Die Hard Sports Fan

The Buffalo Bills played terrible in front of their home fans when the team needed a win most, dropping to the San Francisco 49ers, 10-3.

1st Quarter

On the first drive on the day, the 49ers gamed the ball down the Bills throat. Whether it was running or passing, they moved the ball down the field in ease. A 14 play, 72 yard drive would end with a touchdown as QB Shaun Hill hooked up with veteran Issac Bruce on a 12 yard pass to put the road team up 7-0.

Later in the quarter the Bills tried to counter but they were kept out of the end zone. With a 20 yard field goal attempt, kicker Rian Lindell entered the game to make a kick less than a extra point. He clinked it off the right left upright though, so 49ers still in the lead, 7-0.

2nd Quarter

49ers kicker Joe Nedney made Lindell look like a high school kicker as he blasted a 50 yard field goal up and good to give the 49ers a 10 point lead.

Going into the tunnel at halftime, San Fran leads 10-0.

3rd Quarter

Lindell was able to make a 22 yard field goal in the 3^rd to get the Bills back into a one score game, 10-3.

4th Quarter

No scoring occurred in this quarter despite the numerous chances the Bills had. The defense came to play, stopping the Niners when it mattered most. However, with backup JP Losman in the game, the Bills couldn’t put the ball into the end zone.

Wrap Up

· Trent Edwards left the game at halftime after playing a terrible game. He went 10 of 21 passing for 112 yards. Backup Losman went 11 for 17 for 93 yards. Neither QB threw a touchdown or interception.

· Marshawn Lynch only carries the ball 16 times but made the most of it, gaining 134 yards on the ground.

· Lee Evans caught 7 passes for 80 yards to lead the Bills in receiving. Josh Reed had a solid game, hauling in 5 passes for 58 yards.

· Rian Lindell has looked very shaky since his Monday night wide right miss. He went 1 for 3 on FG attempts this game. Thank goodness he didn’t have to try a PAT.

· Defense ends have been bashed the entire season for the Bills but they stepped it up today. Chris Kelsay had 5 tackles (2 assists) and 1 sack while Ryan Denney had 2 sacks, a forced fumble and 4 tackles.

· It was the first win for a west coast team coming to the east. Previous team were 0-14 (Bills themselves were 3-0).

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

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The Buffalo Bills are fighting for their playoff lives with their current record of 6-5 as they get ready to take on the San Francisco 49ers in front of their home crowd at Ralph Wilson Stadium Sunday afternoon.

One of the biggest battles of this game is between the Bills #1 wide receiver Lee Evans, matching up against the 49ers #1 corner, Nate Clements.

Now you Buffalo fans out there will remember Clements, the former Bill. He was drafted by the Bills in the 1^st round in 2001 (21^st overall) out of Ohio State and enjoyed many years of success in his stay in Buffalo.

The relationship ended two seasons ago because Clements wanted to go to a winning team. His choice was the 49ers, who he believed were heading in the right direction. Now just in his second year with the team, the storied franchise has gone 8-19 since he arrived, not exactly what he was hoping for. Although an eight-year, $80 million contract might help him through the tough times.

Clements is a strong cornerback who has a unique blend of size and speed and is very physical. He might have met his match though going up against Lee Evans.

Evans is a deep threat at all times during the game. So far this year, Evans has caught 42 passes for 810 yards and 3 touchdowns. That is over 19 yards a catch (19.3)!

Who will win this match up?

If Clements wants to win this battle:

He has to play bump and run against Evans. If he is left out man on man with the wide out he has to play his physical game. He is bigger than Evans (6’0” to 5’10”, 205 lbs. to 197) and should play his style of play that has made him known in the league as one of the most physical corners. If he tries to give Evans some cushion, not to get beat deep, Evans should be able to use his speed and run underneath routes right in front of the corner. If this is to happen, Clements should come up and put a lick on Evans every time he touches the ball. The big corner has forced 17 fumbles in his career which is unheard of coming from the corner position.

If Evans wants to win this battle:

Clements will most likely try to run one on one with Evans due to injuries in the 49ers secondary. Evans has to do what he does best, get open deep using double moves. Clements has a nose for the ball and will try to make the interception if given the chance so look for him to try and jump routes, where the double move is most effective. Clements got a good look at the back of Terrell Owens jersey last week on deep balls, letting up over 200 yards to the Dallas wide out. Now that is not saying that Evans is at the same level with the big and powerful “T.O.” but he can get open deep just as good as anyone in the league. If Clements drops back and gives Evans a little cushion in a zone, he could still try the double move but he should take advantage by running patterns like comebacks and hitches to get the underneath yards.

