Bills Drop 2nd Consecutive Division Game, Fall to 5-3
November 3, 2008 by Tim Anderson
Filed under Bills, NFL Football
It was a tale of two halves yesterday, however both wrought unpleasant results for the Bills. In the aftermath of a 26-17 loss to the New York Jets, and a second straight defeat to a division opponent, Buffalo now sit 3rd in the AFC East, and are preparing for a road trip to New England, where they haven’t won since 2000. Suddenly, the 5-1 start that everyone was so excited about stands at 5-3, with a treacherous road game on the horizon.
With regard to the “tale of two halves” theme, the Bills for all intents and purposes owned the Jets in the first 25 minutes of play. Their defense was giving the Jets very little, and the offense was moving the ball with efficiency. In fact, Buffalo’s first drive was a thing of beauty, resulting in a touchdown, and a 7-3 lead. The Bills defense continued to stymie the Jets, including two 3-and-outs, one of which began at Buffalo’s 6-yard line after an Edwards fumble. The offense also continued to demonstrate dominance over the Jets with a 14-play drive that ended at the New York 14-yard line when Trent Edwards made perhaps his worst decision of the year. The Buffalo quarterback threw an ill-advised pass while under pressure that resulted in a quick-6 the other way. And just like that, a game completely owned by Buffalo was a 13-7 deficit.
It would get worse however. Buffalo got the ball back, and travelled 58-yards on 13 plays, only to turn the ball over on downs, the circumstances of which have been a recurring rant in my post game blogs, even those coming after wins. The Bills had a 3rd and 1 at the Jets 18-yard line, and first attempted to throw for the first down. That didn’t surprise me in the least, considering Buffalo CANNOT get any semblance of a push off the ball to pick up a short yardage first down. Nevertheless, Dick Jauron decided to ignore the trend, and go for it on 4th and 1. They haven’t been able to all convert in these situations all year, and they couldn’t yesterday at the most pivotal point in the game. Moreover, their go-to-guy in those situations, Lynch, was on the bench. Not a wise decision.
There were two differences in the second half of play: 1)The Jets dominated, and 2)They didn’t shoot themselves in the foot throughout the process. Buffalo’s defense, who had played so well in the first half, had no answer for New York in the second. Three of the 4 Jets’ drives that were of any consequence led to scores of the crippling variety. And, while the Bills offense was not terrible in terms of putting together decent drives, they were simply unable to put points on the board once they entered New York territory. Edwards was sacked 5 times, and if my memory serves me correctly, most of them came in the second half of play - and usually in Jets’ territory.
Getting back to my post game comments of a week ago, this game reeked of those very deficiencies I discussed. The running game was atrocious. Thirty yards rushing on 17 attempts isn’t going to get it done. And more importantly, the consistent failure on short yardage is the most disturbing aspect of this problem. Nevertheless, you can equate the above figure with the 5-sacks mentioned earlier. When you can’t get a running game going, the defense will simply begin to tee-off on your quarterback, and that’s what happened yesterday. As for the defense, despite my feeling that they played well enough to win for much of the game (including a defensive touchdown), they too were unable to overcome the serious problem plaguing them; a consistent pass rush - or a pass rush at all for that matter. For those of you scoring at home, don’t bother sharpening your pencils, because there are no sacks to register in your books. I know both of these units (O-Line & D-Line) have injuries, but let’s be honest people, this has been a recurring theme for most of the season - it’s just that we swept them under the rug while we were winning.
Finally, Trent Edwards in the past 2-weeks has hit the regression that I expected earlier in the season. I have no doubt that he will be franchise quarterback very soon. However, because of his play in the first 6-weeks of the season, we forgot that he is still virtually a rookie. This was bound to happen, and admittadly, I was beginning to think he was an exception to the rule as well, but we have to take the good with the bad when grooming a new quarterback. We’ll see how he responds when he steps out onto the field at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, because he’ll have no choice but to snap out of his current funk if the Bills are to stay in the AFC East race.
Game Balls
Offense: Derek Fine; Why not, the rookie made it clear yesterday why the Bills decided to eat up a roster spot by not placing him on IR for 8 weeks. He hauled in 4 catches for 43-yards and a touchdown. It’s only one game, but he didn’t have any drops, he didn’t fumble, he didn’t blow a key blocking assignment, and he didn’t produce any huge mental gaffes. Therefore, he’s already better than what they have a starting TE (although, in all fairness, Royal did have a good day yesterday as well).
Defense: Jabari Greer; Not only because of his pick-6 (however that is a big part), but because he limited Laveranues Coles, who had 37 receptions coming into the day, only 3 catches for 40-yards. He has become a legitimate #2 starter. In fact, he’s beginning to breathe down McGee’s neck for the #1 distinction.
Special Teams: Leodis McKelvin; McKelvin had a couple of big returns yesterday that gave Buffalo good field position, and helped lead to a pair of scores. He averaged 25-yards a return on the 7 that he had.
Quick Hits
-Paul Posluszny continues to be a tackling machine, registering 9 total stops during yesterday’s contest.
-Marshawn Lynch, especially in the past 2-weeks, has become very effective catching balls out of the backfield. He racked up 52-yards on 3 catches yesterday.
-Donte Whitner was taken off the field during the second half with what has been reported as a separated shoulder. He will almost definitely miss next week’s contest against the Patriots. Anything beyond that is still up in the air.
-Jason Whittle also left yesterday’s game, leaving Buffalo with only one option; to plug the much maligned Melvin Fowler back in at center, and move Duke Preston over to right guard.
