Die Hard Sports Fan

The Buffalo Bills needed a victory to fight for their playoffs lives and they got it, hammering the Kansas City Chiefs 54-31 at Arrowhead Stadium.

1st Quarter

Well this game started off with fireworks and it looked like these teams would go back and forth all afternoon putting up points.

The Chiefs started off the game with a touchdown on their opening drive to take the 7-0 lead on a 36 yard TD pass from Tyler Thigpen to Jamaal Charles.  The Bills would be able to match it on their first drive of the game.  On 4th and Goal from the 1, Buffalo went for it and it paid off.  Marshawn Lynch ended the drive with a TD run, the extra point was good at it was a tied game again.

The score is tied 7-7 heading into the 2nd quarter.

2nd Quarter

33 points were put up in this quarter, although 23 of them went to one team.

Bills kicker Rian Lindell made a 21 yard field goal to give Buffalo a 10-7 lead.  It wouldn’t last long though as Kansas City was able to answer the points right back.  After a huge Larry Johnson run, Thigpen threw his second TD of the game on a play action pass.  The Bills defense fell for the fake and left Tony Gonzalez wide open in the endzone.  Chiefs now up again, 14-10.

Rian Lindell would add another FG in this game to cut the lead to one on a 39 yard attempt.

On the very next series for Kansas City, Thigpen’s pass was picked off by rookie CB Leodis Mckelvin.  Mckelvin took it down the sidelines, showing off his great speed, and tip toeing down the sideline before he dived into the end zone for 6.  The Chiefs then added a 45 yard FG by kicker Connor Barth to keep the game close, 20-17.

Lindell would add another field goal and QB Trent Edwards would scramble 15 yards and dived into the endzone for a touchdown to put the Bills up huge by the half.

Going into the tunnel, Buffalo leads 30-17.

3rd Quarter

Edwards would run for another TD, this one being a little bit closer though as he only had to go 5 yards.  Lindell then added another field goal before Kansas City got on the board again.  Thigpen would hook up with Mark Bradley for a 45 yard TD pass.

It looked like the Chiefs had a little bit of life but Trent Edwards led another great drive and threw an 8 yard TD pass to Josh Reed.  Going into the 4th, Bills up a bunch, 47-24.

4th Quarter

Each team put another TD on the board.  Buffalo’s came first on a 17 yard pass from Edwards to TE Derek Schouman.  Kansas City would put one more up too on a 3 yard pass from Quinn Gray to Dwayne Bowe in garbage time.

Bills win this one, 54-31.

Wrap Up

• QB Trent Edwards improved his game this week.  He went 24 of 32 for 273 yards and 2 TDs (0 INTs).  Edwards also ran the ball 6 times for 38 yards and 2 more TDs.
• Marshawn Lynch had another strong game on the ground.  On 20 carries, Lynch had 79 yards and a touchdown.  He also had 5 catches for 25 yards.
• Lee Evans finally got back into the game plan, catching 5 passes for 110 yards.
• Josh Reed in his first game back from injury, also caught 5 passes, for 50 yards and 1 TD.
• After missing the go ahead kick last week, Rian Lindell went 4 for 4 today on FG chances.
• Not only did Leodis Mckelvin have a pick 6, he also had another INT and returned 2 kickoffs for an average of 33 yards.

The NFL.com Game Center: Post Game is attached.

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Two struggling teams in the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs will face off tomorrow afternoon in a must win game for Buffalo.

Broadcast Info:

Game: Buffalo Bills (5-5) @ Kansas City Chiefs (1-9)
TV: CBS (Ian Eagle, Solomon Wilcots)

Radio: 97 Rock (Buffalo), 103.3 The EDGE (Buffalo), WHAM 1180 AM (Rochester), WNSS 1260 AM (Syracuse), FAN 590 AM (Toronto). Broadcasts are all done by John Murphy, Mark Kelso and Paul Peck on the Bills radio network.
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

Game Notes:

