Die Hard Sports Fan

The Bills didn’t even looked like they showed up to play football today, falling in an embarrassing matter, 20-10 to the New England Patriots.

1st Quarter

The Bills came out flat while the Patriots went with a slow and steady offense.

New England’s patience was rewarded though after Matt Cassel scampered 13 yards for a touchdown.

The Bills could get nothing going and were unable to put points on the board.  Pats lead 7-0 going into the 2^nd.

2nd Quarter

The Patriots patience worked again after a slow and steady drive.  They didn’t try to do too much and settled for a Stephen Gostkowski 32 yard field goal to go up 10-0.

The Bills countered and were finally able to get on the board with a 25 yard field goal by Rian Lindell.

Going into the tunnel at halftime, the Bills were down 10-3.

3rd Quarter

The 3^rd was just like the first two quarters of play.  Both teams didn’t show much offensively but their defenses were holding up nicely.  The only scoring of the 3^rd was another Gostkowski field goal to put the Pats up 13-3. 

4th Quarter

The Patriots felt like they had the game, and showed it after chewing up almost 10 minutes of clock time in the 4^th.  At the end of the 19 play drive, BenJarvus Green-Ellis cashed in with a 1 yard run, putting the Pats up 20-3.

Towards the end of a game already decided, Buffalo put one in the endzone on a 14 yard pass from QB Trent Edwards to WR James Hardy.

Buffalo drops the third game in a row, 20-10.

Wrap Up

Trent Edwards went 13 for 23, 120 yards and 1 TD to go along with 2 INTs.

Marshawn Lynch had another terrible game, gaining 46 yards on 14 carries.

Roscoe Parrish led the team in catches.  He had 4 for 31 yards.  Lee Evans was held to only 2 receptions.  

Rian Lindell went 1/1 on field goal attempts.  

Ryan Denney led the team with 8 tackles.  

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The Buffalo Bills will face their division rival, the New England Patriots for AFC East supremacy at Gillette Stadium Sunday afternoon.

Broadcast Info:

Game: Buffalo Bills (5-3) @ New England Patriots (5-3).
TV: CBS (Dick Enberg, Randy Cross)
Radio: 97 Rock (Buffalo), 103.3 The EDGE (Buffalo), WHAM 1180 AM (Rochester), WNSS 1260 AM (Syracuse), FAN 590 AM (Toronto). All done by John Murphy, Mark Kelso and Paul Peck on the Bills radio network.
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

Game Notes:

• Last meeting: In Week 11 last season, Tom Brady threw five touchdown passes, four to Randy Moss, as the Patriots scored on seven of their eight possessions to defeat the Bills, 56-10.
• New England has had Buffalo’s number since 2000, winning 14 of the last 15 meetings to take a 54-40-1 overall series lead.
• Patriots rookie Jerod Mayo is quietly leading a veteran defense with 59 tackles. Last month’s defensive rookie of the month has started all eight games at inside linebacker for the Patriots and led the team with 11 tackles vs. the Colts.
• BenJarvus Green-Ellis is another Patriots rookie making an impact. With Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan sidelined, the running back has scored a touchdown in each of the last three weeks, proving to be an adequate runner between the tackles.
• Flu-like symptoms may have been the reason for Marshawn Lynch’s career-low 16 rushing yards last week. Lynch will look to rebound Sunday, but he’ll have to do it against a Patriots defense that has held teams to an average of 83.6 rushing yards over the last five games.
• Buffalo is 12-3 under coach Dick Jauron when holding opponents to fewer than 300 yards.
• Bills rookie Leodis McKelvin ranks third in the AFC with 750 kick-return yards.
• Patriots wideout Wes Welker can become the first player in NFL history with at least six catches in each of his team’s first nine games.
• Not counting field goals, the Bills offense has been held to one touchdown scored or less in five of their last eight meetings with the Patriots defense. In Gillette Stadium New England’s defense gives up an average of 15.51 points per game.

