Despite no passing game, Cardinals allow Bills to run rampant in road loss
Sep 25, 2016, 6:37 PM
Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy (25) scores a rushing touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
(AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Of all the shocking angles to take away from the Arizona Cardinals’ 33-18 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the success of the Bills running game might be at the top of the list.
It was not going to be a surprise to see the Bills rely on it.
Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor entered the 2016 season passing for under 250 yards in 10 of his 14 appearances in 2015.
Buffalo would also be without their leading wide receiver Sammy Watkins — who was missing the game due to a foot injury — and his backup, Greg Salas, meaning their three lead wideouts would be Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin and Walter Powell. The trio entered the game with a combined seven catches on the year, while Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald had 13 on his own.
As expected, Taylor had a poor performance throwing the ball, amounting to only 119 yards through the air. Despite this, the Bills averaged 6.5 yards per carry and had 208 yards on the ground.
Buffalo continued to keep Arizona guessing, running misdirections and options with Taylor and running back LeSean McCoy, two of the most agile players at their respective positions.
“Cause they’re (so) fast, so the idea of the game plan was more a little misdirection, a little I-formation, a little option, so yeah,” McCoy said. “Option out of the pistol … I knew we would run the ball today. I didn’t know if we would run this well.”
McCoy also attributed the pace the Bills set for the offense, which was clear on his first touchdown.
“Yeah, oh no, it’s tempo. I knew we would run the ball well because (new offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn is) big on that,” the running back said. “The urgency to get in and out of the huddle. Get up on the ball. There were some times where we would snap the ball when they were just kind of lining up and that helps out.
“I don’t know if you noticed, but we ran some quick two-minute type of plays early in the game, so there is a lot of different things to prepare for.”
Taylor said a few “odd-ball formations” took pressure off the Bills’ defense.
“They can’t show their hand and it’s easy,” he said.
Arizona safety Tyrann Mathieu blamed execution more than strategy for his team’s defensive issues.
“At the end of the day, it’s like I tell my defense, it doesn’t matter what call we get, it’s our job to go out there and perform that call, to execute that call,” Mathieu said.
Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson said it’s something the defense takes personally when they allow the opposition to run the ball.
“Oh yeah,” Jefferson said. “That’s more your manhood and attacking you, run the ball at us; that’s kind of a challenge there and we didn’t step up to the challenge today.”
Arizona will need to figure out what went wrong quickly. The Los Angeles Rams and their star running back Todd Gurley return to University of Phoenix Stadium next week, where last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year ran for 146 yards in his second career game.
