Orchard Park, NY (Sports Network) - Although the calendar may read December 26, it's Groundhog Day for the Buffalo Bills whenever they're pitted against the New England Patriots.
Tom Brady added to his MVP resume with three touchdown passes, and the Patriots locked up not only the AFC East crown for the seventh time in the past eight seasons, but also the conference's top seed with a 34-3 victory over the Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
New England (13-2) has won 15 straight over the Bills since a 31-0 drubbing at Buffalo during the first week of the 2003 campaign.
The Patriots went on to win the Super Bowl that season and now find themselves in an enviable position in their quest to return to the big game as the conference's representative this year.
Brady finished with only 140 yards on 15-of-27 efficiency, while rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski caught a pair of eight-yard touchdown passes in the Patriots' seventh straight win since a loss in Cleveland on November 7.
New England forced seven turnovers on Sunday, five of which were committed by Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick completed 18-of-37 throws for 251 yards with three interceptions. He also fumbled twice.
Fred Jackson had 81 yards on 13 carries for the Bills (4-11).
Monday, December 27, 2010
Buffalo Bills projected to Draft Fourth in 2011 NFL Draft
Tim Graham - With one game left in the season, the NFL draft order continues to settle into place.
The Buffalo Bills had been moving farther and farther from the top spot with their little hot streak, but they now project to pick fourth after Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots in Ralph Wilson Stadium.
If the season ended today, the Bills, Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals would have the same records, but the Bills would move to the back of that mini-pack because they had the most difficult strength of schedule.
The Carolina Panthers clinched the No. 1 pick regardless of what happens in Week 17.
The Bills still can grab the No. 2 pick if they lose to the New York Jets at the Meadowlands. The Broncos will host the San Diego Chargers. The Bengals will visit the Baltimore Ravens.
Maybe the Broncos can knock off the Chargers. If the Ravens rest their starters for the playoffs, then perhaps the Bengals can pick up a cheap victory.
The Buffalo Bills had been moving farther and farther from the top spot with their little hot streak, but they now project to pick fourth after Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots in Ralph Wilson Stadium.
If the season ended today, the Bills, Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals would have the same records, but the Bills would move to the back of that mini-pack because they had the most difficult strength of schedule.
The Carolina Panthers clinched the No. 1 pick regardless of what happens in Week 17.
The Bills still can grab the No. 2 pick if they lose to the New York Jets at the Meadowlands. The Broncos will host the San Diego Chargers. The Bengals will visit the Baltimore Ravens.
Maybe the Broncos can knock off the Chargers. If the Ravens rest their starters for the playoffs, then perhaps the Bengals can pick up a cheap victory.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Mississippi State's Basketball Players Renardo Sidney And Elgin Bailey Fight In The Stands
HONOLULU - Two players from Mississippi State's basketball team fought in the stands Thursday night between games at the Diamond Head Classic
Sophomore forward Renardo Sidney and junior forward Elgin Bailey got into the altercation about 10 minutes before the tipoff of the game between tournament host Hawaii and Utah at the Stan Sheriff Center. Punches were thrown in the fight that lasted several minutes and was broken up by teammates.
Sidney was seen being escorted away by arena ushers and Honolulu Police, who said later that nobody was arrested.
Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury refused comment until he "finds out all the facts."
Sidney scored 19 points in the Bulldogs' 69-52 win over San Diego earlier Thursday while Bailey had two points.
Sidney, a highly touted McDonald's All-American out of Fairfax (Los Angeles) High, sat out all last season while awaiting clearance from the NCAA. He has appeared in just two games this season and scored 31 points with nine rebounds. Just this week, he was suspended by Stansbury for "conduct detrimental to the team" and was benched for the first-round game loss to Washington State on Wednesday.
Bailey has started 10 of the 11 games this season and is averaging 6.2 points and 3.9 rebounds.
Sophomore forward Renardo Sidney and junior forward Elgin Bailey got into the altercation about 10 minutes before the tipoff of the game between tournament host Hawaii and Utah at the Stan Sheriff Center. Punches were thrown in the fight that lasted several minutes and was broken up by teammates.
Sidney was seen being escorted away by arena ushers and Honolulu Police, who said later that nobody was arrested.
Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury refused comment until he "finds out all the facts."
Sidney scored 19 points in the Bulldogs' 69-52 win over San Diego earlier Thursday while Bailey had two points.
Sidney, a highly touted McDonald's All-American out of Fairfax (Los Angeles) High, sat out all last season while awaiting clearance from the NCAA. He has appeared in just two games this season and scored 31 points with nine rebounds. Just this week, he was suspended by Stansbury for "conduct detrimental to the team" and was benched for the first-round game loss to Washington State on Wednesday.
Bailey has started 10 of the 11 games this season and is averaging 6.2 points and 3.9 rebounds.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots Preview Dec 26, 2010
The New England Patriots looked vulnerable last weekend, while the Buffalo Bills continued to show drastic improvement.
If recent history is any indication, none of that will matter when the AFC East rivals meet Sunday in Orchard Park, N.Y.
With a 15th consecutive win over Buffalo, the Patriots would clinch their seventh division title in eight seasons and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
New England (12-2) has been dominant throughout much of its six-game winning streak, especially in victories over the New York Jets and Chicago by a combined 81-10 score to begin December.
A home game last Sunday night against Green Bay and backup quarterback Matt Flynn seemed like a mismatch, but the Packers used a 2-to-1 edge in time of possession to keep Tom Brady's offense off the field and nearly pull off the upset.
The Patriots needed a fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Brady to Aaron Hernandez, then a late defensive stand to emerge with the 31-27 win.
"It certainly wasn't one of our better games," coach Bill Belichick said. "We've got to play a lot better than this or our season won't last much longer."
Another win over the Bills - or a Jets loss Sunday at Chicago - would ensure that the Patriots' season will end at Gillette Stadium or the Super Bowl, a position they're in primarily because of an offense that has helped New England average an NFL-high 31.9 points.
With help from defensive touchdowns the last two weeks, New England has scored more than 30 points without a turnover in six consecutive games, something that hadn't previously been done even four straight times in league history.
Brady has thrown 292 passes, including 21 touchdowns, since his last interception Oct. 17 against Baltimore. If he isn't picked off in his first 17 attempts Sunday, he'll break Bernie Kosar's NFL record of 308.
New England also got a special-teams boost against the Packers when Dan Connolly returned a kickoff 71 yards - a record for an offensive lineman - to the 4-yard line to set up another Brady-to-Hernandez TD.
The biggest issues remain on the Pats' rookie-laden defense, which allowed Green Bay to convert 11 of 19 third downs. The unit ranks 28th in the NFL, allowing 374.6 yards per game, but has forced 14 turnovers in the last five games, including Kyle Arrington's interception return for a TD and Vince Wilfork's game-ending fumble recovery last Sunday.
"Good teams find a way to win, especially in December," Wilfork said. "I'm not sad at a victory. I'm not worried about how we won. ... The fact of the matter is we won.
"Do I want to blow people out every game? Yeah," Wilfork added, "but it doesn't happen like that every time."
Soft defense was the reason the Patriots didn't blow out Buffalo (4-10) in Week 3, but Brady threw for 252 yards and three TDs in a 38-30 win.
It was the Bills' first game after first-year coach Chan Gailey tabbed Ryan Fitzpatrick the starting quarterback, and they finished with their highest point total against New England since a 31-0 win Sept. 7, 2003 - their last victory over the Pats.
Buffalo has been outscored 401-160 during its 14 straight losses in the series, the longest active streak between two NFL opponents.
Despite that bleak history, the Bills appear eager for the opportunity to measure up against an elite opponent. They're in the midst of a 4-2 stretch that followed an 0-8 start.
"It's a big game for us," Fitzpatrick said. "Putting (the streak) aside, it's how far have we come this year, how much have we improved? I think that's the biggest thing for us."
Buffalo's defense has keyed victories the last two weeks, allowing a combined 20 points against Cleveland and Miami.
The Bills' NFL-worst run defense stepped up last Sunday, holding the Dolphins to 65 rushing yards - 3.4 per carry - in a 17-14 road win.
"I've probably overused the word character, but I don't know if you can because that's what it's all about with this group," Gailey said. "I think we have got the wins to show for the improvement, rather than just seeing improvement in our eyes as coaches."
The Bills' breakout offensive star has been wide receiver Stevie Johnson, who is 57 yards shy of 1,000. After scoring at Miami, he needs one more receiving TD to match Bill Brooks' single-season franchise record of 11.
If recent history is any indication, none of that will matter when the AFC East rivals meet Sunday in Orchard Park, N.Y.
With a 15th consecutive win over Buffalo, the Patriots would clinch their seventh division title in eight seasons and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
New England (12-2) has been dominant throughout much of its six-game winning streak, especially in victories over the New York Jets and Chicago by a combined 81-10 score to begin December.
A home game last Sunday night against Green Bay and backup quarterback Matt Flynn seemed like a mismatch, but the Packers used a 2-to-1 edge in time of possession to keep Tom Brady's offense off the field and nearly pull off the upset.
The Patriots needed a fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Brady to Aaron Hernandez, then a late defensive stand to emerge with the 31-27 win.
"It certainly wasn't one of our better games," coach Bill Belichick said. "We've got to play a lot better than this or our season won't last much longer."
Another win over the Bills - or a Jets loss Sunday at Chicago - would ensure that the Patriots' season will end at Gillette Stadium or the Super Bowl, a position they're in primarily because of an offense that has helped New England average an NFL-high 31.9 points.
With help from defensive touchdowns the last two weeks, New England has scored more than 30 points without a turnover in six consecutive games, something that hadn't previously been done even four straight times in league history.
Brady has thrown 292 passes, including 21 touchdowns, since his last interception Oct. 17 against Baltimore. If he isn't picked off in his first 17 attempts Sunday, he'll break Bernie Kosar's NFL record of 308.
New England also got a special-teams boost against the Packers when Dan Connolly returned a kickoff 71 yards - a record for an offensive lineman - to the 4-yard line to set up another Brady-to-Hernandez TD.
The biggest issues remain on the Pats' rookie-laden defense, which allowed Green Bay to convert 11 of 19 third downs. The unit ranks 28th in the NFL, allowing 374.6 yards per game, but has forced 14 turnovers in the last five games, including Kyle Arrington's interception return for a TD and Vince Wilfork's game-ending fumble recovery last Sunday.
"Good teams find a way to win, especially in December," Wilfork said. "I'm not sad at a victory. I'm not worried about how we won. ... The fact of the matter is we won.
"Do I want to blow people out every game? Yeah," Wilfork added, "but it doesn't happen like that every time."
Soft defense was the reason the Patriots didn't blow out Buffalo (4-10) in Week 3, but Brady threw for 252 yards and three TDs in a 38-30 win.
It was the Bills' first game after first-year coach Chan Gailey tabbed Ryan Fitzpatrick the starting quarterback, and they finished with their highest point total against New England since a 31-0 win Sept. 7, 2003 - their last victory over the Pats.
Buffalo has been outscored 401-160 during its 14 straight losses in the series, the longest active streak between two NFL opponents.
Despite that bleak history, the Bills appear eager for the opportunity to measure up against an elite opponent. They're in the midst of a 4-2 stretch that followed an 0-8 start.
"It's a big game for us," Fitzpatrick said. "Putting (the streak) aside, it's how far have we come this year, how much have we improved? I think that's the biggest thing for us."
Buffalo's defense has keyed victories the last two weeks, allowing a combined 20 points against Cleveland and Miami.
The Bills' NFL-worst run defense stepped up last Sunday, holding the Dolphins to 65 rushing yards - 3.4 per carry - in a 17-14 road win.
"I've probably overused the word character, but I don't know if you can because that's what it's all about with this group," Gailey said. "I think we have got the wins to show for the improvement, rather than just seeing improvement in our eyes as coaches."
The Bills' breakout offensive star has been wide receiver Stevie Johnson, who is 57 yards shy of 1,000. After scoring at Miami, he needs one more receiving TD to match Bill Brooks' single-season franchise record of 11.
Monday, December 20, 2010
If The Giants Beat The Packers, They Are In The Playoffs
Ohm Youngmisuk - The New York Giants may have suffered one of the greatest collapses ever on Sunday but they can make up for it on Sunday.
Unofficially, if the Giants beat the Packers in Green Bay on Sunday, they will clinch a playoff berth. Green Bay and Tampa Bay lost yesterday, helping the Giants' cause. Even if the Giants lose on Sunday, it appears they will still be alive going into the final week. The NFL is expected to release the official playoff scenarios later today.
But one thing is certain, if the Giants win, they're in the playoffs.
Unofficially, if the Giants beat the Packers in Green Bay on Sunday, they will clinch a playoff berth. Green Bay and Tampa Bay lost yesterday, helping the Giants' cause. Even if the Giants lose on Sunday, it appears they will still be alive going into the final week. The NFL is expected to release the official playoff scenarios later today.
But one thing is certain, if the Giants win, they're in the playoffs.
"Hot" Buffalo Bills Knock Miami Dolphins From The Playoff Hunt
The Buffalo Bills remain on the rise, while the Miami Dolphins are headed nowhere fast.
Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two touchdown passes Sunday for the resurgent Bills, who won 17-14 to eliminate Miami from the AFC playoff race.
The Dolphins, who have won only once in Miami this season, again looked woeful at home and inept on offense. Chad Henne threw a costly interception and took three sacks, and the ground game netted only 65 yards against a run defense ranked last in the NFL.
As a result, Miami will sit out the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years.
"I want to apologize to the defensive guys," receiver Brandon Marshall said. "Offensively all year we didn't get the job done. It's embarrassing."
Buffalo (4-10) won for the fourth time in six games after starting 0-8, while Miami (7-7) lost for the eighth time in nine home games over the past two seasons. This year, Miami is 1-6 at home and 6-1 on the road, and no team has ever had such a disparity, according to STATS LLC.
Fans began booing in the second quarter, and the last jeers came after a final, comically futile play.
"They've been booing the last couple of weeks, so I guess we're used to it," Henne said. "It's a sick feeling for us not to have home-field advantage."
On a 67-degree December afternoon, the visitors from snowy New York made themselves at home.
"Anytime you get into somebody's stadium and you hear boos from the home crowd, their crowd is actually working against them, and it's like it's our home crowd," safety Donte Whitner said. "So we love boo birds when we're on the road."
The Bills were woeful in a season-opening loss at home against the Dolphins, but that was before Fitzpatrick took over at quarterback. He went 16 for 26 for 223 yards in the rematch.
"I said when we were 0-8, you need to get one win and then they start coming," Fitzpatrick said.
Miami actually outgained Buffalo, but Pro Bowl kicker Dan Carpenter went 0 for 4, missing from 48, 61, 53 and 48 yards.
By contrast, the Bills made the most of their chances. Fitzpatrick was at his best on an 86-yard drive in the third quarter. He completed two third-down passes, then threw a 15-yard scoring pass to Steve Johnson for a 17-7 lead.
An interception by George Wilson and a 34-yard punt return by C.J. Spiller set up the Bills' other scores.
"That was probably as good a team win as we've had," first-year coach Chan Gailey said. "Almost every guy that stepped on the field contributed something."
Miami tried to rally in the fourth. Henne completed passes on seven consecutive plays to spark a 77-yard drive that ended with his 8-yard scoring pass to Marshall, making it 17-14.
"Earlier in the year, we'd find ways to lose games like this," Buffalo receiver David Nelson said.
This time the Bills hung on. The Dolphins got the ball back at their own 20 and drove to the Buffalo 30, but Carpenter was wide right on a 48-yard try with 1:48 left.
"I just didn't hit the ball well all day," he said. "It hurts knowing you cost your team a chance to win."
Miami started again from the 20 with 41 seconds to go but no timeouts remaining, and four plays failed to advance the ball beyond the 35.
That ensured the Dolphins will miss the playoffs.
"It's tough to swallow, because we feel like we do have a good team," Henne said. "We just didn't put it together."
Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two touchdown passes Sunday for the resurgent Bills, who won 17-14 to eliminate Miami from the AFC playoff race.
The Dolphins, who have won only once in Miami this season, again looked woeful at home and inept on offense. Chad Henne threw a costly interception and took three sacks, and the ground game netted only 65 yards against a run defense ranked last in the NFL.
As a result, Miami will sit out the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years.
"I want to apologize to the defensive guys," receiver Brandon Marshall said. "Offensively all year we didn't get the job done. It's embarrassing."
Buffalo (4-10) won for the fourth time in six games after starting 0-8, while Miami (7-7) lost for the eighth time in nine home games over the past two seasons. This year, Miami is 1-6 at home and 6-1 on the road, and no team has ever had such a disparity, according to STATS LLC.
Fans began booing in the second quarter, and the last jeers came after a final, comically futile play.
"They've been booing the last couple of weeks, so I guess we're used to it," Henne said. "It's a sick feeling for us not to have home-field advantage."
On a 67-degree December afternoon, the visitors from snowy New York made themselves at home.
"Anytime you get into somebody's stadium and you hear boos from the home crowd, their crowd is actually working against them, and it's like it's our home crowd," safety Donte Whitner said. "So we love boo birds when we're on the road."
The Bills were woeful in a season-opening loss at home against the Dolphins, but that was before Fitzpatrick took over at quarterback. He went 16 for 26 for 223 yards in the rematch.
"I said when we were 0-8, you need to get one win and then they start coming," Fitzpatrick said.
Miami actually outgained Buffalo, but Pro Bowl kicker Dan Carpenter went 0 for 4, missing from 48, 61, 53 and 48 yards.
By contrast, the Bills made the most of their chances. Fitzpatrick was at his best on an 86-yard drive in the third quarter. He completed two third-down passes, then threw a 15-yard scoring pass to Steve Johnson for a 17-7 lead.
An interception by George Wilson and a 34-yard punt return by C.J. Spiller set up the Bills' other scores.
"That was probably as good a team win as we've had," first-year coach Chan Gailey said. "Almost every guy that stepped on the field contributed something."
Miami tried to rally in the fourth. Henne completed passes on seven consecutive plays to spark a 77-yard drive that ended with his 8-yard scoring pass to Marshall, making it 17-14.
"Earlier in the year, we'd find ways to lose games like this," Buffalo receiver David Nelson said.
This time the Bills hung on. The Dolphins got the ball back at their own 20 and drove to the Buffalo 30, but Carpenter was wide right on a 48-yard try with 1:48 left.
"I just didn't hit the ball well all day," he said. "It hurts knowing you cost your team a chance to win."
Miami started again from the 20 with 41 seconds to go but no timeouts remaining, and four plays failed to advance the ball beyond the 35.
That ensured the Dolphins will miss the playoffs.
"It's tough to swallow, because we feel like we do have a good team," Henne said. "We just didn't put it together."
Buffalo Bills Monday Morning Notes Dec 20, 2010
Ryan Fitzpatrick said it several times in the days leading up to Buffalo's game in Miami against the AFC East rival Dolphins: Injured wide receiver Lee Evans would be missed, but he was perfectly confident in the abilities of players such as Stevie Johnson, David Nelson, Donald Jones and Naaman Roosevelt to carry on and pick up the slack.
"The young guys, those receivers, they made some great plays," Fitzpatrick said after the Bills eliminated the Dolphins from the playoff chase with a 17-14 victory at Sun Life Stadium.