• The Chiefs have won two of the past three meetings, but Buffalo leads the all-time series, 19-16-1.
• Lynch recorded his first 100-yard rushing game of the season against the Browns last week. Lynch aims for his second consecutive 100-yard performance as the Chiefs are next to last in rushing defense, allowing 165 rushing yards per game.
• Tyler Thigpen started the season third on the depth chart behind Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard. But he has thrown eight touchdown passes and only one interception in his past four games for a passer rating of 96.9.
• The Bills started the season with such promise, racing out to a 4-0 record. But Buffalo has lost four consecutive games to drop to 5-5 and are now playing for its playoff lives.
• Linebacker Kawika Mitchell spent four seasons with Kansas City (2003-06)
• Chiefs running back Larry Johnson averages 93 rushing yards per game at home.
• Chiefs receiver Dwayne Bowe posted a career-high two touchdown receptions last week.
• The home team has won 10 of the last 11 games between the Bills and the Chiefs.
• Roscoe Parrish needs one punt return for a touchdown to take sole possession of first place in franchise history with four in a career.
• Josh Reed needs 25 receiving yards to reach 3,000 in his career.
• Leodis McKelvin needs 133 kick return yards to pass Eric Moulds (1,205) for most kick return yards by a rookie in a season.
• Under Dick Jauron, Buffalo is 11-5 (.688) with a positive turnover margin and 2-15 (.118) with a negative turnover mark.

Injury Report:

Bills- Out of Game: CB Jabari Greer (Knee), DE Aaron Schobel (Foot), S Donte Whitner (Shoulder), and LB Marcus Buggs (Ankle). Questionable: WR Josh Reed (Ankle) and S Bryan Scott (Knee).

Chiefs- Out of Game: LB Donnie Edwards (Hamstring), G Adrian Jones (Ankle), CB Patrick Surtain (Quad), and LB Patrick Thomas (Thigh). Probable: WR Mark Bradley (Calf), CB Brandon Flowers (Thigh), LB Derrick Johnson (Thigh), S Jarrad Page (Groin) and DT Glenn Dorsey (Knee).

Quote of the Week:

“I can speak for everybody in that locker room, we don’t like the slide we are on, so we definitely are going to have to get that confidence and swagger back and believe we can pull a close game out.”

-DT Marcus Stroud

Open Thread:

Please feel free to comment below or in the tag board in the sidebar to chat with Bills fans from around the world.

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The Buffalo Bills could be getting some help at the wide reciever and it couldn’t come at a better time.

After a 0-4 skid, the Bills might get one of their most consistent targets back, as Josh Reed has now praticed for two days in a row.

It has been in limited work, but just seeing him on the field has to make young QB Trent Edwards smile.

In the 7 games he has been able to play in this year, Reed has 26 receptions for 288 yards.  Reed still hasn’t reached the end zone yet, but he is a possesion reciever at its finest.  Reed continues to get open on 3rd downs to help the Bills move the chains.  Not only that but he is a great blocker downfield and really does take some of the pressure off of #1 WR Lee Evans.

If Reed is able to give it a go on Sunday against the Kansas City Cheifs, the Bills will convert more on 3rd downs and might also come away with a victory.  This year with Reed on the field, the Bills are 5-2.

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Two little kids find themselves in big trouble. Both point at one another hoping that neither one of them will get into any trouble for their actions.

Well in this case, Trent Edwards and Turk Schonert, both will be punished for their actions with a 29-27 loss to the Cleveland Browns that will most likely seal the deal on their playoff fate this season. In my eyes one is not as deserving as the other one.

Trent Edwards played terrible two nights ago and looked like a child who did not want to make a mistake. Not only was he making terrible reads but he was also turning the ball over, two things that he was successful in early in the season (quick release and good decisions making). He was also not throwing the ball in Lee Evans direction.

Lee Evans just recently signed a 4-year, $37.25 million contract extension that keeps him on the team through 2012. At the age of 27, Evans has been one of the best Bills wide receivers at this point in his career. In only 4 seasons, Evans has already caught 234 passes for 3,725 yards and 29 touchdowns and that doesn’t even include this year’s campaign.

This year his receptions are a little low with only 37 but he has 700 yards and 3 touchdowns. Lee Evans is defiantly capable of putting up 50 receptions, 1,000+ yards a season, if only the Bills quarterbacks could get him the damn ball.

And cue the finger pointing.

Evans was shut out against a defense that averaged letting up 6.8 catches, 104.3 yards and one touchdown a game in the previous 4 games that they played before Monday night. That is a major problem, and now the offensive coordinator and starting quarterback are starting to go back and forth.

On Media Day today at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Schonert said, “It wasn’t that we didn’t try.  You know he was open three or four times down the field and Trent went elsewhere with the ball.  Believe me, I tried to get him the ball.  He’s our money guy.  We’re always going to try to get him the football.”

Trent Edwards then countered with this statement, “He’s our best offensive play-maker.  We’ve got to get him the ball in order for our offense to go.  He needs to go.  In order for him to go, we need to get him the ball.  It’s just the situation on Monday night, we didn’t get a chance to get him the ball.  That’s something we have to learn from, move on from, and get better from.”