What can be said about the Bills other than perhaps they are just the latest victims of NFL parody. I’m not as down on them as some may be right now, just as I was never as high on them as many were when they were 5-1. It just gets stanger and stranger, week-to-week in this league. For example, the Jets were coming off a loss to Oakland (who hit offensive production numbers not seen since the early 60’s - in a bad way), and a near defeat at home to the hapless Chiefs. The Bills on the other hand have knocked off teams that I fully expected them to lose to before the season started, and have lost games that I had penciled in as “W”’s. This part truth, and part rationalization, is what will keep me primed and confident for next week’s contest against the Pats, which will begin the weekly phrase of, “The biggest game of the year!” Until then…
Go Bills!
timanderson@sportstalkbuzz.com
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November 3rd, 2008 at 9:05 am
Tough to drop any games especially divisional games at home.
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:17 am
Agreed! I think a 3-3 divison record at the end of the year now is a realistic goal to shoot for. And that may not be enough.
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:21 am
missed the game, but c’mon guys gotta gt it together!
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:02 am
Good read Tim.
If Buffalo misses the playoffs, they have nobody to blame but their coaching staff. I’ve never seen a team abandon the run quite like they have in recent weeks. Edwards is a good quarterback and he could be great some day, but for now, he’s still good and needs the run game to take the pressure off.
This team better find a way to balance its offense and fast, or they can find themselves behind Miami in the AFC East race.
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:23 pm
I honestly wouldn’t blame the coaching staff. While I agree that they did somewhat abandon the run in the second half (with the exception of one drive they were down by 2 scores everytime they had the ball), I have always applauded a coach that has a feel for the game. And yesterday, Jauron, like most fans I presume, had a feel that the running game wasn’t working. In fact, it hasn’t all season.
I blame the ineptitude of Buffalo’s offensive linemen to open up a single hole for either of their backs to run through. When trailing by 2 scores, and struggling to put points on the board, I can’t blame the coaching staff for not wanting to put their offense into 2nd and long situations on every series. And believe me, that would have been the case almost every time.
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:25 pm
With all that I stated in my previous post, I couldn’t agree more that they need their running game to get going, because as I said in the blog itself, defenses are starting to tee-off on Edwards.
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Hard to believe the Patriots had this division clinched at this point last season. Should be an great game this weekend in New England.
Also I don’t think anyone saw this as a problem orginially but hyptothetically the division race could be greatly effected by the Bills/Fins game in Toronto. Instead of a warm weather team coming to Buffalo in December (i.e $#$#in Cold) they’ll be warm in the comfy confines of the Rogers Centre. Interesting…
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Interesting, and annoying!
As I’ve said before, and I’ll say again, Buffalo only has 7 home games this year.
I hope the Bills win the game up there 3-0, in a terribly played affair!
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Seven home games is better than zero (which is inevitable my good man).
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Oh Dave, you are a ray of sunlight on an otherwise dreary day…
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
So how are the Hamilton Sabres doing these days?
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Or is it Kitchner Sabers ?
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Never heard of ‘em.
PS: I wish I had a better comeback…haha!
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Lol wow, way to pile on. I’m very happy I can hop on the TTC and find my way to a competitive NFL game.
Also don’t think the Sabres are going anywhere, and they’re playing very well.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:44 pm
I know right? Kick us while we’re down.
I agree on the Sabres, and I wouldn’t say the Bills’ leaving town is the forgone conclusion everyone believes it to be. It certainly doesn’t look good, but a lot can still happen between now and then.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I know - I’m just kidding about the Sabres. They actually have strong, committed ownership in Tom Galisano. He knows how to manage a professional sports franchise and in reality, or at least in my always-right opinion, is the man who should buy the Bills from the old guy.
Otherwise, MLSE and friends will acquire your team and the Toronto Ontarians will be born.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Golisano has actually come public, stopping short of saying he’d buy the team, and stated that he would do whatever was in his power to help keep the Bills in Buffalo. And as you allude to, having him in our corner is part of my reasoning for not jumping ship just yet.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I can tell you having worked at MLSE, there is no chance in hell they will bring in any competition. Their marketing and brand strategy works the way it is.
And not to jump on Galisano, but if he had opened his wallet a little wider Briere and Drury may have won Buffalo a championship by now.
Running a pro franchise and running a winner are two different things.
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:00 pm
I was at the Bills game yesterday, my first NFL game ever! Awesome experience, Buffalo fans are great, it’s a shame Bretty and the Jets didn’t play like they normally do (Brett only threw 1 INT not 3)
Looking forward to going back next year.
Bills make me wanna SHOUT! Let’s go Buf-a-loooo
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself. You know, Buffalo recently headlined a list of the worst sports fans in the country. Frankly, I thought it was utter garbage. Granted, while Buffalo has its fair share of wild, overdrunk nut jobs, they are nowhere near the same class as some of the places I’ve been to.
Good to hear that someone had a good experience.
November 4th, 2008 at 3:05 am
First off, this has become one hell of a division.
Second, how the hell do you loose to the Jets?
third, Buffalo is getting the world juniors hockey tournment, so you have to know that the Sabres are staying pat.
fourth, The coaching staff is fine, but the stupid mistakes have to stop.
fifth, Buffalo having one of the worst sports fans is utter Bullsh*#.
and sixth, HOW THE HELL DO YOU LOOSE TO THE JETS!!!!!!!!!(The Raiders beat the Jets!)
November 4th, 2008 at 5:13 am
Agreed on all counts! Also, I haven’t mentioned #3 yet, but that is extremely exciting, and Buffalo is going to put on a heck of a show!
November 4th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Nice work, Tim.
The Jets did play well, but I’m betting it will be a different story the next time around.
November 4th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
They did! Especially in the 2nd half. In fact, aside from the Favre gaffe on the Greer TD, they were unstoppable on offense. Should be extremely interesting to see how this division plays out - all 4 teams are alive!