Rex Ryan Comments on Patriots QB Situation, Week 4 Matchup

Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan is ready to blitz the New England Patriots in their Week 4 AFC East showdown on Oct. 2. He’s also happy those blitzes won’t be directed at future Hall of Famer Tom Brady.

Ryan discussed the approaching game on Sunday, per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com: “I can sit back and say I don’t care who plays quarterback, because [Brady] ain’t. I don’t care who plays quarterback…If [Bill] Belichick’s playing quarterback, we’re coming after him, I promise you that.”

Rodak noted Jimmy Garoppolo (shoulder) and Jacoby Brissett (thumb) are each dealing with injuries, and the Patriots haven’t formally announced who will start under center. New England is 3-0 without the suspended Brady, but it will also face a formidable challenge if its signal-callers aren’t healthy for a Buffalo defense that looked daunting during Sunday’s 33-18 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

The Bills sacked Carson Palmer five times, per ESPN.com, and the pressure forced other mistakes as well. Palmer threw four interceptions and never appeared comfortable in the pocket.

The Patriots may want to unleash a strong rushing attack if Sunday was any indication. Arizona’s David Johnson tallied 83 yards and two scores on the ground, and New England’s LeGarrette Blount is fresh off 105 rushing yards and two scores against the Houston Texans.

Blount was the focal point in that 27-0 win over Houston, but Brissett notched 103 passing yards, 48 rushing yards and a touchdown run. He effectively managed the game and didn’t turn the ball over as New England unleashed a handful of misdirections and a pounding rushing attack.

Wide receiver Julian Edelman could factor into a similar game plan against Buffalo, especially since he played some quarterback in college at Kent State. However, Ryan may be ready for that given his comments, per Rodak: “I know how difficult it is to defend against a running quarterback. That’s what we have to be ready [for] in case Edelman quarterbacks, right? I have a funny feeling he isn’t going to be Brady back there.”

Maybe not, but New England hasn’t needed Brady back there yet in 2016.

Brissett earned Thursday’s win over the Texans, and Garoppolo has victories over the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins. Garoppolo has a 71.2 completion percentage, 496 passing yards and four touchdowns to no interceptions through two games.

Ryan will have to develop a game plan to slow whichever quarterback eventually assumes starting duties. Considering he was 4-9 against Belichick and the Patriots when he was head coach of the New York Jets, per Cameron McDonough of NESN, and lost both matchups last year with Buffalo, that is easier said than done.

He will likely see Brady in Buffalo’s second game against the Patriots this year, so he doesn’t want to miss what could be his best opportunity to beat his division rival in 2016.