Watkins/Darby Trade Breakdown

Not even 24 hours after the first Buffalo Bills preseason game, the Bills have already made a huge splash on the roster. The Bills have traded away star-players Sammy Watkins and Ronald Darby. Watkins has been traded to the Rams in return for CB EJ Gaines and a 2nd round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Darby was exchanged for WR Jordan Matthews and a 3rd round pick from the Eagles. Honestly, I don't expect that many people thought this was coming. Nearly every fan has been scratching their head, and many are shocked, angry and frustated with the trade. In fact, the word "tank" has been mentioned many times, but take it easy Bills fans. Look at the entire picture.

This trade, in my eyes, definitely alters the team dynamic, but it certainly doesn't mean the team has gotten worse. In fact, I think these trades may even fit the team's dynamic a bit better, and provides more insurance as well. The picks, at face value, are certainly an upgrade right out of the gate. Buffalo now has 2 1st round picks, 2 2nd round picks, and 2 3rd round picks in this year's draft. Let's get a little bit more into each player obtained.

(WR) Jordan Matthews:

I think many people are overlooking Jordan Matthews as a WR. He is an underrated WR, who brings a different dynamic to the team than Sammy did. Matthews may not stretch the field as much as Sammy would, but he's a versatile possession receiver who still can provide a deep ball threat. In fact, Matthews is 1 of just 5 receivers in the NFL to have 65+ receptions and 800+ yards in his 1st 3 seasons. Matthews upgrades the height of the WR core as well, as Matthews stands at 6'3". He's a "go-get-it" type receiver who also has a physical nature as well. Matthews reliability and durability has also been proven, as opposed to the risk Sammy always seemed to face. Matthews has missed just 2 games in the course of his 3 season career. Watkin's health has always been a concern, but with this acquisition of Matthews, that concern is no more. Matthews will be there, when you need him. This trade, overall, makes a lot of sense. You sacrifice some playmaking ability, but in return get a solid possession receiver who is extremely reliable. Matthews may also provide for a quicker, more efficient passing offense for Tyrod Taylor and company. Not to mention, Buffalo no longer has to worry about losing Watkins for nothing at the end of the season if they elect to not resign him.

(CB) E.J. Gaines:

Along with replacing Sammy Watkins, Buffalo also managed to replace Ronald Darby the best that they could. Buffalo acquired EJ Gaines today in their trade with the Rams. Gaines, who stands at 5'10", 190 lbs, is a smaller CB, but still provides a bit of insurance for the defense. This team is running a 4-3 this season, which means Buffalo will be running a bit more zone defense, which is something that Ronald Darby had troubles with at times. Gaines provides the upgrade as he is familiar with a 4-3 scheme and may even fit the scheme better. Gaines has NFL experience, being around since 2014, and despite missing the entire 2015 season, will look to bounce back from quite frankly an average 2016 campaign. This move may make rookie Tre White the #1 corner on this roster, but that may not be a bad thing. McDermott trusts White heavily, and wouldn't give him this role if he didn't feel he could handle it. Gaines certainly isn't the highlight of these blockbuster Buffalo trades, but he may serve as a piece to the defense's success this season.

Overall, the big picture is this; Buffalo seems to be looking to retool on the fly, but without making a lot of high risk moves to do so. Also, it appears their goal is still to win this year. In any trade, getting players back often means that the team is still trying to win, and that they see value in the players acquired. In this situation, Buffalo dodged the potential bullet of another Sammy Watkin's season-ending injury, and having him walk away for nothing. I think Buffalo downgraded in the Darby trade, but will still find Gaines serviceable, and they managed to get a couple key draft picks. It's a new day here in Buffalo, and unfortunately, the Sammy era has come to an end. It's time to look ahead, and I believe Buffalo has improved the roster and future with these trades. Thanks for reading, and as always, Let's Go Buffalo!

What Anquan Boldin Signing Means For Bills

The Buffalo Bills have officially signed Anquan Boldin to a 1 year, $2.75 million contract. After the mention of the Bills interest in the WR several weeks ago, they have finally locked up the 36 year old for this upcoming season. The former Lion (most recently) is coming off of an 8 touchdown, 584 yard 2016 campaign. In Detroit, he found himself behind Marvin Jones and Golden Tate on the depth chart, not to mention the targets that their promising TE, Eric Ebron hauled in. Here in Buffalo though, Boldin enters a new situation. Boldin has a chance to be Buffalo's #2 WR, and a solid backup to Sammy Watkins for the #1 if Sammy goes down again. Here's what this signing means for the Buffalo Bills...

1) Solidifies the Depth: 

Saying that this signing "solidifies the depth" is quite plainly an understatement. This signing gives the Bills so much more to play with, and it's a whole lot of insurance if someone were to go down. This is what the current Bills WR depth chart looks like:

The Bills have 13, yes, 13, WR's on the current roster. That is a crazy amount of depth. The Bills may only keep 5 receivers, but may keep 6 if they elect to run with only 2 active QB's. There's a lot of combinations here, which is great for the Bills staff. Sammy, Zay Jones, and Boldin will seemingly have the 1st 3 spots locked up, and that will leave the 3 remaining spots or so up for grabs.