Nelson had three catches for 61 yards and made a terrific catch of an 18-yard laser that Fitzpatrick probably shouldn't have thrown. It produced Buffalo's first touchdown, and Nelson even hung on after he took a late-hit cheap shot from Sean Smith.
"I couldn't believe (Fitzpatrick) threw it, and I couldn't believe (Nelson) he caught it," said Chan Gailey of the pass which had to be thrown into a very narrow window. "That was a big play in the game."
In the third quarter, Roosevelt made an excellent catch on a corner route to the sideline on a third-and-3. The play went for 24 yards, and eventually, the Bills moved into position where Fitzpatrick was able to throw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Johnson.
"These young guys have ice water in their veins, I guess," said Gailey. "They went out there and did what we asked them to do."
The Bills play New England this week and close the season at the Jets. Two more tests against division opponents, and how the receivers perform could have a bearing on what the Bills do at the position in the offseason.
Evans has had back-to-back down years and because he is missing the last three games, he's going to finish with career-lows in receptions and yards. He is the Bills' highest-paid player who will be going into his eighth NFL season. There has been talk around Buffalo that the Bills may consider trying to trade him, or release him, especially if these young receivers continue to rise.
The money the Bills could potentially save by jettisoning Evans could be used in free agency to address obvious needs on the offensive and defensive lines.
No one in the organization is willing to say that's even been discussed, but it's certainly a possibility.
"The young guys, those receivers, they made some great plays," Fitzpatrick said after the Bills eliminated the Dolphins from the playoff chase with a 17-14 victory at Sun Life Stadium.
Nelson had three catches for 61 yards and made a terrific catch of an 18-yard laser that Fitzpatrick probably shouldn't have thrown. It produced Buffalo's first touchdown, and Nelson even hung on after he took a late-hit cheap shot from Sean Smith.
"I couldn't believe (Fitzpatrick) threw it, and I couldn't believe (Nelson) he caught it," said Chan Gailey of the pass which had to be thrown into a very narrow window. "That was a big play in the game."
In the third quarter, Roosevelt made an excellent catch on a corner route to the sideline on a third-and-3. The play went for 24 yards, and eventually, the Bills moved into position where Fitzpatrick was able to throw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Johnson.
"These young guys have ice water in their veins, I guess," said Gailey. "They went out there and did what we asked them to do."
The Bills play New England this week and close the season at the Jets. Two more tests against division opponents, and how the receivers perform could have a bearing on what the Bills do at the position in the offseason.
Evans has had back-to-back down years and because he is missing the last three games, he's going to finish with career-lows in receptions and yards. He is the Bills' highest-paid player who will be going into his eighth NFL season. There has been talk around Buffalo that the Bills may consider trying to trade him, or release him, especially if these young receivers continue to rise.
The money the Bills could potentially save by jettisoning Evans could be used in free agency to address obvious needs on the offensive and defensive lines.
No one in the organization is willing to say that's even been discussed, but it's certainly a possibility.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Buffalo Bills vs Cleveland Browns Preview
A pair of last-second victories have appeared to boost the spirits of the Cleveland Browns, who were on the wrong end of a number of close games during their slow start.
Their next opponent knows what it's like to endure those kinds of defeats.
Cleveland will attempt to earn a season-high third straight win by sending the Buffalo Bills to their third consecutive defeat Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
The Browns were 1-5 in games decided by seven points or fewer during their 3-7 start, but they've won the past two by a combined four points.
Cleveland got a break in the first of those wins Nov. 28 when Carolina's field goal attempt grazed off the left upright on the final play.
After that 24-23 victory, the Browns (5-7) created their own luck in last week's 13-10 win at Miami when safety Mike Adams' interception in the final minute helped set up Phil Dawson's 23-yard field goal as time expired.
"It's about time for us to win some games like that," Adams said. "Two years ago, or even last year, you can remember us losing a game like that. Fortunately, this year, it's turning our way. So a win is a win."
The Bills would probably love to get any kind of win after seeming to regress over the past two weeks.
Buffalo endured three consecutive three-point defeats at the end of its 0-8 start but rebounded for wins over Detroit and Cincinnati last month. The Bills then suffered their third overtime loss this season to Pittsburgh on Nov. 28 before falling 38-14 last week in Minnesota.
Buffalo (2-10) committed a season-high five turnovers and three personal foul penalties against the Vikings. The Bills also lost center Geoff Hangartner and right guard Kraig Urbik to knee injuries.
Starting right guard Eric Wood is expected to return after missing two games because of an ankle injury and take over for Hangartner. Ed Wang and Cordaro Howard are slated to split time at right guard in place of Urbik.
"It's no fun to try to create continuity in a situation where there is none," coach Chan Gailey said. "You can't do it in a short period of time. We're just going to have to work and do the best we can to patch a group together that can go play."
Browns rookie quarterback Colt McCoy will likely miss a third straight game with an ankle injury, giving Jake Delhomme another start. The veteran could get some help from running back Peyton Hillis, who is 38 yards shy of his first 1,000-yard season.
Hillis will face a Buffalo defense that's giving up a league-worst 170.9 yards per game on the ground and has allowed at least 200 in each of the past two defeats.
Delhomme has completed 69.6 percent of his passes for 462 yards in McCoy's absence. He didn't throw an interception for the first time this season last week after having two passes picked off in three consecutive games.
Delhomme also had a touchdown to tight end Benjamin Watson, who had a career-high 10 receptions while reaching 100 yards for the first time with Cleveland.
Delhomme threw for 325 yards last season against Buffalo but also three interceptions in a 20-9 loss for the Panthers.
Buffalo's Ryan Fitzpatrick hasn't faced the Browns since going 1-1 in two starts for Cincinnati in 2008. He had 211 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in those games, including a career-low 55 yards as a starter in a 14-0 win at Cleveland.
The Bills couldn't get past Cleveland for the third time in as many seasons in 2009, falling 6-3 at home as former Brown Billy Cundiff kicked an 18-yard field goal with 23 seconds left.
The previous season, Dawson converted a 56-yarder with 1:39 to lift the Browns to a 29-27 road victory.
Cleveland has won 10 of 15 all-time meetings, going 5-2 in Buffalo.
Their next opponent knows what it's like to endure those kinds of defeats.
Cleveland will attempt to earn a season-high third straight win by sending the Buffalo Bills to their third consecutive defeat Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
The Browns were 1-5 in games decided by seven points or fewer during their 3-7 start, but they've won the past two by a combined four points.
Cleveland got a break in the first of those wins Nov. 28 when Carolina's field goal attempt grazed off the left upright on the final play.
After that 24-23 victory, the Browns (5-7) created their own luck in last week's 13-10 win at Miami when safety Mike Adams' interception in the final minute helped set up Phil Dawson's 23-yard field goal as time expired.
"It's about time for us to win some games like that," Adams said. "Two years ago, or even last year, you can remember us losing a game like that. Fortunately, this year, it's turning our way. So a win is a win."
The Bills would probably love to get any kind of win after seeming to regress over the past two weeks.
Buffalo endured three consecutive three-point defeats at the end of its 0-8 start but rebounded for wins over Detroit and Cincinnati last month. The Bills then suffered their third overtime loss this season to Pittsburgh on Nov. 28 before falling 38-14 last week in Minnesota.
Buffalo (2-10) committed a season-high five turnovers and three personal foul penalties against the Vikings. The Bills also lost center Geoff Hangartner and right guard Kraig Urbik to knee injuries.
Starting right guard Eric Wood is expected to return after missing two games because of an ankle injury and take over for Hangartner. Ed Wang and Cordaro Howard are slated to split time at right guard in place of Urbik.
"It's no fun to try to create continuity in a situation where there is none," coach Chan Gailey said. "You can't do it in a short period of time. We're just going to have to work and do the best we can to patch a group together that can go play."
Browns rookie quarterback Colt McCoy will likely miss a third straight game with an ankle injury, giving Jake Delhomme another start. The veteran could get some help from running back Peyton Hillis, who is 38 yards shy of his first 1,000-yard season.
Hillis will face a Buffalo defense that's giving up a league-worst 170.9 yards per game on the ground and has allowed at least 200 in each of the past two defeats.
Delhomme has completed 69.6 percent of his passes for 462 yards in McCoy's absence. He didn't throw an interception for the first time this season last week after having two passes picked off in three consecutive games.
Delhomme also had a touchdown to tight end Benjamin Watson, who had a career-high 10 receptions while reaching 100 yards for the first time with Cleveland.
Delhomme threw for 325 yards last season against Buffalo but also three interceptions in a 20-9 loss for the Panthers.
Buffalo's Ryan Fitzpatrick hasn't faced the Browns since going 1-1 in two starts for Cincinnati in 2008. He had 211 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in those games, including a career-low 55 yards as a starter in a 14-0 win at Cleveland.
The Bills couldn't get past Cleveland for the third time in as many seasons in 2009, falling 6-3 at home as former Brown Billy Cundiff kicked an 18-yard field goal with 23 seconds left.
The previous season, Dawson converted a 56-yarder with 1:39 to lift the Browns to a 29-27 road victory.
Cleveland has won 10 of 15 all-time meetings, going 5-2 in Buffalo.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Week 14 College Football Championship Saturday
Fred Bierman - This is it. The last weekend of college football. It seems as if we’re getting used to the idea of Oregon playing Auburn in Glendale, but I think that we’re forgetting that sometimes that last win is the hardest to get. Remember unranked (and sub .500) Pittsburgh shocking No. 2 West Virginia in 2007? What about No. 2 U.C.L.A. losing to Miami in 1998? No. 2 U.S.C. losing to U.C.L.A. in 2006? Those were the last games of the season and games that those teams were all favored in. Then you have the championship games, where teams have lost the chance to play for national titles in the past. Tennessee in 2001 and Kansas State in 1998 are two examples from the B.C.S. era.
So what about this weekend? Well, something is going to happen. It has to. Not that I wouldn’t love to see Oregon and Auburn play for a national title. I would. But it just feels as if e college football has one more surprise for us on championship Saturday. Just a hunch. It’s not as if I haven’t been wrong before. Anyway, let’s get to the match ups.
SEC Championship Game
4 p.m., No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 19 South Carolina, Atlanta, CBS
Announcers: Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Tracy Wolfson
For Auburn, a victory in this one means a trip to Glendale, Ariz. to play for a national title. It’s that simple. Win and they’re in.
But don’t think that there’s not a fair amount on the line for the Gamecocks as well. A victory would mean the school’s first SEC Championship and the program’s first BCS bowl. Those are big prizes for a school like South Carolina that is making its first appearance in the SEC Championship game and is playing very good football right now. (Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss are the only SEC teams to have still not made it to the conference championship.)
These two teams met earlier this season on Sept. 25, when Auburn overcame a 13-point deficit to come away with a 35-27 victory. In fact, the Tigers have been coming from behind quite a bit this season, with eight come-from-behind victories on the year. Four of those were by double digits, including last week’s stirring comeback from a 24-point deficit to knock off Alabama in Tuscaloosa and keep their national title hopes alive. This is the sixth time that the SEC Championship has been a rematch, and four of the five previous rematches have seen the team that won the first meeting prevail in the second.
South Carolina has come a long way this season. The week after losing to Auburn on the road, the Gamecocks came home knocked off the then No. 1 Crimson Tide by two touchdowns. Quarterback Stephen Garcia got pulled from the Auburn game the week before, but played a near flawless game against Alabama to help the Gamecocks stage the upset. If Garcia can put together that kind of game this weekend, than South Carolina is going to be tough to beat. That might be asking a lot.
One of the key players in this one is going to be receiver Alshon Jefferey, who is one of the most underrated players in the nation. In the first meeting Jeffery caught eight passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns and Auburn has struggled to contain the SEC’s elite receivers all season.
As bad as Auburn has been against the pass this season, they have been very good against the run. South Carolina’s freshman running back Marcus Lattimore has had a tremendous season, but was stymied by the Tigers in their first meeting and carried the ball just three times in the second half of that one. Even if he’s not churning out yards, he will need to be more involved down the stretch for South Carolina to come away with a victory.
One of the keys to Auburn success against the run has been the play of tackle Nick Fairly, who has been one of the best defensive players in the SEC this season filling gaps against the run and sacking the quarterback a conference leading 8 times.
The fact that South Carolina has seen Cam Newton once this season would seem to be an advantage, but in fact Newton has been improving every week and is very likely even be a better football player this week than he was on that first meeting. Last week, Alabama focused on not allowing Newton to run and he responded with one of his best passing performances of the year. Newton is truly one of the most dangerous weapons in college football; he can beat you in so many ways and he seems to be getting even more adept at taking what opposing defenses give him and not forcing things. In my mind Newton is a lock for the Heisman Trophy and another good performance here would just further his position as the best player in college football.
This one is quite simply a must watch. It’s the last Saturday of college football. It’s the SEC Championship game at 4 p.m. Enjoy it. It’s going to be a long winter.
A.C.C. Championship Game
7:45 p.m., No. 21 Florida State vs. No. 15 Virginia Tech, Charlotte, ESPN
Announcers; Sean McDonough, Matt Millen and Quint Kessenich
With N.C. State losing to Maryland last week, Florida State backed into the championship game, giving the A.C.C. the marquee match up that it was hoping for a the beginning of the season. Although Florida State didn’t play a conference game last week, they dispatched in-state rival Florida with surprising ease. Victories over Florida and Miami this season ought to help the Seminoles on the recruiting trail and could help Florida State return to it’s glory days of the late 1980’s and 90’s. (From 1987-2000 the Seminoles finished in the top five every year. Think about that for a second.)
What hurt Florida State this season was back to back losses to North Carolina State and North Carolina as well as an absolute thumping at the hands of Oklahoma. Still, in Jimbo Fisher’s first season as head coach, the Seminoles are in the conference title game and seem to be headed in the right direction.
On the other side is a red hot Virginia Tech team that has won nine in a row after starting the season 0-2. They opened with a loss to Boise State in a very close game and followed that up with an inexplicable loss to James Madison at home. They regrouped (a lot of credit has to go to Frank Beamer and his staff) and are the first team since Florida State in 2000 to go through A.C.C. conference play without a loss. In fact, it was that 2000 Florida State team that defeated Virginia Tech (then in the Big East) for the national title.
This week’s game figures to be a close one, with both teams boasting experience at quarterback, solid running games and two of the conference’s stingiest defenses. Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder is a pocket passer, while Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor is more of a dual threat quarterback. One of the keys to the game will be how Ponder plays against a ball hawking secondary that leads the conference in interceptions (Jayron Hosley leads the nation with 8 picks on the year).
Big 12 Championship Game
8 p.m., No. 9 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Nebraska, Arlington, Tex., ABC
Announcers; Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe
The Cornhuskers have not won the Big 12 since 1999, but in their last season in the conference before moving to the Big Ten, here they are with a chance to end that streak. Conspiracy theorists in Lincoln seem to think that Big 12 officials have been out to get them (particularly against Texas A&M) and note that no one was on hand to present the Cornhuskers with the Big 12 North trophy last week when they beat Colorado to clinch a spot in this game. Not sure I buy that, but I love a good conspiracy theory.
Oklahoma, on the other hand, is no stranger to this game. This is the Sooners’ seventh trip here in nine seasons, but this year it was a little more complicated to get here than it was in past seasons. After beating Oklahoma State in a classic last week, the Sooners were part of a three-way tie atop the South Division with Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. Thanks to B.C.S. rankings, the Sooners find themselves once again in the Big 12 Championship game, which they have won four times since 2004.
This is just a classic football matchup. Two programs that immediately come to mind when you think college football. But you better appreciate it now. This is the lat scheduled meeting between these two for some time. With Nebraska in the Big Ten, who knows when these two are going to meet again?
Two questions on the field coming into this one are which Landry Jones will come to play and whether Taylor Martinez will play at all. Last week Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones threw three interceptions in the first half against Oklahoma State, but rebounded in a big way in the second half. Martinez, meanwhile, sat out Nebraska’s victory over Colorado with an ankle injury and Cody Green played instead.
3:30 p.m., No. 2 Oregon at Oregon State, ABC
Announcers: Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge and Erin Andrews
This may not be the Pac-10 Championship game that it was last year, but arguably there is more on the line this time around. The Ducks went to the Rose Bowl last year, but this year their sights are set a little higher. Glendale, not Pasadena, would be the destination of choice for Oregon.
Consider what Oregon Coach Chip Kelly has done in only his second season as head coach at any level. He went from being an assistant at New Hampshire in 2006 to running the No. 1 offense in college football and being a win from playing for the national championship in 2010. According to USA Today, he stands to make a $4.3 million bonus for making that national championship. All this in a season where he threw his starting quarterback off the team in March.
How good is Oregon’s offense? The Ducks lead the nation with an average of 541.7 yards per game, prompting some teams to fake injuries in an effort to slow Oregon. That was what California did when they held the Ducks to 16 points in the closest to a slip up that Oregon has had this season. To slow down the Oregon offense California defenders would fall to the turf to feign injury in order to slow the pace. The Ducks’ offense is so fast-paced that there often isn’t even time for a television replay between their plays. They have the nation’s leading rusher in LaMichael James and a dual threat quarterback who has largely stayed away from turning the ball over throwing 26 touchdowns to only 7 interceptions.
Oregon State has been struggling of late, losing three of it’s last four and four of its last six. They have lost to some good teams in there (U.S.C. and Stanford), but have also lost to suspect ones (Washington State). A lot would have to go right for them to keep this one close. Namely running back Jacquizz Rodgers (who got some preseason Heisman attention) would have to have an absolutely bananas day. Still, this one is in Corvallis and as we should all know by now, anything can happen in college football. I could see flipping back to this one during the SEC Championship game to keep an eye on it.
8 p.m., Connecticut at South Florida, ESPN2
Announcers: Mark Jones, Bob Davie and Quint Kessenich
With a victory here a four-loss Husky team will clinch the Big East title and a B.C.S. Bowl ahead of a number of worthy one-loss teams. That’s just they way it works. Hey, a 7-9 N.F.C. West team is probably going to make the playoffs in the N.F.L. There have been years where sub-.500 teams from the N.B.A.’s Eastern Conference have made the playoffs instead of more worthy Western Conference teams. This is not a problem that’s unique to college football, but still, Connecticut in a B.C.S. game is going to rub a lot of people the wrong way.
That being said, the Connecticut football team is a great story. In his 12th season at the helm of a program that he took from I-AA to division I, Randy Edsall has his team on the cusp of a Big East title and a B.C.S. Bowl. Sure this is a team that lost by 20 at Michigan and was shut out by 26-0 at Louisville and also lost at Temple and at Rutgers. Those are not good losses. But they did beat West Virginia in overtime, edge Pittsburgh by two points and beat defending Big East champs Cincinnati last week to get to where they are now.
Standing in the Huskies’ way is a South Florida team coached by the former Connecticut coach Skip Holtz that is coming off a huge overtime victory over Miami. That win is a big one for this South Florida team (particularly in recruiting) and they will look to carry that momentum into this game. Starting quarterback B.J. Daniels is banged up, but his replacement Bobby Eveld led them to a win last week in the second half and overtime against Miami.
