A good team is suppose to rise up when it
is on the line....the Bills crumbled... Drew can not handle the BIG games
anymore, maybe he never could. Today the coaching staff put together a bad
game plan, long balls were there all day, but we didn't call them. Without
a good offensive game plan, the defense was on the field all day, they got tired
and gave up big plays. There will be no Hi-lites for this game, because,
they don't show the team introductions during the telecast... NEXT YEAR...
All in all 9 and 7 is not a very bad record and there were positive things that
happened this year, a good starting point for NEXT Year ! ...and oh by the
way the Jests did lose and leave the door wide open for the Bills to get into
the playoffs.....NEXT YEAR...
33 - 17
Bills crush 49ers
Every aspect of this team was clicking in
this weeks game Defense, Offense and Special Teams, as well as good game
management by the coaching staff. The results were somewhat predictable. A
good team is suppose to beat a bad team. Like Steve Tasker says, "they've
got their foot on the gas and they are standing on it". Next week the regular season
final exam comes, as the Steelers come to Rich Stadium to meet the Bills, it's do or
die time for the Bills.
BILLS 31 STEELERS 17 ...and that's
the way I see it !
This game was not pretty, but the Defense
and the Very Special teams come up huge AGAIN! With the run blitz coming
all day, the running game was stifled which took away some of the passing game
as well. Lee Evans continues to pay dividends as he caught 5 passes for
another 101 yards and a TD, truly a bright spot for the future. Next week, the
49ers and an opportunity for the Bills to get the Offense back on track, before
the season finally. Let's hope McGahee is ready to go.
37 - 7 Bills Crush Browns
This was the most dominating performance by
a defense that this guy has ever seen. They allowed 17
(after further review) 26 yards total
offense, had 8 sacks, 2 interceptions and allowed the Browns to have the ball
only 23 mins and 29 net rushing yards. They made a rookie QB look like a rookie
QB. If not for three mistakes by the Bills, a Bledsoe interception, a fumble by
Nate Clements and an offside penalty by Schobel the Browns would not have even
scored the 7 that they did.
No help from the rest of the league for
their quest for one of the wildcard playoff spots.
42 - 32 Bills outlast Dollfans
This was not a great effort the Bills
regressed to their ways of earlier games picking up 11 penalties for 73 yards.
The defense faltered letting Feely throw for over 300 yards. Drew in the
meantime quietly had a good day, thanks to Lee Evans(4 -110) and Moulds(5-68)
and 4TD's. Willis added a solid day with 91 yards. Next week the Browns come to
town coming off a win over the Ravens. WARNING: do not over look this team!
38 - 3 Bills shoot down the 'Hawks
This was by far the best effort the
Bills have made this year. The offensive staff pulled out all the stops, with
gadget plays and creative play calling that put the Seahawks on their heals from
the get go! The defense held the #1 rusher in the league to 39 yards and
harassed the QB all day. But one of my favorite plays was the on-sides kick to
open up the second half, that was as much a statement about how this team was
going to attack teams, not only in this game, but in games to come as well.
Another statement play was the faked QB sneak where Drew threw a backward pass
to Willis, who ran for a big gain and a score. We got the road thing taken care of and also
overcame 3 int's to post the largest margin of victory since the 1st game of
2003. The Dull-fins defense will probably keep the next one closer, but
the Bill's are rolling, I see another Bill's win on this continued road trip.
37 -17 Bills crush the Rams
This was by far the best effort the Bills have
made this year. Too bad it comes in week 10. We have by far the best special
teams unit of the entire league, the only weak point being the kicking of Lindell,
this must be addressed next season. Drew managed the game well and the defense
turned in another fine effort(1 rushing yard, 98 total for the 2nd half) you
can't ask for better! Next up the Seahawks, though not the team we expected them
to be this season, they are still a formidable opponent. Shaun Alexander will be
another test for the "D". Then there is the road game thing, which has been a
problem for the Bills the last few seasons. Again, IF they can put together
another complete effort, this one too is a very winnable game.
29 - 6 Bills battered by Pats...AGAIN
IF, two letters, too big. Drew will struggle,
JP will take over. Drew jittered all night, because he was shaking in his
shoes all night, unable to be Belichick, they know Drew better than Drew does.
The Pats took away the run and they knew would force the ball and throw
turnovers. Drew will probably be ok against some of the remaining
opponents, but Belichick got in his head and may not leave again. Let's
move on and let the future begin.
