The Buffalo Bills are preparing for a heated matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles as the team continues their push for the postseason. Getting past an Eagles team with new-found confidence will certainly not be easy as the Bills need everyone involved. With LeSean McCoy and Sammy Watkins thriving at the right moment, the rise of Charles Clay could be the x-factor.
Clay became one of the richest tight ends in the league inking a five-year, $38 million deal and up until last week as been more of a disappointment than anything. Clay has been up and down with 519 yards on the season which is not close to what the Bills thought they would be getting from the tight end. However, Clay is on the upswing and quickly developing into a nice safety blanket for Tyrod Taylor. Clay told the media that offensive coordinator Greg Roman challenged him to step up and he did.
"I feel like it's been OK," Clay said, via the Buffalo News. "Obviously, I've had plays I wish I could have back. It's never perfect throughout a season, but I feel like I've done some things well. They ask me to block; I feel like I've done those things pretty good at times. You can always get better at something, so I'll always just try to keep working. Whenever you have that kind of money tagged to a person, a lot of people want to see receptions and things like that. I've always been a guy where, whatever they ask me to do, I'm going to try to do it to the best of my ability. "
With Percy Harvin done for the year and Robert Woods struggling with consistency, getting more improved play from Clay is critical for the Bills. He could thrive against the inconsistent Eagles defense in Week 14 while Taylor looks to take advantage of the coverages. However, make no mistake, in this matchup the run game will get all of the attention.
Heading into Week 14, all eyes are on McCoy who is preparing to face Chip Kelly for the first time since getting traded this offseason. McCoy made a lot of comments about Kelly after the move and he stands by all of them as the running back is hoping to put on a show against his former head coach. That does not mean the Bills will abandon the running back tandem of McCoy and Karlos Williams. The rookie running back is healthy after an injury scare and expects to be very active in the matchup against Philadelphia.
"I'm not gonna change anything I said," McCoy said, via 94WIP radio in Philadelphia. "I stand by everything I said before. And I don't have no problems with Chip, no hatred. Nothing at all. Everything I said, I stand by it. I don't take it back. One thing about myself, I would never take back nothing I say. I have my own reasons to feel how I felt."