Injury Report:

Bills- Out of Game: G Brad Butler (knee), WR Josh Reed (ankle), DE Aaron Schobel (foot), S Donte Whitner (shoulder) and CB Ashton Youboty (foot).  Questionable: LB Kawika Mitchell (ankle) and G Jason Whittle (back).    

Patriots- Out of Game:  CB Terrence Wheatley (wrist).  Doubtful: RB Sammy Morris (knee) and CB Lewis Sanders (hamstring).  Questionable:  RB LaMont Jordan (calf), LB Eric Alexander (hamstring), CB Ellis Hobbs (shoulder), WR Matt Slater (ankle) and DT Vince Wilfork (toe).    

Quote of the Week:

“They’re definitely similar guys Welker and Roscoe. I go against Roscoe every day in practice, so I’m definitely prepared for the role I’ve got to play this Sunday.”

-Reggie Corner on facing Wes Welker this week

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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A whole boatload of information came out today on the Buffalo Bills as they prepare themselves to take on division foe, New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon.  Here is the latest from WGR550.com:

Orchard Park, NY (WGR 550)  — The Bills did not have Aaron Schobel or Josh Reed in attendance as preparations begin for New England. Schobel is seeing a specialist today for a consultation. Dick Jauron says he hasn’t heard that Schobel could miss the rest of the season. LB Kawika Mitchell was watching from the sideline. Jauron says Mitchell injured his ankle in the Jets game. He hopes to have him in practice tomorrow. Brad Butler, Jason Whittle and Ashton Youboty all took regular reps in individual drills. Jauron says they were limited in team drills. The NFL injury report submitted by the Bills said Youboty did not practice.

Sometimes after a concussion a person can be “foggy” or have their reflexes slowed. I asked Trent Edwards if he has experienced that and he said no. It just seems like his decision making has been slower the past two weeks.

Langston Walker admitted that the offensive line must have the mentality to be physical to get a running game going. Jauron danced around the question saying a number of factors have to be addressed.

 

 

 

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The Buffalo Bills had pretty high expectation coming into this season this year as their fans were excited about the young team the Bills assembled.  Then the Bills started off the year 4-0 and gave Bills fans even higher one.  It was being talked on local shows how the Bills might even be reach the Superbowl as they were the top AFC East team and one of the tops in the entire AFC.  After a 1-3 stretch, and two straight losses in the division, I am starting to wonder if the Bills are indeed the weakest link in the AFC East.

 

Now I know it is only two games, and the Bills are still sitting at a very nice record of 5-3 (which is 7^th in the AFC which is one spot out of a wildcard berth and tied for 1st in the AFC East) but losses to the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins have raised some eyebrows. 

 

The Bills have played terrible football in the last two weeks.  For starters the running game is no where to be seen.  Marshawn Lynch carried the ball 9 times yesterday for 16 yards.  16 yards!  Are you kidding me?  This guy is a 1^st round draft pick and in his 2^nd year in the pros, he has yet to go past 100 yards this season on the ground.  The running back suffered from some kind of illness for most of the game yesterday.  Hopefully he doesn’t take a look at his performance, because that will make him sick all over again.  It certainly has made me.

 

The offensive line is horrible and it has been for the entire season.  Pro bowl LT Jason Peters is not going to get that big money extension that he held out for and missed the 1^st game of the regular season with, like he wants.  He is letting guys go right by him.  The rest of the line is very mediocre also.  They block for running backs that get an average of 93.8 yards a game which is good for 26^th best in the league.  Not only can they not run block but they can’t pass block either.  They allowed 5 sacks yesterday with some very nice “look out” blocks.