2) Provides Veteran Presence:

The receiving corps of the Buffalo Bills is a rather young one, with nearly half of the 13 WR's 25 or under. The presence of a 36 year old, who's seen it (and won it) all, will certainly be a huge advantage for Sammy Watkins and Zay Jones, and even for some of the older guys who might be 26 or 27. There's always room for improvement, and with Boldin providing some pro-tips of his own, every WR will be better off.

3) Another Red-Zone Threat:

The Bills have always struggled in the redzone, which has never been a secret. Every offseason, the same old discussion goes on; "We need to draft a redzone target," or "Bills need to get a big WR for the redzone in FA," etc. The Bills have now gotten one more to add. Boldin's not the tallest guy, standing at just 6'1", but his 220 lb frame and physical style will certainly be able to fight for his ground in the redzone. Add him with Sammy Watkins, the 6'4" Andre Holmes, Charles Clay and even the 6'6" QB-gone-TE Logan Thomas, the Bills will not be short in the "Redzone Target Department."

Overall, there is not one bad thing about this signing. Boldin's health seems to be the only concern here, as he is 36 years old. Still, he continues to produce at a #2-#3 WR level in the NFL, which is extremely suitable for what the Bills need. His veteran presence, his physical style, and his leadership will be a huge addition to the Buffalo Bills this season. This signing has a chance to put the Bills offense over the top, especially with the likes of Sammy Watkins, Shady McCoy, Zay Jones, Charles Clay, and Tyrod Taylor.  Thanks for reading, and as always, Let's Go Buffalo!

Image Credit: BuffaloBills.com

I've moved!

What's up guys, I am proud to announce I am now writing for the Buffalo Bills Fanatics crew! Check me out at their website: BillsfanaticsBF.com

Thank you, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

Key Position Battles After Day 1 Of Camp

It's official, Training Camp practice is here! The players are all moved in and ready to go, and just concluded their first practice today. Training Camp will be competitive as usual, as many of these fresh faces look to make an impact and solidify their spot on the 53 man roster. Even after today, many position battles are already brewing. There are a few key ones to look out for in the coming weeks.

Wide Receiver:

After Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods, the Buffalo Bills receiver depth is foggy. There are currently 12 wide receivers on the Bill's roster right now, and that number will lost likely fall to 5 or 6 once the 53 man roster is set in stone. There's several key names to look out for, including Dezmin Lewis, rookie Kolby Listenbee, Greg Little, Greg Salas, and Davonte Allen, another rookie. The coming weeks will hold a lot for this team, and the best receivers will rise to the top.

Cornerback:

Stephon Gilmore and Ronald Darby are holding down the top 2 spots, but after that, there's some indecisiveness of who holds the final few spots. Nickell Robey-Coleman, formerly Robey, is believed to remain the 3rd CB, but with some new faces, such as Corey White and Sterling Moore, the final few spots will be tough to grab. The Bills will have a tough choice, but keep an eye on these players.

Runningback:

Lesean McCoy is of course holding it down as the #1 back, but with him aging, it is likely that the backup and 3rd string backs will see increased snaps this season. Both Karlos and Johnathan Williams got themselves in trouble, which leaves the door open for new faces, like James Wilder Jr. and Mike Gillislee. Add in Reggie Bush, if the Bills sign him, and the Bills have a stacked backfield. Only 3-4 backs will make the roster, so the competition will be very tight behind Shady. Look out for Wilder Jr, he appears to have the potential to be a real stud in this Bills #1 rushing attack.

Competition will be tough, as usual, but with our starting QB set in place, it's time to turn to other battles going on in camp. There's a lot of talent on this team, but it must all come together to be an impact in the NFL this year. Thanks for reading and as always, let's go Buffalo!

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Image #2: http://www.buffalobills.com/assets/images/imported/BUF/photos/article-assets/Story-Photos/2016-06/robey-coleman-story.jpg

Buffalo's Backfield Depth Proving Valuable As Training Camp Approaches

"I told our players to 'win July'. We won the offseason," Rex Ryan states at a post mini-camp presser back in June. We are now in mid-July and as training camp approaches, the Bills are not "winning July." In fact, some could say they are losing July. The past few days have been not pretty for the Buffalo Bills running backs, as Karlos Williams and Jonathan Williams alike find themselves in hot water. 2016 5th round pick, Jonathan Williams, was arrested this past Thursday morning and is now facing a DWI charge. Karlos, who had already shown up to mini-camp much overweight, has been suspended for 4 games after violating the NFL's PED policy. Karlos, the rookie standout, is not having a great start to his 2nd season in the NFL, and Jonathan is not having an ideal start to his NFL career in general. Both backs were expected to be productive in this offense, but in the world of sports, the show must go on.

Losing any player for any amount of time is not ideal, but with a backfield like Buffalo's, they can afford some absences if they need to. Buffalo's backfield is one of the best in the NFL, filled with talent top to bottom. Even With Karlos and Jonathan Williams out, this RB corps can still be dangerous. Led by the horse of the offense, Shady McCoy, Mike Gillislee, James Wilder Jr, and Boom Herron, it's still not a backfield to sleep on. We know all about what McCoy can do, but Gillislee and Wilder are sneaking under the radar headed into camp and into the upcoming season.

