Injuries are the Real Issue With the Bills

Sure, the penalties are an issue. The Bills 10.3 penalties/game are second in the NFL, behind only the Bucs.

The Bills are 3-4 and are mired in an AFC Wild Card race. They haven't hit expectations but it's not as simple as "they're awful."

Sorry, cynical fans, it's also not as easy as "Seeeeeee, Rex Ryan is awful too!"

It's not Rex's fault. The answer to the Bills mediocrity is as simple as this: Injuries.

Yesterday, the Bills lost to the Jaguars in London, 34-31. And you know the lineup they ran out there?

The Bills were playing with E.J. Manuel at quarterback, NOT starter Tyrod Taylor.

Buffalo was playing without Sammy Watkins OR Percy Harvin, its top two wide receivers.

They've missed LeSean McCoy, their best running back this season. They've been without nearly all of his backups too.

Look at what injuries have done to the Dallas Cowboys. What teams overcome injuries like that?

The answer? Nobody.