Taylor opens 2nd season as Bills starter facing former team

They knew what they had in Tyrod, they wanted to keep him. “That’s what I expect from our guys, and I think that’s what everybody else expects, too”. “I don’t think there is any doubt about that”.

In his first season as a starter, Taylor responded by throwing 20 touchdowns and six interceptions for a 99.4 rating.

According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, the Ravens are 3-point home favorites versus the Bills, while the over/under now sits at 44.5 points. And that move has paid off in spades for Buffalo.

Sometimes it’s unfair to fire a head coach so early in his tenure, but Ryan faces that possibility if the Bills underwhelm again.

“I spent 10 years there”.

Ryan also shuffled his defensive staff by hiring twin brother, Rob (assistant head coach/defense), John Blake (defensive line) and former National Football League star safety Ed Reed (assistant defensive backs). The under is 13-4 in the Bills’ last 17 season-openers as well. “When I left, me and Coach Harbaugh had the opportunity to talk, as well as with Joe. Those two guys, I’m sure have done a great job studying and things, but it’s not easy, that’s for sure”.

McCoy was traded, much to his angry surprise, to Buffalo whereas Taylor’s exit from Baltimore was his own choice.

The reason it seems that they gave up fewer yards than most teams but more points was the inability of their defense to generate turnovers.

Clearly, Ryan made his coaching bones in Baltimore.

At this point, Reed is focused on his coaching career, which begins in earnest with the Bills’ Week 1 game against the Ravens, which is on Reed’s birthday.

It was a preseason filled with injury news and the Bills go into the season with their top two draft picks sidelined. “It’s special and a lot of friends are back there and still some players on that team that I really respect”. Williams has been out since August 11, when he was hurt during a heavy collision with receiver Dez Lewis at training camp. “I felt like there was no question in my mind that he was going to be a starter”. I won’t play I guess conservative if you want to put it. Right guard John Miller struggled a bit as a rookie and the right tackle spot is a contest between Seantrel Henderson, fresh from a bout with Crohn’s disease, and veteran Jordan Mills.

It’s been nearly three years since former All-Pro safety and current Buffalo Bills defensive backs coach Ed Reed last played in the NFL, but he believes he could still produce some solid seasons in the league.

Why not? Buffalo had arguably the best defensive line in football with Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, Marcel Dareus and Jerry Hughes, and a legitimate No. 1 cornerback with Stephon Gilmore – something that was crucial to Ryan’s success in NY with Darelle Revis.

And since he’s been an offensive coordinator in the NFL, Greg Roman has a flawless 5-0 record in the first game of the year. “He was a victor past year”.

One of Sunday’s big storylines will be a story all season for the 2016 Bills – can they recover their defensive dominance? Where Rex Ryan hopes to make the most strides is on defense, despite having injuries affect rookie linebacker Reggie Ragland and pass-rusher Shaq Lawson. There’s hope this was an aberration because in Ryan’s 11 National Football League seasons as a coordinator or head coach, his defenses have ranked in the top eight nine times and have been No. 1 twice.

The Bills have shaken up the defensive coaching staff and added some important pieces on that side of the ball. “… By the way, every player we have has got a left leg injury right now”.