As much as I like you as a player Trent, your offensive coordinator is right. Evans was open on multiple occasions, even one play in the end zone where he was standing, waving his hands, looking for the pass. If you want to continue your growth in the league, you have to get your #1 guy the ball. Trust me, it will get a lot of pressure off your back and will not only pan out in the stat book but also in the win column.

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The Buffalo Bills not only dropped a heart breaker last night against the Cleveland Browns 29-27 on Monday Night Football but they also ended their postseason chances.

Usually in losses like this, there is plenty of blame to go around but this game was not the case.  

The offensive line finally stepped up and not only did they not allow a sack but they also looked like they knew what they were doing running blocking.  Marshawn Lynch was able to break the century mark for the first time this year after a 119 yard effort. 

The defense wasn’t lights out but they did the job to the best of their ability.  Despite losses in the secondary like starting safety Donte Whitner and corner back Jabari Greer, Terrence McGee stepped up his game and played very well.  Minus a 76 yard run by Josh Cribbs in the 4^th quarter, the Bills run defense also played very well, keeping Jamal Lewis in check.  Overall the defense led up 176 yards through the air and 161 on the ground while also holding Cleveland to 5 field goals despite them having great position through the entire game.  Forcing a team to go 3 for 13 (23%) on 3^rd down isn’t too shabby either.   

Special teams proved why they were one of the best units in the game also (despite that final field goal).  Leodis McKelvin finally had his break out game as a returner, showing his great speed and field vision and returned 1 for a 98-yard touchdown.  He went on to average 61 yards on his 3 returns.  Fred Jackson also did very well.  He was getting the ball when the Browns were trying to kick the ball away from McKelvin on line drive or high kicks.  Jackson had 4 returns for an average of 15 yards but remember he was getting the ball on the 30-35 yard line to start his returns.  Roscoe Parrish also had a game changing return to set up a score.  He only got the ball once but when you go 34 yards the other way, that is always a good sign of not only Parrish but the blockers too.

The coaching was so-so.  To be honest, I really liked the defensive game plan.  They showed multiple blitzes to confuse young quarterback Brady Quinn and it worked.  He went 14 of 36 for 185 yards. 

The game calling towards the end was a little puzzling but I understand where it was coming from.  Instead of passing the ball, trying to get it a little closer for Lindell, they decided to run it for 3 straight plays.  I didn’t really like it but I do understand it.  It got the Browns to use all 3 timeouts and also they didn’t have too much confidence in Trent Edwards after his 3 picks in the 1^st quarter.  Instead of risking a turnover, they keep it with the safe choice.  Again, I didn’t like it at all, but understood where they were coming from. 

The coaches did a good job to finally turn the o-line around although poor game management happened again in this one.  The Bills wasted timeouts in places they shouldn’t have but on a plus note at least they didn’t have to challenge anything.  Head Coach Dick Jauron doesn’t know where the red flag is anyways.      

So let’s take a look at what worked in this game.  Running game; check.  Offensive line; check.  Defense; check.  Coaching; well not 100% but still got the job done.  

So what are we missing?  On yes, the quarterback.

Trent Edwards was a complete disaster for the 4^th game in a row.  He threw three interceptions in the 1^st quarter and from that point on he looked scared.  He would drop back to pass, get plenty of time, and then just throw it to check down, again and again and again. 

That is what his one touchdown pass was in this game.  He dropped back, looked downfield, held onto the ball way too long and then finally dropped it off to Lynch who made the play.  

Edwards looked like a little child who just didn’t want to disappoint anyone and we had to sit there and watch him.  It really looked like he was indeed scared.  He wouldn’t throw the ball down the field at all.  His go-to-guy in Lee Evans was open on multiple occasions but he could not get him the ball.  Evans, the #1 WR on this team had 0 balls thrown his way!  Are you kidding me? 

The Browns didn’t even bring pressure in this game either.  They just dropped back into a zone, usually when Edwards excels by ripping apart defenses.  For some reason though he just couldn’t get the ball to his team and lost a lot of confidence.

From poor reads to terrible passes we have now watched a guy who was being named for MVP early in the season, to a young QB struggling to make his way into the league and get wins for his team.  

Now, I still think Edwards is the man at the QB position but I see why you J.P. Losman fans are now starting to come out of hiding again.  One thing I can agree with you with, at least Losman will get the ball down the field.  What team catches it though is a different story.

Hey it could be worse though, we could be Detroit Lions fans.