For Connecticut, keep an eye on Jordan Todman, who leads the conference and is second in the nation with an average of 148.1 yards per game. He is the latest in a line of successful Connecticut running backs.
So who wins the Big East if Connecticut loses? Well, West Virginia hosts Rutgers earlier in the day and a win by the Mountaineers and a loss by the Huskies would send West Virginia to a B.C.S. bowl game.
So what about this weekend? Well, something is going to happen. It has to. Not that I wouldn’t love to see Oregon and Auburn play for a national title. I would. But it just feels as if e college football has one more surprise for us on championship Saturday. Just a hunch. It’s not as if I haven’t been wrong before. Anyway, let’s get to the match ups.
SEC Championship Game
4 p.m., No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 19 South Carolina, Atlanta, CBS
Announcers: Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Tracy Wolfson
For Auburn, a victory in this one means a trip to Glendale, Ariz. to play for a national title. It’s that simple. Win and they’re in.
But don’t think that there’s not a fair amount on the line for the Gamecocks as well. A victory would mean the school’s first SEC Championship and the program’s first BCS bowl. Those are big prizes for a school like South Carolina that is making its first appearance in the SEC Championship game and is playing very good football right now. (Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss are the only SEC teams to have still not made it to the conference championship.)
These two teams met earlier this season on Sept. 25, when Auburn overcame a 13-point deficit to come away with a 35-27 victory. In fact, the Tigers have been coming from behind quite a bit this season, with eight come-from-behind victories on the year. Four of those were by double digits, including last week’s stirring comeback from a 24-point deficit to knock off Alabama in Tuscaloosa and keep their national title hopes alive. This is the sixth time that the SEC Championship has been a rematch, and four of the five previous rematches have seen the team that won the first meeting prevail in the second.
South Carolina has come a long way this season. The week after losing to Auburn on the road, the Gamecocks came home knocked off the then No. 1 Crimson Tide by two touchdowns. Quarterback Stephen Garcia got pulled from the Auburn game the week before, but played a near flawless game against Alabama to help the Gamecocks stage the upset. If Garcia can put together that kind of game this weekend, than South Carolina is going to be tough to beat. That might be asking a lot.
One of the key players in this one is going to be receiver Alshon Jefferey, who is one of the most underrated players in the nation. In the first meeting Jeffery caught eight passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns and Auburn has struggled to contain the SEC’s elite receivers all season.
As bad as Auburn has been against the pass this season, they have been very good against the run. South Carolina’s freshman running back Marcus Lattimore has had a tremendous season, but was stymied by the Tigers in their first meeting and carried the ball just three times in the second half of that one. Even if he’s not churning out yards, he will need to be more involved down the stretch for South Carolina to come away with a victory.
One of the keys to Auburn success against the run has been the play of tackle Nick Fairly, who has been one of the best defensive players in the SEC this season filling gaps against the run and sacking the quarterback a conference leading 8 times.
The fact that South Carolina has seen Cam Newton once this season would seem to be an advantage, but in fact Newton has been improving every week and is very likely even be a better football player this week than he was on that first meeting. Last week, Alabama focused on not allowing Newton to run and he responded with one of his best passing performances of the year. Newton is truly one of the most dangerous weapons in college football; he can beat you in so many ways and he seems to be getting even more adept at taking what opposing defenses give him and not forcing things. In my mind Newton is a lock for the Heisman Trophy and another good performance here would just further his position as the best player in college football.
This one is quite simply a must watch. It’s the last Saturday of college football. It’s the SEC Championship game at 4 p.m. Enjoy it. It’s going to be a long winter.
A.C.C. Championship Game
7:45 p.m., No. 21 Florida State vs. No. 15 Virginia Tech, Charlotte, ESPN
Announcers; Sean McDonough, Matt Millen and Quint Kessenich
With N.C. State losing to Maryland last week, Florida State backed into the championship game, giving the A.C.C. the marquee match up that it was hoping for a the beginning of the season. Although Florida State didn’t play a conference game last week, they dispatched in-state rival Florida with surprising ease. Victories over Florida and Miami this season ought to help the Seminoles on the recruiting trail and could help Florida State return to it’s glory days of the late 1980’s and 90’s. (From 1987-2000 the Seminoles finished in the top five every year. Think about that for a second.)
What hurt Florida State this season was back to back losses to North Carolina State and North Carolina as well as an absolute thumping at the hands of Oklahoma. Still, in Jimbo Fisher’s first season as head coach, the Seminoles are in the conference title game and seem to be headed in the right direction.
On the other side is a red hot Virginia Tech team that has won nine in a row after starting the season 0-2. They opened with a loss to Boise State in a very close game and followed that up with an inexplicable loss to James Madison at home. They regrouped (a lot of credit has to go to Frank Beamer and his staff) and are the first team since Florida State in 2000 to go through A.C.C. conference play without a loss. In fact, it was that 2000 Florida State team that defeated Virginia Tech (then in the Big East) for the national title.
This week’s game figures to be a close one, with both teams boasting experience at quarterback, solid running games and two of the conference’s stingiest defenses. Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder is a pocket passer, while Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor is more of a dual threat quarterback. One of the keys to the game will be how Ponder plays against a ball hawking secondary that leads the conference in interceptions (Jayron Hosley leads the nation with 8 picks on the year).
Big 12 Championship Game
8 p.m., No. 9 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Nebraska, Arlington, Tex., ABC
Announcers; Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe
The Cornhuskers have not won the Big 12 since 1999, but in their last season in the conference before moving to the Big Ten, here they are with a chance to end that streak. Conspiracy theorists in Lincoln seem to think that Big 12 officials have been out to get them (particularly against Texas A&M) and note that no one was on hand to present the Cornhuskers with the Big 12 North trophy last week when they beat Colorado to clinch a spot in this game. Not sure I buy that, but I love a good conspiracy theory.
Oklahoma, on the other hand, is no stranger to this game. This is the Sooners’ seventh trip here in nine seasons, but this year it was a little more complicated to get here than it was in past seasons. After beating Oklahoma State in a classic last week, the Sooners were part of a three-way tie atop the South Division with Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. Thanks to B.C.S. rankings, the Sooners find themselves once again in the Big 12 Championship game, which they have won four times since 2004.
This is just a classic football matchup. Two programs that immediately come to mind when you think college football. But you better appreciate it now. This is the lat scheduled meeting between these two for some time. With Nebraska in the Big Ten, who knows when these two are going to meet again?
Two questions on the field coming into this one are which Landry Jones will come to play and whether Taylor Martinez will play at all. Last week Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones threw three interceptions in the first half against Oklahoma State, but rebounded in a big way in the second half. Martinez, meanwhile, sat out Nebraska’s victory over Colorado with an ankle injury and Cody Green played instead.
3:30 p.m., No. 2 Oregon at Oregon State, ABC
Announcers: Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge and Erin Andrews
This may not be the Pac-10 Championship game that it was last year, but arguably there is more on the line this time around. The Ducks went to the Rose Bowl last year, but this year their sights are set a little higher. Glendale, not Pasadena, would be the destination of choice for Oregon.
Consider what Oregon Coach Chip Kelly has done in only his second season as head coach at any level. He went from being an assistant at New Hampshire in 2006 to running the No. 1 offense in college football and being a win from playing for the national championship in 2010. According to USA Today, he stands to make a $4.3 million bonus for making that national championship. All this in a season where he threw his starting quarterback off the team in March.
How good is Oregon’s offense? The Ducks lead the nation with an average of 541.7 yards per game, prompting some teams to fake injuries in an effort to slow Oregon. That was what California did when they held the Ducks to 16 points in the closest to a slip up that Oregon has had this season. To slow down the Oregon offense California defenders would fall to the turf to feign injury in order to slow the pace. The Ducks’ offense is so fast-paced that there often isn’t even time for a television replay between their plays. They have the nation’s leading rusher in LaMichael James and a dual threat quarterback who has largely stayed away from turning the ball over throwing 26 touchdowns to only 7 interceptions.
Oregon State has been struggling of late, losing three of it’s last four and four of its last six. They have lost to some good teams in there (U.S.C. and Stanford), but have also lost to suspect ones (Washington State). A lot would have to go right for them to keep this one close. Namely running back Jacquizz Rodgers (who got some preseason Heisman attention) would have to have an absolutely bananas day. Still, this one is in Corvallis and as we should all know by now, anything can happen in college football. I could see flipping back to this one during the SEC Championship game to keep an eye on it.
8 p.m., Connecticut at South Florida, ESPN2
Announcers: Mark Jones, Bob Davie and Quint Kessenich
With a victory here a four-loss Husky team will clinch the Big East title and a B.C.S. Bowl ahead of a number of worthy one-loss teams. That’s just they way it works. Hey, a 7-9 N.F.C. West team is probably going to make the playoffs in the N.F.L. There have been years where sub-.500 teams from the N.B.A.’s Eastern Conference have made the playoffs instead of more worthy Western Conference teams. This is not a problem that’s unique to college football, but still, Connecticut in a B.C.S. game is going to rub a lot of people the wrong way.
That being said, the Connecticut football team is a great story. In his 12th season at the helm of a program that he took from I-AA to division I, Randy Edsall has his team on the cusp of a Big East title and a B.C.S. Bowl. Sure this is a team that lost by 20 at Michigan and was shut out by 26-0 at Louisville and also lost at Temple and at Rutgers. Those are not good losses. But they did beat West Virginia in overtime, edge Pittsburgh by two points and beat defending Big East champs Cincinnati last week to get to where they are now.
Standing in the Huskies’ way is a South Florida team coached by the former Connecticut coach Skip Holtz that is coming off a huge overtime victory over Miami. That win is a big one for this South Florida team (particularly in recruiting) and they will look to carry that momentum into this game. Starting quarterback B.J. Daniels is banged up, but his replacement Bobby Eveld led them to a win last week in the second half and overtime against Miami.
For Connecticut, keep an eye on Jordan Todman, who leads the conference and is second in the nation with an average of 148.1 yards per game. He is the latest in a line of successful Connecticut running backs.
So who wins the Big East if Connecticut loses? Well, West Virginia hosts Rutgers earlier in the day and a win by the Mountaineers and a loss by the Huskies would send West Virginia to a B.C.S. bowl game.
Buffalo Bills LB Reggie Tobor Placed On IR
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills starting linebacker Reggie Torbor is done for the season after being placed on injured reserve Friday because of a shoulder injury that will require surgery.
Torbor finished with 41 tackles after signing with the Bills as a free agent. He was hurt in Sunday's overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Bills claimed tight end Scott Chandler after he was waived by the Dallas Cowboys to take Torbor's roster spot.
Starting right guard Eric Wood (ankle), cornerback Terrence McGee (nerve behind knee) and tight end Shawn Nelson (migraine) all will not play Sunday when the Bills (2-9) play at the Minnesota Vikings (4-7).
Torbor finished with 41 tackles after signing with the Bills as a free agent. He was hurt in Sunday's overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Bills claimed tight end Scott Chandler after he was waived by the Dallas Cowboys to take Torbor's roster spot.
Starting right guard Eric Wood (ankle), cornerback Terrence McGee (nerve behind knee) and tight end Shawn Nelson (migraine) all will not play Sunday when the Bills (2-9) play at the Minnesota Vikings (4-7).
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Dropped Pass Not God's Fault, Bills Receiver Steve Johnson Hands
Buffalo Bills receiver Steve Johnson’s T-shirt said it all.
Walking to the microphone before practice Wednesday, Johnson sported a shirt with the words “It’s all good” emblazoned across the chest.
“Yeah I’ve been able to put it behind me,” Johnson said. “I haven’t forgotten about it, but I’m ready to move on from it.”
The “it” Johnson was referring to was his costly end-zone drop in overtime Sunday that prevented the Bills from upsetting the Pittsburgh Steelers. “It” also refers to the public storm that engulfed him after the game when he posted a message on his Twitter account, wondering how God could do this to him.
An upbeat Johnson talked candidly Wednesday about the drop and his controversial tweet.
“God is everything,” he said. “I feel like he’s the Creator, and he’s 100 per cent good. I simply just asked ‘Why?’ I was not blaming him or any of that. Why would I? But it happened, and the way people took it, is the way they took it. They can say what they want, it’s fine with me. I’m still going to keep doing what I have to do to keep being a good receiver.”
Johnson’s been much more than a good receiver for the Bills. He’s emerged as quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s go-to guy, and he leads the team with 59 receptions, 796 yards and nine touchdowns.
But it’s the would-be 10th touchdown falling out of his grasp that’s taught Johnson that sometimes he isn’t in the driver’s seat with what transpires on the field.
“When plays are called, I just felt like I was in control,” he said. “But when it came down to (making the play), I didn’t. So I’m not in control of that.”
Though the drop has been on countless highlight shows over the last couple of days, Johnson said he hasn’t seen it on television.
“I didn’t try to avoid it,” he said. “I was in the play, so I know exactly what happened.”
Johnson said he’s been getting a tremendous amount of support from his teammates, friends, family, and even Buffalo’s all-time leading receiver, Andre Reed, who called him on Tuesday.
“He just said it happens to the best of us,” Johnson said.
Fitzpatrick once again rallied around Johnson and said he’s confident the 2008 seventh-round draft pick will show no ill-effects Sunday when Buffalo (2-9) plays at the Minnesota Vikings (4-7).
“In the NFL, you can’t get too high and you can’t get too low,” Fitzpatrick said. “I think the message that everybody has tried to give to him and the message in general to the team is move on, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
This is the second instance where controversy swirled around a tweet made by a Bill. Rookie running back C.J. Spiller apologized for using a derogatory term toward gays that he posted on his Twitter account last month.
Johnson said he didn’t regret posting his tweet, but he understands that public figures have become more public with social networking.
“We’re an internet generation now, and maybe I shouldn’t have done it,” he said. “It’ll take a while for me to get back into it, but I’ll still be the same person.”
The Bills hope he’s the same receiver that’s been posting big numbers on the field.
Walking to the microphone before practice Wednesday, Johnson sported a shirt with the words “It’s all good” emblazoned across the chest.
“Yeah I’ve been able to put it behind me,” Johnson said. “I haven’t forgotten about it, but I’m ready to move on from it.”
The “it” Johnson was referring to was his costly end-zone drop in overtime Sunday that prevented the Bills from upsetting the Pittsburgh Steelers. “It” also refers to the public storm that engulfed him after the game when he posted a message on his Twitter account, wondering how God could do this to him.
An upbeat Johnson talked candidly Wednesday about the drop and his controversial tweet.
“God is everything,” he said. “I feel like he’s the Creator, and he’s 100 per cent good. I simply just asked ‘Why?’ I was not blaming him or any of that. Why would I? But it happened, and the way people took it, is the way they took it. They can say what they want, it’s fine with me. I’m still going to keep doing what I have to do to keep being a good receiver.”
Johnson’s been much more than a good receiver for the Bills. He’s emerged as quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s go-to guy, and he leads the team with 59 receptions, 796 yards and nine touchdowns.
But it’s the would-be 10th touchdown falling out of his grasp that’s taught Johnson that sometimes he isn’t in the driver’s seat with what transpires on the field.
“When plays are called, I just felt like I was in control,” he said. “But when it came down to (making the play), I didn’t. So I’m not in control of that.”
Though the drop has been on countless highlight shows over the last couple of days, Johnson said he hasn’t seen it on television.
“I didn’t try to avoid it,” he said. “I was in the play, so I know exactly what happened.”
Johnson said he’s been getting a tremendous amount of support from his teammates, friends, family, and even Buffalo’s all-time leading receiver, Andre Reed, who called him on Tuesday.
“He just said it happens to the best of us,” Johnson said.
Fitzpatrick once again rallied around Johnson and said he’s confident the 2008 seventh-round draft pick will show no ill-effects Sunday when Buffalo (2-9) plays at the Minnesota Vikings (4-7).
“In the NFL, you can’t get too high and you can’t get too low,” Fitzpatrick said. “I think the message that everybody has tried to give to him and the message in general to the team is move on, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
This is the second instance where controversy swirled around a tweet made by a Bill. Rookie running back C.J. Spiller apologized for using a derogatory term toward gays that he posted on his Twitter account last month.
Johnson said he didn’t regret posting his tweet, but he understands that public figures have become more public with social networking.
“We’re an internet generation now, and maybe I shouldn’t have done it,” he said. “It’ll take a while for me to get back into it, but I’ll still be the same person.”
The Bills hope he’s the same receiver that’s been posting big numbers on the field.
Cam Newton Investigation: Why the NCAA Got It Wrong, Damn Reggie Bush
cocknfire - NOTE: A disclaimer, since it's almost inevitable that this will come up. I want Cam Newton to be eligible to play in the SEC Championship Game this weekend, and not just as an SEC fan. As a South Carolina fan, I want there to be no debate about the Gamecocks' accomplishment if they somehow manage to pull off an upset that I don't really expect. There was never any reason to believe that Cam Newton would be ineligible for the SEC Championship Game, and so it doesn't change my expectations in the least. That's not what this post is about.
There's always been a bit of an uneasy balance in a democracy between our need to protect ourselves from crime and the questions about charging a citizen with conspiracy. For those who haven't followed an esoteric and kind of archaic debate about conspiracy, a conspiracy charge is brought against someone who helps or plans to help break the law -- even if they don't get to the point of committing the crime. The last part is what can be controversial: Why should prosecutors be able to bring criminal charges against someone who hasn't yet broken the law, or is just thinking about breaking the law?
The answer, supporters say, is because some crimes are so harmful to society that you can't wait until the crime is committed or can't only prosecute those who carry it out. If a terrorist is planning to build and set off a bomb at a shopping mall, it's best not to wait until he's walking into the mall to arrest him. If a governor is preparing to sell off a U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder, you don't necessarily want to wait until the money is in hand and the senator is seated to issue indictments.
The NCAA essentially ruled today that there are no conspiracy charges when it comes to the Association's bylaws. You can dissect the statement anyway you want, you can point to Mike Slive's judicial (and overly judicious) reasoning if you want, but the NCAA today ruled that trying to sell your son to the highest bidder isn't that bad if you don't actually get any money in the end. Cecil Newton can still look for Dan Mullen to put a smile on his face as long as he never actually smirks.
Star-divide
If you're an Auburn fan, or you're one of those who debate the merits of the amateurism rules in the first place, this is really not that big a deal. In the latter case, I'm talking about those who don't see a small amount of spending money as sufficient reform to the NCAA's arcane scholarship rules. They want tens of thousands of dollars to go to some students, and don't really care that this would gut everything that makes college athletics unique. But I digress. In the former case, you will repeat a mantra that is tried, and for the moment true: There is no proof that Auburn did anything wrong; why should the Tigers be punished?
It could be a fair point, I suppose, but the NCAA has proven to readily ignore that idea in the past. First, the facts as the NCAA has presented them:
[T]he student-athlete's father and an owner of a scouting service worked together to actively market the student-athlete as a part of a pay-for-play scenario in return for Newton’s commitment to attend college and play football. ...
"Based on the information available to the reinstatement staff at this time, we do not have sufficient evidence that Cam Newton or anyone from Auburn was aware of this activity, which led to his reinstatement."
And I know I'm not the first one to say this, but it bears repeating as often as possible: If this remains the end of the fallout from the Newton recruitment, the Association has not created a massive new loophole in the rules. It has thrown the rulebook out completely.