 

I didn’t know that J.P. Losman was playing in the game against the Jets?  Hmm, let’s take a look how he did… O wait…  Trent Edwards has played very poorly the last two weeks and the offense has sputtered.  In his defense he doesn’t have a real threat at the WR position other than Lee Evans, the running game is awful and he is getting pressured like crazy, but 3 turnovers in this one?  An absolute ugly interception that went for a pick 6 was thrown that ended a promising Bills drive.  Sure you can play the pressure and Roscoe Parrish for slipping but as a QB you don’t throw that ball into double coverage.  It didn’t even look like Edwards looked at Roscoe, just threw it where he thought he would be.  Edwards needs to step up his game too if he wants to led the Bills to the playoffs for the first time in almost a decade. 

 

With many of these problems being with the offense, the defense has also lacked in one big part of the game, stopping the opponent’s offense when it is needed.  Now don’t get me wrong the pick six by Jabri Greer was a great play that brought the Bills back into the game but the Bills had to come out and get the ball back.  Instead the Jets went right down the field, taking 8 minutes off of the clock and adding another field goal to put the game away.  A playoff caliber defense needs to step up and make that stop. 

 

The Bills started off the year so great, 4-0 and then 5-1.  They had the entire city of Buffalo behind them, cheering them on every week.  Even if it meant going to a friends house, crowded bar or dusting off the rabbit ears to catch the Bills game with grainy reception.  The game next week against the New England Patriots on the road is a must win for this Bills team.  They cannot go 0-3 in this division because teams will pass them by.  How can they accomplish a win?  For starters the team needs to get healthy and play like they did early in the season.  When the Bills had the good record to start off the season, they were playing great on all three aspects of the game.  Their offense was clicking, defense was solid and their special teams unit was game changing.  Now nothing is working on all sides of the ball.  They have to get back to basics and go with what worked early in the season.  Holding onto the football and establishing a rushing game is a must.  They have already lost to the Jets and Dolphins.  A loss to the Pats this week, by default, would make the Bills the worst team in the AFC East.      

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Mark Wahlstrom of The Cardinals Report provides an Arizona Cardinals perspective of the game and its results. Specifically, he questions whether or not the Cardinals were simply tough enough, especially on the defensive line, as well as the Cardinals coaching decision to punt the ball late in the game, which gave the ball back to the Redskins for the remainder of the game. Additionally, some Cardinal fans chime in with their own comments.

Mark WahIstrom says,

In what was inevitable, the Cardinals lack of power at nose tackle was utterly exposed today as the Washington Redskins picked apart the Arizona Cardinals defense. There was zero pass rush or push up the middle, Darnell Dockett was once again double teamed and held most of the day and Alan Branch and Bryan Robinson were non-factors on the D-line.

The time of possession favored the Redskins despite their total lack of a down field passing game, but with Cooley catching passes underneath and Portis running just well enough to keep the defense honest, the Cardinals couldn’t make a stop when they needed too.

Punting with 2:33 left on the clock at mid field was basically the worst coaching call I’ve seen Coach [Ken] Whisenhunt make since he got to the desert. I’m not sure what defense he was watching today but they had zero shot of stopping the Redskins from getting that first down and burning the clock which was exactly what they did.

Comments from Cardinal Fans

Damien says:
September 21st, 2008 at 7:37 pm

Oh I don’t know about the Cards being better than any team from the NFC East. They beat Miami and San Francisco. Last I checked those were garbage teams. The Redskins are better than most teams in the NFC…. they just play behind the 3 of the 5 best NFC teams.

Arizona can still win the division, but thats not saying much.

Steve says:
September 21st, 2008 at 9:40 pm

I’d have to disagree with Damien, I think the Cardinals are a better team than the Redskins. I think if they play 10 times the Cardinals beat them 6 out of 10. The Cardinals just gave the Redskins the game this week. I don’t know that Washington earned it.

Eli Wahlstrom says:
September 21st, 2008 at 11:13 pm

Maybe the Redskins are the better team maybe they aren’t. The point is the Cardinals didn’t play to their potential at all and they have plenty of room to improve.