Mike Gillislee:
Gillislee made his first splash in Buffalo against the Houston Texans on December 6th, 2015. Since then, he's made his presence known as a Buffalo Bill, getting a contract extension after putting up 47 carries for 267 yards and 3 TD's in 5 games played. Gillislee stands at 5'11" and weighs 208 lbs. The 4th year back is a one-cut type running back who can pick up speed quickly once he hits the open field. The open field is truly where he thrives, as he can separate himself from defenders when he puts it into 2nd gear. Not to mention he can really make a defender look silly, as he can perform solid cuts. His production will be expected to jump in 2016 as he will be in the regular rotation for the first several games of the season.

James Wilder Jr.
James Wilder Jr. is an interesting player as he has a lot of mystery of what he can actually bring to the table. Wilder was brought in on a future/reserves contract on January 20th, 2016. Since he was signed, there's been a lot of fan hype online about what his potential may be, as his highlight reel shows he is a sturdy back [standing at 6'3" and weighing 232 lbs], who can throw men around and bounce off tacklers. The 2nd year player appears to be an excellent downfield runner who can put his head down and gain extra yards through his "second push." He's not afraid to dive for the endzone, or that extra yard either. His speed also assists in his contribution in the passing game. As a gritty, quick, all-around back, it looks as if Wilder could be an excellent addition for the Bills if he can reach his full potential.

Buffalo's done an excellent job finding RB's for the team, and the depth they've stockpiled may really begin to be seen this upcoming season. As for Karlos and Jonathan Williams, they've got to get it together. The poor decisions they make hurt themselves as well as the team. In the mean time, Gillislee and Wilder will look to training camp and the season, as they would love to make a great impression to the coaching staff. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

Stats: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/
Image #1: Mark Mulville/Buffalo News
Image #2: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Mike_Gillislee.jpg/220px-Mike_Gillislee.jpg 
Image #3: https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/745828014496284672/2M_hCmNV.jpg

How Much Is Stephon Gilmore Really Worth?

The NFL has been pretty quiet the past couple of weeks since mini-camp finished up, but there are still some "elephants in the room" as far as contract situations go. Buffalo has a few of them on their hand, such as Tyrod Taylor and Stephon Gilmore. The focus right now is on Gilmore's contract, as he has threatened to miss time if a new deal does not get done soon. Gilmore is an excellent corner who has displayed some amazing skill over his tenure here in Buffalo, and it's time he gets paid. Overall, what will Buffalo be willing to pay, and more importantly, what is he worth? Let's break it down.

There are three main categories in which I value players. Each category is rated out 1-5 (5 of course being the best). At the end, the overall grade of the player will result in how I value said player.

Pass Defense: 4/5

Stephon Gilmore is excellent in coverage, more so man-to-man. He is a physical cornerback who can frustrate receivers (ex. Odell Beckham Jr.) as well as hold his own with any receiver. This past season, Gilmore posted 3 picks, 36 tackles, and an impressive 18 passes defended in 12 games. He will challenge a receiver, and adjusts well to the ball.  He needs to continue to work on his game though, as Gilmore still struggles with reading shorter routes, such as curls. Overall, his Pass Defense rating is a 4, as he could still perfect his game.

Run Defense: 3.5/5

Gilmore, as stated above, is a very physical cornerback who is not scared to try and lay a big hit. Gilmore does not play a big role in the run defense as Buffalo's front 7 has been dominant over the past few seasons. Still, his ability to lay a big hit along with his speed allows him to make a stop when needed. His run defense is rated a 3 as his tackling is not perfect, and he is often blocked out of plays. Gilmore needs to utilize his strength to break into the route of the runningback to make a tackle. 

Tackling: 3.5/5

Despite Gilmore being able to lay out a huge hit at times, his tackling is not the greatest. He is a solid tackler, and relies on technique and form to make a successful tackle. He needs to improve his tackling in space, but overall, his tackling is acceptable.

Injuries: 3/5

Stephon Gilmore's career has had a lot of injuries, and that may be his biggest downfall as a cornerback. He's missed 11 total games in his 4 year career, having a perfect 16/16 games played only in his rookie year. He's had mainly upper body injuries, such as wrist and shoulder injuries. He's gotta learn to stay on the field to optimize his usage and prove how consistent he can be.

Overall: 14/20

I'm grading Stephon Gilmore at a 14/20, which although it seems low, I give more weight to his excellent pass coverage and physical aspect he brings to the game. Gilmore plays a tough game of football, and deserves a big payday for sure. He has the potential, with a few tweaks to his game and of course, health, to become a top 5 cornerback in the NFL. So, that brings up a question, as perhaps a top 10 corner in the NFL, how much is he worth? 

Ideal Contract: 5 years/$12.5M per year.

This is the type of contract I would offer to Gilmore. In my opinion, he is not worth $14m-$15m, especially with 2nd year product Ronald Darby on the rise. It will be interesting to see what Buffalo does, but this is where I value Gilmore.

