Week 6 Recap: Buffalo 24, New York Giants 27

Ill-timed turnovers, weak defense drop Bills in second close loss of season

Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw leaps
over Bills defenders into the endzone.  He scored three
times on Sunday.

   For a team expected to live at the bottom of the AFC East standings this year, entering the bye week with a 4-2 record should be considered a major accompishment. 
   The problem is, the Bills had a very good chance at walking away with another close victory on Sunday.  Instead, the team that thrived on its opponents mistakes for the first 5 weeks of the season, suddenly became sloppy, undisciplined and careless with the ball. 
   Some may be inclined to blame the aggressive offensive playcalling for Sunday's loss.  But the real problem was yet another dreadful performance by the Buffalo defense, along with poor execution by Ryan Fitzpatrick with the team in scoring position.  Bills fans have come to expect these up-and-down performances by their maddeningly-inconsistent quarterback.  Unfortunately, this might be a game that comes back to haunt them in the playoff race.
   The coaching staff now has two weeks to fix an absolutely pathetic defense, while hoping to get some players healthy on the offensive line.

Game Observations:

1)  The never-ending quarterback quandry...
   I want to have confidence in Fitzpatrick.  I really do.
   I want to believe he's the guy who will finally break the playoff drought.  I want to believe he will lead us to our first Super Bowl win in franchise history.  I don't want to "Suck for Luck" or any other rookie quarterback, for that matter.
   But for every amazing play Fitz makes, there will be another that emphasizes his glaring weaknesses as a pro.  His fourth quarter interception was only the nail in the coffin, completing an absosolutely terrible day for the quarterback.  Equally damaging was the second quarter sack - due to Fitz holding the ball way too long - knocking the Bills out of field goal range.
   Fitzpatrick's play has gotten progressively worse as the season has gone along, as teams have generated more pressure, used more bump and run coverage, and forced him to complete the long ball down the sideline.

2)  Cornerback carousel...
   Honestly.  Is there anyone on this roster that can cover? 
   So far, I've had to call out Leodis McKelvin (roasted by rookie receivers in the Oakland and Cincinnati games), rookie Aaron Williams (constantly abused by Tom Brady before getting hurt) and Reggie Corner (torched last week against Philadelphia). 
   Add Drayton Florence to the list.
   Throughout the afternoon, Florence could be seen helplessly chasing Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks (4 catches, 96 yards) around the field, and committing horrible pass interference infractions.

3)  Get that seat warm...
   At this rate, it's only going to be a matter of time before the fans start calling for the head of defensive coordinator George Edwards.
   The Bills have let up over 400 yards in five straight games.  They can't cover anybody.  They can't generate a pass rush.  When the game is on the line, they can't stop the run either. 
   With almost two full draft classes and several veteran free agents at his disposal, Edwards can't cry about a lack of talent.  Players have had over a year to adjust to his scheme.  He's running out of excuses.
   Not to mention, Dave Wannstedt is waiting in the shadows.

4)  It wasn't all bad...
   Running back Fred Jackson continues to make his case for the NFL's most valuable player.  His draw in the first quarter was huge and proved that he's just on another level this season.
   The offensive line will get a lot of criticism, but they also played well against one of the league's toughest defensive lines.  Despite the mounting injuries, most of the day's pressure (and the two sacks) came with Fitzpatrick holding the ball too long.

Looking to Week 8

Week 5 Recap: Buffalo 31, Philadelphia 24

Turnovers key as Bills knock off disappointing Eagles "Dream Team"

The Bills defense had Eagles quarterback Michael
Vick under intense pressure all day long, leading to
four interceptions

   One of the most important lessons for a young team is learning how to shake off a tough loss.
   Mission accomplished.
   The Bills came back from their disappointing Week 4 performance by jumping out to an impressive 28-7 lead against a favored Eagles team, forcing four interceptions out of quarterback Michael Vick, and finally holding off a potential fourth quarter comeback.
   It wasn't the prettiest win.  The defense fell apart again and needed all of their five takeaways to walk away with the victory.
   But it was a victory... and one they almost certainly would have lost in years past.  The offense continued to move the ball very well, and did another outstanding job of putting up points in the red zone. 
   At 4-1, the Bills have already matched the number of wins they had in 2010, and they remain tied for first place in the AFC East.

Game Observations:

1)  Turnover kings...
   I don't think the Bills secondary could cover an old man with a walker.  But where this group lacks in coverage ability, they have made up for in aggression and on-field awareness. 
   The defense can't count on these kinds of bounces every week.  But not all of the turnovers have been luck bounces.  Many have come off batted passes, deflections and from extreme pressure on the quarterback.  That comes from good coaching.