Jay I’d say the team that wins that day is always the better team THAT DAY, But is not always the better team. The Patriots were better than the Giants last season. They just weren’t the better team that one day. Appalachian State wasn’t better than Michigan. Just that one day they were. So on any given Sunday some team can be the better team but not 100% of the time does the best team win. But that’s just my opinion. But yes Jay, it would be hard to prove that the Cardinals are better than the Redskins.

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Hello and welcome back to the site.  Like promised I am back to give you the rest of the NFL picks.  However, I am still a little bit under the weather (like yesterday, which is why I didn’t finish the picks in the first place) so the post today will just be the picks.  Sorry no insight for today.  Let’s get it started.  I’ll run down all of the pick (including yesterdays).  My picks are in bold.

Oakland Raiders (+9.5) @ Buffalo Bills

Arizona Cardinals (+3) @ Washington Redskins

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3) @ Chicago Bears

Kansas City Cheifs (+6.5) @ Atlanta Falcons

Houston Texans (+5) @ Tennesse Titans 

Cinininati Bengals (+13.5) @ New York Giants

Miami Dolphins (+13) @ New England Patriots

Carolina Panther (+3.5) @ Minnesota Vikings

 St. Louis Rams (+10) @ Seattle Seahawks

New Orleans Saints (+6) @ Denver Broncos

Detriot Lions (+4.5) @ San Francisco 49ers

Jacksonville Jaguars (+5) @ Indianapolis Colts

Pittsburgh Steelers (+3.5) @ Philadelphia Eagles

Cleveland Browns (+3) @ Baltimore Ravens

Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers (+3)

New York Jets (+8.5) @ San Diego Chargers

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Here at the Bills Blog we are very capable of changing things up.  This week I’m calling an audible and going to give you my NFL picks for Week 3 against the point spread.  This is going to be a weekly post that will happen every Thursday from now on (remember every Tuesday is also the Bills Player Bio of the Week).  Why am I still talking?  Let’s start it up.

Oakland Raiders (1-1, +9.5) @ Buffalo Bills (2-0)

OVER/UNDER: 36.5 Points 

Oakland lost their top back in Justin Fargas to a hamstring injury so the workload will go between rookie Darren McFadden, and Michael Bush.  I think the Bills Defense is going to be able to stop the run with Marcus Stroud just terriozing the Raiders O-line.  If they can’t run the ball, then the pressure will be put on 2nd year QB JaMarcus Russel who has not looked very strong.  The guy only had 55 yards last week through the air against a weak Kansas City defense (he went 6 for 17 which is good for a 35.3% completion).  Not to mention that the defense has been terrible.  They have let up an average of 24.5 points per game and 315 yards.  The Bills offense should have a big day.  The only question is will the Bills blow them out?  This is a game they are suppose to win big and it is tough whether or not they will step on their throat and blow them out of this game. 

THE PICK: I have to go with the Bills in this one.

OVER/UNDER: I’ll go with the OVER.   

 

Arizona Cardinals (2-0) @ Washington Redskins (1-1, +3)

OVER/UNDER: 42.5

Kurt Warner looked the right choice after all after he has led the team to a 2-0 start to the season.  He looked great last week against the Dolphins (but who doesn’t).  The Redskins secondary hasn’t looked great, so expect Warner to have another strong game with Fitz and Boldin running the show.  Clinton Portis is going to have to led the Redskins in carrier and be their workhorse in this game.  Jason Campbell looked sharp last week, like he was suppose to look like this season.  I think the Redskins are still a pretty good team.  Look for a high scoring game.

THE PICK: I really do like the Redskins with the 3 point spread in this one.

O/U: It might be a pretty high scoring game but my gut tells me to go with the UNDER.

 

KANSAS CITY CHEIFS (0-2, +5.5) @ Atlanta Falcons (1-1)

O/U: 36.5

This game could be the possible stinker of the week.  Kansas City is terrible but the Falcons aren’t too much better.  Neither team has a QB (sorry Matt Ryan Fans) but both do have some running backs.  Look for the Falcons to win the running battle with Turner and Norwood.  Two awful teams going head to head. 

