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| Fred Jackson bursts through the defense |
For starters, the unbearable 8-year/15-game losing streak against New England is finally over (the Bills last win against them was Week 1 of 2003).
And a team that was a hopeless 4-12 only a season ago is already 3-0 and suddenly in sole possession of first place in the AFC East. The playoffs are a distinct possibility.
But the biggest reason to get pumped about this win - is the team itself. These guys are tough, resilient and absolutely refuse to quit. The coaching staff has found multiple ways to use the talents on the roster. The players are building confidence and truly believe they can beat anyone in the NFL.
Ironically, this team is starting to remind me of the (pre-2007) Patriots - before success forced their egos to blow up, and the front office started signing people like Randy Moss, Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth.
Positives:
1) Get your votes in for MVP...
How things can change in a short time.
Just last September, Ryan Fitzpatrick was on the sidelines, holding a clipboard for "Captain Checkdown" Trent Edwards. Meanwhile, Fred Jackson was completely forgotten and fighting for carries behind rookie C.J. Spiller and the underperforming Marshawn Lynch. Even through the preseason, Jackson was facing the possible loss of his starting job.
But through three real games, Jackson has played like the best running back in the NFL. Whether he's breaking tackles, outrunning defenders, catching screens, lining up as a receiver, picking up blitzes - the 30 year old has simply taken his game to the next level. He's been the difference maker and the spark to both comeback wins.
Fitzpatrick is proving to be one of the NFL's best quarterbacks when it comes to reading a defense pre-snap. His decision making has improved, but not at the expense of his tough-gunslinger play.
2) About that trade...
I'm sticking to my guns when I say that Buffalo should have gotten more value for wide receiver Lee Evans. A fourth round pick isn't much. But I may have to eat my words about him being irreplaceable in this offense.
While the Bills feasted mostly on short passes the first two games, with tight end Scott Chandler and slot receiver David Nelson - it confirmed my worries about their ability to push the ball downfield when they really needed big plays. On cue, Sunday saw a big breakout game for deep threat Donald Jones (5 catches, 101 yards), who had been struggling with drops until that point.
Steve Johnson has responded to the added attention from defenses with a touchdown catch in each game so far. He thrives on incredible route running and a great knack for getting open.
3) It all starts up front...
I've said it three weeks in a row now, but the biggest surprise on this team is the blocking.
I could probably count on one hand how many times Fitzpatrick has been forced to rush a throw this season. They are picking up blitzes, opening up huge holes for the running game and even getting to the second level when pulling.
It certainly helps when the quarterback is completing lots of quick passes. But the line is also holding their own with four and five receiver sets, without the benefit of extra help from running backs and tight ends.
4) That's how to respond...
Normally, this would be the place to reem the secondary. After all, Tom Brady threw for 387 yards and four touchdowns. Wes Welker was WIDE open all day long. Rob Gronkowski was unstoppable.
But it's all about playing four quarters and learning how to respond to adversity.
After getting abused most of the first 30 minutes, the Bills defensive backs came out with a more aggressive and physical approach - playing tighter coverage and pushing themselves to make plays on the ball. The result was four turnovers, a defensive touchdown and a couple nice stops on third down.
This unit has a lot of improving to do. Last week, Leodis McKelvin and George Wilson were the biggest culprits. This week, it was rookie Aaron Williams. But without their effort on Sunday, the Bills would have never come back from 21 points down.
Negatives:
1) It's the defense's turn to step up...
With such a big win, I really hate to throw a negative comment out there. But Buffalo did allow 30-plus points for the second straight week. That has to stop.
Over the last two years, the Bills have used most of their top picks on defense. They brought in veteran help with Shawne Merriman, Nick Barnett, Andre Davis and Dwan Edwards. They even added Dave Wannstedt to help on the coaching side.
They are still letting up huge plays to tight ends, slot receivers and pass-catching running backs. Runners are hitting the edge too often. Without blitzing, the pass rush is almost non-existent.
The Bills offense is certain to have a bad game or two before the year is over (especially when the bad weather hits). It would be nice to know that the defense can shoulder the load.
Other Observations:
>> For the second straight week, Buffalo's slow start on offense could be partially attributed to dropped passes and untimely penalties. If they can stop beating themselves, the Bills could be even better on offense in the coming weeks. That's scary.
>> Right after Bryan Scott's second quarter interception, the Bills found themselves pinned deep with only 1:05 left in the half. Where former head coach Dick Jauron would have kneeled on the ball, Gailey stayed aggressive and tried to move down the field. The team walked away with three more points and some momentum going into the half.
Looking to next week:
>> Now that the Bills have "arrived," they have to make sure not to take lesser opponents lightly. With that in mind, this is the classic "trap game" and the Bengals could prove to be a dangerous opponent.
Cincinnati is in a full-blown rebuild mode, with an offense led by rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and rookie wide receiver A.J. Green. Understandably, the young duo has struggled so far - but the talent is definitely there for a break-out game eventually. This would be a great week for the Bills to experiment with different blitz packages against the inexperienced passer.
The Bengals defense has played well this year (ranked #3 in the NFL so far in yards allowed), although it was against questionable competition. The team features a pretty strong group of pass rushers that could cause problems for Buffalo's offensive line. That could end up being the most important battle of the afternoon.
If the Bills can avoid the big-game hangover, remain focused and avoid turnovers, the Bengals lack the offensive firepower to keep up in a high scoring game.
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