2)  Fred Jackson is an animal...
   What more can be said about Jackson that hasn't been stated over the previous four games?  On Sunday, he racked up almost 200 yards from scrimmage.
   Since the days of Thurman Thomas, the Bills have used first round picks on Antowain Smith, Willis McGahee, Marshawn Lynch and C.J. Spiller.  They have all gotten outplayed by an undrafted free agent from Coe College.

3)  No longer worried...
   As usual, all of the media attention is going to Jackson and Ryan Fitzpatrick.  But the real story of the Bills season has to be the offensive line.
   Even replacing starting left tackle Demetrius Bell with rookie Chris Hairston, the unit didn't miss a beat.  On the season, they have allowed only four sacks (best in the NFL) and helped the team average 5 yards rushing per carry (#4 in the NFL).  But the group is most impressive when flexing their speed and agility when blocking downfield on screen passes.

4)  Blown coverages galore...
   It's hard to imagine the Bills getting better pressure on the quarterback.  Vick was crushed several times and forced into rushing most of his throws. 
   So how in the world were receivers getting open so deep, right in the middle of the field? 
   In past weeks, Leodis McKelvin and rookie Aaron Williams were the primary victims.  This week's biggest culprits were Reggie Corner and the normally solid Drayton Florence.  With so many coverage breakdowns, at some point we have to start wondering if the root problem lies in the defensive scheme and not the talent. 

Looking to next week:

   After falling to the Seahawks, the 3-2 Giants will be very eager to get back in the win column.
   New York has struggled badly with turning the ball over, which (on paper) could fall right into the hands of an opportunistic Bills defense.  Coach Tom Coughlin will be preaching "protecting the ball" all week long.
   The Giants are no longer a top running team, but they do have several dangerous weapons in the passing game, starting with an exceptional set of receivers (Hakeem Nix, Mario Manningham and the emerging Victor Cruz).  Like many of the runners the Bills have already faced this year, Ahmad Bradshaw can also make big plays out of the backfield. 
   New York probably has the best group of pass rushers in the league, but are expected to be without Justin Tuck (and possibly Osi Umenyiora).  The Bills should again find success running the ball, which in turn will set up the short passing game.

Week 4 Recap: Cincinnati 23, Buffalo 20

Surging Bills fall back to earth with second-half defensive collapse

Bengals running back Cedric
Benson busts through the Bills
defense in the fourth quarter

   The winning streak had to stop at some point.  Buffalo wasn't going to go 16-0 this year.  Still, having that first loss come against the lowly Bengals can't help but leave a bad taste.
   It's doubtful that the Bills will play against another this year offense with less experience, or enter another game so highly favored.  Yet the league's "highest scoring" offense was flat and struggled to put up points all day long.  The defense was extremely sloppy and even seemed overconfident entering the second half.
   The Bills haven't managed a "full" game since Week 1.  Thus far, they have been surviving streaky play by taking advantage of their opponents mistakes and turnovers.  It looked like more of the same on Sunday, before the Bengals refocused at halftime and punched the Bills defense right in the mouth.
   Along with this depressing loss, Cincinnati laid out a decent blueprint for other teams to slow down Buffalo's offense (taking away the short passing lanes).  Coordinators will continue to attack a struggling secondary until the Bills give them a reason not to.
   It was a bad day for the Bills.  But just like the 3-0 start, it's important not to overreact to one loss.  The big test will be whether the Bills can adjust to what their opponents will now be able to see on the gamefilm.

Weekly Observations:

1)  The other team in stripes...
   I am certainly not the type of person that likes to blame the refs for a loss.  And no doubt, the Bills hold plenty of responsiblity for their poor showing on Sunday.  However, the officiating on Sunday was absolutely terrible, and bad enough to have cost Buffalo the game.
   The biggest blunder was the ridiculous "non-catch" by Steve Johnson, taking away what would have been an important Bills first down.  Instead of continuing their drive, draining more of the clock and possibly going up by two scores - the Bills had to punt and give the Bengals another shot. 
   Only a few plays later, Cincinnati tight end Jermaine Gresham hauled in a 25 yard pass on the sidelines.  Replay showed him bobble the ball and step out of bounds before getting two feet down, but nobody (the refs, the Bills or the t.v. crew) seemed to notice.

2)  Stop Fred Jackson, stop the Bills...
   During the first four games, Chan Gailey's strategy has been to lineup Ryan Fitzpatrick in shotgun with four and five receiver sets, then go after the defense with a short passing attack.  But all of their success has started by making opponents respect the running game.
   Jackson was able to make a few nice runs on Sunday.  But as a whole, the offensive line was unable to consistently open holes on the Bengals defense, forcing Buffalo into several 3rd-and-long situations.  Fitzpatrick has struggled when pushed into making throws more than 9-10 yards downfield when defenses are expecting it.
   With their lack of talent, the Bills can't afford to be one-dimensional.  Hopefully, Gailey will make some adjustments and come up with more ways to get Jackson some running room.

