The Buffalo Bills' back-to-back wins over the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets might not have meant anything for the Bills' playoff hopes -- they were eliminated after a lopsided loss to the Washington Redskins in Week 15 -- but the pair of victories helped improve the mood around a team that salvaged an 8-8 record from a disappointing season.
That much was evident during Monday's season-ending news conference with coach Rex Ryan and general manager Doug Whaley, who both faced tough questions about the season but would have been the subjects of sharper examination had the Bills continued to stumble over the final two games and finish with a 6-10 or 7-9 record.