Non-Auburn fans by and large have voiced that very concern in the wake of this decision. Meanwhile, at least one Auburncentric outlet is bring up Albert Means (how convenient) to say that the precedent here has already been set.
You see Memphis wasn’t involved in any illegal recruiting of Means and he nor his family got any extra benefits. Therefore he was able to play for the Tigers after sitting out a year because of the transfer. Even though money exchanged hands in the Means case, he was still able to play at Memphis.
Well, yes, that's a precedent -- if you ignore the whole "facts of the case" thing. First, there appears to have been no direct benefit to Means or his family in the recruitment of Means, nor any talk of direct benefit to Means or his family. Whether the prospect or his family is involved in the effort to receive benefits would, I think, be something of interest to the NCAA.
Second, Albert Means transferred to Memphis not just after the rules violations had occurred, but after they had been discovered. In other words, Albert Means did not decide to play at Memphis as part of the same recruitment that sparked the NCAA investigation.
Auburn was recruiting Cam Newton at the same time that Mississippi State was, which raises this nagging question: If Auburn really did nothing wrong here, did not pay or arrange to pay Cecil Newton anything, why did this happen?
Newton preferred Starkville because of his close relationship with Bulldogs coach Dan Mullen, who had been Newton's offensive coordinator at Florida. But Cecil thought his son should choose Auburn, which had an experienced offensive line (four starters were returning) and was only a two-hour drive from Atlanta. Newton let his father make the final decision, and a few days before Christmas, while sitting at the dinner table in his brother's house in Jacksonville, Cecil Sr. uttered two words that would radically alter the college football landscape: "It's Auburn."
This is an odd timeline of events. We now have a situation where no one disputes that Cecil Newton was involved in a pay-for-play scheme. He asked Mississippi State for money and, by all counts, they didn't pay. The official Auburn version of the story now says that Auburn didn't pay Newton, either. But if Cam wanted to go to Mississippi State, and neither Auburn nor Mississippi State paid the Newtons, then why did Cecil choose Auburn? Spite? It's not like he then had anything to gain by declining to allow Cam to follow his heart and play at State.
That question was always there, but it takes on greater urgency now that we know Cecil Newton was asking Mississippi State for money and no one is really contesting that.
But let's go into a hypothetical situation for a moment: What if Cam Newton had gone to Mississippi State instead? Would anyone out there not be ruling their eyes if the same ruling was made? Does anyone seriously think that the same ruling would have been made? Or that Auburn fans wouldn't have been among those leading the siege on Indianapolis if it was made? Isn't the difference here, for those of us not blinded by fandom, less one of some sort of victory for the Newtons and Auburn and more of a loss for common sense?
What makes all of this more confusing is that it seems to be a return to the 2000s-era NCAA in the middle of an active period where the Association had sent a clear message that the "see no evil" period was over. But now there are questions about what the NCAA was doing if it's going to back of in this case. There is a question of proportionality when A.J. Green is suspended for four games for selling a jersey and Cam Newton misses not a game. Georgia did nothing wrong there, and was only punished by a 1-4 start that Green could have helped avoid.
And think about the questions that Enes Kanter's supporters must be asking about how far plausible deniability goes.
Kanter and his father acknowledged in August receiving the benefits, the NCAA said. On Oct. 25, UK officials agreed with the dollar amount but presumably argued that the money was part of the permitted actual and necessary expenses. The NCAA disagreed.
Would it have been better if Kanter had said he didn't know how much money his family had received? Heck, if he said he thought his family was only receiving permitted actual and necessary expenses, he ought to be able to play, right? And I would really like anyone from the NCAA who disagrees with that to answer this: Why not?
I don't know what the road looks like from here for this investigation. If nothing else is found, can you lower the boom on Mississippi State for continuing to recruit Newton after they heard about the pay-for-play scheme? How can you do that without also hammering Auburn? And how can you do that if Auburn knows nothing about this, which is now apparently enough for the NCAA? I don't see how the NCAA can levy sanctions against anyone if the facts don't change.
But do that, and no one faces any real consequences. If his own athletics department was apparently willing to turn on him, one wonders how much Kenny Rogers really loses from being disassociated. Cam Newton is all but certainly gone to the NFL after this year. Cecil Newton will surely get a slice of his sizable signing bonus. And Auburn will have a Heisman Trophy and maybe a crystal football, even if both come wrapped in questions that will never be answered.
And if there are no sanctions, there is no deterrent.
The NCAA investigation in this case has so far done us no good; it hasn't answered any of the questions or provided any clarity. Instead, it's just muddied the water, stacking question on top of question, and leaving the sport's fans to try to figure out what the rules are and how they are applied. It has made things immeasurably worse.
And our conference and our sport are poorer for it.
There's always been a bit of an uneasy balance in a democracy between our need to protect ourselves from crime and the questions about charging a citizen with conspiracy. For those who haven't followed an esoteric and kind of archaic debate about conspiracy, a conspiracy charge is brought against someone who helps or plans to help break the law -- even if they don't get to the point of committing the crime. The last part is what can be controversial: Why should prosecutors be able to bring criminal charges against someone who hasn't yet broken the law, or is just thinking about breaking the law?
The answer, supporters say, is because some crimes are so harmful to society that you can't wait until the crime is committed or can't only prosecute those who carry it out. If a terrorist is planning to build and set off a bomb at a shopping mall, it's best not to wait until he's walking into the mall to arrest him. If a governor is preparing to sell off a U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder, you don't necessarily want to wait until the money is in hand and the senator is seated to issue indictments.
The NCAA essentially ruled today that there are no conspiracy charges when it comes to the Association's bylaws. You can dissect the statement anyway you want, you can point to Mike Slive's judicial (and overly judicious) reasoning if you want, but the NCAA today ruled that trying to sell your son to the highest bidder isn't that bad if you don't actually get any money in the end. Cecil Newton can still look for Dan Mullen to put a smile on his face as long as he never actually smirks.
Star-divide
If you're an Auburn fan, or you're one of those who debate the merits of the amateurism rules in the first place, this is really not that big a deal. In the latter case, I'm talking about those who don't see a small amount of spending money as sufficient reform to the NCAA's arcane scholarship rules. They want tens of thousands of dollars to go to some students, and don't really care that this would gut everything that makes college athletics unique. But I digress. In the former case, you will repeat a mantra that is tried, and for the moment true: There is no proof that Auburn did anything wrong; why should the Tigers be punished?
It could be a fair point, I suppose, but the NCAA has proven to readily ignore that idea in the past. First, the facts as the NCAA has presented them:
[T]he student-athlete's father and an owner of a scouting service worked together to actively market the student-athlete as a part of a pay-for-play scenario in return for Newton’s commitment to attend college and play football. ...
"Based on the information available to the reinstatement staff at this time, we do not have sufficient evidence that Cam Newton or anyone from Auburn was aware of this activity, which led to his reinstatement."
And I know I'm not the first one to say this, but it bears repeating as often as possible: If this remains the end of the fallout from the Newton recruitment, the Association has not created a massive new loophole in the rules. It has thrown the rulebook out completely.
Non-Auburn fans by and large have voiced that very concern in the wake of this decision. Meanwhile, at least one Auburncentric outlet is bring up Albert Means (how convenient) to say that the precedent here has already been set.
You see Memphis wasn’t involved in any illegal recruiting of Means and he nor his family got any extra benefits. Therefore he was able to play for the Tigers after sitting out a year because of the transfer. Even though money exchanged hands in the Means case, he was still able to play at Memphis.
Well, yes, that's a precedent -- if you ignore the whole "facts of the case" thing. First, there appears to have been no direct benefit to Means or his family in the recruitment of Means, nor any talk of direct benefit to Means or his family. Whether the prospect or his family is involved in the effort to receive benefits would, I think, be something of interest to the NCAA.
Second, Albert Means transferred to Memphis not just after the rules violations had occurred, but after they had been discovered. In other words, Albert Means did not decide to play at Memphis as part of the same recruitment that sparked the NCAA investigation.
Auburn was recruiting Cam Newton at the same time that Mississippi State was, which raises this nagging question: If Auburn really did nothing wrong here, did not pay or arrange to pay Cecil Newton anything, why did this happen?
Newton preferred Starkville because of his close relationship with Bulldogs coach Dan Mullen, who had been Newton's offensive coordinator at Florida. But Cecil thought his son should choose Auburn, which had an experienced offensive line (four starters were returning) and was only a two-hour drive from Atlanta. Newton let his father make the final decision, and a few days before Christmas, while sitting at the dinner table in his brother's house in Jacksonville, Cecil Sr. uttered two words that would radically alter the college football landscape: "It's Auburn."
This is an odd timeline of events. We now have a situation where no one disputes that Cecil Newton was involved in a pay-for-play scheme. He asked Mississippi State for money and, by all counts, they didn't pay. The official Auburn version of the story now says that Auburn didn't pay Newton, either. But if Cam wanted to go to Mississippi State, and neither Auburn nor Mississippi State paid the Newtons, then why did Cecil choose Auburn? Spite? It's not like he then had anything to gain by declining to allow Cam to follow his heart and play at State.
That question was always there, but it takes on greater urgency now that we know Cecil Newton was asking Mississippi State for money and no one is really contesting that.
But let's go into a hypothetical situation for a moment: What if Cam Newton had gone to Mississippi State instead? Would anyone out there not be ruling their eyes if the same ruling was made? Does anyone seriously think that the same ruling would have been made? Or that Auburn fans wouldn't have been among those leading the siege on Indianapolis if it was made? Isn't the difference here, for those of us not blinded by fandom, less one of some sort of victory for the Newtons and Auburn and more of a loss for common sense?
What makes all of this more confusing is that it seems to be a return to the 2000s-era NCAA in the middle of an active period where the Association had sent a clear message that the "see no evil" period was over. But now there are questions about what the NCAA was doing if it's going to back of in this case. There is a question of proportionality when A.J. Green is suspended for four games for selling a jersey and Cam Newton misses not a game. Georgia did nothing wrong there, and was only punished by a 1-4 start that Green could have helped avoid.
And think about the questions that Enes Kanter's supporters must be asking about how far plausible deniability goes.
Kanter and his father acknowledged in August receiving the benefits, the NCAA said. On Oct. 25, UK officials agreed with the dollar amount but presumably argued that the money was part of the permitted actual and necessary expenses. The NCAA disagreed.
Would it have been better if Kanter had said he didn't know how much money his family had received? Heck, if he said he thought his family was only receiving permitted actual and necessary expenses, he ought to be able to play, right? And I would really like anyone from the NCAA who disagrees with that to answer this: Why not?
I don't know what the road looks like from here for this investigation. If nothing else is found, can you lower the boom on Mississippi State for continuing to recruit Newton after they heard about the pay-for-play scheme? How can you do that without also hammering Auburn? And how can you do that if Auburn knows nothing about this, which is now apparently enough for the NCAA? I don't see how the NCAA can levy sanctions against anyone if the facts don't change.
But do that, and no one faces any real consequences. If his own athletics department was apparently willing to turn on him, one wonders how much Kenny Rogers really loses from being disassociated. Cam Newton is all but certainly gone to the NFL after this year. Cecil Newton will surely get a slice of his sizable signing bonus. And Auburn will have a Heisman Trophy and maybe a crystal football, even if both come wrapped in questions that will never be answered.
And if there are no sanctions, there is no deterrent.
The NCAA investigation in this case has so far done us no good; it hasn't answered any of the questions or provided any clarity. Instead, it's just muddied the water, stacking question on top of question, and leaving the sport's fans to try to figure out what the rules are and how they are applied. It has made things immeasurably worse.
And our conference and our sport are poorer for it.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Buffalo Bills vs. Minnestoa Vikings Preview Dec 5, 2010
The Buffalo Bills will travel to Minnesota to take on Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings on December 5th. The Buffalo Bills are coming off a gutting
loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers who squeaked out a win over the pesky Buffalo Bills in Buffalo. The Minnesota Vikings scored just enough to take down a tough home team in the Washington Redskins to bring their win total to four wins and seven losses heading into this important home game.
Minnesota Vikings Offense vs Buffalo Bills Defense
Brett Favre and his Minnesota Vikings offense did not flourish against a weak Washington Redskins defense. Now they come up against a Buffalo Bills team that has won two of their last three and they took one of the best defensive teams in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers to a late overtime loss.
The Minnesota Vikings offense looks to be reinventing itself after the departure of Brad Childress but Brett Favre did look more comfortable to improvise during the game against the Washington Redskins. An injury to Adrian Peterson may be an issue later in the week and the number on this game could be affected. Sidney Rice has returned to the fold but he has not earned Brett Favre's trust yet as Visanthe Schiancoe was the go to receiver when the game was on the line.
The Buffalo Bills pass defense continues to be their strong suit. They are limiting the opposing offenses to just under 210 yards per game but they are also giving up 163 yards on the ground. If Adrian Peterson is healthy for this game it could be his biggest game of the year. The Minnesota Vikings offense has the edge over the Buffalo Bills defense.
Minnesota Vikings Defense vs Buffalo Bills Offense
Jared Allen and the Minnesota Vikings defense have been playing below their high level of intensity in the 2009 NFL season. They are still holding opposing quarterbacks below 220 yards passing per game but they are prone to giving up the big play every game. Mental lapses have done them in several games this year. Run defense for the Minnesota Vikings is still holding opposing rushers under 100 yards per game but they are not intimidating the opposition as they did last season. The defensive line is still one of the
best aspects of the Minnesota defense and they should be able to control the Buffalo Bills run game.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is playing at a level that could make him a top 10 NFL quarterback. Fitzpatrick has created an an attitude with the offense that gives them a confidence that they can score at will as they did against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was won until Buffalo Bills wide out Steve Johnson dropped the touchdown ball that would have won the game. Fitzpatrick is the wild card in this game and he could be the man do officially finish Brett Favre's career. The Buffalo Bills offense has a slight edge over the Minnesota Vikings defense.
The Las Vegas Hilton Superbook has made the Minnesota Vikings a six point home team favorite over the Buffalo Bills in a must win game for Minnesota. This game will be down to the wire but in the end it will come down to luck. It is never a good practice to bet on a game that will come down to the last second so when making a play on this only include it on office pools. Take the Minnesota Vikings -6 over the Buffalo Bills. Vikings 34 - Bills 20
loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers who squeaked out a win over the pesky Buffalo Bills in Buffalo. The Minnesota Vikings scored just enough to take down a tough home team in the Washington Redskins to bring their win total to four wins and seven losses heading into this important home game.
Minnesota Vikings Offense vs Buffalo Bills Defense
Brett Favre and his Minnesota Vikings offense did not flourish against a weak Washington Redskins defense. Now they come up against a Buffalo Bills team that has won two of their last three and they took one of the best defensive teams in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers to a late overtime loss.
The Minnesota Vikings offense looks to be reinventing itself after the departure of Brad Childress but Brett Favre did look more comfortable to improvise during the game against the Washington Redskins. An injury to Adrian Peterson may be an issue later in the week and the number on this game could be affected. Sidney Rice has returned to the fold but he has not earned Brett Favre's trust yet as Visanthe Schiancoe was the go to receiver when the game was on the line.
The Buffalo Bills pass defense continues to be their strong suit. They are limiting the opposing offenses to just under 210 yards per game but they are also giving up 163 yards on the ground. If Adrian Peterson is healthy for this game it could be his biggest game of the year. The Minnesota Vikings offense has the edge over the Buffalo Bills defense.
Minnesota Vikings Defense vs Buffalo Bills Offense
Jared Allen and the Minnesota Vikings defense have been playing below their high level of intensity in the 2009 NFL season. They are still holding opposing quarterbacks below 220 yards passing per game but they are prone to giving up the big play every game. Mental lapses have done them in several games this year. Run defense for the Minnesota Vikings is still holding opposing rushers under 100 yards per game but they are not intimidating the opposition as they did last season. The defensive line is still one of the
best aspects of the Minnesota defense and they should be able to control the Buffalo Bills run game.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is playing at a level that could make him a top 10 NFL quarterback. Fitzpatrick has created an an attitude with the offense that gives them a confidence that they can score at will as they did against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was won until Buffalo Bills wide out Steve Johnson dropped the touchdown ball that would have won the game. Fitzpatrick is the wild card in this game and he could be the man do officially finish Brett Favre's career. The Buffalo Bills offense has a slight edge over the Minnesota Vikings defense.
The Las Vegas Hilton Superbook has made the Minnesota Vikings a six point home team favorite over the Buffalo Bills in a must win game for Minnesota. This game will be down to the wire but in the end it will come down to luck. It is never a good practice to bet on a game that will come down to the last second so when making a play on this only include it on office pools. Take the Minnesota Vikings -6 over the Buffalo Bills. Vikings 34 - Bills 20
Monday, November 29, 2010
Buffalo Bills Wide Receiver Steve Johnson Blames dropped Pass On God
Fox News - Buffalo Bills wide receiver Steve Johnson blamed God for dropping a game-winning touchdown in a 19-16 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
The Bills outscored the Steelers 16-3 in the second half to force the overtime, but let the victory slip through their fingers, literally, as Johnson dropped a wide-open pass in the end zone.
Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick could only watch as Johnson dropped the sure touchdown and Pittsburgh drove 80 yards on the game's next series to set up the game-winning 41-yard field goal by Shaun Suisham.
Johnson was reluctant to accept responsibility for the gaffe, posting on his Twitter account post-game that it was in fact God's fault.
"I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO...," Johnson tweeted.
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Fitzpatrick finished the day completing 23 of 45 passes for 265 yards in the loss.
Suisham, who was brought in earlier this month after the Steelers waived long-time kicker Jeff Reed, provided the bulk of Pittsburgh’s points, converting four of four field goals at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Steelers running back Rashard Mendenall ran for 151 yards and one touchdown on 36 attempts to help keep Pittsburgh in position to win the tight game on the road.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for 246 yards, completing 20 of 33 passes.
The result snapped Buffalo's two-game winning streak after a miserable 0-8 start to the season.
The team now travels to Minnesota to take on the Vikings, who are 4-7 coming off a win over the Washington Redskins.
Pittsburgh, 8-3, heads to Baltimore next Sunday night to square off against AFC North rivals the Ravens.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2010/11/29/buffalo-bills-wide-receiver-blames-dropped-pass-god/#ixzz16hHbJMWl
The Bills outscored the Steelers 16-3 in the second half to force the overtime, but let the victory slip through their fingers, literally, as Johnson dropped a wide-open pass in the end zone.
Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick could only watch as Johnson dropped the sure touchdown and Pittsburgh drove 80 yards on the game's next series to set up the game-winning 41-yard field goal by Shaun Suisham.
Johnson was reluctant to accept responsibility for the gaffe, posting on his Twitter account post-game that it was in fact God's fault.
"I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO...," Johnson tweeted.
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Fitzpatrick finished the day completing 23 of 45 passes for 265 yards in the loss.
Suisham, who was brought in earlier this month after the Steelers waived long-time kicker Jeff Reed, provided the bulk of Pittsburgh’s points, converting four of four field goals at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Steelers running back Rashard Mendenall ran for 151 yards and one touchdown on 36 attempts to help keep Pittsburgh in position to win the tight game on the road.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for 246 yards, completing 20 of 33 passes.