3)  Our starting cornerback is becoming a huge liability...
   There was a lot of hope that Leodis McKelvin would finally "get it" this year.  Instead, the former first-round pick has allowed a rookie receiver to put up over a hundred yards on him twice in only four games.
   McKelvin is constantly caught trailing his man, giving up too much room underneath and getting completely turned around on routes.  When he does manage to be in position, he fails to get his eyes to the ball or make a breakup on the pass.  If it wasn't for a bad drop by Chad Ochocinco in Week 3 and overthrow by Andy Dalton on Sunday, his numbers could look even worse on the season.

4)  He hasn't been the only problem...
   Most of the big passing plays in the second half were courtesy of Gresham, who was easily beating coverage by safeties George Wilson and Bryan Scott.  It shouldn't have been a surprise.
   Despite making some big turnovers, both players have struggled all year long at covering tight ends - no matter who they are matching up against.  And this was an area that was supposed to get better after the team let Donte Whitner walk in free agency.

5)  Oh well, let's just call out the whole defense...
   On the offensive side of the ball, Chan Gailey has turned a bunch of late-round picks and undrafted free agents into one of the NFL's most explosive offenses.  Meanwhile, the defensive front seven (which has gotten most of the attention in the last two offseasons) has been extremely underperforming. 
   Tackling was dreadful against the Bengals.  The run defense is better than last year, but still lets up too many big plays.  There is little to no pass rush.  When are youngsters Torrell Troup, Alex Carrington, Arthur Moats, Danny Batton, etc. going to get on the field?  Has Shawne Merriman even played since the pre-season?
   If the Bills want to be a real contender, they better shore up the defense before weather gets bad.

6)  Misfires from the man under center...
   And just when we thought the quarterback controversy was over.
   The Bengals focused on taking away the run and keeping their coverage closer to the line of scrimmage.  Instead of burning the defense over the top, Ryan Fitzpatrick was unable to connect with his receivers on deep throws. 
   Gailey has done a great job of hiding the weak points in Fitzpatrick's game (accuracy, decision-making under pressure).  The league's better defensive coordinators will continue to try exposing those areas.

7)  The worst rule in professional sports...
   Almost ten years ago, the "Tuck Rule" was instrumental in launching the career of Tom Brady and jump-starting the New England Patriots dynasty.  That's the only reason I can figure that the NFL hasn't changed the dumbest rule of all time.
   Any sane person could see that Andy Dalton was not throwing the ball when it was knocked from his hand.  Maybe the refs made the right call based on the rule book.  But they made the wrong call based on pure common sense.

Looking to next week:

   Few teams have been as disappointing in 2011 as the 1-3 Eagles, who loaded up during the offseason with big name free agents.  They might already be looking at this contest as a "must win" to keep in the playoff race.
   Philadelphia has been unable to keep pressure off quarterback Michael Vick, who has already gotten banged up pretty bad (concussion, broken wrist).  With left tackle Jason Peters likely to miss Week 5, this would be a great week for the Bills pass rush to finally get off the ground.
   The Eagles have tons of weapons in the passing game.  Running back LeSean McCoy figures to have a big game catching passes out of the backfield, while receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin will pose troubles against a struggling Bills secondary.
   Buffalo's offense matches up really well against Philadelphia's weak linebackers.  There should be plenty of room for Jackson and the short passing game to get rolling.  Defensive end Trent Cole is also supposed to miss the game, taking a big hit on the pass rush.

Week 3 Recap: Buffalo 34, New England 31

Thrilling victory ends 15-game losing streak against rival

Fred Jackson bursts through the defense

   There are about a million reasons to get excited about Sunday's amazing comeback against the Patriots. 
   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.

Week 2 Recap: Buffalo 38, Oakland 35

Bills overcome big hole to survive shootout with Raiders

   They don't get more exciting than that.

Fred Jackson dives into the endzone, sparking
the Bills comeback

   Following up their 41-7 thrashing of the Chiefs in Week 1, the Bills thrilled the home crowd with an amazing come-from-behind victory against the Raiders that would have made Frank Reich proud.  The offense was incredible, scoring a touchdown every time they touched the ball in the second half.
   Considering their opponents, I really don't find the Bills 2-0 record very surpising.  What I did not expect, was the way they are doing it.  After two weeks, the Bills are the top scoring offense in the NFL.  Fred Jackson leads the league in rushing and Ryan Fitzpatrick is tied for the lead in touchdown throws.
   The real test for this team will not come until next Sunday.  But so far, there have been enough positive signs to believe the Bills won't be a cellar-dweller in 2011 after all.  Here is what I took from the Oakland game:

