Rex Ryan

Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan leaves the podium at the conclusion of the post-game press conference after losing to the Washington on Sunday in Landover, Md.

(Mark Tenally | The Associated Press)

Landover, Md. — Rex Ryan's first season as head coach of the Buffalo Bills is beginning to spiral out of control.

After losing 35-25 to Washington at FedEx Field on Sunday, the Bills dropped to 6-8 and were eliminated from playoff contention. Before the game, reports from NFL Network and CBS suggested there was a rift between general manager Doug Whaley and some of the coaches on Ryan's staff. Ryan disputed that after the game.

"That's the one thing they're dead wrong on," Ryan said. "So there's no truth to that. I can promise you that."

Despite shooting down those reports, Ryan recognizes there could be changes coming to One Bills Drive.

"If we don't get better, the reality of it is this: This is professional," Ryan said. "This is the National Football League, and unless we get a heck of a lot better, there's going to be changes. That's what I told them: There's going to be drastic changes."

Asked what specifically needs to change, Ryan didn't elaborate.

"We'll see," Ryan said. "There's always changes. When you have a season like this, then you have to consider changes. I don think there's any doubt about that.

"This is the NFL. It happens. Everybody's evaluated in this league. You can read between the lines."

Ryan isn't likely going anywhere unless this team really bottoms out. He has four years left on his contract and is due $27.5 million over that span. That's a lot of money for the Pegulas to throw away after one season. Ryan does, however, expect to face questions from ownership.

"I think any time you don't reach your expectations or whatever, you got to look deep into why things happen," Ryan said. "It's easy to point to injuries. A lot of teams go through it. Our team's been ... I mean, it's ridiculous the amount of injuries we've had. Is that a contributing factor? Of course, and it would be ridiculous if you don't think it is. However, we've got to look at other things as well, and everything has to be looked at. We have just two games to prove that we belong here. That's every coach, every player, everybody and that's just the reality of this business."

Ryan knows fans are disappointed. He promised the playoffs, and instead the Bills will miss the postseason for a 16th straight year.

"I've personally been responsible for one of those, so I get it," Ryan said. "I know we'll go. There's a nucleus here. There's an excellent group here. Did it go according to plan? No, not this year. I thought in my heart of hearts that we would be good enough ... to make a playoff run. I did. I totally believed that. Again, there's contributing factors and things like that. We get it. I certainly get it; I've been in this game a long time. I understand the fans' frustrations, there's no question and ... you know, shoot, I feel personally responsible, and like I said, I don't want to let our fans down and I don't. I mean, more than anything, and it just pains me that we couldn't deliver this year."

So the Bills will play out the final two games of their schedule and look toward what should be another interesting offseason at One Bills Drive. Ryan is still promising the playoffs. Does he think he has something to prove to ownership?

"Well, no. Well, I guess, yes," Ryan said. "Everyone has to. I know one thing: I'm going to fight. They will see that and everyone will. They know. Everyone should feel the same way I do. I have something to prove these two weeks. That's just the way I approach it. I think if you are a competitor, especially if we want this organization to compete, then you will step up and show what you are made of."