ESPN

Image #1: (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)

Image #2: (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)

Bills Vs. Jaguars Game Breakdown

Turnovers, refs and injuries, oh my! That was the name of the game Sunday as the Bills took to London to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, in what turned out to be a wild match up. What should have been a rather simple win for Buffalo was hampered by turnovers and some dubious calls made against Buffalo, one of which essentially cost Buffalo the game. The defense put up a decent day, while the offense had the first half from hell. The Bills have fallen below .500 for the first time since 2013, and have now dropped 2 of their last 3 games. Let's break down the game.

Offense: 

The offense was atrocious in the first half, and most of that fell on backup QB, EJ Manuel. Manuel gift wrapped 21 points for the Jaguars as he threw 2 picks, 1 of which was returned for a touchdown, and fumbled an additional time which was also returned for touchdown. EJ fell apart in the first half, forcing the Bills to fall down 27-3. Although it seemed it was time to pull the plug on EJ, Rex stuck with him, and he was rewarded. The Bills offense stormed back, putting up 21 unanswered points before the defense put up another 6 points on a pick 6.

EJ Manuel finished his day 24/42 for 298 yards, along with 2 TD's and 2 INT's. He finished better than he started, and although he made a lot of mistakes in the first half, he gave Buffalo a chance to come back late, in which they fell just short. He was not as good as he needed to be though, and turning the ball over that many times put them way behind. He needs to be much better if he wants to prove he can stick around here in Buffalo. Overall though, I think EJ needs to go in the long run.

Buffalo had 115 yards on the ground, with the majority of the yardage being put up by Lesean McCoy [68 yards] while EJ put up another 38 on the ground. The rushing attack was not a huge part of the Bills game plan, as they were behind most of the game.

Buffalo's receivers had a good day, with Robert Woods leading the way with 84 yards on 9 receptions, along with a score. Marcus Easley also contributed by putting up a huge 58 yard score to bring Buffalo back into the game. Other notable receivers were Chris Hogan and Lesean McCoy.

Defense:

The defense had a decent day, but gave up 295 yards to a poor Jacksonville team. They got beat on the ground for 115 yards and a score by rookie TJ Yeldon. Through the air, they held Blake Bortles to only 182 yards, 13 completions, and forced him to toss up a pick 6 to Corey Graham. The biggest plays for the defense included that pick 6, along with a 4 down goal line stand, which led to the beginning of Buffalo's comeback attempt. Nickell Robey made an excellent play on a 3rd and 15, but the refs made an extremely poor call for pass interference, which set up the Jags for the late go-ahead touchdown.

Overall, Buffalo lost a game that they should have won. The offense turned the ball over too early and too many times, and the refs made a few questionable calls. The injuries going into this game also hurt Buffalo. It's hard to win games when 7 key players are out with injuries. Buffalo's season hangs severely in the balance as they head into the bye week with a 3-4 record. The Bills are dead last in the AFC East, with the Dolphins and Jets proving they are forces to be reckoned with. With 3 of their next games being against the 3 better AFC East teams, Buffalo has a lot on their hands, and they need to make these games count. The Bills have a lot of ground to make up. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!


Sources:
Stats: ESPN.GO.COM
Image #1: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Image #2: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Bills Vs. Bengals Game Breakdown

It's one step forward and two steps back for the Buffalo Bills as of late. They fall to the Cincinnati Bengals 34-21 as their record has dropped to an unimpressive 3-3. EJ Manuel got the start while Watkins and McCoy returned to the lineup. McCoy had a great day, while Manuel had a rather pedestrian day while Sammy got hurt after just his 4th reception yesterday. Defense and coaching seemed to be the story of the day as Buffalo falls one more game behind the New York Jets and the New England Patriots. Let's break down the game.


Offense: The offense, as expected, had an average day behind the QB play of EJ Manuel. He didn't lose them the game, but he didn't make a huge effort to try and win the game either. EJ put up 263 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT while completing 28 of 42 pass attempts. Overall, the Bills put up 368 yards of offense.