THE PICK: Turner will have a huge game.  Falcons are my pick.

O/U: These teams might not even get passed the 25 point mark.  I’m taking the UNDER.

 

HOUSTON TEXANS (0-1, +5) @ Tennessee Titans (2-0)

O/U: 39

This will be the Texans fist game in 2 weeks as they had a “bye week” last week due to the Hurricane.  The Texans looked terrible in their first game and I expected that to continue especailly because they don’t have a running back.  The Titans will have to not turn the ball over and stop the Texans in the air to win this one.  Should be a low scoring game.

THE PICK: I like the Texans with the +5 points.

O/U: Like I said, I think this one will be low scoring.  I’ll take the UNDER.

 

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1-1, +3) @ CHICAGO BEARS (1-1)

O/U: 35.5

The biggest question with this line is how is the over/under 35.5?  Neither team will score much in this game.  Both teams have a decently strong running game but passing is the big question.  Kyle Orton is not going to put up big numbers and Devin Hester, the Bears top playmaker might not even play in this game.  He has missed three pratices in a row this week due to a rib injury.  How are they going to get into good field postion now?  Their offense certainly won’t be able to do it.  This game should be another stinker.

THE PICK:  No Hester equals No Win.  I’ll take the Bucs with the 3 points to spare.

O/U: Under for sure.

 

CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-2, +13.5) @ NEW YORK GIANTS

O/U: 41.5

Can the Giants cover the spread?  They certainly will beat the joke of the NFL in the Bengals but by almost 14 points?  Their offense will put up some big numbers over a very poor defense (don’t give me those numbers of where the D is ranked, they are terrible).  The X-Factor in this one is Carson Palmer.  He has looked terrible for the Bengals in their two losses.  I have a feeling he bounces back in this one.  And hey maybe Chad Johnson (no I will not refer to him by his stupid spanish name that translates to eight five, not eighty-five) might accuatly come out and play a game of football.

THE PICK: Palmer bounces back in this one and the Giants, who win, just can’t cover the spread.  I’ll go with the Bengals, although I proabably will regret it. 

O/U: Over.  This game will have a pretty high score at the end.

 

MIAMI DOLPHINS (0-2, +12.5) @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (2-0)

O/U: 36.5

The Dolphins will play this game close, until halftime where they will eventually be blown out by the Pats.  Miami’s defense will not be able to stop the run or pass, even without Tom Brady.  The national betting scene is all over the Dolphins but let’s be honest here.  The Pats have too much firepower for them to handle.  It won’t be a high scoring game but I wouldn’t be suprise if the Dolphins get shut out. 

THE PICK: Not following the national media on this one.  I’m going with the Patriots.

O/U: Neither team will score much.  UNDER.

 

CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-0, +3.5) @ MINNESOTA VIKINGS (0-2)

O/U: 37.5

The Panthers are the underdogs in this one?  Watch Gus Frerotte be terrible this week and Tavaris Jackson wins back his spot.  The Panthers of course will have to stop AP and Chester Taylor on the ground.  That is no small task.  However they have won their first 2 games without their best player in Steve Smith.  Look for him to have a big game in this one.  I don’t usually go on trends but QB Jake Delhomme for the Panthers is 22-4 as an underdog in his career.  I expect that record to improve after this game.

THE PICK: Going with the Panthers on this one as everyone in Minnesota realizes their team is in deep trouble.

O/U: Steve Smith is back remember?  Going with the OVER on this one.

 

That covers all of the early games for Sunday.  Didn’t feel the need to bore all of you guys tonight.  Check the site tommarrow evening for the rest of the games.  Also remember, this post will be done on Thursdays from now on.

 

High Disagree with one of my picks?  Think I’m an idiot?  Want to praise me for picking your team?  Write a comment in below and tell me what’s up. 