The result snapped Buffalo's two-game winning streak after a miserable 0-8 start to the season.
The team now travels to Minnesota to take on the Vikings, who are 4-7 coming off a win over the Washington Redskins.
Pittsburgh, 8-3, heads to Baltimore next Sunday night to square off against AFC North rivals the Ravens.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2010/11/29/buffalo-bills-wide-receiver-blames-dropped-pass-god/#ixzz16hHbJMWl
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Cyber Monday Deals 2010 'Buffalo Bills Option 3-1 Tee Combo"
Cyber Monday 2010, which should logically be started on first Monday after Thanksgiving, has already begun in Amazon Stores. Both retail giants has launched the early-Cyber Monday deals to get the best out of the shopping event.
AMazon is holding a week long Cyber Monday Deals for 2010 shopping event. The retail king calls it “Cyber Week”. It is commonly understood that Amazon will have number of deals on Laptops, Desktops, Toys, Consumer Electronics, Home Appliances, Clothing and other product at the discounted rate as Cyber Monday deals. Cyber-Monday Will have A Buffalo Bills Option 3-1 Tee Combo for $29.35. There will be other Bills products on sale.
AMazon is holding a week long Cyber Monday Deals for 2010 shopping event. The retail king calls it “Cyber Week”. It is commonly understood that Amazon will have number of deals on Laptops, Desktops, Toys, Consumer Electronics, Home Appliances, Clothing and other product at the discounted rate as Cyber Monday deals. Cyber-Monday Will have A Buffalo Bills Option 3-1 Tee Combo for $29.35. There will be other Bills products on sale.
BCS Should Thank Nevada For Saving There Pathetic System
BCS Guru - The BCS ought to cut Nevada a fat check, seeing the upset of Boise State saved it untold millions, not to mention a potential public relations nightmare. That, coupled with Auburn's Lazarus-like comeback against Alabama, is setting up a relatively controversy-free postseason.
The deal for the main event is now pretty cut-and-dried. It will be Oregon vs. Auburn. If either is upset next week, TCU, which has locked up at worst a Rose Bowl berth, will be the stand-in. The only potential for chaos now is if both teams go down next week - Oregon plays at Oregon State in the Civil War game and Auburn faces South Carolina in the SEC championship game.
The Cameron Newton saga actually isn't in play now. Even if the NCAA rules him ineligible, Auburn's victory will not be vacated by next week. Whatever the Tigers achieve this season may be erased later, but not before this season is over.
On the undercard, however, there's a whole lot going on ...
1) TCU: With its rout of New Mexico, TCU becomes the first team to complete an undefeated season. At worst, the Frogs will earn a Rose Bowl berth against the Big Ten champion. And with LSU's loss to Arkansas, their spot in the top three will not be threatened no matter what happens next week.
2) Rose Bowl: LSU's loss made the Wisconsin-Ohio State race much closer, because the Tigers were wedged between these two teams in the polls. So close that the Guru is calling Ohio State to edge slightly in front. Keep in mind that the Big Ten will send the highest ranked team in the final BCS standings to the Rose Bowl, so this won't be decided until next week even though the Big Ten schedule is done. The Rose Bowl will be rooting for an Auburn loss, because then it will be free to pick Stanford to replace Oregon.
3) Stanford: Losses by LSU and Boise State also have enormous meaning for Stanford, which is now in position to be guaranteed a BCS bowl berth. The Cardinal will be No. 4 in the new BCS standings, and by BCS rule, it will have to be chosen by one of the BCS bowls. It remains to be seen whether Jim Harbaugh will be coaching that game.
4) Big 12: Oklahoma's bedlam of a victory over Oklahoma State produced the dreaded three-way tie in the Big 12 South for the second time in three years. OU will gain enough ground to take the division but it just boggles the mind why conferences would choose to use a ranking system that's so easily manipulated by outside influences, or even the participants themselves. In the Big Ten's case, all three head coaches have a vote in the coaches poll; but in the Big 12's case, Mike Sherman has a vote but Bob Stoops and Mike Gundy don't. It's pure insanity.
5) The Biggest Loser: If it wasn't so important to the Broncos you'd think that they lost to Nevada just to spite the WAC, which stands to lose nearly $10 million by missing out on a BCS bowl. But Boise State lost its chance to play in its third BCS bowl, probably the Rose Bowl, and possibly a shot at the national championship. They won't even win the conference outright, and will be consigned to play in either the Kraft Fight Hunger or Humanitarian Bowl against some 6-6 team.
6) The Biggest Winner: Meanwhile, UConn, a team that was manhandled by a second-division Big Ten team (Michigan) and a fifth-place team in the MAC (Temple), is one win away from a BCS Bowl berth. The Big East is committing grand larceny.
7) Bowl picture: The Guru will have a complete breakdown on all the bowls next week, but on a quick count, we now have exactly 70 bowl eligible teams, filling all 35 bowl games, with four teams (Washington, Oregon State, Middle Tennessee State and Louisiana Tech) can still play their way in by winning their final game. Of those four, only UW is likely to win and get a bowl bid, and if it does, then Western Michigan is out.
This week's projected BCS standings: 1. Oregon, 2. Auburn, 3. TCU, 4. Stanford, 5. Ohio State, 6. Wisconsin, 7. Arkansas, 8. Michigan State, 9. LSU, 10. Oklahoma, 11. Boise State, 12. Oklahoma State, 13. Nebraska, 14. Missouri, 15. Nevada.
The deal for the main event is now pretty cut-and-dried. It will be Oregon vs. Auburn. If either is upset next week, TCU, which has locked up at worst a Rose Bowl berth, will be the stand-in. The only potential for chaos now is if both teams go down next week - Oregon plays at Oregon State in the Civil War game and Auburn faces South Carolina in the SEC championship game.
The Cameron Newton saga actually isn't in play now. Even if the NCAA rules him ineligible, Auburn's victory will not be vacated by next week. Whatever the Tigers achieve this season may be erased later, but not before this season is over.
On the undercard, however, there's a whole lot going on ...
1) TCU: With its rout of New Mexico, TCU becomes the first team to complete an undefeated season. At worst, the Frogs will earn a Rose Bowl berth against the Big Ten champion. And with LSU's loss to Arkansas, their spot in the top three will not be threatened no matter what happens next week.
2) Rose Bowl: LSU's loss made the Wisconsin-Ohio State race much closer, because the Tigers were wedged between these two teams in the polls. So close that the Guru is calling Ohio State to edge slightly in front. Keep in mind that the Big Ten will send the highest ranked team in the final BCS standings to the Rose Bowl, so this won't be decided until next week even though the Big Ten schedule is done. The Rose Bowl will be rooting for an Auburn loss, because then it will be free to pick Stanford to replace Oregon.
3) Stanford: Losses by LSU and Boise State also have enormous meaning for Stanford, which is now in position to be guaranteed a BCS bowl berth. The Cardinal will be No. 4 in the new BCS standings, and by BCS rule, it will have to be chosen by one of the BCS bowls. It remains to be seen whether Jim Harbaugh will be coaching that game.
4) Big 12: Oklahoma's bedlam of a victory over Oklahoma State produced the dreaded three-way tie in the Big 12 South for the second time in three years. OU will gain enough ground to take the division but it just boggles the mind why conferences would choose to use a ranking system that's so easily manipulated by outside influences, or even the participants themselves. In the Big Ten's case, all three head coaches have a vote in the coaches poll; but in the Big 12's case, Mike Sherman has a vote but Bob Stoops and Mike Gundy don't. It's pure insanity.
5) The Biggest Loser: If it wasn't so important to the Broncos you'd think that they lost to Nevada just to spite the WAC, which stands to lose nearly $10 million by missing out on a BCS bowl. But Boise State lost its chance to play in its third BCS bowl, probably the Rose Bowl, and possibly a shot at the national championship. They won't even win the conference outright, and will be consigned to play in either the Kraft Fight Hunger or Humanitarian Bowl against some 6-6 team.
6) The Biggest Winner: Meanwhile, UConn, a team that was manhandled by a second-division Big Ten team (Michigan) and a fifth-place team in the MAC (Temple), is one win away from a BCS Bowl berth. The Big East is committing grand larceny.
7) Bowl picture: The Guru will have a complete breakdown on all the bowls next week, but on a quick count, we now have exactly 70 bowl eligible teams, filling all 35 bowl games, with four teams (Washington, Oregon State, Middle Tennessee State and Louisiana Tech) can still play their way in by winning their final game. Of those four, only UW is likely to win and get a bowl bid, and if it does, then Western Michigan is out.
This week's projected BCS standings: 1. Oregon, 2. Auburn, 3. TCU, 4. Stanford, 5. Ohio State, 6. Wisconsin, 7. Arkansas, 8. Michigan State, 9. LSU, 10. Oklahoma, 11. Boise State, 12. Oklahoma State, 13. Nebraska, 14. Missouri, 15. Nevada.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
NFL Week 12: Buffalo Bills vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Preview/Perdiction
The Buffalo Bills may be on a mini hot streak, winning their last two games and improving to an 2-8 record.
But we're fooling ourselves if we are anticipating an upset in this game.
This is a lock for the Steelers. You can count on it.
It's one thing when the Bills are going against a hapless defensive squad such as the Cincinnati Bengals, when they exploded for 35 second half points. But the Steelers are a much different and more viscous animal.
The Steelers are just fresh off of shutting down Darren McFadden and the Oakland Raiders in Week 11.
With a blend of scary and intimidating defense, as well as a potent offense. The Steelers should have it easy on Sunday.
Prediction: Steelers 24, Bills 10
But we're fooling ourselves if we are anticipating an upset in this game.
This is a lock for the Steelers. You can count on it.
It's one thing when the Bills are going against a hapless defensive squad such as the Cincinnati Bengals, when they exploded for 35 second half points. But the Steelers are a much different and more viscous animal.
The Steelers are just fresh off of shutting down Darren McFadden and the Oakland Raiders in Week 11.
With a blend of scary and intimidating defense, as well as a potent offense. The Steelers should have it easy on Sunday.
Prediction: Steelers 24, Bills 10
Friday, November 19, 2010
Tampa Bay's Bucs Mike Williams Charged With DUI
TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Michael Williams has been charged with DUI.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies said 23-year-old Michael Williams was speeding and weaving in and out of traffic around 2:30 a.m. Friday. Authorities said the football star's eyes were glassy and he smelled like alcohol.
According to a breathalyzer test, Williams had .065 blood-alcohol level, above Florida's 0.08 percent legal limit
Sheriff's spokesman Larry McKinnon said Williams also submitted to a urine test, but the results are pending.
A message could not be left for the Buccaneers
Friday morning.
Williams was released on $500 bond later Friday. It's unclear if he has an attorney.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies said 23-year-old Michael Williams was speeding and weaving in and out of traffic around 2:30 a.m. Friday. Authorities said the football star's eyes were glassy and he smelled like alcohol.
According to a breathalyzer test, Williams had .065 blood-alcohol level, above Florida's 0.08 percent legal limit
Sheriff's spokesman Larry McKinnon said Williams also submitted to a urine test, but the results are pending.
A message could not be left for the Buccaneers
Friday morning.
Williams was released on $500 bond later Friday. It's unclear if he has an attorney.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals - Gameday Preview Nov 21, 2010
The Chan Gailey era has finally begun in Buffalo as the Bills are coming off their first win of the season and it only took them 10 weeks to get the job done. Buffalo was able to fend off the Lions in the fourth quarter of a tight football game to become the last team to register a win this season. The Cincinnati Bengals are starting to feel like the Bills as they have lost the last six games they've played. Last season's Cardiac Cats have returned, but this year they haven't been able to get that final score in regulation to either tie the game or get the win. In six of the Bengals seven losses this season they lost by one score or less with the latest being a six point loss to the Colts in which they came back and had the ball with a chance to take the lead had they scored a late touchdown.
With Chan Gailey finally in the winners column he is now focused on starting a win streak. This week against the Bengals is as good a chance as any to get the Bills second win of the season. Last game the Bills were paced by running back Fred Jackson who ran 25 times for 133 yards and a touchdown. Jackson also caught six passes for 37 yards including a 16-yard pass that resulted in a touchdown from QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. While Fitzpatrick only completed 12 of his 24 passes for under 150 yards it was enough as the Bills were able to control the ball and move on with a win. Buffalo's defense allowed Lions QB Shaun Hill to throw for 323 yards, but were able to give up only 76 yards on the ground. The turning point in the game came late in the fourth quarter when the Lions were stopped on a 2-pt conversion try that would have tied the game, but instead gave the Bills their first win of the season. This week, the Bills will look to do more of the same against the Bengals in their gameplan. Fred Jackson will be a large part of the offense this week most likely carrying the ball 25 times again. Star receiver Lee Evans will need to step up in this one and make a few big plays as well. Evans talent has always drawn plenty of attention from opposing defenses and it has caused him to have few opportunities a game. However, it was also allowed fellow receiver Steve Johnson to step up this season into the role of the top receiver for this Bills team as he leads the team with 44 receptions for 591 yards and 6 touchdowns. The defense is going to need to focus on being successful against the run this week just like they were last week allowing those 76 yards on 26 carries and no touchdowns. Through the air it will Owens who will be shadowed as he is having one of the best years he's had in a while, and he is also playing his former team.
With Terrell Owens playing against another former team of his it should be interesting to see how he treats them in between plays, but during plays the Bengals expect him to be making big ones. In recent weeks T.O. has overshadowed fellow teammate and received Chad Ochocinco and it is apparent Chad is not happy about the recent developments of the ball sharing situation. Carson Palmer has developed a liking for throwing to T.O. since he has done pretty much everything with the ball so far this season catching 59 passes for 834 yards and seven scores. Ochocinco has only caught 47 passes for 559 yards and three scores and he is not too happy about that differential, especially since his team has only two wins. Aside from the WR issues this team has failed to close out a game that was close this season since week two and it has cost them arguably up to six wins. If the fourth quarter were to go a little differently for this team it would be a completely different season, but right now it hasn't and the Bengals are staring at a 2-9 start if they can't work together against the Bills who are coming into this game hungry for another win. While Palmer has thrown 16 touchdowns he has also thrown 11 interceptions and some of them have been costly. Against the Bills, the Bengals plan will most likely be to pound the ball with Cedric Benson or see if Owens can slice up the Bills DB's. With Ochocinco's head sometimes out of the game it will be interesting to see how big a role he plays in this game, especially when it gets down to the end. While the Bengals have struggled this season they still have the talent on both sides of the ball to get big wins, and even though they are playing the 1-8 Buffalo Bills this would be a big confidence win for the team.
The Buffalo Bills played scrappy in their last game and it got them the win. The Cincinnati Bengals have scrapped away more wins this season then they would like to remember. As the season gets into the second half teams start to realize that they aren't in playoff contention and for some of them that takes their heads out of the game. Bengals 31 - Bills20
With Chan Gailey finally in the winners column he is now focused on starting a win streak. This week against the Bengals is as good a chance as any to get the Bills second win of the season. Last game the Bills were paced by running back Fred Jackson who ran 25 times for 133 yards and a touchdown. Jackson also caught six passes for 37 yards including a 16-yard pass that resulted in a touchdown from QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. While Fitzpatrick only completed 12 of his 24 passes for under 150 yards it was enough as the Bills were able to control the ball and move on with a win. Buffalo's defense allowed Lions QB Shaun Hill to throw for 323 yards, but were able to give up only 76 yards on the ground. The turning point in the game came late in the fourth quarter when the Lions were stopped on a 2-pt conversion try that would have tied the game, but instead gave the Bills their first win of the season. This week, the Bills will look to do more of the same against the Bengals in their gameplan. Fred Jackson will be a large part of the offense this week most likely carrying the ball 25 times again. Star receiver Lee Evans will need to step up in this one and make a few big plays as well. Evans talent has always drawn plenty of attention from opposing defenses and it has caused him to have few opportunities a game. However, it was also allowed fellow receiver Steve Johnson to step up this season into the role of the top receiver for this Bills team as he leads the team with 44 receptions for 591 yards and 6 touchdowns. The defense is going to need to focus on being successful against the run this week just like they were last week allowing those 76 yards on 26 carries and no touchdowns. Through the air it will Owens who will be shadowed as he is having one of the best years he's had in a while, and he is also playing his former team.
With Terrell Owens playing against another former team of his it should be interesting to see how he treats them in between plays, but during plays the Bengals expect him to be making big ones. In recent weeks T.O. has overshadowed fellow teammate and received Chad Ochocinco and it is apparent Chad is not happy about the recent developments of the ball sharing situation. Carson Palmer has developed a liking for throwing to T.O. since he has done pretty much everything with the ball so far this season catching 59 passes for 834 yards and seven scores. Ochocinco has only caught 47 passes for 559 yards and three scores and he is not too happy about that differential, especially since his team has only two wins. Aside from the WR issues this team has failed to close out a game that was close this season since week two and it has cost them arguably up to six wins. If the fourth quarter were to go a little differently for this team it would be a completely different season, but right now it hasn't and the Bengals are staring at a 2-9 start if they can't work together against the Bills who are coming into this game hungry for another win. While Palmer has thrown 16 touchdowns he has also thrown 11 interceptions and some of them have been costly. Against the Bills, the Bengals plan will most likely be to pound the ball with Cedric Benson or see if Owens can slice up the Bills DB's. With Ochocinco's head sometimes out of the game it will be interesting to see how big a role he plays in this game, especially when it gets down to the end. While the Bengals have struggled this season they still have the talent on both sides of the ball to get big wins, and even though they are playing the 1-8 Buffalo Bills this would be a big confidence win for the team.
The Buffalo Bills played scrappy in their last game and it got them the win. The Cincinnati Bengals have scrapped away more wins this season then they would like to remember. As the season gets into the second half teams start to realize that they aren't in playoff contention and for some of them that takes their heads out of the game. Bengals 31 - Bills20
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Buffalo Bills vs. Detriot Lions Preview
The Detroit Lions and Matt Stafford will take on the Buffalo Bills and the up and coming Ryan Fitzpatrick. The
Detroit Lions with Matt Stafford back in the lineup is playing much more confidently on offense. Stafford has the "it" quality at quarterback for the young Detroit Lions team and he is fearless under center. Ryan Fitzpatrick is bringing that same quality to the Buffalo Bills this season although it has not shown up in the win column.
Detroit Lions Defense vs Buffalo Bills Offense
The Detroit Lions improved immensely on the defensive front line with the addition of Kyle Vanden Bosch and Ndamukong Suh. They now have one of the most menacing lines in the NFL but they are still lacking when it comes to coverage on the edges by their defensive backs and safeties. Looking at their statistics may not bear this out as the Minnesota Vikings are only giving up 220 yards through the air and 130 yards on the ground.
The Buffalo Bills offense has come alive of late and their performance against the Baltimore Ravens a few weeks ago has shown they have the potential to be an explosive offense. Ryan Fitzgerald has taken over the team as the leader of a team that could be destined to be the best win less team in NFL history. CJ Spiller has not become as involved as expected in the offense as of yet but once he does get involved he will give the Buffalo Bills a Reggie Bush type threat. The Detroit Lions defense has the edge over the Buffalo Bills offense.