Positives:

1)  Not as bad as it looked...
   To someone who missed the game and was only looking at the box score, it may have seemed like the Bills made some crazy adjustments on offense at halftime (scoring only three points on their first five drives, then putting up 35 on their last five). 
   But in reality, Buffalo was doing a pretty good job of moving the ball early - and really wasn't that far from putting up more points in the first two quarters.
   The team's first three drives were killed by a dropped pass on third down, an untimely penalty after crossing mid-field and a poorly thrown interception.  On their fourth drive, Fitzpatrick almost hit David Nelson in the back of the endzone, if not for a brilliant tip by Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain.  The Bills had to settle for a field goal.
   On Buffalo's final drive of the half, Fitzpatrick threw a little high to Steve Johnson at the goalline - forcing the Bills to attempt another field goal (which they missed).  A better pass would have been a likely touchdown.

2)  Excellent playcalling again...
   Where the Bills lack in measurable skills and talent, they are making up for it with excellent playcalling and preparation.  The same offensive players that were below-average for previous coaching staffs are now scoring at will.
   It starts with Coach Chan Gailey, who designs complex formations and plays to maximize the strengths of the guys on the field, hide their weaknesses and keep defensive coordinators guessing.  Fitzpatrick's knowledge of the game and ability to make the right pre-snap reads is proving to be the perfect fit.
   As seen on the game-winning touchdown, receivers are getting wide open, even in the red zone.  The running backs are finding big holes, even from the shotgun formation and multi-receiver sets.

Negatives:

1)  Defensive backs are not playing well...
   Since coming into town, GM Buddy Nix has shown no hesitation in getting rid of top picks that aren't performing to the team's standards:  Marshawn Lynch, Donte Whitner, John McCargo, Lee Evans.  If something doesn't change soon, we will probably be adding cornerback Leodis McKelvin to that list.
   Although nobody really played well in the secondary, McKelvin was the worst of a bad group.  He was beat deep and beat often, whether he was in position to defend the pass or not.  Making his first NFL start, Raiders receiver Denarious Moore racked up five catches for 146 yards and a touchdown while matched up mostly against McKelvin.

Other Observations:

>>  To make such a big comeback, you have to hope for a couple breaks - and Darren McFadden's third quarter fumble was definitely the turning point of the game.  Winning 21-10 at the time, the Raiders had already racked up three first downs and were going down for another score.  Without that timely turnover, Oakland's lead might have been too much to overcome.

>>  The additions of Marcell Dareus and Nick Barnett has helped shore up the middle of the defense, especially in stopping the ground game.  However, the team is still struggling to set the edge against outside runs or cause pressure on the corners of the pocket.  Most of that responsiblity comes to the outside linebackers (Shawne Merriman, Chris Kelsay, Alex Carrington).  This defense is definitely better than last year's version, but I don't think it's a finished product.

Looking to next week
  A 2-0 start is nice, but it won't mean very much unless the Bills manage to defeat the Patriots next week at home.  Unfortunately, they still don't match up well against the hated division rival, who they haven't beat since Week 1 of 2003 (that's 15 straight losses).
   Sure, every team is beatable and New England is definitely vulnerable on defense.  The Bills should score some points.  But so far, the Patriots appear as unstoppable on offense as they did during their 16-0, record breaking season.  Despite how good the Bills have looked, it will be hard for them to keep up in a shootout.
   The Patriots biggest strength just might be the Bills biggest weak point.  With the way Buffalo's linebackers and safeties have struggled to keep up with tight ends - Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez might be an impossible duo to stop. 
   This is where the Dareus draft pick could come into play.  The secondary needs to play physical and tight in coverage with the receivers, while getting pressure on quarterback Tom Brady without completely selling out with the blitz.  It's a hard task for even the league's top defenses.

Week 1 Recap: Buffalo 41, Kansas City 7

Bills dominant in season debut; crush Chiefs at Arrowhead

   You couldn't have asked for a better start to the season.

Scott Chandler and Donald Jones
celebrate a touchdown

   Sporting their new all-white uniforms, the Bills confidently marched into one of the NFL's toughest stadiums on Sunday and whipped a struggling Chiefs team that won it's division only a year ago.  
   In the opening minutes, Buffalo was able to jump ahead on the scoreboard and they never looked back.  During the game, they took full advantage of Kansas City's mistakes, made very few of their own and proved physical on both sides of the ball.  If one didn't know better, I would say they have the look of a potential playoff team.
   Of course, fans should probably temper their expectations.  It's a long season ahead and this is only one game.  For once, the Bills managed to catch all the key breaks (two fumbles in the red zone, a Kansas City missed field goal and replay taking a touchdown away), and their quick start helped take away the most dangerous part of the Chiefs attack.
   And there is a good chance that Kansas City (a surprising 10-6 squad last season) was overrated from the start - only beating two playoff teams last year.  They also entered the season with a new offensive coordinator, numerous injuries and looked very flat in the preseason.
   Still, it's hard to ignore a 41-7 win.  There was very little bad that could be found during Sunday's contest and too many players worthy of gameballs to mention them all.