Stats: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GilmSt00.htm\

Image #1:  (USATSI)

Image #2: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Bills Mini-camp Wrap-up

As the Summer finally arrives, the Buffalo Bills have just finished their mandatory mini-camp. A lot went down over the past 3 days, and the Bills believe it's set them up for a great training camp in July. “We’ve won the offseason. I will challenge any team. I think we won the offseason, but we need to win July,” Rex Ryan stated today at practice. The Bills have put in a lot of preparation, and are ready for July to roll around. Let's take a look at some key storylines of the Mini-camp.

Robert Woods Impresses:
The 4th year WR looks to make a big leap this season after being plagued by a groin injury nearly all last season. He's had an excellent mini-camp, looking quick, moving well, and making some highlight reel plays. In addition, his route running has also looked solid. Buffalo has a lot of WR's on the roster, and the competition will really be heating up heading into training camp. Buffalo will truly have a tough decision on who to name the #2 receiver behind Sammy Watkins, but odds are, a healthy Woods could be the guy.

Stephon Gilmore Shows Up:
Gilmore is also entering his 4th year in the NFL, and he's been adamant on his contract situation. Arguably a top 10 CB in the NFL, Gilmore is looking for his big payday, much like Marcell Dareus got last season. Gilmore showed up for the mini-camp after sitting out all of the OTA's. Gilmore is a huge piece to the Buffalo Bills defense, but if they can't come to terms soon, he may be on his way out. Him showing up to mini-camp shows he's willing to cooperate with the team, although he still is standing strong on his desire for a new contract.

Karlos Williams Out Of Shape:
The 2nd year RB showed up to mini-camp far from ideal football shape. Karlos had a long offseason, as he was taking care of his pregnant wife, often partaking in her cravings, it seems. "He's nowhere close to where he needs to be," Rex Ryan said. The Bills backfield is stacked, and if Karlos doesn't get himself into shape soon, his role could be taken over by the likes of Mike Gillislee, rookie Jonathan Williams, or James Wilder Jr. It will be interesting if Williams can return to the shape he was last year, and continue his short, yet promising career.


The Bills are done with any on-field activity until July's training camp. It will be a long wait, but there will be a lot to look forward to. It's only a matter of time until the Bills return for the 2016 season. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

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Image #2: http://www.buffalobills.com/assets/images/imported/BUF/photos/centerpiece-2016/05-may/karlos-williams-story.jpg

Top Bills News This Week (5/27-6/2)

It's officially June, and as the days go by, we are getting closer to the football season. The Summer is always a slow time, but with OTA's, roster improvements, and injury news, there's always a little something to talk about. Here is this weeks top Bills news.

Roster Moves: 

There haven't been too many moves as expected, besides the rookie signings mid-May, but the Bills added depth to their LB core by signing former Packer and Jet, Jamari Lattimore. The 2011 undrafted FA is 27 years old, and looks to add some needed depth to the Bills while Shaq Laqson recovers from injury. The product, from Middle Tennessee State University, has some size and speed to him, which will fit Rex's tough defensive scheme perfectly. Lattimore will be able to get to the QB, and he'll be fighting for a roster spot throughout the summer. 

OTA News:

Marcell Dareus and Charles Clay are back at practice. Both are key pieces of this offense this upcoming season. Dareus will be trying to help bring the defense back to top 10 form, while Clay will look to keep the rushing game #1 by using his big body to block and open up holes. It's always good to get great players back in the mix, even if it's practice.

Seantrel Henderson will also be making his return to the team after missing extended time last season and most of the offseason so far with Crohn's Disease. He's been recovering for some time now, and will look to take back his spot at RT, as Jordan Mills has been keeping it warm for him.

Injury News:

In addition to Henderson returning, Sammy Watkins is also making progress, about a month and a half after his foot surgery. He said he's hoping to get the boot off [Thursday], and that he is just listening to the coaching staff. Sammy Watkins will also be a key cog this year, as usual, so it's important that he receives the proper medical treatment and follows proper protocol to get back ASAP. 

That about wraps it up for the key Bills news this week. There will definitely be more coming in the future weeks. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

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Image #2: http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Jets-Bills-Football_News.jpg

Lawson's Injured, but Criticism Not Needed Yet

The injuries are beginning to hit the Bills, as it seems they do every year. Buffalo Bills 1st round pick, Shaq Lawson, underwent successful surgery this morning on his right shoulder. Now, Lawson must play the game of "Wait and Recover," as it has been suggested that he may be on the self for 4-6 months. For a rookie, losing this much amount of time to learn the system and get familiar with the franchise is crucial to a players young career. With that said, many fans and analysts are now questioning the amount of accountability being held for Doug Whaley and Rex Ryan's actions.

It was initially stated straight out of the draft, from medical crews, Whaley, Ryan, and even Lawson himself that the right shoulder of Lawson was "100% ready to go," which of course, is not the case. Lawson's shoulder issues were known months going into the draft. Adam Schefter, ESPN analyst tweeted during the draft that several teams even went as far as to take Lawson off of their draft board. That didn't stop the bold minds of Ryan and Whaley though, as they believed Lawson was an excellent talent, despite the reports of his injuries. It's speculated that Rex and Whaley were well aware of the injury, but thought the surgery could be put off until next offseason. It could not, and thus, fans seem to be very upset with the coach and GM of the Bills.