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The Buffalo Bills drop a heartbreaker to the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football by a score of 29-27.

1st Quarter

The Bills started out shaky and that is being kind to QB Trent Edwards who started off the game with 3 interceptions.

However the defense remained strong, despite the short field they had to guard against, they held the Browns to just 6 points on 2 field goals off the foot of kicker Phil Dawson.

Browns led, 6-0.

2nd Quarter

The Browns got out to a fast 13 point lead after a 2 yard touchdown run by Josh Cribbs.  It looked like the game might be over before it even began.

Running back Marshawn Lynch was not just going to roll over and quit though and finally “Beast Mode” was turned on after a beautiful 18 yard pass reception from Edwards.  The play was all Lynch though as he made defenders miss and dragged guys into the end zone.

Rian Lindell was able to cut the lead to 3, after a 26 yard field goal to end the quarter.  

Going into the tunnel at halftime, the Bills were down 13-10.

3rd Quarter

The 3^rd quarter was a back and forth affair that only had 6 points put up on the scoreboard between the two teams.  Lindell and Dawson both added another field goal, so going into the 4^th. Browns still had the lead 16-13.

4th Quarter

After stopping Jamal Lewis for most of the game, the Bills running defense looked strong.  Jerome Harrison changed that in one run as he went 76 yards for a touchdown that gave the Browns a 10 point lead.

It looked like the Bills were going to need another huge comeback to get back into this one but a rookie made it a little easier.  On the kickoff after the touchdown, 1^st round pick Leodis McKelvin took back the return 98 yards for a touchdown!  The game was back to a 3 point affair.

After another Browns field goal, Trent Edwards led a small drive that resulted in 6 after he dove in for a 1 yard touchdown run.  

On the following drive for the Browns, Brady Quinn led his team down the field and sent up a 53 yard field goal attempt that was good.  Browns take back the lead 29-27.

After the kickoff the Bills took over and need some yards.  Edwards threw a good pass to TE Robert Royal and after 3 running plays the Bills had a 47 yard field goal attempt for the win.

Lindell pushed it though and it sailed wide right giving the Browns a 29-27 win.

Wrap Up

Trent Edwards went 16 of 26 for 148 yards, 2 touchdowns (1 rushing, 1 passing) with 3 INTs.

Marshawn Lynch hit the century mark for the 1^st time this season.  He got 119 yards on 23 carries and also caught 10 passes for 58 yards and a touchdown.  Beast mode is back!

Leodis McKelvin had a huge game returning the ball.  Not only did he have a 98 yard kick return for a TD but he also averaged 61 yards on 3 chances, having solid returns all night.  

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The Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns will face off on Monday Night Football in a must win game for both teams tomorrow night.

REMEMBER: The official diehardsportsfan.net Buffalo Bills pregame show airs 6-8 PM (eastern) Monday Night.  Catch it live to get you ready for the Bills vs. Browns game.  You can listen to it by going here: http://www.youcastr.com/casts/archive/buffbillsfan-bills-weekly-monday-night-preview-browns-vs-bills.

Broadcast Info:

Game: Cleveland Browns (3-6) @ Buffalo Bills (5-4).
TV: ESPN (Tony Kornheiser, Mike Tirico, and Ron Jaworski)

Radio: 97 Rock (Buffalo), 103.3 The EDGE (Buffalo), WHAM 1180 AM (Rochester), WNSS 1260 AM (Syracuse), FAN 590 AM (Toronto). Broadcasts are all done by John Murphy, Mark Kelso and Paul Peck on the Bills radio network.
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Game Notes:

