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