FOXBORO -- When reminded of his recent record of the Patriots during a conference call with members of the New England media, Rex Ryan did not react all too kindly.
Including the Bills loss to the Patriots in Week 2, Ryan's teams have lost eight of their last nine matchups with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Does that gnaw at him, considering how often he references the Patriots during press conferences, he was asked?
"The only reason I talk about them is that they're the No. 1 team in our division," Ryan said. "That's where we want to be. I know you guys say I'm obsessed with them and all that but you guys are obsessed with them, not me. I want to beat them. But you're the ones who talk about them every single day.
"We prepare, I'll tell you this, we prepare for them the same way we prepare for every team that we face. Do we want to beat them? Absolutely. Do I want to beat them more than any team we face? Yeah because they're the standard. They've won. They're the ones who've won the division. To me, that's why.
"But do I obsess about them and all that? You guys write about that I've lost seven of eight so why are you even talking to me? I obviously have no clue how to attack them or defend them so you guys should talk to someone else who has a better record than I do against them."
At that point, Ryan shut down. Asked about his quarterback, Tyrod Taylor, and how he's improved, Ryan had little to say.
"You guys are the experts," Ryan quipped. "You'll figure it out. I know he threw three interceptions last time we played them. We'll see. You guys will pick out the positives."
New England Patriots
But has Taylor been more accurate since the first meeting between these two teams?
"I don't know," Ryan said. "You need to do a little more of your homework then to find out. I'm not gonna answer your question. It's pretty obvious you guys have been pretty decent, but you guys will figure it out."
It was clear to those on both ends of the line that things had become pretty awkward pretty quickly. To break the stalemate, our Patriots Inside Tom E. Curran asked Ryan why he was miffed.
"I just like the way you guys spin everything," Ryan shot back. "You put everything I say, you take whatever it is . . . Hey you guys put it out there the way you want to. I understand it. You guys that have covered this matchup for years and years, we got no business being on the same field. That's what you said. I've lost seven of eight against them. So don't talk to me. I'm sitting back here, I'll answer your question whatever, but I don't know why you even bother."
Less than a minute later, the call was over.