Turns out all the Buffalo Bills needed was a trip to Kansas City to face the hapless Chiefs who have lost 19 or their past 20 games. Despite giving up over 460 yards yesterday, the Bills managed to secure 5 takeaways on their way to a 54 point explosion. Needless to say, the Chiefs have some issues on defence.
Trent Edwards did not continue his rapid downward spiral and was a relatively efficient 20 of 28 with 2 touchdown passes and he earned another 2 himself on the ground. The tandem of Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson was very effective again and Lee Evans was back from the wilderness with 5 catches for over 100 yards. Josh Reed returned after a lengthy absence with a touchdown pass.
How good can Leodis McKelvin be? Well, he's scored 2 return touchdowns in 2 consecutive games and he looked comfortable playing the corner as well. Speaking of Corner, he looked good too but maybe everyone looks against the Chiefs.
So, here we are 11 games into the season and one game over .500 with the 49ers coming to Buffalo next. The Jets look like the best team in the AFC East right now but that can all change. It looks like the Bills will have to "run the table" to make the playoffs as the Colts and the Steelers are coming on strong. There will almost certanly be a 10-6 team left out again this year. Running the table would put thme at 11-5 and 3-3 in the division which could win the division if the Jets and Pats falter (beyond losing once each to the Bills). So, it's tough and they might regret the missed field goal against Cleveland if they do end up at 10-6. 9-7 is more likely.
The Bills have their Toronto game on Dec 7th against Miami. I'm looking forward to the 5 minute walk rather than the 3 hour drive but something tells me we are doing the Dolphins a favour by playing this game indoors. We'll see. So, both teams should be 7-5 going into that game as the Dolphins visit St. Louis this week.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
2008 Season Week 10
Didn't see any of the game. Good thing, too.
If they don't beat Cleveland at home next Monday, they are done, if they aren't already.
If they don't beat Cleveland at home next Monday, they are done, if they aren't already.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
2008 Season Week 9
After Marshawn Lynch gained 40+ yards on an early first quarter screen pass which found him as wide open as an NFL defence will ever allow, he was overcome by nausea and returned only in a limited role in the second half of yesterday's AFC East battle between the Bills and the Jets at a sun drenched RWS. For the 71,000+ on hand, the weather was much more enjoyable than the home team's effort and, although nauseating is too strong a word, the Bills game plan and execution was uninspired and sloppy. Losses in 3 of their last 4 games, including 2 straight division contests have now brought them to the half way point of the season and clearly to a crossroads.
The teams traded interceptions returned for touchdowns - the Jets in the first quarter and Buffalo's midway in the 4th - but the Bills lost the turnover battle and the interior battles on both sides of the ball. The Jets moved effectively with a short passing game and the running of veteran Thomas Jones while the Bills offensive line is getting worse each week in both run blocking and pass protection as they were unable to run the ball or find plays down the field. Their highly rated special teams fared no better as Rian Lindell kicked the ball out of bounds on a kick-off (or at least into the hands of a Jets player standing out of bounds) and missed a 43 yard field goal while Brian Moorman shanked a punt. This game generated very little to encourage Bills fans that their team is any better than one of many average teams.
So, the mid point if the season - and at 5-3, it would feel a lot better if they had won 3 of the last 4 rather than vice versa. The dominating effort against Seattle seems like a long time ago, doesn't it? They need a boost - something to re-energize them. How about this? Tuesday is usually an off day for NFL players, leaving plenty of time to, say, vote. Despite probably receiving the tax advice to the contrary, most NFL players and the rest of America are about to elect their first black President and hopefully Bills players will mark that moment with a special effort in New England next week to jump start the second half of their season. It's a big week for America and for the Bills before they return home for a Monday night match-up against their Lake Erie cousins, the Cleveland Browns.
The teams traded interceptions returned for touchdowns - the Jets in the first quarter and Buffalo's midway in the 4th - but the Bills lost the turnover battle and the interior battles on both sides of the ball. The Jets moved effectively with a short passing game and the running of veteran Thomas Jones while the Bills offensive line is getting worse each week in both run blocking and pass protection as they were unable to run the ball or find plays down the field. Their highly rated special teams fared no better as Rian Lindell kicked the ball out of bounds on a kick-off (or at least into the hands of a Jets player standing out of bounds) and missed a 43 yard field goal while Brian Moorman shanked a punt. This game generated very little to encourage Bills fans that their team is any better than one of many average teams.
So, the mid point if the season - and at 5-3, it would feel a lot better if they had won 3 of the last 4 rather than vice versa. The dominating effort against Seattle seems like a long time ago, doesn't it? They need a boost - something to re-energize them. How about this? Tuesday is usually an off day for NFL players, leaving plenty of time to, say, vote. Despite probably receiving the tax advice to the contrary, most NFL players and the rest of America are about to elect their first black President and hopefully Bills players will mark that moment with a special effort in New England next week to jump start the second half of their season. It's a big week for America and for the Bills before they return home for a Monday night match-up against their Lake Erie cousins, the Cleveland Browns.
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