Positives:

1)  Glimpses from the forgotten position...
   The Bills haven't had a playmaking tight end in so long, fans might be shocked to find that those guys are still allowed to catch passes.
   Considering how strong the Chiefs pass rush usually is (and how bad the Bills offensive line usually is), one would have probably expected Buffalo's tight ends to spend most of the afternoon helping in pass protection. 
   Instead, Scott Chandler (who had one NFL catch in three seasons before Sunday) came out of nowhere to post five catches, 63 yards and two touchdowns.  He showed a suprising ability to get open against both safeties and linebackers, and used his size (6'7, 263 lbs) to out-muscle defenders for the ball.
   Having a receiving threat at tight end will come in very handy this season, especially when the Bills play teams like Philadelphia and the New York Jets who are able to shutdown the outside passing lanes.

2)  Solid outing for the big guys up front...
   No group on the team has gotten as much heavy criticism - from coaches, the media and the fans - as the Bills offensive line.  And for good reason.
   But on Sunday, the normally impressive Chiefs pass rush was almost non-existent, while the Buffalo rushing attack was able to consistently churn out yards in the middle of the defense.  Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick had plenty of time to sit in the pocket and find receivers downfield.  With some holes and room to work with, running back Fred Jackson racked up 112 yards and a 5.6 yards per carry average.
   The line doesn't have to pancake defenders and play dominant for the offense to be able to score points.  They just have to limit their mistakes, bad blocks and blown assignments - thereby giving the skill positions the ability to do their thing.

3)  A big first step for the run defense...
   In 2010, the Chiefs were the league's top running team, while the Bills were on the verge of setting records for their inability to stop their opponents on the ground.  In their head-to-head matchup last year, Kansas City gashed Buffalo's defense for an incredible 274 yards on the ground.
   So all things considered, only letting up 108 yards on Sunday was more than a massive improvement.
   Much of the credit goes to the defensive line playing stronger at the point of attack, along with linebackers and safeties making good tackles near the line of scrimmage (some credit must also go to poor play calling by the Chiefs and a big lead that forced them to abandon the running game early).  Although Kansas City was able to break off a few decent runs, they never came on a regular basis.

4)  Props to the coaching staff..
   During his postgame press conference, Kansas City's Head Coach Todd Haley said the Bills came into the game ready to play, while his team didn't.
   Under our previous coaches, the Bills always seemed to be the ones a step or two behind.  We were always the ones unprepared, out of position and under utilized.
   Although I've questioned the direction of the team (especially in talent acquisition) as a whole over the last two offseasons, Gailey is certainly impressive as a coach.  His strategy and gameplan changes depending on matchups and the strengths/weaknesses of his weekly opponent. 
   Best of all, he manages to get the most out of his players.  Almost every player on the starting offense entered the NFL as either a seventh round draft pick or undrafted free agent.  Yet on Sunday, they piled 41 points on a defense full of first round talent.

Other Observations:

>>  I'm still holding out hope that C.J. Spiller develops into a force, but there is no doubt who the best running back on this team is right now.  If the coaching staff wasn't so reluctant to let him carry the full load, who knows what Fred Jackson would be capable of.

>>  The debate rages on.  Going into the season, I said that in order to secure himself as the longterm answer at quarterback Fitzpatrick needed to improve his touchdown-turnover ratio, win games against good teams and push the Bills offense into the top half of the league.  So far, so good.  Let's hope he can keep it up.

>>  Specialist Brad Smith finished with only six yards on three carries, but was able to pick up a couple significant first downs that continued important offensive drives.  Still, for the Wildcat to be effective in the future, he's going to have to complete some of those throws too, just to keep defenses honest.

>>  Overall, I liked what I saw from the secondary.  The cornerbacks did an exceptionally good job, especially in shutting down receiver Dwayne Bowe.  However, there were some coverage breakdowns against running backs and tight ends that need to be corrected.  Teams like New England, Dallas and Philadelphia (again) will feast on those plays all day.

Looking to next week:

>>  After their impressive showing against last year's top rushing offense, the Bills will come home to face 2010's second best running team, Darren McFadden and the Oakland Raiders.  They also boast one of the league's strongest defensive lines.
   The Raiders looked like an improved squad last year, finishing with an 8-8 record.  But owner Al Davis decided to blow up the operation and start from scratch.  They enter the season with a new head coach in Hue Jackson, in addition to the loss of some major talent (Nnamdi Asomugha, Zach Miller, Robert Gallery).
   Coaches will get their first look at Oakland on Monday night against Denver.  On paper, the Bills matchup very well and should be able to walk away with a win - especially at home.  However, they have to be careful not to ride their Week 1 success too much, or get caught looking ahead to their game against New England in Week 3.

