Rex Ryan Blames ‘Absolutely Absurd’ Coaching For Patriots’ Loss To Bills
'Coaching let that team down'
The New England Patriots fumbled a chance to clinch the AFC East when losing to the Buffalo Bills last weekend. Rex Ryan blamed Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels for the Week 15 letdown.
Up 21-0, New England’s offense stumbled in the second half of a 35-31 loss. Meanwhile, Josh Allen steered five straight touchdown drives at Gillette Stadium.
Ryan, who faced the Patriots often as a former Bills and New York Jets head coach, pointed the finger at New England’s head coach and offensive coordinator on ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown.”
“I’ve been on Vrabel as like, ‘This is the Coach of the Year.’ Josh McDaniels, phenomenal job of coaching,” Ryan said. “Coaching let that team down last week. One-hundred percent let it down.”
Ryan took issue with New England’s late play-calling distribution. Aside from TreVeyon Henderson’s 65-yard rushing touchdown, the offense couldn’t establish any rhythm in four other offensive possessions that went 15 yards in 17 plays.
New England dominated the ground game early and finished with 246 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Yet penalties and sacks put the Patriots in less favorable running situations as the Bills mounted their comeback.
“Three rushing attempts in the second half when you’re up by 20-something-nothing, and he had three rushing attempts. That’s absolutely absurd,” Ryan declared. “Josh McDaniels knows better. So does Vrabel. They got to be kicking themselves after giving this thing away.”
The Patriots can bounce back against another one of Ryan’s former teams when they play the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night. Baltimore’s ex-defensive coordinator is worried about how New England will handle the matchup without Milton Williams and Robert Spillane III.
“They haven’t been worth a darn at stopping the run since he’s left,” Ryan said of Williams. “And now Spillane’s out, so I expect a ton of Derrick Henry.”