• Last game: Blizzard-like conditions in Cleveland prevented either team from getting into the end zone, but the Browns used a pair of field goals and a safety for an 8-0 win, knocking the Bills out of playoff contention in Week 15 last season.
• The Bills have won three of the last four meetings with the Browns, but Cleveland leads the overall series, 9-5.
• After waiting a season and a half on the sidelines, Brady Quinn did not disappoint in his first career start last Thursday, completing 23 of 35 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns. Quinn put his team in position to win by demonstrating an ability to move outside of the pocket and execute a game plan of short and intermediate throws — all with just three days to prepare for the Broncos. With 10 days to study the Bills, look for the Browns to open up the playbook and allow Quinn to do even more.
• It was a tale of two halves last week for Kellen Winslow, Cleveland’s mercurial tight end. Winslow caught a career-high two touchdowns in the first half, then killed three drives in the second half with an interference penalty, a fumble, and a dropped pass on fourth down. Look for Winslow to shake off the mistakes and continue to build on the chemistry he displayed with Quinn in the first half.
• It’s hard to put a finger on exactly what has gone wrong for the Bills, losers of four of their last five, following a promising 4-0 start. Some of the blame has to go to second-year QB Trent Edwards, who is showing some of the inconsistency that plagued him much of his rookie season. Edwards opened the season with six touchdowns and two interceptions in his first six games, but has since thrown two touchdowns and five interceptions in his last three.
• The Browns will make their first road appearance on Monday Night Football since Nov. 13, 1995.
• Browns LB Willie McGinest has 11 sacks against the Bills, the most vs. any opponent.
• Bills safety Donte Whitner attended Glenville High School in Cleveland.
• The Bills have a 1-7 record on Nov. 17 including a 17-7 loss to Cleveland back in 1986.
• Lee Evans is 73 receiving yards from 4,500 in his career. He’s also two touchdown receptions from tying Bob Chandler for fourth all-time in franchise history.

Injury Report:

Bills- Out of Game: DE Aaron Schobel (Foot).  Doubtful: WR Josh Reed (Ankle).  Questionable: WR James Hardy (Hip), TE Robert Royal (Ankle), and S Donte Whitner (Shoulder).  Probable: G Brad Butler (Knee).

Browns- Doubtful: RB Lawrence Vickers (Ankle).  Questionable: TE Darnell Dinkins (Ribs), TE Steve Heiden (Back), DT Shaun Rogers (Neck), G Eric Steinbach (Ribs) and DE Corey Williams (shoulder).

Quote of the Week:

“Last year was very frustrating. We need to get these guys from last year. We owe them and they took our chance of going to a playoff game last year and we still have that taste in our mouth.”

-Trent Edwards on if last season’s loss to Cleveland still bothers him

Open Thread:

Please feel free to comment below or in the tag board in the sidebar to chat with Bills fans from around the world.

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Being called weapons is being kind to the two players in question.  TE Robert Royal and WR James Hardy both did not practice on Friday because of injuries.

Hardy was limited because of a hip injury and has been listed as questionable.  Royal is also listed as questionable with an ankle injury.

Seeing as neither one of them is really producing, this shouldn’t hurt the offense too much.  What really hurts is the injury to Josh Reed.  He is still trying to come back from an achilles injury and was upgraded from “out” to “doubtful” which indicates that the wide out is getting closer to a return. Reed’s return in Week 12 would bode well for Lee Evans, who has seen constant double teams while the Bills’ No. 2 receiver has been sidelined.

If Hardy can not go, look for Steven Johnson to get some time in the game.  Lee Evans will put up even less numbers though as he will draw a double team all game.  If Royal is a no go either one of the Dereks will fill his spot, in rookie Fine or Schouman.

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The Buffalo Bills could be getting some key reinforcements back this week to take on the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football this week and it couldn’t come at a better time.

Bills Safety Donte Whitner has been medically cleared to play and participated in most of the defensive drills during Friday’s practice.  Whitner says that he has a full range of motion.  His versatility on defense has been missed as he has lined up all over the field.  From safety to cornerback, Whitner has played it all this season.  Getting him back will be a much needed boost to the passing defense.   He’s officially listed as questionable. 

All signs point to guard Brad Butler playing too. Butler worked with the first team offense Friday and didn’t miss a snap.  It looks like he will return to the starting lineup to try to turn this running game around.

Also for the offense, TE Robert Royal and WR James Hardy are listed as questionable.

It looks like Josh Reed will remain inactive though for this game.  The #2 wide receiver has missed the last few weeks.  He is still nursing a strained Achilles that has been keeping him out of the lineup since the game against Miami.  DE Aaron Schobel is also out, still recovering from a foot injury.

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From possible MVP to shaky quarterback, boy, how a couple of weeks can change a starting NFL quarterback.  It is no different for young Bills QB, Trent Edwards.

The 2^nd year QB looked like an up and coming star through the first few weeks of the season.  He was becoming one of the young poster boys for the NFL.  He made appearances on ESPN’s NFL Countdown, Rome is Burning, PTI, ESPN the Mag and everything in between.  Some were even calling the 25 year old quarterback the next Tom Brady and a candidate for the MVP.   

That changed over the course of the season, and it may have to do with a concussion that Edwards faced in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals.  He was knocked out of that game and took the bye week off to rest.  He returned in the Bills next schedule game and played pretty well.

So what exactly happened?

