The Playoffs Begin Now!
October 29, 2008 by Tim Anderson
Filed under Bills, NFL Football
The Bills continue their 3-game inter-division tilt this weekend at home against the New York Jets. Forgive the over-dramatic title, but in my eyes this game carries a ton of weight (is that redundant?). Buffalo, who started their 2008 campaign 4-0, then 5-1, are in danger of heading to New England with a 5-3 record, and a hill to climb in order to get back into the AFC East race; a race that they have led (or at least shared a lead) all season.
Much like last week, the Bills will be facing a much different New York team than they are used to seeing. Adding to the novelty this week however, is the fact that they will not be facing a familiar quarterback like they did a week ago. Former Packers’ quarterback Brett Favre is now calling the signals for the Jets, and will be a serious test for a Bills defense that is coming off a very poor week in pass defense (2 of the last 3 weeks actually). In addition, his posse that includes Jerricho Cotchery and Lavernious Coles will not make things easier. Dick Jauron and company better have an answer!
In terms of personnel, the line-up continues to see changes. As you know from yesterday’s post, Josh Reed will not be active for this Sunday’s game. However, it is also looking like Aaron Schobel will miss his 3rd straight game with a foot injury. Additionally, it appears as though right guard Brad Butler and cornerback Ashton Youboty may be out of commission as well. Youboty has been somewhat the lost man in all of the injury talk recently, but his absence has, and will, continue to hurt the Bills defensively. Much like Josh Reed, the lack of his presence will likely be overlooked by the national media, but garner heavy attention in Buffalo. Finally, in a roster move not provoked by injury, Duke Preston will take over for the now healthy Melvin Fowler at center. With the way Fowler has played this year, it is difficult to really envision things getting worse with Preston at the helm.
Ultimately, to reiterate my original point, it is absolutely imperative for the Bills to win this game. They can ill-afford to lose 2-straight games, let alone 2-straight division games. Moreover, a loss will not only place the Bills behind the Jets, but could put them behind New England as well when the sun comes up Monday morning. I’ll break it down those odds later this week. Until then…
Go Bills!
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October 30th, 2008 at 1:52 am
Here is what I see with the Bills game this week.
If they manage to loose to the Jets, then they are nowhere near as good as we all have thought after this great start, because the Jets are not that good at all. It’s one thing to loose to them in NY, but at home, it would be absolutely pathetic to loose.
That said, I don’t see it happening.
October 30th, 2008 at 5:17 am
I agree that the Jets are not as good as many of the pundits expected them to be. But, my concern is their passing game, which is an area that Buffalo can be exploited, mainly because of injuries to the secondary, but also because they have no presence of a pass rush(I’d say Schobel’s absence is a contributor there, but when he was in the line-up, it was no better).
I too think they should win though, but I hope they are approaching it as I see it, as the closest thing to a playoff game in November as there can be.