Detroit Lions Offense vs Buffalo Bills Defense
Matt Stafford and the Detroit Lions offense has also improved over the last two seasons, making distant memories of the 0-16 season just a few seasons ago. Stafford is the unquestioned leader and face of this team and his key number one wide receiver Calvin Johnson ranks among the best in the NFL. In the back field Kevin Smith and Jahvid Best are solid running backs that are tough to get on the ground. Lions 31-Bills 24
Detroit Lions with Matt Stafford back in the lineup is playing much more confidently on offense. Stafford has the "it" quality at quarterback for the young Detroit Lions team and he is fearless under center. Ryan Fitzpatrick is bringing that same quality to the Buffalo Bills this season although it has not shown up in the win column.
Detroit Lions Defense vs Buffalo Bills Offense
The Detroit Lions improved immensely on the defensive front line with the addition of Kyle Vanden Bosch and Ndamukong Suh. They now have one of the most menacing lines in the NFL but they are still lacking when it comes to coverage on the edges by their defensive backs and safeties. Looking at their statistics may not bear this out as the Minnesota Vikings are only giving up 220 yards through the air and 130 yards on the ground.
The Buffalo Bills offense has come alive of late and their performance against the Baltimore Ravens a few weeks ago has shown they have the potential to be an explosive offense. Ryan Fitzgerald has taken over the team as the leader of a team that could be destined to be the best win less team in NFL history. CJ Spiller has not become as involved as expected in the offense as of yet but once he does get involved he will give the Buffalo Bills a Reggie Bush type threat. The Detroit Lions defense has the edge over the Buffalo Bills offense.
Detroit Lions Offense vs Buffalo Bills Defense
Matt Stafford and the Detroit Lions offense has also improved over the last two seasons, making distant memories of the 0-16 season just a few seasons ago. Stafford is the unquestioned leader and face of this team and his key number one wide receiver Calvin Johnson ranks among the best in the NFL. In the back field Kevin Smith and Jahvid Best are solid running backs that are tough to get on the ground. Lions 31-Bills 24
Cam Newton And Hesiman Trophy
UponFutherReview - As you have heard, Cam Newton (Auburn QB) has been accused of a variety of things – all of which could either negate his eligibility as a player or, if not, his justifiable claim to the Heisman trophy. Seems like we’ve been here before. The question I have is whether proven or not, should voters hold these claims against him?
Let’s start with the basics. Auburn is undefeated and #2 in the BCS. There is zero chance that they won’t play for the national championship as long as they don’t lose. Their remaining games are versus Georgia (5-5), at Alabama (7-2) and against the SEC East Champion which is guaranteed to have at least three losses and most likely four. So, it’s perfectly within the realm of probability that Auburn will be undefeated when the Heisman votes are counted.
It’s also worth pointing out that five of the last six Heisman trophy winners have played for either the #1 or #2 (AP) team in the final regular season poll. Clearly, voters are tending to reward a player from a team that is great. In the one season since 2003 in which the Heisman winner came from a team other than the #1 or #2 teams, it was Tim Tebow (Florida, 2007) and it’s at least partly because he was #7 in total offense where the highest player for the #1 and #2 teams based upon total offense were #58 and #80.
In the case of Cam Newton, he ranks #11 in total offense per game. That might not sound like that big of a deal, but the only other recent player to rank above #11, but be on a #1 or #2 team was Sam Bradford (Oklahoma, 2008) and he won the Heisman.
Cam Newton has a very unique set of statistics. He has rushed for 1,146 yards and passed for 1,890. That’s over 10 games, but he has three left. By the time Heisman voters cast their ballot, he would have 1,490 rushing and 2,457 passing. There are very few quarterbacks who have ever had those types of numbers – especially when playing for one of the best teams in the country.
Before I look back, I would be remiss not to point out that there is actually a QB in 2010 with even better numbers. Denard Robinson of Michigan has already rushed for 1,349 yards and passed for 1,814. And, he’s done it in nine games as opposed to Newton’s ten! But, the problem of course, is that Michigan has three losses and is going to get a so-so bowl bid. That’s not exactly what Heisman voters are looking for.
Looking back, the most obvious similar situation was Vince Young of Texas in 2005. UT was #2 in the polls, and Young was #6 in total offense. He ended rushing for 1,050 and passing for 3,036. Impressive, but he only ended second in the balloting. Ironically, he was beaten by Reggie Bush who just gave up his Heisman trophy because of accusations that he was paid while in college. And, that’s the focus of this post.
Cam Newton may well be the favorite to win the Heisman, but that assumes voters dismiss the allegations or, at the minimum, decide they shouldn’t matter without more proof.
The NCAA is investigating. The FBI is investigating. Something could be learned that would have enormous affects on Newton, Auburn and the Heisman well before the voting takes place. So, it’s not just a question of his worthiness as a Heisman candidate, but also his eligibility as a college football player. If that ends up being more than questionable, it is conceivable that TCU could get into the national championship game through the back door. A lot is at stake and this subject is going to be cussed and discussed a lot over the next three weeks.
I don’t care who wins the national championship and I don’t care who wins the Heisman. But, the #1 reason I don’t care is because the B12 isn’t going to have a team challenging - barring a miracle (Go OSU!) and they aren’t going to have a B12 player in the Heisman hunt. But, there is another reason I don’t care… because I don’t vote! If I had a vote for the Heisman or in one of the polls, I would care because I would be forced to have to think through this issue.
The fact that Reggie Bush just gave up his award has to be fresh (super fresh) on everyone’s mind who is casting a vote. And, the information we have at this point would lead anyone to seriously believe that even if Newton won the Heisman that he will eventually have to give it up.
It’s not the Heisman’s fault that Bush is scum. They have no reason to be embarrassed that the trophy was vacated. And, by the way, on Heisman.com, when you look at the former winners, it simply goes from 2004 to 2006 as though the earth skipped a year. Bush is dead to the Heisman community. Can you imagine if they had to go through it twice – and in such a short period.
Therefore if I were a voter, I would absolutely have that in the forefront of my mind when voting. Here’s what we know – or at least what is being reported.
Cam Newton was a Freshman at Florida and played under Tebow. During that time FoxSports.com reported that Newton was accused of cheating as well as being charged with three felony counts – one of which involved a stolen lap-top. Apparently, charges were dropped when Newton went to pretrial diversion.
Florida (and Urban Meyer) have only indicated that they did not leak the information about his time in Gainesville, but he has not denied the accusations against Newton. Neither have Newton or his father, who played a prominent role in Cam’s recruitment process after he left Florida.
Initially, Newton went to a Junior College in Texas. Upon leaving there, he committed to Mississippi State. This is where the latest accusations come in. It has been reported that both he and his father called MSU to indicate they had withdrawn his commitment and instead opted to go to Auburn because the “money was better”. A former MSU player indicated that someone representing the Newton family had demanded $180,000 to go to the university. MSU head coach (Dan Mullen) has not denied it, stating only that those who need to know the details, know them.
The immediate question really isn’t about whether he is guilty or innocent. Do we honestly think we will know the answer in three weeks? The question is whether a Heisman voter believes he has reason to believe Newton is guilty. If so, is that enough to cause him to vote for someone else? Considering the great season Oregon RB LaMichael James is having, how hard would it be to simply pick him instead? After all, Oregon is #1 in the polls, not #2. James #1 in rushing (by quite a bit) while Newton is #11 in total yardage. It just wouldn’t be that hard to pull the other lever.
But, whether there is another easy choice or not, the real question is whether voters have the right to mete out justice simply by casting a vote.
If you don’t think they do, then you are certainly in the minority – at least based upon voters for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Take a look at how many voted for Mark McGwire. In four years, he has consistently received about 24% (75% required) of the votes despite being the 10th most prolific home run hitter of all-time. Unless they build a separate wing for cheaters, he will never make the HOF and probably neither will many other present-day players.
Clearly, voters have decided that, although they can’t do anything about the stats and records, they can do something about the Hall of Fame. The question today is whether Heisman voters are going to adopt the same strategy. I think they will.
A week ago, Newton was considered almost a shoe-in for the award. Today, it is highly questionable. Three weeks from now, who knows?
Let’s start with the basics. Auburn is undefeated and #2 in the BCS. There is zero chance that they won’t play for the national championship as long as they don’t lose. Their remaining games are versus Georgia (5-5), at Alabama (7-2) and against the SEC East Champion which is guaranteed to have at least three losses and most likely four. So, it’s perfectly within the realm of probability that Auburn will be undefeated when the Heisman votes are counted.
It’s also worth pointing out that five of the last six Heisman trophy winners have played for either the #1 or #2 (AP) team in the final regular season poll. Clearly, voters are tending to reward a player from a team that is great. In the one season since 2003 in which the Heisman winner came from a team other than the #1 or #2 teams, it was Tim Tebow (Florida, 2007) and it’s at least partly because he was #7 in total offense where the highest player for the #1 and #2 teams based upon total offense were #58 and #80.
In the case of Cam Newton, he ranks #11 in total offense per game. That might not sound like that big of a deal, but the only other recent player to rank above #11, but be on a #1 or #2 team was Sam Bradford (Oklahoma, 2008) and he won the Heisman.
Cam Newton has a very unique set of statistics. He has rushed for 1,146 yards and passed for 1,890. That’s over 10 games, but he has three left. By the time Heisman voters cast their ballot, he would have 1,490 rushing and 2,457 passing. There are very few quarterbacks who have ever had those types of numbers – especially when playing for one of the best teams in the country.
Before I look back, I would be remiss not to point out that there is actually a QB in 2010 with even better numbers. Denard Robinson of Michigan has already rushed for 1,349 yards and passed for 1,814. And, he’s done it in nine games as opposed to Newton’s ten! But, the problem of course, is that Michigan has three losses and is going to get a so-so bowl bid. That’s not exactly what Heisman voters are looking for.
Looking back, the most obvious similar situation was Vince Young of Texas in 2005. UT was #2 in the polls, and Young was #6 in total offense. He ended rushing for 1,050 and passing for 3,036. Impressive, but he only ended second in the balloting. Ironically, he was beaten by Reggie Bush who just gave up his Heisman trophy because of accusations that he was paid while in college. And, that’s the focus of this post.
Cam Newton may well be the favorite to win the Heisman, but that assumes voters dismiss the allegations or, at the minimum, decide they shouldn’t matter without more proof.
The NCAA is investigating. The FBI is investigating. Something could be learned that would have enormous affects on Newton, Auburn and the Heisman well before the voting takes place. So, it’s not just a question of his worthiness as a Heisman candidate, but also his eligibility as a college football player. If that ends up being more than questionable, it is conceivable that TCU could get into the national championship game through the back door. A lot is at stake and this subject is going to be cussed and discussed a lot over the next three weeks.
I don’t care who wins the national championship and I don’t care who wins the Heisman. But, the #1 reason I don’t care is because the B12 isn’t going to have a team challenging - barring a miracle (Go OSU!) and they aren’t going to have a B12 player in the Heisman hunt. But, there is another reason I don’t care… because I don’t vote! If I had a vote for the Heisman or in one of the polls, I would care because I would be forced to have to think through this issue.
The fact that Reggie Bush just gave up his award has to be fresh (super fresh) on everyone’s mind who is casting a vote. And, the information we have at this point would lead anyone to seriously believe that even if Newton won the Heisman that he will eventually have to give it up.
It’s not the Heisman’s fault that Bush is scum. They have no reason to be embarrassed that the trophy was vacated. And, by the way, on Heisman.com, when you look at the former winners, it simply goes from 2004 to 2006 as though the earth skipped a year. Bush is dead to the Heisman community. Can you imagine if they had to go through it twice – and in such a short period.
Therefore if I were a voter, I would absolutely have that in the forefront of my mind when voting. Here’s what we know – or at least what is being reported.
Cam Newton was a Freshman at Florida and played under Tebow. During that time FoxSports.com reported that Newton was accused of cheating as well as being charged with three felony counts – one of which involved a stolen lap-top. Apparently, charges were dropped when Newton went to pretrial diversion.
Florida (and Urban Meyer) have only indicated that they did not leak the information about his time in Gainesville, but he has not denied the accusations against Newton. Neither have Newton or his father, who played a prominent role in Cam’s recruitment process after he left Florida.
Initially, Newton went to a Junior College in Texas. Upon leaving there, he committed to Mississippi State. This is where the latest accusations come in. It has been reported that both he and his father called MSU to indicate they had withdrawn his commitment and instead opted to go to Auburn because the “money was better”. A former MSU player indicated that someone representing the Newton family had demanded $180,000 to go to the university. MSU head coach (Dan Mullen) has not denied it, stating only that those who need to know the details, know them.
The immediate question really isn’t about whether he is guilty or innocent. Do we honestly think we will know the answer in three weeks? The question is whether a Heisman voter believes he has reason to believe Newton is guilty. If so, is that enough to cause him to vote for someone else? Considering the great season Oregon RB LaMichael James is having, how hard would it be to simply pick him instead? After all, Oregon is #1 in the polls, not #2. James #1 in rushing (by quite a bit) while Newton is #11 in total yardage. It just wouldn’t be that hard to pull the other lever.
But, whether there is another easy choice or not, the real question is whether voters have the right to mete out justice simply by casting a vote.
If you don’t think they do, then you are certainly in the minority – at least based upon voters for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Take a look at how many voted for Mark McGwire. In four years, he has consistently received about 24% (75% required) of the votes despite being the 10th most prolific home run hitter of all-time. Unless they build a separate wing for cheaters, he will never make the HOF and probably neither will many other present-day players.
Clearly, voters have decided that, although they can’t do anything about the stats and records, they can do something about the Hall of Fame. The question today is whether Heisman voters are going to adopt the same strategy. I think they will.
A week ago, Newton was considered almost a shoe-in for the award. Today, it is highly questionable. Three weeks from now, who knows?
Monday, November 8, 2010
Buffalo Bills Lose Chicago Bears 22-19; The March to 0-16 Continues
TORONTO (Reuters) - Unable to find a victory in the United States, the Buffalo Bills fared no better across the border in Canada as they fell 22-19 to the Chicago Bears on Sunday to remain the NFL's only winless team.
Jay Cutler tossed a pair of touchdown passes and Chester Taylor ran for another as the Bears pulled out of a two-game losing skid to improve to 5-3 while the Bills sank to 0-8.
Making the annual visit to their northern neighbors, the Bills have found no more success in downtown Toronto than they have at Orchard Park, losing all three regular-season games played at the Rogers Center the last three years.
It was also the third consecutive heartbreaker for the Bills who have lost their last three games by three points including two in overtime.
"This one really hurts, I don't know what to say," quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick told reporters. "We did some good things out there again but came up short.
"They keep hurting more and more but the guys keep fighting. I know we're 0-8 now but all it takes is one win. We need one win to get over the hump and things will start going our way."
The Bills enjoyed little in the way of home-field advantage with just as many fans in the crowd of 50,746 wearing Bears jerseys.
"It seemed close to 50/50 but that's our responsibility, we have to be a better football team so that these people become Bills fans not just people that want to see NFL football," said coach Chan Gailey.
Chicago opened the scoring with a grinding eight-minute, 81-yard scoring drive that bridged the opening two quarters, Cutler finding Greg Olsen in the back of the end zone for a five-yard touchdown.
Buffalo answered with 13 seconds left in the half, Roscoe Parrish latching on to a 14-yard laser throw from Fitzpatrick to send the teams into the intermission deadlocked at 7-7.
The Bears stormed out after the break, Cutler engineering another long scoring drive capped by a one-yard touchdown plunge by Taylor only to watch the battling Bills hit back immediately with Fred Jackson rumbling over from four yards.
The Bills kept up the pressure in the fourth quarter, converting a Cutler fumble near mid-field into a one-yard Corey McIntyre touchdown plunge and a 19-14 lead.
However, Bears cornerback Tim Jennings jumped in front of a Fitzpatrick pass and returned it deep into Bills territory to set up Chicago's winning score, a two-yard touchdown strike from Cutler to Earl Bennett.
"I don't have any new words to tell you guys, it feels like someone has kicked us in the stomach," said Gailey. "It hurts.
"I truly believe this team will get there and I don't just mean win a game, I think we have a chance to be a decent football team."
Jay Cutler tossed a pair of touchdown passes and Chester Taylor ran for another as the Bears pulled out of a two-game losing skid to improve to 5-3 while the Bills sank to 0-8.
Making the annual visit to their northern neighbors, the Bills have found no more success in downtown Toronto than they have at Orchard Park, losing all three regular-season games played at the Rogers Center the last three years.
It was also the third consecutive heartbreaker for the Bills who have lost their last three games by three points including two in overtime.
"This one really hurts, I don't know what to say," quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick told reporters. "We did some good things out there again but came up short.
"They keep hurting more and more but the guys keep fighting. I know we're 0-8 now but all it takes is one win. We need one win to get over the hump and things will start going our way."
The Bills enjoyed little in the way of home-field advantage with just as many fans in the crowd of 50,746 wearing Bears jerseys.
"It seemed close to 50/50 but that's our responsibility, we have to be a better football team so that these people become Bills fans not just people that want to see NFL football," said coach Chan Gailey.
Chicago opened the scoring with a grinding eight-minute, 81-yard scoring drive that bridged the opening two quarters, Cutler finding Greg Olsen in the back of the end zone for a five-yard touchdown.
Buffalo answered with 13 seconds left in the half, Roscoe Parrish latching on to a 14-yard laser throw from Fitzpatrick to send the teams into the intermission deadlocked at 7-7.
The Bears stormed out after the break, Cutler engineering another long scoring drive capped by a one-yard touchdown plunge by Taylor only to watch the battling Bills hit back immediately with Fred Jackson rumbling over from four yards.
The Bills kept up the pressure in the fourth quarter, converting a Cutler fumble near mid-field into a one-yard Corey McIntyre touchdown plunge and a 19-14 lead.
However, Bears cornerback Tim Jennings jumped in front of a Fitzpatrick pass and returned it deep into Bills territory to set up Chicago's winning score, a two-yard touchdown strike from Cutler to Earl Bennett.
"I don't have any new words to tell you guys, it feels like someone has kicked us in the stomach," said Gailey. "It hurts.
"I truly believe this team will get there and I don't just mean win a game, I think we have a chance to be a decent football team."
Buffalo Bills: Monday News & Notes Nov 8, 2010
S
--WR Stevie Johnson caught a career-best 11 passes for 145 yards, but he had his consecutive games streak of catching a TD pass snapped at five.
--RB Fred Jackson was held to 16 yards on eight carries. He scored a touchdown, but was stuffed on a two-point conversion and had a costly fumble.
--FS Jairus Byrd was in on 10 tackles, setting a new single-game career high.
--QB Ryan Fitzpatrick attempted a career-most 51 passes, which also tied for the fourth-most in Bills history. He threw for 299 yards and a TD, plus had two interceptions.
--FB Corey McIntyre scored the first touchdown of his NFL career in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard plunge.
--WR Stevie Johnson caught a career-best 11 passes for 145 yards, but he had his consecutive games streak of catching a TD pass snapped at five.
--RB Fred Jackson was held to 16 yards on eight carries. He scored a touchdown, but was stuffed on a two-point conversion and had a costly fumble.