Edwards look sluggish and his decision making has turned into that of a certain Bills QB that is currently sitting on the bench during the games.  From throwing terrible picks to reaching out the ball to try to get a first down on a QB sneak and getting it stripped from his out stretched hands, Edwards has had his share of mistakes and “brain farts” this season.  

Taking a look at some of the films on Edwards (from NFL.com), the Bills QB just has not been making the right decisions during the last few weeks.  Yes he has made some great plays, and passes but his play has dropped off.  It is just a matter of making the right choices though, as shown in the examples.

Example 1: Week 9 vs. the NY Jets, :15 left in the 1^st Quarter

3^rd and Goal on the Jets 15

The Bills line up in the shotgun formation.  Two wide receivers were to the left side of the field while one was lined up on the right.  The running back was on Edward’s right in the backfield.  

Edwards took the snap and took 3 steps.  He stepped up and delivered a strike to the left side of the field.  He was hit as soon as he released the ball.  He was trying to hit Roscoe Parrish on an out pattern.  

Parrish ended up falling down but even if he stayed on his feet, the pass would still have gone the other way.  Edwards throw the ball into a zone that had double coverage on Parrish and one other player from the Jets secondary was right behind them as he was following Robert Royal who was running a pattern right behind him.  

The throw was really going into a crowd that had the Bills outnumbered, 3-2.  The pass was picked off and instead of just taking the sack, the interception went the other way for a touchdown and the Jets took an even bigger lead.  

Example 2: Week 10 vs. the New England Patriots, :21 left in the 1^st Quarter

1^st and 10 from the Buffalo 13, Patriots up 7-0

Edwards was once again the “gun”.  He had 3 wide receivers to the right of the formation and one wide receiver, Lee Evans, to the left.  Edwards took the snap and dropped 3 steps.  He quickly released the ball to the left side, a pass intended for Evans, who was wide open.

The pass sailed high and behind Evans, and was intercepted.  It was a basic Cover 3 defense (3 guys back in a 3 deep zone, with the linebackers dropping back into coverage, covering the underneath patterns).  Edwards this time made the right read, but threw a terrible pass.  He had his man open but just couldn’t execute.

Example 3: Week 10 vs. the New England Patriots, :45 left in the 3^rd Quarter

2^nd and 10 from the Buffalo 45, Patriots Lead 13-3

It was another shotgun formation that the offense came out in.  Two wide outs were lined up on the left while 1 wide receivers and TE Robert Royal were on the right.  The running back was lineup up next to Edwards on his right side.  

Edwards takes the snap and looks for the open man.  The Patriots defense was in zone coverage with a spy on the running back coming out of the backfield (a linebacker was not rushing or dropping back into coverage, just watching and reacting to what the running back did).  The Patriots only rushed 3 guys.

Edwards looked and fired a pass to the right where he thought Robert Royal was wide open.  It turned out that he wasn’t in the least.  The veteran cornerback jammed the wide receiver on the side of Royal, making Edwards think that it was man to man coverage.  He then released the pass to Royal that was easily picked off when that same cornerback dropped back into his zone.  It was an easy pick due to Edward’s lack of recognition.

These three examples each showed a way in which Edwards was struggling in.  His lack of recognition, execution, and forced passes each contributed to some of his struggles.  Now don’t get me wrong, Trent is a great young talent that despite his struggles, is still considered to be the franchise QB.  He can get better and a lot of these problems can be fixed with more playing time and he gets more experienced at the position

My only question was why now?  It must be because defenses are starting to adjust to him and fool him.  That is my only guess seeing as he started off the year so hot.  In the first 4 games, Edwards went 78 of 119 (65.5%), 930 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions and a 94.6 QB rating.      

Then in week 5 against Arizona, he suffered the concussion after going 3 of 3 for 18 yards. 

Then Edwards bounced back against San Diego, going 25 of 30 (83.3% which tied a franchise record), 261 yards, 1 TD (0 INTS) and a QB rating of 114.  It looked like he was back to his old self.  

But then the last 3 games hit him hard, as the Bills went 0-3 in them.  Edwards, in the 3 games combined, went 58 of 93 (62.4%), 636 yards, 2 TDs, 5 INTs, and a 65.2 QB rating.

Now I don’t expect the guy to play great every game, and I understand that he is young and even the best struggle (just take a look at Peyton Manning this season) but the inconsistency is what scares me.  

He has showed he can play towards the top of the league but has also showed that he can fall too.  The Bills will only go as far as their QB and they need him to step up and lead this team for some wins.  

It all starts Monday night.

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