Opponent Profile: Patriots Face Old Foe In Rex Ryan
By Gregory Hunt
The New England Patriots will meet an old foe in a new location when they face head coach Rex Ryan and his Buffalo Bills Sunday afternoon at Ralph Wilson Field. Before taking the Bills job, Ryan spent the past six seasons coaching the New York Jets, where he accumulated a 4-9 record against the Patriots, including a 28-21 playoff win at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011. Ryan is the Bills' eighth head coach since New England head coach Bill Belichick took over the Patriots in 2000.
Season Record
The 2015 Bills hold a 1-0 record after a 27-14 win over the Indianapolis Colts at home in Week 1. All four teams in the AFC East won in Week 1, putting the Bills in a four-way tie for first place with the Patriots, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets. The Bills trail the all-time regular season series against the Patriots 42-66-1.
This rivalry dates back to 1960, when both franchises were founding members of the American Football League. In their only postseason meeting, the Patriots advanced to the 1963 AFL Championship Game with a 26-8 win at Buffalo’s War Memorial Stadium. With a 17-9 win over the Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Week 17 last season, the Bills achieved only their fourth victory over New England in 30 tries since start of the Belichick era.
Bills on Offense
After spending the first four years of his career as Joe Flacco's backup on the Baltimore Ravens, quarterback Tyrod Taylor made the first start of his career in Week 1 and played respectably against the Colts. He attempted only 19 passes, but he completed 14 of them for 195 yards and one touchdown. He suffered no sacks, and he also ran for 41 yards.
However, Ryan's "ground and pound" coaching philosophy means that his teams will always fight to first establish the running game. Thanks to the combination of former Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy and rookie running back Karlos Williams, the Bills gained 147 yards rushing on 36 carries against the Colts.
Bills on Defense
The Bills were ranked 29th in the NFL in total defense last season, but in Week 1 against a Colts team led by an elite quarterback in Andrew Luck, the Bills has two sacks and two interceptions while holding Indianapolis to 14 points. Buffalo also did a solid job against the running game, keeping Indianapolis to an average of only 3.8 yards per rush.
Ryan-coached teams are known for having particularly aggressive defenses, but it was a bit of a surprise for Buffalo's unit to have so much success so soon, particularly against a quality offense. But to be fair, Ryan did inherit a talented fronted seven that led the NFL in sacks last season with 54.
Bills Players to Watch
At age 30, veteran defensive end Mario Williams is still one of the most-feared pass rushers in the league. The three-time Pro Bowl starter had 14.5 sacks last season, bringing his career total to 91. “He’s been blessed to have some unique genes,” says Bills defensive line coach Karl Dunbar. "There’s things you hear about him, but he comes to work, works hard, and that’s what I love about him."
McCoy is Buffalo's biggest threat on offense, not only in the running game, but also in the passing game. In addition to rushing for 41 yards against the Colts, he gained an additional 46 yards on three catches. McCoy's performance came despite concerns he might be hampered by a hamstring injury he suffered during practice on August 18.
Outlook
Although the Patriots have had success against Ryan in recent years, beating a Ryan-coached team is never an easy task. He has a unique way of motivating his players, so expect Buffalo to play this game with a chip on its shoulder. The key to this game will be New England's ability to pick up Buffalo's aggressive blitz packages. Factor in a loud and hostile crowd at Ralph Wilson Stadium and this game looks like a toss-up.
Gregory Hunt is a Boston native and a life-long fan of the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics. He's also particularly fond of lacrosse, IndyCar racing and women's college basketball. He currently works for Examiner.com where he serves as the Senior Manager of Content and Media Access. He also writes for Examiner.com as the New England Patriots Examiner. His work can be found on Examiner.com.