The receivers, who were catching EJ Manuel's passes, had average days. With the injury to Percy Harvin and the halftime loss of Sammy Watkins, the Bills are down to about 3 healthy WR's going into London. Charles Clay led the team as usual, with 9 receptions for 62 yards. Watkins also put up 48 yards and a touchdown with his 4 receptions.

Rushing wise, the only player who received carries was Lesean McCoy. Returning from injury, he looked explosive, productive and elusive. He put up 90 yards on 17 carries and added a touchdown onto the board. EJ also rushed 6 times for 22 yards.

Defense: The story of the day was the defense, and it wasn't because they played well. They got eaten alive by Andy Dalton, as he threw 243 yards and 3 touchdowns on this Bills defense. They also got rushed on, giving up 112 yards. The biggest issue with this defense was the lack of pressure, as Dalton was rarely touched throughout the day. The Bengals just had too many weapons, and the Bills couldn't find an answer.

Buffalo has faced several key injuries, including Harvin, Watkins, Kyle Williams, Aaron Williams, Karlos Williams and Marquise Goodwin. They are currently in London, where only 3 healthy receivers made the trip. Buffalo won't have a lot of options, but expect them to bring a man or 2 overseas to fill in the blanks at the WR spot. EJ Manuel will also most likely look to take the start, facing a very beatable Jaguars team. For Buffalo to get things back on track, this defense has to get after the QB, while getting everyone healthy during the upcoming bye week. I'm confident Buffalo will have a much more positive second half of the season if they can sneak out of London with a win and a healthy squad. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

Bills Vs. Titans Game Breakdown

It was an ugly game on Sunday, but still a win as the Buffalo Bills took down the Tennessee Titans 14-13 down in Nashville. There aren't a lot of positive takeaways from the game, but the Bills got it done. This was a huge win for a Buffalo team who couldn't afford to drop 2 games in a row against sub-par teams going into a week 6 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Buffalo continued the lack of offense but managed to cut down on the penalties as they had to squeeze out a victory missing 3 key pieces of their offense. Let's break down the game.

The first half started off with the Titans fumbling the opening kickoff, which the Bills recovered. They were ready to get on the field and go up 7-0, but of course, a flag was called on that kickoff. The rest of the half was uneventful. Buffalo's 5 possessions in the first half resulted in punts. In addition, the Bills didn't have a snap in the Titan's territory until the 3rd quarter. It was an awful game for Buffalo's offense in the first half, and they were lucky to only be down 3-0 at halftime.

The early part of the 2nd half wasn't too pretty either. Buffalo punts, stops Tennessee, then fumbles the punt, and gives the Titans the ball back with a short field. Mariota and company drives down the field and puts up another 7 points to go up 10-0. The Bills are down and out up until this point. Taylor brings the spark that Buffalo needs, and puts up 3 key rushes, in addition to 2 key passes, to give buffalo the points they needed for the victory. Taylor rushed twice on the 1st TD drive, first for 26 yards, then again for the 22 yard touchdown. Then, Taylor finds Hogan deep on the sideline for a 46 yard pass, and then finds him again for the 4 yard TD. Gilmore sealed the deal late with a pick, included with some clutch pressure from Marcell Dareus.

Offense: The offense had a poor day, posting only 209 yards. Taylor's numbers weren't impressive either, at least through the air. On the ground, Taylor carried the ball 8 times for 76 yards and a touchdown. He gave Buffalo life, and Hogan also contributed putting up 52 yards on 3 receptions. 2 of those were clutch catches, including 1 for the game-tying touchdown. There wasn't a whole lot of pretty plays today, but Buffalo was able to grind out the victory.

Defense: The defense was also a big reason Buffalo won this game. Every time they were out there, they gave the Bills a chance to win. Gilmore and Darby had huge days as usual. Gilmore defended 4 passes and picked off the last ditch effort by Marcus Mariota to seal the game. The duo of Darby and Gilmore rank 2nd and 3rd in the league in Cornerback rating, and with Mckelvin on his way back, this is a formidable Buffalo secondary. Up front, the Bills got pressure as Mario Williams and Kyle Williams put up a sack each. This defense at times looks like they need to improve, but they always put up solid days.

