Rex Ryan adamant the New England Patriots will be hard to beat without Tom Brady

Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan has insisted that the New England Patriots will still be a tough side to beat when Tom Brady is suspended.

The quarterback has been handed a four-game ban for his role in the deflategate saga, and will miss their game against the Bills in week two.

Ryan told reporters: "No matter who's there, we're playing the Patriots week two, they're playing us. [Bill] Belichick's going to bring his team in and he's going to have them prepared.

"And I'll promise you, I'm going to have our team prepared, as well. So that's really all I think about it. All the particulars and all that stuff, I really haven't given any thought to it."

A report found that Brady was probably aware that 11 of 12 footballs were under-inflated in the AFC championship game last season.