Game Recap: Preseason Week 4 (Detroit at Buffalo)

Starters play sparingly in 16-6 loss; Bills finish preseason 1-3

    Being the final preseason contest, there wasn't much significant that could be taken away from Thursday night's contest against the Lions.
   Instead of risking the starters to injury, both coaches decided to use the live game action to give a final evaluation of those battling for final roster spots.  Overall, the Bills starting offense and defense played two drives a piece, before leaving with the score still knotted at zero.
   Some notes:

Positives:

1)  The "Front Seven" is looking more impressive as the weeks go by...
   Plenty of praise has been heaped on the defensive front during the preseason.  By consistently winning the battle at the line of scrimmage, the Bills have managed to simultaneously improve a pass rush and a run defense that were absolutely pathetic only nine months ago.
   But I was most impressed Thursday night on back-to-back plays when the Bills linebackers (Shawne Merriman and Chris Kelsay) were able to chase down screen plays that otherwise could have gone for big gains.
   It's one thing to play intense and aggressive.  But smart teams (such as the Patriots) will take advantage of a defense's over-pursuit by running draws and screens.  The way to combat that is by playing with discipline, taking good angles and not missing tackles. 
   If those two plays were indicative of what we can expect, I'm officially excited about the potential of this starting defense.

Negatives:

1)  Missed opportunities...
   If last year told us anything, we can expect the Bills to be in lots of close games.  Since their talent level is still below many of the regular playoff contenders, Buffalo can't afford to miss big plays when the opportunity arises.
   On their first drive, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick overthrew Steve Johnson deep down the middle of the field for a potential touchdown, after the receiver had clearly beaten coverage.  On the next series, they switched places - as Fitzpatrick floated a high but catchable ball deep down the field, which Johnson had knocked loose from his hands. 
   Either catch would have meant at least a field goal, if not a touchdown.  Instead the Bills walked off the field with nothing.

2)  We better pray for an injury free season...
   While the offensive starters have been up-and-down during the preseason, the backup crew has been consistently terrible.  
   Although I liked the addition of Tyler Thigpen, he's really struggling right now and doesn't look capable of leading the team if Fitzpatrick goes down.  And as bad as the starting line has been - I can't picture the carnage if Ed Wang, Mansfield Wrotto or Chad Rhinehart get actual playing time in a real game.

Extra Points:
>>  With all the craziness of this offseason, I'm just ready for Week One.  The Bills have a chance to get everything kicked off nicely at Kansas City - a game which should be a very winnable against a team struggling to score points.

Game Recap: Preseason Week 3 (Jacksonville at Buffalo)

Fitzpatrick almost perfect; Bills win first preseason contest 35-32
  
   Will the real Buffalo Bills please standup...
   Only a week ago, Chan Gailey's squad had a hard time getting anything to go right.  The offense was abysmal and the defense was abused.  On Saturday night, the same group was completely dominating on both sides of the ball - showing off an explosive pass game and suffocating defensive line.
   Generally speaking, the third preseason game is considered the most important in gauging a team's level going into the regular season.  Regardless, Bills fans should curb their enthusiasm for a few weeks.
   Clearly, the Bills have enough firepower to compete with anybody.  But the biggest difference between the NFL's elite and bottom-feeders is consistency.  Buffalo has to keep the light on for 16 games if they really hope to make progress.
   Here are my notes from the game:

Positives:

1)  Who is that guy under center?
   Ryan Fitzpatrick is kinda like Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. 
   Against the Broncos, "Bad Fitz" was unable to connect on even the easiest of passes.  Throws were high, short, behind and floated into ridiculous coverage.
   Seven days later, "Good Fitz" stepped on the scene - rifling several perfect slants, hitting deep bombs in stride and hitting a perfect strike between defenders in the end zone.  We couldn't have expected more with Peyton Manning taking snaps.
   It's games like this that drive Bills fans mad, and keep the questions circling about whether he's the future at quarterback.  How can a player be so inconsistent?
   If Fitzpatrick can figure out the answer to that question, it's amazing to think about what he's capable of.

2)  A young receivers finally steps up...
   It would be an understatment to say that trading Lee Evans was not a popular decision.  In addition to a vicious lash-out from fans, a number of veterans went against the grain and publicly questioned the team's move.
   That's why it was so important for one of the Bills young receivers to have a big game during the preseason.  Not only does it ease concerns about the offense, but it also gives players confidence in the management's personnel decisions.  Division in the locker room is never a good thing.
   For Marcus Easley, it was a much-needed breakout (five catches, 51 yards and a touchdown).  Coaches have been high on him since training camp last year, but he's been unable to get healthy and was in real danger of getting cut.  It's not inconceivable that Easley could grab the #2 receiver spot very soon.

