What the Bills are saying about the Patriots this week
Rex Ryan is treating this second matchup between the teams with utmost importance.
The Patriots head to Buffalo this weekend, looking for revenge against a Bills team that got the best of them in New England. Last time around was also notable for the pregame scuffle that apparently arose when Jacoby Brissett walked through the Bills’ pregame drills. The game will be very different this time around, with Tom Brady and Rob Ninkovich both playing for the Patriots while the Bills will have defensive tackle Marcell Dareus and defensive end Shaq Lawson to bolster their already formidable pass rush.
Head coach Rex Ryan
- On the Patriots: “I don’t know how much more important it could be than this one.”
- On the defense: “I mean they’re like fourth in the league in points allowed. So that’s the most important stat there is. They play great team defense. They’re very multiple in what they do, and you’re not surprised by that with a Bill Belichick team.
- On Tom Brady: “I mean he he’s played in the league for 17 years, 18 years, something like that. You know obviously he puts the work in and everything else and it’s just a real credit to him. Like I keep thinking if I stay in this conference long enough, that maybe that dude will retire but I don’t see that happening anytime soon.”
- On the pregame scuffle last time: “It had nothing to do with our team that night. Absolutely nothing. You know, those things happen every now and then but it was no big deal. It did absolutely nothing for us… I mean if people want to show how tough they are, put the boxing gloves on and get in the ring or something. That might be more impressive. I don’t want Gronk by the way.”
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor
- On Tom Brady: “Definitely a big piece of their puzzle. The type of player he is, he’s one of the greatest – if not the greatest – quarterback to play the game. The more that you can keep the ball out of his hands, the better off you are as a team. Like I said, that boils down to us. Executing, converting on third downs and staying ahead of your checks.”
- On Rob Ninkovich: “His leadership shows up on the field. What type of player he is, what he brings to the table. But as far as getting everybody lined up and communication, he’s definitely one of the guys that they look to as the quarterback of the defense… He’s a smart player. He’s definitely always in the right place at the right time. He does a good job of spying as well… [H]e gets guys into the right place on the field and limits miscommunication.”
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore
- On the Patriots: “It’s gonna be a very emotional game. This game mean a lot. We got to get this win to get to where we wanna go. So this is probably one of the biggest games of the season. We know their guys like to try to get under your skin and make you react a certain way.”
- On the pregame scuffle last time: “We’re not gonna let nobody push us around.”
Cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman
- On Tom Brady: “What gives me motivation is playing against Tom Brady, and beating him. And sweeping him. In 20 years, that ain’t happened. That’s what I’m trying to do. That’s what gets me fired up. That’s what motivates me right now: the fact that I got an opportunity to beat Tom Brady twice in one season, and lighten up my chances of getting to the playoffs.”
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