The past three weeks Terrence McGee was still wearing a wrap on his left knee to support the joint coming off an MCL injury suffered back in Week 4. But last Sunday looking across the field at Randy Moss prior to Buffalo's Week 10 game against New England, McGee made a significant decision.
"Before the game I had a wrap on my leg and I'm looking across the field at Randy and I'm thinking, 'I can't have any kind of restrictions,'" said McGee. "So I took the wrap off to see how it felt and if it would hold up."
Assigned to cover Moss the entire game, McGee served notice that he's all the way back, as he held the Pro Bowl wideout to a pedestrian five receptions for 53 yards.
"The biggest thing with Randy is he's got that long stride and speed and he gets on you real quick," said McGee. "So if you make one wrong step he's gone. I just didn't want to give up a big play with something deep. So I was pleased he didn't have any big 40 or 50-yard play."
McGee had a pair of pass breakups in the game. One of those came against Moss with the other coming on a big 3rd-and-9 play at the Bills 14-yard line. McGee reached in front of Patriots tight end Ben Watson to break up the pass forcing New England to settle for a field goal off of Buffalo's first turnover in the game.
More impressive was McGee's sure tackling. Five of his six tackles came against Moss, who did not record a single yard gained after any of his five catches. Moss' longest reception of the day went for just 19 yards.
"Terrence did a great job covering Randy," said safety Bryan Scott. "That was his big assignment going into the game. We matched up our corners against Moss and Welker and Terrence really stepped up. You can't ask any more of him."
Effectively taking away top receivers like that is a welcome sight for Buffalo's defense knowing it affords defensive coordinator Perry Fewell more options.
"For the play calling it really opens up the defense because we're taking this guy out of the game with Terrence and we're playing 10 on 10," said Scott. "Terrence did a great job with it."
Just a couple of weeks removed from being less than 100 percent and giving up 175 receiving yards to Miami's Ted Ginn, McGee is pleased his return to full health is allowing him to make the kind of plays he's used to making for the Bills.
"I definitely feel more comfortable after that (game) especially after taking the wrap off," said McGee. "I was kind of hesitant about it, but after coming through the game and it feeling good, I feel comfortable about moving on."
And that is welcome news for a secondary that has lost Ashton Youboty for the season and Donte Whitner for an indefinite period of time with a separated shoulder.
"He really was playing at a high level before the injury and he's come back," said head coach Dick Jauron of McGee. "He's come back and been better every week since he's been back in the lineup. I have a lot of confidence in Terrence McGee I think he's a terrific football player."
"We know what Terrence is capable of doing," said Scott. "He's not just a cover guy, he tackles well. Anything you ask of Terrence he does. I think he's one of the most underrated corners out there."
