Ryan had urged the hometown fans to make some noise when the Colts offense was on the field, but his defense did all the talking, limiting the high-powered Indy offense to just 304 yards. The Bills forced three turnovers and sacked Colts quarterback Andrew Luck twice in what was an outstanding effort from a group that ranked fourth in the NFL in total defense last year.
Taylor made the most of his first start with Buffalo, completing 14 of 19 passes for 195 yards and one touchdown, but it was his poise and ability to escape the rush that proved the difference in the game. The former Baltimore Ravens backup also added 41 yards on the ground and showed the team and its fans that Ryan made the right choice in making him the starter for the opener.
The offensive line also did a terrific job on Sunday as the team rushed for 147 yards, but new starting running back LeSean McCoy wasn’t his normal explosive self with just 41 yards on 17 carries. Rookie Karlos Williams made the most of his six carries with 55 yards and a score.
Percy Harvin became Taylor’s favorite target with five receptions for 79 yards and one touchdown, but with just four players making receptions during the game, the offense will need more contributors if they want to be considered real threats in 2015.
The win was a big statement for the Buffalo Bills and they sent a clear message to the rest of the AFC East with the win at home. Next week the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots come to town and with another impressive performance, NFL experts will need to rethink what this team is capable of doing this season.
