The former Ravens star middle linebacker argued that he’d much rather have Bills coach Rex Ryan as his coach than Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
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That’s not the type of consistent production or role the Bills envisioned in 2014, when they traded a 2015 first-round pick to Cleveland to move up five spots in the draft and select Watkins fourth overall.
The New England Patriots fought off a feisty Buffalo Bills team that refused to concede this game to the defending Super Bowl XLIX Champs. The Patriots offense didn’t suffer because of injuries at skill positions, or because of the offensive line play, or because of Rex Ryan’s game plan, or because of Tom Brady’s frustration with the offensive line play (and probably the injuries at the skill positions). And the coach ruled out starting right guard John Miller (high left ankle sprain) and backup receiver Marcus Easley (concussion). He remained in the game after apparently injuring his shoulder late.
“It seems that every week there’s another guy that we’re leaning on”, said special teamer Matthew Slater, who is listed on the roster as a receiver but has caught only one pass in eight seasons. I think that was based on frustration, not being healthy and things.
If Buffalo is going to snap a 15-year postseason drought, they’ll need to win on the road in Kansas City on Sunday and against Houston when the Texans travel to Ralph Wilson Stadium on December 6.
Brady refused to blame the Patriots’ mounting injury list for a shaky offensive performance. “So, in his judgment, he deemed that the runner gave himself up in the field of play voluntarily, which does put him down by contact in the field, so he wound [the clock]”.
Everybody wants to get on Brady for yelling at his teammates to motivate them on the sidelines and for his extremely emotional responses on the field, both good and bad. He kept adjusting his shoulder pads and occasionally held up his right hand to clutch his collar. After McCoy had blown by Freeny coming out of the backfield at the end of the first half, Taylor had him lined up for an easy touchdown pass. But McCourty flew over from the free safety position and knocked the ball away forcing a long field goal attempt. Taylor however, began flexing his right arm once again.
Tyrod Taylor struggled in the pocket, over-throwing and under-throwing receivers and did not throw for a touchdown.
“I’m now making the same face Steve Young made in response and you should be too”. “Shoot, I’m ready to go.’ And that’s why he stayed in there”.
Bills quarterbackTyrod Taylor, who missed on several deep balls in the game, was impressive under pressure and finished 20 of 36 for 233 yards. And if not for some self-inflicted wounds and some timely Brady throws, the Bills may have damn well pulled it off. They battered Brady, plain and simple. Brady looked ordinary for nearly the entire first half. Wasteful burning of timeouts and not having 11 players on the field to start a drive on defense is inexcusable. But they were up 10-3 at the time, and ended up winning 20-13.
Fumbled punts didn’t help either. Then they blew the call out of guilt. It said that the live play was halted when an inadvertent whistle went off during the third quarter.
Bills general manager Doug Whaley refused to use the officials as an excuse.
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“We have a lot of unusual terms”, Brady said.