--FS Jairus Byrd was in on 10 tackles, setting a new single-game career high.
--QB Ryan Fitzpatrick attempted a career-most 51 passes, which also tied for the fourth-most in Bills history. He threw for 299 yards and a TD, plus had two interceptions.
--FB Corey McIntyre scored the first touchdown of his NFL career in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard plunge.
Buffalo Bills Or Dallas Cowboys: Who's Worst Team In The NFL
Once upon a time this was an easy question to answer but now due to the obvious circumstances it takes some serious thought as to who is worse, the Buffalo Bills or Dallas Cowboys.
To think that 16 years ago both of these teams represented their divisions in the Super Bowl for the second consecutive season seems like a distant and insane memory.
The Buffalo Bills are a young and inexperienced team that doesn't possess much talent and is still currently without a win in the 2010 NFL season. As for the Dallas Cowboys, they are a team loaded with talent that many picked as a Super Bowl favorite and currently sit at the bottom of the NFC East at 1-7.
On paper the Dallas Cowboys are worlds above the lowly Buffalo Bills. They are above the rest with their new Cowboy's Stadium, bringing in revenue, and marketability. As for the Bills they are one of the small market NFL teams and they have to travel to Canada just to bring in double the amount of revenue that they would playing at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Just take a look at an NFL store catalog or any NFL catalog and try to find that awesome pillow that comes representing the Dallas Cowboys, but not for the Buffalo Bills. Sadly the market isn't there and neither is the popularity that the Dallas Cowboys have.
The Buffalo Bills may be 0-8 but have made strides and improvements to a struggling team. Ralph Wilson, the 92-year-old owner of the Bills, has entrusted his faith in Chan Gailey and Buddy Nix who have moved RB Marshawn Lynch, rid themselves of QB Trent Edwards, and picked up LB Shawne Merriman and are trying to do something to help the Buffalo Bills win.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hasn't done a thing to improve the Dallas Cowboys since the beginning of the season and is watching his team fall apart and hit new lows that Dallas is unaccustomed to.
The Cowboys are playing the worst football possibly anyone has seen and it all starts from the top. This time the dysfunction of the Cowboys can't be blamed on Terrell Owens as Wade Phillips can't get this team to actually give a damn.
Who would have thought that the Cowboys could get any lower than their performance against Jacksonville last week only to be crushed by the Packers 45-7? It's pathetic to see this team miss tackles, not continue on plays, and actually just give up. Watch the Dallas Cowboys play and tell me they are giving 100 percent?
One the other hand the Buffalo Bills have done everything they possibly can to win the last three games. Both games against Kansas City and Baltimore went into overtime and it took everything Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears had to knock them off in Canada. The Bills play with their heart on their sleeve and refuse to give up each and every Sunday.
While the records of the two teams might be somewhat similar they are two completely different teams. The Buffalo Bills fans can at least hold their heads up high knowing that they aren't quitting each and ever week and that when you go against Buffalo you better be prepared for a fight.
The Dallas Cowboys may be dubbed "America's Team" but the Buffalo Bills, as the struggling underdog, represent "America" much better than a quitter.
To think that 16 years ago both of these teams represented their divisions in the Super Bowl for the second consecutive season seems like a distant and insane memory.
The Buffalo Bills are a young and inexperienced team that doesn't possess much talent and is still currently without a win in the 2010 NFL season. As for the Dallas Cowboys, they are a team loaded with talent that many picked as a Super Bowl favorite and currently sit at the bottom of the NFC East at 1-7.
On paper the Dallas Cowboys are worlds above the lowly Buffalo Bills. They are above the rest with their new Cowboy's Stadium, bringing in revenue, and marketability. As for the Bills they are one of the small market NFL teams and they have to travel to Canada just to bring in double the amount of revenue that they would playing at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Just take a look at an NFL store catalog or any NFL catalog and try to find that awesome pillow that comes representing the Dallas Cowboys, but not for the Buffalo Bills. Sadly the market isn't there and neither is the popularity that the Dallas Cowboys have.
The Buffalo Bills may be 0-8 but have made strides and improvements to a struggling team. Ralph Wilson, the 92-year-old owner of the Bills, has entrusted his faith in Chan Gailey and Buddy Nix who have moved RB Marshawn Lynch, rid themselves of QB Trent Edwards, and picked up LB Shawne Merriman and are trying to do something to help the Buffalo Bills win.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hasn't done a thing to improve the Dallas Cowboys since the beginning of the season and is watching his team fall apart and hit new lows that Dallas is unaccustomed to.
The Cowboys are playing the worst football possibly anyone has seen and it all starts from the top. This time the dysfunction of the Cowboys can't be blamed on Terrell Owens as Wade Phillips can't get this team to actually give a damn.
Who would have thought that the Cowboys could get any lower than their performance against Jacksonville last week only to be crushed by the Packers 45-7? It's pathetic to see this team miss tackles, not continue on plays, and actually just give up. Watch the Dallas Cowboys play and tell me they are giving 100 percent?
One the other hand the Buffalo Bills have done everything they possibly can to win the last three games. Both games against Kansas City and Baltimore went into overtime and it took everything Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears had to knock them off in Canada. The Bills play with their heart on their sleeve and refuse to give up each and every Sunday.
While the records of the two teams might be somewhat similar they are two completely different teams. The Buffalo Bills fans can at least hold their heads up high knowing that they aren't quitting each and ever week and that when you go against Buffalo you better be prepared for a fight.
The Dallas Cowboys may be dubbed "America's Team" but the Buffalo Bills, as the struggling underdog, represent "America" much better than a quitter.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Buffalo Bills vs. Kanas City Chiefs Week 8 Preview "Key Match-Ups
The Kansas City Chiefs (4-2) host the Buffalo Bills (0-6) at Arrowhead Stadium in week eight. This game will feature two surprise teams of the 2010 NFL season. Not many could have realistically thought of the Chiefs as a team that would be a division leader at this point and the Bills are doing worse than expected. Of course, the Bills haven’t played as bad as their record suggests they are and the Chiefs can’t look past the Bills who have hung tough against teams like the Patriots, Dolphins and lately the Ravens who went into overtime after the Bills blew a large lead.
Jon McGraw vs. Ryan Fitzpatrick
Although the Bills look lie a bad team, they have been competitive since they changed to Fitzpatrick at quarterback. Although he is 0-4 as the Bills starter, he has completed 81/128 for 969 yards with 11 TDs and 4 picks, a passer rating of 102. If he had been the starter for the first two games, he could be among the best quarterbacks (statistically) in the NFL. Jon McGraw is the man in charge of keeping a lid on the passing game as a free safety. The Bills’ wide receivers Roscoe Parish and Lee Evans each average over 10 yards per reception. McGraw will have his work cut out for him.
Jamaal Charles/Thomas Jones vs. Andra Davis
Charles and Jones have become one of the most underrated rushing tandems in the NFL as they have combined their different styles to create a monster running game. The Chiefs lead the NFL by averaging 176.5 rushing yards per game with their two man backfield. Andra Davis has been recognized as a very good inside linebacker in his career that has gone from Cleveland to Denver to Buffalo. He will have the task of stepping up into the running lanes of Thomas Jones. Jones is mostly an interior runner and can be taken down by Davis. Charles will be tough to stop by Davis alone as his speed has helped him average 6.0 yards per carry.
Dwayne Bowe vs. Reggie Corner
Dwayne Bowe has stepped up his game (18 catches, 341 yards, 5 TDs) and has been reliable for Matt Cassel. Reggie Corner has been filling in for the injured Terrence McGee at corner back for the Bills for the last three weeks and only has nine tackles with no picks to show for it. Dwayne Bowe can be a real problem for Corner who is 5’9″ and 175 pounds while Bowe is 6’2″ at 221 pounds. The five inch difference in height as well as the 46 pound difference will give Bowe the ability to reach the high passes better and push Corner around in tight coverage at the line of scrimmage. McGee has missed the last three games and is questionable.
Tamba Hali vs. Demetrius Bell
Hali has made 5.5 sacks and has wreaked havoc in offensive backfields. Bell will be lined up in front of Hali at right tackle for the Bills. If the Bills are to enjoy the talent that Ryan Fitzpatrick brings to their offense, they must give him time to throw and make big plays. At 307 pounds, Bell is a light tackle and will be better suited to match Hali’s speed rush to the edge. But Hali has seemed to have a knack of getting to the quarterback and I am sure that he already has his game plan ready to get around Bell and get to Fitzpatrick.
My Pick
It should be easy to pick the Chiefs here but it isn’t as easy as you would think. The Bills have had a fighting spirit in most of their games and haven’t stopped playing hard despite their 0-6 record. They just went into overtime against the Ravens, which is a moral victory to some people. But I say the Chiefs will win this game for two reasons. The Bills allow an NFL worst 174.5 rushing yards per game and the Chiefs have the best rushing game (176.5) in the league. That is my formula in predicting that the Chiefs will roll to a 5-2 record while the Bills stay win-less. Chiefs 31 - Bills 17
Jon McGraw vs. Ryan Fitzpatrick
Although the Bills look lie a bad team, they have been competitive since they changed to Fitzpatrick at quarterback. Although he is 0-4 as the Bills starter, he has completed 81/128 for 969 yards with 11 TDs and 4 picks, a passer rating of 102. If he had been the starter for the first two games, he could be among the best quarterbacks (statistically) in the NFL. Jon McGraw is the man in charge of keeping a lid on the passing game as a free safety. The Bills’ wide receivers Roscoe Parish and Lee Evans each average over 10 yards per reception. McGraw will have his work cut out for him.
Jamaal Charles/Thomas Jones vs. Andra Davis
Charles and Jones have become one of the most underrated rushing tandems in the NFL as they have combined their different styles to create a monster running game. The Chiefs lead the NFL by averaging 176.5 rushing yards per game with their two man backfield. Andra Davis has been recognized as a very good inside linebacker in his career that has gone from Cleveland to Denver to Buffalo. He will have the task of stepping up into the running lanes of Thomas Jones. Jones is mostly an interior runner and can be taken down by Davis. Charles will be tough to stop by Davis alone as his speed has helped him average 6.0 yards per carry.
Dwayne Bowe vs. Reggie Corner
Dwayne Bowe has stepped up his game (18 catches, 341 yards, 5 TDs) and has been reliable for Matt Cassel. Reggie Corner has been filling in for the injured Terrence McGee at corner back for the Bills for the last three weeks and only has nine tackles with no picks to show for it. Dwayne Bowe can be a real problem for Corner who is 5’9″ and 175 pounds while Bowe is 6’2″ at 221 pounds. The five inch difference in height as well as the 46 pound difference will give Bowe the ability to reach the high passes better and push Corner around in tight coverage at the line of scrimmage. McGee has missed the last three games and is questionable.
Tamba Hali vs. Demetrius Bell
Hali has made 5.5 sacks and has wreaked havoc in offensive backfields. Bell will be lined up in front of Hali at right tackle for the Bills. If the Bills are to enjoy the talent that Ryan Fitzpatrick brings to their offense, they must give him time to throw and make big plays. At 307 pounds, Bell is a light tackle and will be better suited to match Hali’s speed rush to the edge. But Hali has seemed to have a knack of getting to the quarterback and I am sure that he already has his game plan ready to get around Bell and get to Fitzpatrick.
My Pick
It should be easy to pick the Chiefs here but it isn’t as easy as you would think. The Bills have had a fighting spirit in most of their games and haven’t stopped playing hard despite their 0-6 record. They just went into overtime against the Ravens, which is a moral victory to some people. But I say the Chiefs will win this game for two reasons. The Bills allow an NFL worst 174.5 rushing yards per game and the Chiefs have the best rushing game (176.5) in the league. That is my formula in predicting that the Chiefs will roll to a 5-2 record while the Bills stay win-less. Chiefs 31 - Bills 17
Monday, October 25, 2010
Buffalo Bills Monday Mourning QB Oct 25, 2010
BY THE NUMBERS
506 -- Net yards gained by the Bills against Baltimore, the eighth-highest total in team history, but the most ever in a Buffalo loss. It was also the most yards yielded by the Ravens since 2000.
LINEUP WATCH
Aaron Maybin, Buffalo's first-round draft choice in 2009, was inactive for the first time in his 22-game NFL career. And what really made this tough to swallow for the struggling linebacker is that the Bills were playing in his hometown of Baltimore. PLAYER NOTES
--QB Ryan Fitzpatrick set new career highs with 374 yards passing and four TDs. It was the ninth-best passing yardage total in Bills history.
--WR Steve Johnson set career highs for catches (eight) and receiving yards (158), plus he scored a touchdown for the fourth game in a row.
--WR Lee Evans became the first player in Bills history to achieve a second game with three TD receptions. He also did it in 2005. The Bills lost both of the games.
--SS Donte Whitner led the Bills with eight tackles, but he had a rough day as he was beaten for two TDs by Todd Heap and dropped an interception that might have been a pick six.
--K Rian Lindell made both of his field-goal attempts including a game-tying 50-yarder with four seconds left in regulation.
--KR C.J. Spiller fumbled a kickoff late in the first half that set up a Baltimore touchdow
506 -- Net yards gained by the Bills against Baltimore, the eighth-highest total in team history, but the most ever in a Buffalo loss. It was also the most yards yielded by the Ravens since 2000.
LINEUP WATCH
Aaron Maybin, Buffalo's first-round draft choice in 2009, was inactive for the first time in his 22-game NFL career. And what really made this tough to swallow for the struggling linebacker is that the Bills were playing in his hometown of Baltimore. PLAYER NOTES
--QB Ryan Fitzpatrick set new career highs with 374 yards passing and four TDs. It was the ninth-best passing yardage total in Bills history.
--WR Steve Johnson set career highs for catches (eight) and receiving yards (158), plus he scored a touchdown for the fourth game in a row.
--WR Lee Evans became the first player in Bills history to achieve a second game with three TD receptions. He also did it in 2005. The Bills lost both of the games.
--SS Donte Whitner led the Bills with eight tackles, but he had a rough day as he was beaten for two TDs by Todd Heap and dropped an interception that might have been a pick six.
--K Rian Lindell made both of his field-goal attempts including a game-tying 50-yarder with four seconds left in regulation.
--KR C.J. Spiller fumbled a kickoff late in the first half that set up a Baltimore touchdow
Buffalo Bills Show Heart In Losing Effort To Ravens. "March To 0-16 Continues"
Buffalo, off to their worst start in 25 years, squandered a 14-point lead but came back with a gritty effort before losing 37-34 on a 38-yard field goal four minutes into overtime.
"We showed we can compete with one of the better teams in the league, scratch and claw and fight back," said quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who had four touchdowns in the loss.
"But every single one of those guys in that locker room is disappointed that we didn't come out on top."
The Bills lost their sixth straight game despite racking up 506 yards, the most the Ravens have allowed since 2000.
Buffalo stunned the crowd of 72,000 at M&T Bank Stadium as Fitzpatrick helped steer the league's 30th-ranked offense to a 14-point lead in the second quarter.
The Bills then self-destructed and allowed 10 points during the final minute before halftime to take a slim 24-20 lead into the locker room.
The Ravens scored a touchdown sixteen seconds into the third quarter to take a 27-24 lead and added another during the final minute of the quarter for a 10-point cushion. But the resilient Bills fought back to force overtime on a 50-yard field goal by Rian Lindell with four seconds to play.
"I'm really proud of the way we fought back. There's no quit in this football team. It's frustrating, especially to lose that way," said Fitzpatrick.
"We're going to get over the hump."
Cundiff's game-winning kick was set up when Baltimore's Ray Lewis stripped tight end Shawn Nelson of the ball at the Bills 45. An unnecessary roughness penalty to Buffalo after the play moved the ball to the Bills 29 and sealed their fate.
Still in search of their first win, Buffalo travels to Kansas City next week to take on the 4-2 Chiefs.
"In this locker room, we don't feel like an 0-6 team," said running back Fred Jackson. "We feel like we are better than that. The reality is we're 0-6 but we're going to keep plugging at it.
"We showed we can compete with one of the better teams in the league, scratch and claw and fight back," said quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who had four touchdowns in the loss.
"But every single one of those guys in that locker room is disappointed that we didn't come out on top."
The Bills lost their sixth straight game despite racking up 506 yards, the most the Ravens have allowed since 2000.
Buffalo stunned the crowd of 72,000 at M&T Bank Stadium as Fitzpatrick helped steer the league's 30th-ranked offense to a 14-point lead in the second quarter.
The Bills then self-destructed and allowed 10 points during the final minute before halftime to take a slim 24-20 lead into the locker room.
The Ravens scored a touchdown sixteen seconds into the third quarter to take a 27-24 lead and added another during the final minute of the quarter for a 10-point cushion. But the resilient Bills fought back to force overtime on a 50-yard field goal by Rian Lindell with four seconds to play.
"I'm really proud of the way we fought back. There's no quit in this football team. It's frustrating, especially to lose that way," said Fitzpatrick.
"We're going to get over the hump."
Cundiff's game-winning kick was set up when Baltimore's Ray Lewis stripped tight end Shawn Nelson of the ball at the Bills 45. An unnecessary roughness penalty to Buffalo after the play moved the ball to the Bills 29 and sealed their fate.
Still in search of their first win, Buffalo travels to Kansas City next week to take on the 4-2 Chiefs.
"In this locker room, we don't feel like an 0-6 team," said running back Fred Jackson. "We feel like we are better than that. The reality is we're 0-6 but we're going to keep plugging at it.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens Week 7 Predictions And Betting Odds
NFL Week 7 Predictions on the Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens Betting Odds: The Baltimore Ravens host the Buffalo Bills, Sunday Oct 24, as the Bills look for their first win of their season. These two haven’t met since the 2007 season. NFL oddsmakers have the Ravens as -13 point home favorites over the Bills while the game's total has been posted at 43 points.
The Bills (0-5) sat out on a BYE Week after they lost 26-36 to Jacksonville, at home. Against the Jags, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick made 20 of 30 passes for 220 yards with three TD’s. RB Fred Jackson had 12 carries for 73 yards, while WR Lee Evans and Steve Johnson each added a TD. The Bills put up 220 pass yards, so they are capable of airing out the ball. Buffalo allows a league-worst 182ypg, so expect Ray Rice to have a tremendous game. After struggling early in the season, Rice has shown signs of improvement as he's rushed for 221 yards in his last two games. Nobody gets lower than the Rutgers product, and 100-150 yards against the weak Bills defense seems more probable than possible. The Bills 2010 team leaders include; QB Ryan Fitzpatrick completing 52 passes on 85 attempts for 595 yards and seven touchdowns, Marshawn Lynch leads in rushing with 37 carries for 164 yards and Roscoe Parrish leads in receiving with 14 receptions for 217 yards and one touchdown. The Bills are ranked 30th overall on offense (251ypg) with a 31st ranked pass game (144ypg) and an 16th ranked ground game (106ypg). They have a 29th ranked defense (382ypg), with a 10th ranked pass rush (200ypg) and the league’s worst ranked rush defense (182ypg). The Bills defense allows the most amount of points per-game (32.2).