"If the Bills knew Lawson had injury issues and may miss up to half the season, why did the Bills take the risk on him?"

"Whaley and Rex don't think about the future, only now."

"Whaley and Rex lied to everyone when they said Lawson was okay."

Those are all loose quotes from Bills fans that I've heard since yesterday. Some fans are even calling for Whaley's job. To any fans questioning Whaley and Ryan about this pick, I say; don't. The Buffalo Bills will be just fine. I understand the concern, especially since this seems like a typical Buffalo scenario in the typical 16 year playoff drought, but it's not time to push the panic button yet, and here's why;

•  Most fans knew that Lawson had this nagging shoulder injury that would require attention eventually. 
• Getting this treatment done now will prevent further injury in the future. Let Lawson rest and rehab now, and he will come back full strength and ready to go.
• Buffalo will get his services eventually. The idea of not having an exciting, disruptive first round talent for, at most, half the season does not sound good to me at all. But, if this team can have a decent record when he returns, Lawson can help further the playoff push. 

Whaley and Rex are not the ones to blame here. Lawson was definitely a first round talent, and despite this injury, he will hopefully be a force when fully healed, like he's expected to be. Lawson was one of the best defensively ranked players in the draft. He is very versatile, and can tackle, sack the QB and even play a bit of coverage.  They took a gamble, yes, but I don't think this pick is a bad one at all. I think he will prove that to all of us in his return. What do you guys think? Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

Image #1: Bill Wippert/Associated Press 

Image #2: 

Buffalo Bills Complete Draft Review

The Buffalo Bills draft concluded last Saturday, and in the eyes of the front office and many fans, the Bills had an excellent draft. The Bills went heavy on defense, spending their first 3 picks on the front 7, and 4 out of 7 picks on defense in total. Doug Whaley and Rex Ryan both believe they had a couple steals. In addition, they also are planning to start 2 of Buffalo's picks this season. Let's look at who they picked up.

DE/OLB: Shaq Lawson (Round 1, Pick 19)

Buffalo decided to beef up the d-line with their first pick of the draft. Standing at 6'4", weighing 260 lbs, Lawson is a big man who can get to the QB. The Clemson product will be a huge addition to the Bills defense, as he brings versatility as a lineman, who can also play stand-up LB. He will be a day one starter across the line from Jerry Hughes, as stated both by Doug Whaley and Rex Ryan. Lawson posted 167 tackles and 20 sacks in his career with Clemson. The Bills certainly found a gem in the 1st round, who will look to take over the hole left by Mario Williams departure.

LB: Reggie Ragland (Round 2, Pick 41)

In the 2nd round, the Bills went front-7 again, this time taking LB Reggie Ragland, out of Alabama. He's also a large man, measuring 6'2" and weighing 258 lbs. He can do anything you need a LB to do, including coverage, rushing the passer, and stopping the run. In college, he racked up 222 tackles and 10 passes defensed. Whaley also said he will start. The Alabama product will line up in the weak-side linebacker spot next to Preston Brown, the third year LB. Although Reggie Ragland had some questions regarding injuries, Whaley felt it was safe to take Ragland in the 2nd round, and if all goes well, it will pay off. Reggie Ragland is an excellent athlete who will bring a lot of versatility to the table.

DT: Adolphus Washington (Round 3, Pick 80)

Buffalo continued to supply the defensive stash, this time picking DT Adolphus Washington in the 3rd round. He is 6'4", and 290 lbs. In his college career with Ohio State, he had 142 tackles and 13.5 sacks. A versatile tackle who can play the five and three technique, Washington will look to see some starting reps in Rex's "5-2 defensive front," rotating in with Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus. Whaley and Rex have a lot of confidence in this pick, who can hopefully step in right away and make an impact, and maybe even take over for Kyle Williams when he decides to retire.

QB: Cardale Jones (Round 4, Pick 139)

With Tyrod Taylor's future in Buffalo still a question mark at this point in time, the Bills elected to go QB in the 4th round of this year's draft. Cardale Jones will look to develop as the 3rd QB on the Bills roster, behind EJ Manuel and of course, Taylor. The QB out of Ohio State has all the physical attributes to be a great QB in the NFL, standing at 6'5" and weighing 249 lbs. Add in a powerful arm, and he has all the tools to be a stud. He has some issues though, such as accuracy, footwork, and consistency. Jones can work through all of those issues though, and Whaley has stated that Jones' floor is a "very solid backup." Jones may potentially challenge EJ for the backup job as training camp gets underway, but he may be several years away from being a starter in the NFL.

RB: Jonathan Williams (Round 5, Pick 156)

The Buffalo Bills had a great steal of Karlos Williams in last year's draft, so why not try that again? That may have been the motive behind this 5th round pick, as Buffalo's backfield was battered for most of the year, with all the RB's on the roster missing games. Williams also had 22 total touchdowns and 2,321 yards in his college career. Drafted as mainly a special teams acquisition, the 6'0", 223 lb Arkansas RB will look to challenge for some touches as well, in a crowded Bills backfield.