3)  Defensive line shines again
   The majority of top draft picks over the last two years have gone into shoring up the defensive line, so its' exciting to see the group finally becoming a force.
   For the third straight game, the run defense was strong at the point of attack - giving Jaguar running backs nowhere to run and not allowing the offensive line to generate any push.
   Last week, coaches experimented with a very base defense and no blitzing, only to watch the defense bring little pressure and the secondary get shredded.  On Saturday, the pass rush rebounded nicely, even with Shawn Merriman and Chris Kelsay on the sidelines, and with Marcell Dareus hobbling.
   The stars of the night were second-year lineman Alex Carrington, Pro Bowler Kyle Williams (who is the most explosive player I've seen come off the line since the Bills had Sam Adams) and usual backup Spencer Johnson.


Negatives:

1)  First half score was closer than it should have been...
   Football is a funny sport.  Even with tons of talent and great execution, a game can often come down to a few fluky plays and a stroke of (bad) luck.  That's exactly what the Bills saw on Saturday.
   The first 20 minutes of the game saw the Bills dominate both sides of the ball, quickly jumping out to a 17-0 lead against Jacksonville's starters.  But then came a terrible pass interference call, a couple missed tackles and soft coverage during the pre-halftime two minute drill.  All of a sudden, Jacksonville was within a touchdown of tying the game.
   The same thing has happened too many times when the games actually count, and Buffalo has been on the "unlucky" side more often than not.

Extra Points:

>>  I've been very critical of the offensive line this offseason.  They were very much improved this week, especially when it came to giving Fitzpatrick time in the pocket.  Still, this unit has a long way to go. 
   It only takes one bad block to kill a drive or take points off the board.  Failing to seal the edge on the third and goal play (first drive) was the only difference between a touchdown and a field goal.  And that point difference will cost us games in the regular season.

Game Recap: Preseason Week 2 (Buffalo at Denver)

Offensive line sputters again as the Bills lose 24-10

   Last week in their first preseason game, Buffalo showed just enough to give fans some hope for the upcoming season.  The pass rush was excellent.  The starting offense moved the ball well.
   But in typical Bills fashion, the team followed up their promising start with a stinker for the ages.  Saturday night's contest against the Broncos was just about as bad as they get.
   Of course, it's still to early to count 2011 out as a complete loss.  But it's really hard to watch a team struggle so badly - especially against one of only two teams that ended with a worse record last year.  Here are some of my observations from the game.

Negatives:

1)  The offensive line continues to be our Achilles heel...
   During the week, the Bills coaching staff reshuffled the starting five (most notably, benching Andy Levitre) in hopes of pulling some better play out of the unit.  Instead, the line played worse and was responsible for killing multiple drives in the first half. 
   In his four series at the helm, Ryan Fitzpatrick had very little time to throw amidst a collapsing pocket and untouched blitzers running free around the corner.  The running backs had similar problems, dodging tacklers in the backfield and searching for non-existent holes.  Left tackle Demetrius Bell was easily the worst of the group, getting abused by pass rushers Elvis Dumervil and rookie Von Miller on almost every snap.
   Shuffling the personnel along the line won't work, because there is simply too little talent for coaches to work with.  The Bills have been satisfied using late round picks and snatching up reject veterans off waivers to fill the line, and it's definitely coming back to bite them.

2)   The secondary fails its test...
   It's been hard to judge the Bills cornerbacks and safeties since Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey came on the scene.  Last year, opponents were more than happy to run the ball down our throats, rather than test the secondary. 
   With our run defense playing much better, the Broncos decided to air it out on Saturday night.  Quarterbacks Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn looked like superstars, easily hitting their wide recivers open in the middle of the field for big gains.
   To be fair, the Bills ran a very vanilla defense all night, sending almost no blitzes and often sitting back in coverage.  But it was still an ugly performance, with Leodis McKelvin and the recently re-signed Drayton Florence looking especially bad on the night.

3)   Another bad night for the quarterback...
    All eyes are on Fitzpatrick this season.  Can he shut up his critics and become the Bills long-term answer under center?  Or is he truly suited to a backup role, like most observers believe?
   The bearded one's biggest problem is accuracy, and once again, he was dreadful in that area on Saturday night.  Passes were high, low and behind receivers.  He often forced throws into coverage and lacked the touch to test Denver's defense deep.
   I'm expecting Bills fans to be on the "Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley, Landry Jones" bandwagon pretty early this season.

