The Bills fired coach Rex Ryan before the end of his second season after he failed to build Buffalo’s defense into a bully or lead the team to the playoffs.

The Bills announced Ryan’s firing Tuesday, three days after a 34-31 overtime loss to the Dolphins dropped the Bills to 7-8 and eliminated the team from playoff contention. The loss extended the NFL’s longest active playoff drought to 17 seasons.

Assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn takes over as the interim, and is expected to be a candidate to replace Ryan full time. The Bills close the season in a meaningless game on Sunday at the Jets (4-11).

The Bills also fired Ryan’s twin brother, Rob Ryan, from his position as an assistant head coach with the responsibility to oversee defense.

Lynn is a longtime Ryan assistant and was promoted to offensive coordinator after ­Ryan fired Greg Roman following an 0-2 start.

Team owner Terry Pegula reached the decision over the weekend and informed Ryan during the team’s day off Tuesday.

‘‘We mutually agreed that the time to part ways is now,’’ Pegula said in a statement released by the team. ‘‘These decisions are never easy.’’

Pegula then noted his wife, Kim Pegula in saying: ‘‘Kim and I and our entire Bills organization share in the same disappointment and frustration as our fans, but we remain committed to our goal of bringing a championship to Western New York.’’

Ryan was 15-16 in two seasons in Buffalo and is 61-66 overall.

He hasn’t had a winning season since his second with the Jets in 2010, when New York went 11-5 and lost the AFC Championship game for a second consecutive postseason.

Ryan was dismissed a day after he appeared emotionally drained during what became his final news conference.

He called the loss to Miami his most painful as a Bills coach, and the second-most painful in his 20 NFL seasons as a coach or assistant. Ryan also second-guessed some of the decisions he made during the game, including punting from his 41 with a little over four minutes left in overtime. He said he hoped the loss wouldn’t become his defining moment in Buffalo.

Bills to start Manuel

A person familiar with the decision confirmed to the Associated Press that the Bills intend to start backup quarterback EJ Manuel in place of Tyrod Taylor for their season finale at the Jets on Sunday.

Taylor was being benched after going 26 of 39 for a career-best 329 yards in a 34-31 overtime loss to Miami last weekend.

Manuel hasn’t started since a 34-31 loss to Jacksonville on Oct. 25, 2015. Though he went 24 of 42 for a career-best 298 yards passing and two touchdowns, Manuel also committed three turnovers on consecutive possessions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.

Taylor’s future is uncertain. Despite signing a lucrative five-year extension and restructuring the final season of his contract in August. The Bills can opt out of the deal after this season.

There is also a concern the Bills won’t be able to opt out if Taylor sustains a long-term injury.

Manuel is 6-10 as a starter, and completing the final year of his contract since being selected in the first round of the 2013 draft.

Raiders ready

While Derek Carr underwent surgery to repair his broken right leg, the Raiders began preparing for a playoff run without their star quarterback.

Carr had the operation in Los Angeles and reported on his Twitter account that it went well.

‘‘Surgery couldn’t have gone better! Received great news! Already started the recovery process! Thank you for all of your prayers as I heal up!’’ he wrote.

The Raiders have given no timetable for how long Carr will be sidelined, but his brother, David, said Monday on NFL Network, where he is an analyst, that the initial estimates are he will miss six to eight weeks.

In the meantime, Oakland (12-3) will rely on backup Matt McGloin for the postseason run.

‘‘They’re both great guys,’’ backup quarterback Connor Cook said. ‘‘I would just say the only thing is McGloin probably swears a little bit more than Derek. That’s the main difference.’’

The Raiders can clinch the AFC West title and a first-round bye with either a win at Denver on Sunday or a Kansas City loss in San Diego. If Oakland loses and the Chiefs win, the Raiders will open the playoffs at AFC South champion Houston on wild-card weekend.

Hackenberg waits

Rather than give Christian Hackenberg a late-season look in a game that means nothing in the standings for the 4-11 Jets, coach Todd Bowles is giving Ryan Fitzpatrick one final turn under center Sunday against the Bills. ‘‘He was the backup,’’ Bowles said of Fitzpatrick, ‘‘so now, he’s the starter.’’ Fitzpatrick steps in for Bryce Petty, who was placed on injured reserve on Monday with a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Petty was injured last Saturday against New England while tackling Malcolm Butler following a second-quarter turnover . . . The Browns waived guard Jonathan Cooper, a former first-round pick by Arizona who had been acquired on waivers from the Patriots in October. The Browns made the move in advance of guard Alvin Bailey returning from a two-game NFL suspension. Bailey was suspended for violating the league’s personal-conduct policy after he was arrested on drunken driving charges.

Cooper played in five games for Cleveland, starting the past three as the offensive line had been ransacked by injuries. Starting guards Joel Bitonio and John Greco both sustained season-ending foot injuries.

The Cardinals selected Cooper with the No. 7 overall pick in 2013. The former North Carolina standout broke his leg before the start of his rookie season and was placed on injured reserve.

He made 11 starts over three seasons before the Cardinals traded him to the Patriots in March.

Titans promote Tanney

The Titans placed quarterback Marcus Mariota on injured reserve and promoted quarterback Alex Tanney from the practice squad.

Mariota broke his right fibula in Saturday’s 38-17 loss to Jacksonville, and Mariota is scheduled for surgery Wednesday in Charlotte. Titans coach Mike Mularkey said Mariota will need four to five months to recover from his second season-ending injury.

Tanney, who made his regular-season debut with the Titans in the 2015 season finale at Indianapolis, will back up Matt Cassel on Sunday against Houston (9-6) in the regular-season finale.

Tanney also has been on the practice squad or active rosters with Buffalo, Indianapolis, Dallas, Kansas City, Cleveland, and Tampa Bay.