Final Notes:

· Evans averages 73.6 yards a game this season but when Josh Reed is in the line up for Buffalo, his stats go up even more. With Reed, Evans averages 4.5 receptions and 93.4 yards a game. Good thing for Evans that Reed is back to 100%.

· The 49ers have the 29^th ranked pass defense allowing 243.9 yards through the air a game. They also let up the 29^th most points per game, with 28.2.

Prediction:

Nate Clements should be matched up against his former teammate, Lee Evans most of the game. I believe that Evans will get open a few times deep, the only problem is the ball getting to him. With Trent Edwards having such a good game last weekend, the Bills should try their shots down the field. With one on one coverage, Edwards will give his man Evans a few chances to make a play. I think Evans will catch 5 passes, 70-80 yards and 1 touchdown. Watch out for Clements though. He only has two interceptions this season but he will capitalize on a mistake. Edwards has to make sure the ball can only be caught by his teammates.

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The Buffalo Bills got a much needed win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive against the Kansas City Chiefs, 54-31.

To the non-Bills fan, just skimming through box score, you might look at #1 wide receiver Lee Evans numbers, or Trent Edwards big day or possibly even how running back Marshawn Lynch did for your fantasy team but as a fan of the team, one guy stinks out like a sore thumb, and that man is Josh Reed.

Reed was out three straight games after he was injured back in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins. During his time out, young quarterback Trent Edwards struggled and the offense look off key. Not only that but in Reed’s 3 game absence, Lee Evans caught only 6 passes for 63 yards combined (and that includes a game against the Browns were Evans had zero receptions).

The Bills during that same three game stretch went 0-3.

Now Reed isn’t a flashy wide receiver, he is far from it. What Reed does excel at though is getting open on 3^rd downs. I have never seen a wide receiver on the Bills that just finds a soft spot in a zone and sits there.

Edwards knows with Reed in the lineup, he can look deep down the field to Evans, and still pick up the 1^st down because Reed is somewhere on the field wide open.

Now it is hard to tell that if Reed would’ve played, the Bills would have won those games. All I know is that against the Dolphins, the game he went out, the Bills really could’ve used a guy that could get them down the field. Same goes with the game against the Jets and Patriots when Edwards looked as if he couldn’t find anyone down the field.

And with the Browns dropping 8 back every play, who do you think would have made the difference finding spots in zones? Certainly not tight end Robert Royal who is the man Trent turned to in his time of need.

The only thing you can say about Reed is the Bills play different when he is in the lineup. For starters, Trent Edwards looks a lot sharper and when you have to focus on Reed running precise patterns, it takes a little bit of coverage away from Evans. With Reed in the lineup, Evans averages 4.5 receptions and 93.4 yards a game.

Reed was also off to the best start of his career this season and still has put up some respectable numbers for the number 2 wide out on the team (31 receptions, 338 yards, 1 TD).

One last thing to think about, in games Reed has played from start to finish, Buffalo has gone 6-1.

He is defiantly a guy you want in the lineup when you team’s next games are all must wins on their steep road to the playoffs.

Good thing they have a guy like Reed on their trip, to find the holes in traffic.

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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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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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Coming into the game against the New York Jets this weekend, the Bills were expected to start WR James Hardy at the #2 WR spot in the offense due to the injury to Josh Reed that will keep him out the next few days.  Hardy took over the spot in the loss against the Dolphins but that might change this week.

A report from rotoworld.com is saying that the Bills will lean towards Roscoe Parrish in this one.  Here’s the quick rundown:

Bills WR Roscoe Parrish has been running with the first team offense in practice this week.
It was thought that rookie James Hardy would take over while Josh Reed was out because Hardy was the one who replaced him in-game after Reed’s injury occurred. Parrish, though, offers more experience and knows the offense better.

It shouldn’t make too much of a difference as Hardy will now be used in the slot to get better one on one matchup with linebackers.  As much as I want to see Hardy step up to be used in this offense more, look for him to make a few catches in the game and possibly even a TD in the red zone. 

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Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch was back at practice again today after being excused by the team yesterday. He had to tend to a personal matter and nothing more was said about the missed practice. 

Things don’t look so good for DE Aaron Schobel and WR Josh Reed. Neither is working out with the team.  Schobel did finally take the walking boot is off but it doesn’t look like he will play.  Reed is recovering from a sprained Achilles suffered in Sunday’s loss at Miami.  The usual recovery time for such an injury is two to three weeks.  Head Coach Dick Jauron has not ruled out the wide receiver for this Sunday.  The Bills coach will update the injury report tomorrow.

There is a mix up at the offensive line now too.  Jason Whittle is lining up at guard.  The veteran lineman occupying the spot left vacant by the injured Brad Butler (knee).  The injury has kept him out of practice all week.  Duke Preston is getting first team reps at center.

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