WR: Kolby Listenbee (Round 6, Pick 192)

This speedy receiver was a safe gamble for the Bills, but if it pays off, he will be an excellent acquisition. Listenbee is 6' tall, 197 lbs, and has stated he believes that he's "probably the fastest player in the NFL." He also stated though that speed isn't everything, and that he needs to improve his route running. Rex and company are excited about the TCU product's speed though, and if he can improve his route running, look out.

CB: Kevon Seymour (Round 6, Pick 218)

The Bills spent their last draft pick on a corner late in the 6th round. Seymour is quick, posting a 4.39 40-yard dash time at the pre-draft workouts. The 6', 170 lb CB will look to make his biggest contributions on special teams as a gunner, along with a potential as a punt/kick returner.


Overall, the Buffalo Bills had a solid 2016 draft. The draft has made this team instantly better on the defensive side of the ball, as Lawson, Ragland, and Washington all will look to contribute from day one. There is a lot to be excited about after this draft, as Rex is looking to greatly improve the defense from its 19th overall rank last season. Buffalo will see more from these rookies as mini-camp begins next week. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

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Image #3: http://www.anotherpackersblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/USATSI_8804852.jpg
Image #4: http://www.dispatch.com/content/graphics/2015/12/10/adolphus-washington.jpg?__scale=w:660,h:769,t:1,c:ffffff,q:80,r:1
Image #5: https://nbcprofootballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/jones.jpg
Image #6: http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/003/499/815/d75433733a4d60b800f2d5ab76d5342b_crop_north.jpg?w=630&h=420&q=75
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Image #8: http://buildingtheherd.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Kevon-Seymour-Pic-1.jpg

Buffalo Bills Top Draft Needs

The road to opening night in the NFL, in many eyes, begins tomorrow. The draft begins at 8 PM (Est.), and at pick #19, the Buffalo Bills will select their next hopeful superstar. There's a lot of defensive talent in this year's draft pool, and with a defense that ranked 19th last year, expect the Bills to pick up some solid defensive talent. These are the Buffalo Bills top ranked draft needs.


1. LB: The Buffalo Bills top priority may just be a LB. The depth at that position has grown very thin over this offseason, losing Nigel Bradham to Free Agency, along with AJ Tarpley to retirement, along with some cuts, such as Tony Steward. Even with the Bills signing of Lorenzo Alexander and Zach Brown not too long ago, the Buffalo Bills could use an early pick on a LB to solidify the struggling position. If the Bills were to look for a LB in the first couple rounds, potential targets such as Alabama standout Reggie Ragland or Su'a Cravens, out of South California.

2. DL: With the aging of DT Kyle Williams and the departure of Mario Williams, this once menacing Buffalo Bills defensive line seems not so scary at all. The Bills need to make a move here at the draft, and it may happen as soon as round one. They could begin to beef up this line by taking a shot at questionable prospect Robert NKemdiche with their 19th overall pick.

3. QB: Tyrod Taylor is the man in Buffalo...for now. Contract talks have been shaky to say the least, as Whaley is not 100% convinced that Taylor will be this franchise's bona fide starter for years to come. With that said, the Bills may definitely walk out of this full draft with one or even two new additions at quarterback. Paxton Lynch may very well be there at pick 19, but the Bills may wait until later to draft someone, such as a Dak Prescott (Mississippi State) or Kevin Hogan (Stanford).

4. WR: Tyrod needs to prove himself this season, and the Bills need someone to compliment Sammy Watkins. The solution? Draft a wide receiver. The Buffalo Bills may not have a lot of options, as the WR class is not deep this year, but they may still find some value in TCU product Josh Doctson, or Ohio State star Braxton Miller, beginning maybe in the 2nd round.

5. SS/FS: If the Bills could walk out with a solid acquisition for all of these positions, the Buffalo Bills draft would be a 110% success. Late in the draft, the Bills may consider picking up a safety. With Corey Graham aging, Aaron Williams mindset being shaken after a potential career-ending injury, and a simple lack of depth at the position, the Bills may look to someone like Deon Bush (Miami) or Derrick Kindred (TCU).

The Buffalo Bills certainly have some holes to fill, but they've also got a lot of options. The moves Buffalo will make will sure be interesting, and if all goes well, they could walk out with their next gem. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Bills!!!


Image #1: http://www.billsdaily.com/images/draft2016.jpg
Image #2: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

I'm Back!

Welcome back to the Buffalo Blitz Sports Blog. I've taken a bit of an offseason hiatus while the Bills have been on their vacation. The NFL Draft is tomorrow, which means the road to opening day begins when the draft goes underway in Chicago. In addition, the Buffalo Bills schedule was released last week. Look for blogs about those topics and more, right here. This is just a short message to say that I'm back! Let's go Bills!