Overall, as stated many times, it was an ugly game. With the Bills having 2 key guys possibly returning [Sammy Watkins and Karlos Williams], this offense will be receiving some help. Taylor needs to continue to get better in the passing game, as he missed some reads and made poor throws throughout. The defense needs to keep doing what they do, and the overall penalties need to continuously be cut down. Buffalo only got charged with 7 flags on Sunday, and a few of those were questionable, as many are. Buffalo has a huge challenge going into next week against the undefeated, 5-0 Bengals. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

Bills Vs. Giants Game Breakdown

"I'm [expletive] sick," -Rex Ryan
Those words were read from coach Rex Ryan's lips shortly after Rashad Jenning's touchdown reception, and I'm sure those words came to a lot of people's minds after Sunday's loss to the Giants. The final score was 24-10, but it felt like 50-10 at times. For the majority of the game, the Bills couldn't get much going on either side of the ball, and when they did, ridiculous penalties and a few key plays killed the Bills. The emotions ran high this game, and it hurt the Bills. The Bills are now 2-2 and rest at 3rd in the AFC East after a quarter of the season.

The 1st half for Buffalo was an ugly one. Taylor was off, the receivers were off, and the rest of the team wasn't clicking either. Buffalo had 8 possessions in the first half, and 7 of them resulted in giving the Giants back the ball. Buffalo only gained 62 yards in the first half, as the defense let New York drive down the field several times to put up 16 points. The first half also contained 6 Buffalo penalties, and only 2 third down conversions in the first half. Everything was sloppy. The Bills went into halftime down 16-3.

The 2nd half contained even more penalties, and even more missed opportunities. A missed FG and a wasted possession where Buffalo couldn't get in the end zone, along with several more poor penalties put Buffalo in a bad spot. Finally, when the offense started to gain some ground, a few key penalties stripping 2 touchdowns from Buffalo and a poorly executed tackle leading to a touchdown for New York sealed the game for the Bills. They were not able to manufacture the comeback as emotions got the best of them.

Offense: The offense had a terrible first half and although the second half was better, it still wasn't enough. There were way too many missed opportunities as well. The Bills couldn't run the ball, dealing with several key injuries in the back field and offensive line. They were only able to total 55 yards on the ground with a combined 24 carries between Tyrod and Karlos. The passing game was better, but not much. Taylor went 28/42, 258 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. Taylor was slow on his reads at times and while he threw accurately for the most part, some poor throws and drops hindered the passing game. The biggest offensive performer was Charles Clay, racking up 111 yards on 9 receptions. This offense missed the presence of Watkins and McCoy severely.

Defense: The defense didn't have a poor day, but there were a few key defensive plays which cost Buffalo opportunities to win the game. They kept Eli Manning to a pedestrian day, forcing him into 15 incompletions, only 212 yards, and a pick. The rushing game of New York also had a mediocre day by credit of the defense, posting only 92 yards on a combined 28 carries.The only difference though, is that the Giants took advantage of their opportunities and made plays when it mattered most. Buffalo's corners shut down star Odell Beckham Jr, but gave up a huge 50+ yard touchdown reception to Rashad Jennings, which essentially ended the game for the Bills. Buffalo needs to be able to control big plays at key times going forward.

The game was ugly, and it had an ugly outcome. Buffalo has fallen to 2-2 on the year and 1-2 at home. With the injuries and penalties piling up, Buffalo will have a lot of cleaning up to do going into next week, when they face Tennessee, and rookie Marcus Mariota, on the road. Watkins, McCoy, Karlos Williams, Aaron Williams, and the injured offensive lineman need to heal fast. Rex also needs to get this team under control. This is a team that has jacked up 2 of its opponents, but has been handed disappointing losses by their other 2 opponents. The main question to ask is...which team will show up next week?