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ESPN talks to Amani Toomer about Tom Brady’s injury and as well as Giants football.

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It is being reported by multiple sports websites that New England Patriots QB Tom Brady is done for the year. He injuried his knee in todays game against the Kansas City Cheifs and sources have come out and said the injury is very serious. Brady will be sidelined for the year with a torn ACL. This is the Patriots worse nightmare. They will now be forced to go with Matt Cassel or find someone else. It is also being reported that free agent Chris Simms will work out for the team on Monday. As much as I hate to root for someone to get hurt, this opens up the entire AFC East. Brady is that team and really makes them pretty much unstoppable. This really opens up the divison to the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills, who both won today. All of the defensive coaches that have to face the Pats are breathing a little easier after receving this news tonight. Now they can focus on containing Randy Moss and Wes Welker, and also stopping the Pats running game which is still no easy task.

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The Giants put up 19 points early before the Patriots made a late run, but it was time ran out so Big Blue was victorious in the final game of the 2008 Preseason.

1st Quarter

The Giants scored first as David Carr completed about a 5 yard pass on the right side to Darcy Johnson who shook off defenders and ran into the end zone for a 27-yard TD reception to cap off an 80 yard drive with 7:20 remaining in the 1st Quarter.

Mathias Kiwanuka started as a Defensive End for the first time in a while tonight due to the loss of Osi Umenyiora’s season ending injury. Kiwanuka quickly made his presence known as he sacked Patriots QB Matt Cassel with 2:52 remaining in the 1st Quarter.

2nd Quarter

To accommodate for the loss of Umenyiora, the Giants moved Kiwanuka back to his natural position as a DE as we already mentioned. To fill Kiwanuka’s spot as a Linebacker, the Giants are going to use Dave Tollefson. Tollefson got his first sack of the game with 12:39 remaining in the 2nd Quarter as he and Renaldo Wynn wrapped up Matt Cassel.

The Giants tacked on another Touch Down with 2:18 remaining in the 2nd Quarter when David Carr hit Sinorice Moss over the middle for a 9 yard TD pass to cap off an 83 yard drive. Since Moss is on the bubble, it was good that he scored a TD for his own sake. Josh Huston missed the extra point attempt so the Giants only went up 13-0. That’s pathetic.

As the Patriots were trying out their 2:00 drill, Matt Gutierrez marched his team all the way down to the 2 yardline before he lofted an interception to R.W. McQuarters in the left side of the end zone, and McQuarters returned it to the 27 yardline as the clock expired.

3rd Quarter

Josh Huston made a 20 yard Field Goal Attempt with 8:10 remaining in the 3rd Quarter giving the Giants a 16-0 lead.

4th Quarter

Josh Huston capped off a 64 yard drive with a 30 yard Field Goal with 8:37 remaining in the 4th Quarter giving the Giants a 19-0 lead.

The Patriots did not score until Kevin O’Connell lobbed a 16 yard TD pass to Chad Jackson in the corner of the left side of the end zone with 19:32 remaining in the 4th Quarter.

The Pats quickly put up another score when Kevin O’Connell broke to the right and ran a5 yard TD in himself making the score Giants 19 - Patriots 14 with 4:57 remaining in the 4th Quarter.

Wrap Up

David Carr went 20/29 and threw for 192 yards and 2 TDs.

Danny Ware led in Rushing attempts and yards with 13 and 49 respectively.

Mario Manningham led in Receptions and Receiving yards with 5 and 41 respectively.

Darcy Johnson and Sinorice Moss each caught a TD pass.

Josh Huston went 2/2 in Field Goal Attempts, but missed an Extra Point Attempt.

Michael Johnson led the team in Tackles with 5.

Mathias Kiwanuka had 1 Sack, and Dave Tollefson and Renaldo Wynn shared a Sack.

R.W. McQuarters had 1 INT.

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

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