Buffalo Bills Year In Review

As the biggest event in the NFL, the Superbowl, is just over 24 hours away, and 30 other teams' seasons have all come to an end, it's time to look back on the Buffalo Bills 2015 campaign. It all began with an offseason full of excitement and unmatched hype, as season ticket sales were at an all time high. Rex Ryan got hired as the new Bills head coach. A new quarterback came to the surface for Buffalo, as Tyrod Taylor earned his spot as the starter. Key transactions such as the signings of Charles Clay and Percy Harvin, along with the trade for Lesean McCoy had this fan base ecstatic for the season to come. The Bills even managed to lock up a great playmaker in DT Marcell Dareus for 6 more years. Still, as has been the usual for the past 16 years, the Buffalo Bills missed out on the playoffs...again. 

Going into the season, the Buffalo Bills had a "run first" mentality, and they did just that. The Bills lead the NFL in rushing, averaging 152 yards per game. They ran the ball 506 times (2nd in the NFL) for a league leading 2432 yards. They also had 19 rushing TD's which is tied for 1st in the NFL. An extensive part of this rushing offense came from QB Tyrod Taylor, who made his first NFL start last season. Other key contributors were superstar Lesean McCoy and rookie stand-out Karlos Williams. Let's not also forget the men up front. Cordy Glenn, Richie Incognito, Eric Wood and John Miller all had solid seasons on the offenseive line. With the league's best rushing attack along with several young runningbacks in the Bills system, this team doesn't need a lot of improvement in the backfield.

The passing attack was also efficient, but other times it was a pain to watch. Let's start by saying the Bills only passed 465 times, which is good for 31st in the NFL. With that said, it's expected that their passing #'s in general will take a large hit. They ranked 28th overall in passing with just 208.9 yards passing per game. Tyrod Taylor carried most of the passing load, except when EJ Manuel got his 2 starts due to an injured Tyrod Taylor. This passing attack had 7.7 yards-per-attempt, which ranks 6th in the NFL. They also managed to prevent turning the ball over, throwing only 9 picks, which is ranked 9th in the NFL. This passing attack was certainly not spectacular, but it was where the Bills needed it to be, considering how dominant their rushing attack was. Overall, Buffalo's offense finished the year ranked 13th in the NFL. The defense is really what seemed to hold this team back. 

This Bills team came into this year boasting the most sacks over the past 3 seasons and just came off a 4th overall ranked year. This year, Buffalo defense ranked 19th overall, and it was unfortunately deserved. This defense lacked discipline, hustle, and overall just couldn't get off the field. The coaching is also to blame, as several times the defensive players were complaining about what they were forced to do and how late calls were being received inside the huddle. The defense was also heavily penalized, which was a huge factor in them not being able to get off of the football field. Buffalo had the 6th most picks this year, but ranked 31st in sacks. Several key injuries also hindered this defense, including Kyle Williams, Aaron Williams, Nigel Bradham, Stephon Gilmore, Leodis McKelvin, and Marcell Dareus late in the season. This defense has a lot of needs, and with Mario seemingly on his way out, it'll be interesting to see how they handle these needs and issues.

However it's looked at, this Bills team was exceptional in some areas, but were inexcusably poor in others. Doug Whaley, along with Rex Ryan will need to step up this offseason to ensure the Bills needs are fulfilled for hopefully a successful season this year. If the defense can fix it's flaws and the offense can continue to grow and succeed, this team may finally find a balance and can gain some consistency. Thanks for reading, and as always, Let's go Buffalo! 

Update: This article pertains to the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Next article will take a look at specific players and how they've contributed over the season. Thank you!

Sources:

Stats: http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/passing/sort/sacks/position/defense/seasontype/2

Image #1: (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)

Image #2: https://nbcprofootballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/cd0ymzcznguwzdbhnduynddiytjhm2yyzthlmtjjotqwyyznpwm1zje1ntc2yzk4m2m2nzi3y2e3ytazm2flyjhhmmy1.jpeg?w=250

Bills Vs. Jets Game Breakdown

That's all she wrote, folks. The Buffalo Bills 2015 season came to a conclusion on Sunday as they took down the New York Jets by a score of 22-17, eliminating the Jets from playoff contention. It was a meaningless game for Buffalo, but they looked fired up to take down their division rival, who had everything on the line. The Bills finished the season with a typical record of 8-8, average as usual. The Jets finished 10-6, falling just short of the playoffs. Let's break down the game.

It was a defensive battle for most of the early going, but eventually Buffalo broke through and put up a 13-0 lead. The Jets retaliated with a TD of their own, but went into halftime trailing 16-7. The Jets attempted a comeback in the 4th quarter, but Fitzpatrick showed who we really was, and destroyed the Jets chances with 3 late picks.

The offense had a quiet day, putting up only 295 yards of offense, but they scored 22 points. Both QB's had a weak day, each of them putting up below 200 yards. The rushing game for Buffalo wasn't too friendly either. The rushing game put up just 113 yards. Perhaps the most impressive stat for Buffalo was that they dominated the time of possession, maintaining possession of the ball for 39 minutes of the game. It was an overall ugly day, but there were some key contributors for Buffalo's O.

