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.
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3 comments:
Great post Nigel. I think the Bills should worry about what is waiting for them in Foxborough before even thinking of playing the Browns...granted the Pats are only a shadow of themselves with Cassel at QB, but it is still the Pats and maybe, after the last unfortunate sequence, the Bills will spend too much time "thinking" about what is going wrong rather than just playing the game on the field...at one point, teams "overprocess" their problems....thoughts?
yes, it's a psychologist's dream really - as teams battle the demons which keep them from feeling the confidence they need to just go out and play. Let's also keep in mind that the Patriots defence is the same one that would be on the field if Brady were playing. I am not hopeful but going into the Monday night game at 6-3 rather than 5-4 would be great because we have decided to go. May not have another chance while I still have the energy to do it.
So, I watched a bit of the Brady Quinn game last night but not the end. I guess he played well but Denver somehow pulled it out.
Neither Michigan or Notre Dame is anywhere the top 25 this year. I'm sort of cheering for Penn State but not strongly. How about you?
cheers, Nigel
hmmm.....let's call it the Brady effect.......i did watch the browns, and force a few friends to do the same...he played really well, minus the last series which sunk their season..(!)
given his performance, 230 plus yards, no fumbles,no interceptions and 30 plus points, i hope the browns fan got a glimpse of what could have been with a qb that runs the offense as it is called and with one day of prep no less...for ncaa, i have my hopes on breaking the top 25 on the last week......but I have Texas Tech in a pool along with Oklahoma...let's just say that the Big 12 is showing up really strong this week and that I am enjoying the demise of USC...i just hope that if you are right and that PSU goes all the way, that JoePa will do the right thing....and maybe Bobby B can follow....and for you that RRodriguez figure this out...big change at UM, I have to say...
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