Archives for November 14, 2005

‘What was the logic behind the play called on fourth and 1 around midfield? It worked last year but this was a totally different situation. Why not just hand it off to Willis McGahee?’

‘Aaron Schobel: Posted his 11th career multi-sack game as he took down Trent Green two times…the sacks also marked Schobel’s third game this season with two sacks and his seven sacks on the year are a team high and currently rank third in the AFC…Schobel has been productive over the last three games, posting five sacks in the last three games giving him his fourth career streak of three+ games with a sack…Coupled with his multi-sack performance at New England (10/30), Schobel has posted back-to-back multi-sack games for the second time in his career.’

‘"Any injury to the head, neck, back, you’ve got to be very cautious with," Mularkey said. "I think he’s better today, but not where we’d clear him to go. We’ll see Wednesday."’

‘Right now Crowell doesn’t have to be another Takeo Spikes. The Bills will be very happy if he continues to play like Angelo Crowell.’

‘Coming into the game, the Buffalo Bills were 3-5 and hanging on for dear life in the AFC East race. The Chiefs were 5-3 and also trying to hang on in the uber-competitive AFC West. In other words, both teams needed this game. In the end, it was the Bills who seemed to want it more. The Bills’ defense forced four turnovers and sacked Chiefs quarterback Trent Green six times. It was undoubtedly the best performance by the Bills’ defense since the first game of the season against Houston. Buffalo ended up winning 14-3 as they imposed their physicality on the Chiefs for the entire game.’

‘Holcomb isn’t, and never will be, anything more than a caretaker quarterback. For this season to retain the meaning Losman gave it on Sunday, he has to be taking the snaps the rest of the way.’

‘”The turnovers were huge,” Mularkey said of his defense. “Give credit to the guys up front, they were relentless start-to-finish. Plus, they complemented each other, some of the sacks were coverage sacks and some of the interceptions were because of pressure.”‘

‘And yesterday, as life often does, the Bills’ quarterback dilemma solved itself.’

‘A Chiefs team used to scoring at the very least, 20 points a game, was held to just a field goal in a 14-3 loss Sunday to the Bills. Even without a pair of All-Pros due to injury, KC dominated the numbers – time of possession, rushing yards, passing yards and first downs – but faltered in the red zone and committed untimely turnovers.’

‘Buffalo’s six sacks of Green were by end Aaron Schobel, who had two, giving him a team-leading seven on the season, end Ryan Denney, his fourth, Crowell, his third, Fletcher, his second, and tackle Justin Bannan (1.5 on the year).’

‘The Bills won despite the fact they came away with no points on three possessions that started on Kansas City’s 12, 15 and 30. They won despite the fact Chiefs running back Larry Johnson rushed for 100 yards in the first half. They won despite the fact starting quarterback Kelly Holcomb got knocked out of the game with a concussion on a sack early in the second quarter.’

‘”They came in and really tried to take over our house, and we weren’t going to let that happen,” said Bills middle linebacker London Fletcher, who was credited with a game-high 20 tackles (13 solo) and forced a fumble on a sack. “It was really a man-on-man type of football game where we wanted to impose our will on them and they wanted to impose their will on us. We came out victorious.”‘

‘”It’s embarrassing,” tight end Tony Gonzalez said. “We let our defense down. They came out there and played their butts off. For us to go out there and score only three points is inexcusable. . . . It’s confusing.”‘

‘True, the Bills are 4-5, just a game back of the Patriots in the AFC East, and they have a lot to prove in the next seven weeks. Mularkey, to no one’s surprise, won’t say who he plans to start at QB on Sunday in San Diego. It might depend on the severity of Holcomb’s concussion. But he should have his head examined if he doesn’t stay with Losman now.’

‘But it’s obvious, isn’t it, the Bills have been long-ball reluctant. Last season, Evans had six receptions of 40 yards or more, another dozen that covered at least 20. Quarterback Drew Bledsoe was forever looking for him over the top, getting the ball into his hands on the run. But through the first eight games of this year, Evans’ 20-yard receptions numbered two. His value was diminished by an offense that couldn’t find its footing during Losman’s first go-round. He was buried in game plans that stressed ball control when Kelly Holcomb, no mad bomber he, came on to lend a veteran’s stability in relief. A sublime talent was withering on the vine.’