One of these key performers was QB Tyrod Taylor. In his last game of his 1st starting season, he put on quite a show on the ground. He rushed 10 times for 51 yards and a great touchdown run back in the 1st quarter. His passing game wasn't spectacular as he went 18/28, 182 yards, with 0 TD's or INTs. As usual though, he had a big impact on this game, and it'll be very exciting to see what he does going forward.

Sammy Watkins went crazy on Sunday, and he even made a purchase of property on Revis island. He torched the pro bowl CB for 11 receptions and 136 yards. Watkins, when healthy and when getting steady targets, is an absolute monster. The chemistry between him and Tyrod has only grown stronger since Sammy has been healthy, and that chemistry will carry over to next season.

The defense came through when they needed to, holding the Jets to just 300 yards. They got to Fitzpatrick, sacking him twice as well. Fitzpatrick also met the Bills secondary, as he tossed up 3 late picks, sealing the game for the playoff hopeful Jets. The Bills defense came into this game banged up, missing key stars such as Stephon Gilmore and Nigel Bradham. Seeing them play like they did despite all the injuries may show that the team is finally gelling into Rex's scheme. This defense disappointed nearly all year, but may show signs of improvement going forward, especially with the last few outings they've had.

The season finished up 8-8, and it was a disappointing year plagued by penalties and injuries. They seemed to have taken a step back from last year's 9-7 team, but the offense has gotten better, as they excelled in the rushing game, placing 1st in the NFL as a rushing unit. Tyrod played a huge part in getting them 1st in rushing, and although he's made a lot of plays, he still needs work as a passer. Buffalo has made some improvements, but Whaley and company have a lot of work cut out for them. Thanks for reading. I apologize for my absence as of late, and as always, Let's go Buffalo!

Sources:
Stats: http://espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=400791603
Image #1: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Image #2: T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Bills Vs. Cowboys Game Breakdown

The Bills playoff hopes are dead, but they still have games to play. They finished up their 2nd last game of the 2015 campaign by taking out the beaten up, 4-11 Cowboys. The game was quiet from both sides, as both teams failed to move the ball effectively throughout the game, for the most part. Both teams came into Sunday extremely banged up, and both teams left a little more banged up. Buffalo was without several key starters, including Shady McCoy, Charles Clay, Ronald Darby, Kyle Williams, Aaron Williams, Stephon Gilmore, and Nigel Bradham. Meanwhile, the Cowboys miserable season carried on without Dez Bryant or Tony Romo. The Bills took this quiet showdown by a score of 16-6 and set themselves up with a chance to finish with another .500 season at 8-8. They're going to finish 3rd in the AFC East. Let's break down the game.

Offense:
Buffalo was only able to put up 408 yards of total offense today, but they absolutely tore it up on the ground. They gashed the Dallas defense for 236 yards. Buffalo had 3 rushers with 50+ yards on the day. The offense started off slow though, putting up only 9 points through the first 3 and a half quarters. The largest play of the day came from a huge 50 yard rush from a breakout game by the Bills' recent acquisition, Mike Gillislee. Other key rushers were QB Tyrod Taylor and RB Karlos Williams.

Tyrod Taylor was nearly invisible in the passing game on Sunday, as he finished his day with a stat line of 13/18, 172 yds, 0 TD's and 1 INT. He didn't have to show up though through the air, as his ground support was excellent, in addition to his own plays he made with his legs. Tyrod scampered for 67 yards on 14 attempts. He did what he had to do on Sunday, and it paid off.

Karlos Williams and Mike Gillislee tore it up on the ground, as they combined for 169 yards on the ground. Gillislee lead the way though, as he had a breakout performance, putting up 93 yards on just 9 carries, and a TD on a 50 yard run late in the 4th to seal the game for Buffalo. Karlos added his 76 yards on 17 carries and he opened the scoring for Buffalo with his TD in the 1st quarter.

The receivers were overall quiet for Buffalo, but Sammy came through with a couple big plays, grabbing 5 balls for 84 yards. As usual, he did make his presence known.

Defense:
The defense was extremely banged up, and it showed as they gave up some big plays throughout the game. Overall though, they gave up just 6 points and only 307 yards of total offense. They had an easier day than was expected all year though, as top offensive threats Tony Romo and Dez Bryant did not suit up. The defense needs more depth and needs to adapt to this new scheme still, all of which will be addressed in the offseason.

Overall, this game wasn't the prettiest game to watch. Both teams were playing for nothing, and both teams had many key starters out. Still though, it's a win for Buffalo. The Bills go into next Sunday's game against the New York Jets, hoping to spoil the Jets, Ryan Fitzpatrick's and Chan Gailey's playoff hopes. It will be big game for Buffalo, as big as a meaningless game with no playoff implications for them can be. They will hope to play spoiler. Injuries have riddled this Bills team all season, and Lesean McCoy, along with Charles Clay will be missing against the Jets. It will be an interesting game anyway. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

Sources:
Stats: http://espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=400791535
Image #1: http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/16/files/2015/12/karlos-williams-nfl-miami-dolphins-buffalo-bills-850x560.jpg
Image #2: http://a4.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2016%2F1227%2Fr39372_1296x729_16-9.jpg

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