22 -17 Bills over the Jets
Well, I felt that this team was improving and they
didn't let me down. This type of sustained effort will bring the team back
to respectability over time. The only real flaw was mostly from the
sideline, with the inability to get play calls in on time...result field goal
instead of 7. New England is hurting and this game will be a little
different from the first meeting this year, still they are a strong group,
starting on the sideline with schemes that seem to put them in a position to win
most of the time. If Drew can shake the 'hometown' jitters that has plagued him
since he left NE, they have a good chance to steal one here.
As a side note...
as I sit here watching and editing one of my old Bills tapes (Bills vs 49er's
1992 - 34 -31 -no punts, 987 yds of offense) I realized two things. The
first is that many plays were questioned by the announcers and at first look
seemed like the wrong call, in fact were called correctly. This is a sad
epithet for the officiating of today. They made calls on the run, no
reviews and few mistakes, unlike the game today. The NFL has definitely failed
to maintain the level of expertise that officials had at one time. The
other is a more of a 'hit' on society, with all the scoring in this game, we are
hard pressed to find more than a pat on the head or the butt as a matter of
celebration. There were no end zone antics, from Thurman's handing
the ball to the refs to Lofton simply dropping the ball or Reed's simple spike,
the mentality was that it was just another play and the job was not done.
Kelso hits Rice preventing a first down, walks back to the defensive huddle
without fanfare. Today everyone wants to say "look at me", "I made a
hit" or "I caught a pass". "I", "I", "I", where is the team? Self
promotion has become the order of the day. Be a star, draw a lot of attention to
your self make a lot of money....oh and win some games too! I am sick of
it, but isn't it really the same in life in general? We are told at work that
you have to do things to get noticed, to get a break, make your own breaks.
The same for school, Mom and Dad and teachers. Where does it end, what
have we become as a society? Where does it end? Ask Ray Lewis,
Terrell Owens, Jeremy Shockey or even Teko Spikes or London Fletcher. Come on
London a 15 second celebration because you made a tackle after a guy makes his
first down, what the hell is that all about, then Teko scores on an interception
and takes a 15 yd penalty for a scripted end zone celebration that you know you
are not suppose to be doing, thanks...ask Lindell how pleased he was to have to
kick off from 15 yds deeper ................. I am sick of it!
The Bottom Line
Gary P (GPI News)
Yesterday in Orchard Park, the
Buffalo Bills, a team with everything on the line, played the Pittsburg
Steelers, a team with nothing to play for, and choked. I mean, tears in the
eyes, clawing the air, Heimlich maneuver choked, top to bottom. Lets start with
the coaching staff. The game plan for the Steelers was, simply put, atrocious.
Not one ball was thrown deep until it was way to late. Since the Steelers were
putting 8 and 9 guys in the box all day, someone had to be one on one.
Additionally, the deep treat would take the LB's and the safeties off scrimmage
where they were camped all afternoon. When you have one of the hottest deep
threats in the NFL and refuse to even attempt to get it to him at least once,
you are having a brain cramp choke. Lets add some more coaching gags. How about
a squib kick in the first half that cost us a TD. How about an on side kick that
was put up in a position to be fielded cleanly. How about the complete lack of
screens on a team that stacked the middle. This is a rookie staff and it showed
in a big game yesterday. How about our so called kicker. 28 yard FG's in your
house to increase the lead are automatic. That miss qualifies for the choke of
the year. Remember, the next play was a 59 yard run that broke our backs.
Lindell has been less that stellar since we signed him. That should be the final
straw and this guy should be gone next season. Kind of make you wonder when you
see Steve Christie still splitting the uprights in NY. Add to the list of major
chokers Drew Beldsoe. After 7 weeks of quietly going about the business of
managing and winning games, he undid all he built with a miserable performance.
He consistently failed to scan the field or look off defenders. Took a sack from
a guy who lined up in his line of sight and lost the ball to boot. Made several
bad decisions and basically stunk the place up. Furthermore, the Bills reverted
to their earlier ways of stupid penalties at critical times. The special teams
had been an asset but turned into a liability yesterday. This wasn't just Drew.
This wasn't just missed kicks, this was a total team meltdown. Although much
improved, this team is still not ready for prime time. One thing to consider.
Great teams are born of adversity. Playing so well for 7 or 8 weeks, coming so
close to getting in after such a miserable start and failing may be just what
this team needs to help them take the next step. They should come back next year
fully functional in Mularkey's system and hungry as hell. The Bills should be a
team to watch next season.
Bills - 49ers
Bills - Bungles
Bills - Frowns
Bills - Dollfans
touch football...or technique from the Dan Marino school of
tackling?
