2008 Season Week 1

With the Buffalo Bills leading the Seattle Seahawks by 10 points in the
third quarter of yesterday's NFL regular season kick-off at Ralph Wilson
Stadium, Bills defensive end Ryan Denney reported eligible on a fourth
down play with the Bills within easy field goal range for kicker Rian
Lindell. He then moved toward the sidelines but not off the field. The
ball was snapped to holder Brian Moorman who stood up and lofted an easy
pass to a wide open Denney who walked into the end zone to give Buffalo a
17 point lead on their way to a 34-10 rout of the 'hawks.

This dominating opening day performance was a welcome sight for Bills fans
who had seen their team lose two of its past three opening games at home
on the final play of the game. Does this bode well for the rest of the
season? Recent history indicates that it does not. The opening game of the
2003 season saw the Bills clobber the Patriots 31-0 but by January,
Buffalo had finished well out of the playoffs at 6-10 and the Patriots
were Super Bowl winners. The 2005 season began with an over-powering
defensive performance against the inept Houston Texans but Buffalo only
won 4 more times that season.

History, although interesting, is probably irrelevant - especially in
light of the team's performance in all three aspects of the game and
against a quality opponent like Seattle. The defence looked strong. The
offence, with Jason Peters out of the line-up but due to play next week,
ran and passed effectively and protected the ball. Buffalo's special teams
may be the best in the league with the electrifying Roscoe Parrish
returning punts and coach Bobby April devising trick plays which seem to
work much more often than not. All indications are that the 2008 Bills are
a talented, motivated and well coached team which should be able to make
it to the post-season for the first time since the Music City Miracle.

Weeks 3,4 and 5 of this season provide good opportunities for wins as the
Bills host Oakland before travelling to St. Louis and Arizona. Next week,
however, presents one of the toughest challenges on the schedule as
Buffalo visits steamy Jacksonville. The Jaguars, who lost yesterday at
Tennessee, will be motivated to win their home opener and avoid starting
0-2. If the Bills can get a win in this game, they will certainly be in
very good shape going into the bye week in week 6.