The Ravens (4-2) lost in New England 20-23 (OT) and sit second in the AFC North. QB Joe Flacco completed 27 of 35 passes for 285 yards with two TD’s. RB Ray Rice had 28 carries for 88 yards, while Anquan Boldin and Todd Heap each added a TD. The Ravens may have blown a 20-10 lead over the Patriots, but that shouldn't take anything away from this talented Baltimore team. The Ravens showed that their defense is still amongst the league's elite as New England had to fight for every yard. The Ravens ultra tough defense managed three sacks but pulled down two interceptions. The Ravens 2010 team leaders include; QB Joe Flacco completing 97 passes on 170 attempts for 1116 yards and five touchdowns, Race Rice leads in rushing with 87 carries for 363 yards and two touchdowns. Anquan Boldin leads in receiving with 28 receptions for 363 yards and three touchdowns. The Ravens are ranked 16th overall on offense (336ypg) with a 16th ranked pass game (224ypg) and a 15th ranked running game (111ypg). They have the third best ranked defense overall (280pg), with the third best ranked pass rush (175ypg) and a 13th rank rush defense (105ypg). The Ravens defense allows the second least amount of points per-game (15).
Recent Trends to Consider:
Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
Home team is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings.
Bills are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. loss.
Bills are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Bills are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.
Ravens are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a favorite of 10.5 or greater.
Ravens are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Ravens are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Ravens are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite of 10.5 or greater.
Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens
When: Sun, Oct 24, 1:00 PM E
Pick: Ravens -13
Point-Spreads.com NFL Week 7 Predictions on the Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens Betting Odds
The Bottom Line: The Bills are the worst. Be sure to get your NFL Week 7 Predictions on the Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens. Ravens 41-Bills 3
The Bills (0-5) sat out on a BYE Week after they lost 26-36 to Jacksonville, at home. Against the Jags, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick made 20 of 30 passes for 220 yards with three TD’s. RB Fred Jackson had 12 carries for 73 yards, while WR Lee Evans and Steve Johnson each added a TD. The Bills put up 220 pass yards, so they are capable of airing out the ball. Buffalo allows a league-worst 182ypg, so expect Ray Rice to have a tremendous game. After struggling early in the season, Rice has shown signs of improvement as he's rushed for 221 yards in his last two games. Nobody gets lower than the Rutgers product, and 100-150 yards against the weak Bills defense seems more probable than possible. The Bills 2010 team leaders include; QB Ryan Fitzpatrick completing 52 passes on 85 attempts for 595 yards and seven touchdowns, Marshawn Lynch leads in rushing with 37 carries for 164 yards and Roscoe Parrish leads in receiving with 14 receptions for 217 yards and one touchdown. The Bills are ranked 30th overall on offense (251ypg) with a 31st ranked pass game (144ypg) and an 16th ranked ground game (106ypg). They have a 29th ranked defense (382ypg), with a 10th ranked pass rush (200ypg) and the league’s worst ranked rush defense (182ypg). The Bills defense allows the most amount of points per-game (32.2).
The Ravens (4-2) lost in New England 20-23 (OT) and sit second in the AFC North. QB Joe Flacco completed 27 of 35 passes for 285 yards with two TD’s. RB Ray Rice had 28 carries for 88 yards, while Anquan Boldin and Todd Heap each added a TD. The Ravens may have blown a 20-10 lead over the Patriots, but that shouldn't take anything away from this talented Baltimore team. The Ravens showed that their defense is still amongst the league's elite as New England had to fight for every yard. The Ravens ultra tough defense managed three sacks but pulled down two interceptions. The Ravens 2010 team leaders include; QB Joe Flacco completing 97 passes on 170 attempts for 1116 yards and five touchdowns, Race Rice leads in rushing with 87 carries for 363 yards and two touchdowns. Anquan Boldin leads in receiving with 28 receptions for 363 yards and three touchdowns. The Ravens are ranked 16th overall on offense (336ypg) with a 16th ranked pass game (224ypg) and a 15th ranked running game (111ypg). They have the third best ranked defense overall (280pg), with the third best ranked pass rush (175ypg) and a 13th rank rush defense (105ypg). The Ravens defense allows the second least amount of points per-game (15).
Recent Trends to Consider:
Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
Home team is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings.
Bills are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. loss.
Bills are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Bills are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.
Ravens are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a favorite of 10.5 or greater.
Ravens are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Ravens are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Ravens are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite of 10.5 or greater.
Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens
When: Sun, Oct 24, 1:00 PM E
Pick: Ravens -13
Point-Spreads.com NFL Week 7 Predictions on the Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens Betting Odds
The Bottom Line: The Bills are the worst. Be sure to get your NFL Week 7 Predictions on the Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens. Ravens 41-Bills 3
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens NFL Gameday Preview
Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson recently celebrated his 92nd birthday. Wilson also came out and admitted that he knows why the fans in Buffalo are angry. The Bills have not made the playoffs since 1999 and the team is off to an 0-5 start this year.
While the betting Bills fans were a little relieved to hear the team owner acknowledge their pain, there was still no solution offered by Wilson for the immediate future. It will be more of the same for Bills fans this season.
It is rare that an emotion such as anger enters into an NFL betting discussion, but Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens are angry. Both of the Ravens losses this season were by five points or less, and the most recent loss was in Week 6 in overtime against the New England Patriots.
When the Week 7 NFL scores come rolling in at the end of Sunday’s play, it will be extremely evident how angry Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens are about their two losses this season.
Buffalo back-up quarterback Brian Brohm may get to see significant playing time this week, and if the Bills have a third-string quarterback, then he will probably get into the game as well.
The Bills offensive line has show no ability to stop any pass-rush thrown their way, and aside from the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens have the most relentless pass rush in the NFL.
The Bills drafted running back C.J. Spiller because they felt he could make plays. While Spiller has shown signs of promise, behind that terrible Bills offensive line he has not been able to accomplish anything this season.
The Bills traded running back Marshawn Lynch to the Seattle Seahawks earlier in the season leaving Spiller and Fred Jackson as the running back duo in Buffalo. As talented as Spiller and Jackson are, they are not going to get anywhere in the Buffalo offense.
The Ravens offense, and more specifically, quarterback Joe Flacco, has been struggling despite a 4-2 record. Flacco has been inconsistent this season, and while he has been improving, his accuracy problems are starting to cost the Ravens points on the scoreboard. If it were not for the aggressive defense of the Ravens, Baltimore could easily be 1-5.
This week’s Baltimore Ravens NFL pick will see the Ravens have some time to work on their offense. The Bills defense started out impressive, but with the offense unable to stay on the field for any period of time, the Bills defense is getting tired.
The Bills are last in rushing defense allowing an average of 182 yards per game, and they are last in points allowed by giving up an average of 32 points per game. All of these numbers are inflated over the past three weeks as the Bills defense looks like it has simply collapsed under the weight of the offense.
The Ravens need this game against the Bills. The Ravens defense gets a chance to work out their aggression over the Week 6 loss by teeing off against the Bills offense. The Baltimore offense gets a chance to work on their passing game against a Bills pass-rush that offers no resistance at all. The Baltimore Ravens 41-3
While the betting Bills fans were a little relieved to hear the team owner acknowledge their pain, there was still no solution offered by Wilson for the immediate future. It will be more of the same for Bills fans this season.
It is rare that an emotion such as anger enters into an NFL betting discussion, but Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens are angry. Both of the Ravens losses this season were by five points or less, and the most recent loss was in Week 6 in overtime against the New England Patriots.
When the Week 7 NFL scores come rolling in at the end of Sunday’s play, it will be extremely evident how angry Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens are about their two losses this season.
Buffalo back-up quarterback Brian Brohm may get to see significant playing time this week, and if the Bills have a third-string quarterback, then he will probably get into the game as well.
The Bills offensive line has show no ability to stop any pass-rush thrown their way, and aside from the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens have the most relentless pass rush in the NFL.
The Bills drafted running back C.J. Spiller because they felt he could make plays. While Spiller has shown signs of promise, behind that terrible Bills offensive line he has not been able to accomplish anything this season.
The Bills traded running back Marshawn Lynch to the Seattle Seahawks earlier in the season leaving Spiller and Fred Jackson as the running back duo in Buffalo. As talented as Spiller and Jackson are, they are not going to get anywhere in the Buffalo offense.
The Ravens offense, and more specifically, quarterback Joe Flacco, has been struggling despite a 4-2 record. Flacco has been inconsistent this season, and while he has been improving, his accuracy problems are starting to cost the Ravens points on the scoreboard. If it were not for the aggressive defense of the Ravens, Baltimore could easily be 1-5.
This week’s Baltimore Ravens NFL pick will see the Ravens have some time to work on their offense. The Bills defense started out impressive, but with the offense unable to stay on the field for any period of time, the Bills defense is getting tired.
The Bills are last in rushing defense allowing an average of 182 yards per game, and they are last in points allowed by giving up an average of 32 points per game. All of these numbers are inflated over the past three weeks as the Bills defense looks like it has simply collapsed under the weight of the offense.
The Ravens need this game against the Bills. The Ravens defense gets a chance to work out their aggression over the Week 6 loss by teeing off against the Bills offense. The Baltimore offense gets a chance to work on their passing game against a Bills pass-rush that offers no resistance at all. The Baltimore Ravens 41-3
Monday, October 18, 2010
Buffalo Bills Have Hit Rock Bottom Following 0-5 Start
Thurman Thomas didn't realize how low his beloved Buffalo Bills had sunk until the Hall of Fame running back walked past four fans wearing paper bags over their heads at last weekend's home game.
It was one thing for Thomas to chuckle at seeing disgruntled fans doing that in places like Detroit or even New Orleans, back when the Saints were still the 'Aints.
But Buffalo?
"The first thing that came to my mind was, 'Are these guys that bad?"' Thomas said a few days after encountering the fans at Ralph Wilson Stadium during Buffalo's 36-26 loss to Jacksonville. "And I got to thinking about it, you know, like, 'Wow, you only really see bags with teams that really stink."'
Hate to break it to you, Thurman.
These Bills are, indeed, really bad - entering their bye week at 0-5, marking their worst start in 25 years and with little sign of things getting better any time soon.
Safety Donte Whitner called the Bills a "laughingstock" while guard Eric Wood didn't dispute the possibility of going 0-16 following the loss to Jacksonville. The Bills once-hearty fans have turned angry or apathetic, with the team facing the prospect of having as many as five non-sellouts at home, including its game Nov. 7 at Toronto against Chicago.
Former coach-turned-TV-analyst Tony Dungy had difficulty determining whether the Bills or winless Panthers were worse during an NBC broadcast Sunday. He said the two teams would play to a 0-0 tie if they met this season.
And even Bills owner Ralph Wilson had few words to describe his team's woes, except to say, "It's bad," and suggest it might take as many as three years to turn it around.
Such is the sad state of a once-proud franchise that's gone from being the AFC's winningest team in the 1990s to one of the NFL's worst since 2000. It's a 10-plus-year stretch in which the Bills have enjoyed one winning season (a 9-7 finish in 2004) and failed to make the playoffs, tying Detroit for the longest active drought.
It's so bad, first-year general manager Buddy Nix said the biggest challenge he and coach Chan Gailey face is addressing the losing culture that's been allowed to fester.
"To be honest with you, it's the hardest thing you have to do," Nix said. "I don't care whether you want to admit it or not, but losing gets to be a habit. And it gets to be something you accept. And we're not going to do that."
This season's start marks the ninth time in 11 years the Bills have had a losing record five games in, a stretch of futility that's been the result of endless coaching and quarterback changes and inconsistent drafting.
Gailey is the team's sixth head coach since Hall of Famer Marv Levy retired following the 1997 season. The Bills have had nine quarterbacks start at least eight games since Jim Kelly retired after 1996. And Buffalo's drafts have produced as many first-round busts - offensive tackle Mike Williams, quarterback J.P. Losman, defensive tackle John McCargo and potentially linebacker Aaron Maybin - as proven regulars, including Wood and receiver Lee Evans.
Caught in the midst of criticism, frustration and ever dwindling expectations is a group of players searching for answers and clinging to what few positives they can, while believing one win could bring a turnaround.
"Our focus is trying to win a football game, getting some confidence back, trying to get a feeling of happiness," Evans said. "We're not trying to say there's nothing bad going on. ... But if we sat up here and thought about everything bad going on, it would make it real hard to come in."
The Bills offense lacks identity, and went through an upheaval after Week 2, when quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick took over as starter in place of Trent Edwards, who was released a week later.
Their defense has been even worse, having allowed 30 or more points in its last four games to mark the worst stretch in franchise history. And they can't stop the run, having allowed 689 yards rushing in their past three games.
Defensive end Marcus Stroud is stung by the level of criticism - some of it personal and profane - fans are heaping on the team.
"The fans are relentless. We're hearing it. Some of it is deserved and some of it isn't," Stroud said.
As for those who chose to wear paper bags, Stroud shook his head in wonder.
"If that's how you want to display your anger, that's cool," he said. "But one thing about it, cussing at us and wearing paper bags ain't going to do a damn thing to help turn it around."
Fans such as Mark Burr are fed up. Estimating he's attended more than 300 Bills games, he gave up his club seat season-tickets following the 2008 season and even passed up free tickets to go last Sunday.
"I have just programmed my DVR to record the games and make other plans for Sunday afternoon," Burr said.
Though crediting Wilson for his loyalty to Buffalo 51 years after establishing the franchise, Burr questioned the club's lack of direction.
"The incentive to win finishes a distant second to the bottom line," Burr said. "He has a reasonable expectation to turn an acceptable profit, but the product has suffered more often than not."
Wilson was open to paying for a high-profile coach this offseason, but the Bills were rejected by both Mike Shanahan and Bill Cowher. The owner says there's no one else to blame but him for what's gone wrong.
The last time the Bills were this bad was in 1984 and '85, when they finished with 2-14 records.
Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith remembers fans wearing paper bags during his rookie season in '85. What's more memorable is how Smith joined Kelly, Thomas and Levy to form the core of a team that made four straight Super Bowl appearances from 1991-94.
"It's very difficult to see where we once were, and where we are now," Smith said.
Since February 2000 - when Smith, Thomas and receiver Andre Reed were all released - the Bills have always packed up after the regular season. As for this being the lowpoint and the dawn of something special, Smith wasn't sure.
"I hope. I try to be optimistic," he said. "But to be quite honest, since the team was broken up in 1999, we have not had the success that we had hoped for."
It was one thing for Thomas to chuckle at seeing disgruntled fans doing that in places like Detroit or even New Orleans, back when the Saints were still the 'Aints.
But Buffalo?
"The first thing that came to my mind was, 'Are these guys that bad?"' Thomas said a few days after encountering the fans at Ralph Wilson Stadium during Buffalo's 36-26 loss to Jacksonville. "And I got to thinking about it, you know, like, 'Wow, you only really see bags with teams that really stink."'
Hate to break it to you, Thurman.
These Bills are, indeed, really bad - entering their bye week at 0-5, marking their worst start in 25 years and with little sign of things getting better any time soon.
Safety Donte Whitner called the Bills a "laughingstock" while guard Eric Wood didn't dispute the possibility of going 0-16 following the loss to Jacksonville. The Bills once-hearty fans have turned angry or apathetic, with the team facing the prospect of having as many as five non-sellouts at home, including its game Nov. 7 at Toronto against Chicago.
Former coach-turned-TV-analyst Tony Dungy had difficulty determining whether the Bills or winless Panthers were worse during an NBC broadcast Sunday. He said the two teams would play to a 0-0 tie if they met this season.
And even Bills owner Ralph Wilson had few words to describe his team's woes, except to say, "It's bad," and suggest it might take as many as three years to turn it around.
Such is the sad state of a once-proud franchise that's gone from being the AFC's winningest team in the 1990s to one of the NFL's worst since 2000. It's a 10-plus-year stretch in which the Bills have enjoyed one winning season (a 9-7 finish in 2004) and failed to make the playoffs, tying Detroit for the longest active drought.
It's so bad, first-year general manager Buddy Nix said the biggest challenge he and coach Chan Gailey face is addressing the losing culture that's been allowed to fester.
"To be honest with you, it's the hardest thing you have to do," Nix said. "I don't care whether you want to admit it or not, but losing gets to be a habit. And it gets to be something you accept. And we're not going to do that."
This season's start marks the ninth time in 11 years the Bills have had a losing record five games in, a stretch of futility that's been the result of endless coaching and quarterback changes and inconsistent drafting.
Gailey is the team's sixth head coach since Hall of Famer Marv Levy retired following the 1997 season. The Bills have had nine quarterbacks start at least eight games since Jim Kelly retired after 1996. And Buffalo's drafts have produced as many first-round busts - offensive tackle Mike Williams, quarterback J.P. Losman, defensive tackle John McCargo and potentially linebacker Aaron Maybin - as proven regulars, including Wood and receiver Lee Evans.
Caught in the midst of criticism, frustration and ever dwindling expectations is a group of players searching for answers and clinging to what few positives they can, while believing one win could bring a turnaround.
"Our focus is trying to win a football game, getting some confidence back, trying to get a feeling of happiness," Evans said. "We're not trying to say there's nothing bad going on. ... But if we sat up here and thought about everything bad going on, it would make it real hard to come in."
The Bills offense lacks identity, and went through an upheaval after Week 2, when quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick took over as starter in place of Trent Edwards, who was released a week later.
Their defense has been even worse, having allowed 30 or more points in its last four games to mark the worst stretch in franchise history. And they can't stop the run, having allowed 689 yards rushing in their past three games.
Defensive end Marcus Stroud is stung by the level of criticism - some of it personal and profane - fans are heaping on the team.
"The fans are relentless. We're hearing it. Some of it is deserved and some of it isn't," Stroud said.
As for those who chose to wear paper bags, Stroud shook his head in wonder.
"If that's how you want to display your anger, that's cool," he said. "But one thing about it, cussing at us and wearing paper bags ain't going to do a damn thing to help turn it around."
Fans such as Mark Burr are fed up. Estimating he's attended more than 300 Bills games, he gave up his club seat season-tickets following the 2008 season and even passed up free tickets to go last Sunday.
"I have just programmed my DVR to record the games and make other plans for Sunday afternoon," Burr said.
Though crediting Wilson for his loyalty to Buffalo 51 years after establishing the franchise, Burr questioned the club's lack of direction.
"The incentive to win finishes a distant second to the bottom line," Burr said. "He has a reasonable expectation to turn an acceptable profit, but the product has suffered more often than not."
Wilson was open to paying for a high-profile coach this offseason, but the Bills were rejected by both Mike Shanahan and Bill Cowher. The owner says there's no one else to blame but him for what's gone wrong.
The last time the Bills were this bad was in 1984 and '85, when they finished with 2-14 records.
Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith remembers fans wearing paper bags during his rookie season in '85. What's more memorable is how Smith joined Kelly, Thomas and Levy to form the core of a team that made four straight Super Bowl appearances from 1991-94.
"It's very difficult to see where we once were, and where we are now," Smith said.
Since February 2000 - when Smith, Thomas and receiver Andre Reed were all released - the Bills have always packed up after the regular season. As for this being the lowpoint and the dawn of something special, Smith wasn't sure.
"I hope. I try to be optimistic," he said. "But to be quite honest, since the team was broken up in 1999, we have not had the success that we had hoped for."
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