Positives:

1)  Our runners definitely have the talent....
   There wasn't much good that could have been pulled from the Broncos game.  But on a few scattered plays, second year back C.J. Spiller and veteran Fred Jackson showed why they are capable of being dangerous weapons for the offense.
   Spiller had nice runs of 5 and 14 yards and showed some good vision on the first drive.  He still loses too much on broken plays (-8 on a whiffed block by Bell), but those first couple scampers were encouraging. 
   Because of the atrocious blocking, Jackson remains the better player for Buffalo's offense, due to his ability to get something out of nothing (it's the same reason he was better than Marshawn Lynch).

Extra Points:

>>  Sorry to say it, but the Bills are definitely going to miss Lee Evans. 
   In only three quarters of play for the starting unit, it's obvious that the field has shortened tremendously for Buffalo's passing game.  Fitzpatrick seems only capable of converting quick slants and screen passes.  Defenses will adjust to that quickly. 
   None of the highly touted "young" talent - Donald Jones, David Nelson, Marcus Easley, Naaman Roosevelt - has stepped up to fill his shoes.

>>  The first-string run defense has been pretty good at the point of attack, with the defensive line getting a good push upfield (lots of credit to Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams) and stuffing most plays between the tackles. 
   However, the ends and linebackers are still getting pushed inside and caught out of position, especially on outside runs and screens.  The Bills still lack talent at these positions, and that will likely limit their overall improvement.

Game Recap: Preseason Week 1 (Buffalo at Chicago)

Re-vamped Bills pass rush dominates, despite 10-3 loss   
  
   It's important not to take too much from the preseason.
   Coaches often use very basic game plans.  A lot of starters only play at half speed, if they happen to play at all.  Many of the guys on the field in the second half won't even be on a roster come early September.
   Regardless, there were plenty of interesting trends and tidbits that came from Saturday night's contest against the Bears.  Some moments will likely get optimistic Bills fans excited, while others will raise major concerns.

Positives:

1)   The Bills might actually have a pass rush!
   For a team that managed only 27 sacks in 2011, the pass rush was incredible all night long.
   On the first two drives, a rejuvinated Shawn Merriman had two solo sacks, along with a play where he pressured quarterback Jay Cutler directly into the arms of Marcell Dareus.  Speaking of Dareus, the first round pick was constantly pushing into the backfield in his first NFL action, looking both incredibly strong and surprisingly quick.
   Overall, the Bills had an amazing nine sacks on the night - with both the starters and backups supplying consistent force up front.  In fact, Chicago's inability to throw from the pocket made it hard to judge the play of the defensive backfield.

Negatives:

1)   Stopping the run could be a big problem again...
   Like a replay of last season, the Bills were gashed for 164 yards on the ground.
   The Bills rush defense looked very promising during the first two series, with Bears running back Chester Taylor getting stuffed on several plays.  But the third drive was a much different story.  Most of Buffalo's starting defenders were still on the field, as Marion Barber rumbled his way down the field and helped the Bears score the only touchdown of the night.
   The reserve crew was even worse - getting blown off the line of scrimmage, easily shoved out of running lanes and caught in over-pursuit of the ball carrier.

2)   Blocking needs a lot of work...
   The offensive line is expected to be a big problem area again in 2011 - and to nobody's surprise, it looked like Buffalo's worst unit on the field Saturday night.
   Eric Wood, Kraig Urbik and Erik Pears all missed important blocks during the first two drives - major factors in the Bills starting unit only putting up three points.  The backups were dreadful, giving no room for the running backs and no time for the quarterbacks.
   If Saturday was any indication, head coach Chan Gailey will be calling for a lot of quick slants and screens to disguise his weaknesses on the line.  But that will only work some of the time.  At some points, the Bills are going to need to pickup big yardage and the big guys will have to give Ryan Fitzpatrick time.

Extra Points:

>>   The first-string offense used mostly short passes and a couple really nice runs by Fred Jackson to work the ball down field.  They might have scored more, if not for Urbik's missed block and an offensive pass interference call.  
   Fitzpatrick still seems like the inconsistent and controversial quarterback that polarized Bills fans last year.  On one hand, he has great command of the huddle and makes some really nice throws.  But he follows that up by sailing passes over the heads of his receivers.

>>  Gailey experimented quite a bit Saturday with the Wildcat formation, getting several good plays from free agent pickup Brad Smith.  The formation was also used by undrafted pickup Josh Nesbitt.
   It has yet to be seen how much Buffalo will use the formation during the regular season, but it does seem like it can be an effective play for the offense.

>>  Second round cornerback Aaron Williams had an up-and-down night.  During the second half, he was toasted on a two long passes that set Chicago up in the red zone.  But he was able to save the score with an athletic diving interception, where he managed perfect coverage and then tipped the ball to himself.