Archives for December 25, 2006

‘The Bills’ playoff dreams officially died when J.P. Losman’s desperation heave on a fourth-and-5 play from the Titans’ 28 was intercepted with 41 seconds left. On another day, the Bills surely could have tried a 45-yard field goal to win it. But the 25 mph winds at Ralph Wilson Stadium made that option at least 3 yards outside the range of Rian Lindell. So for the sake of 3 yards, the Bills dropped to 7-8.’

‘”I loved it,” Henry said of the decisive drive. “I wished I had more situations like that. We knew we could run the ball on them so we wanted to come in and control the clock with the run game. The offensive line blocked really well. They gave me some creases and I made the reads and hit it up there hard.”‘

‘The Titans faced fourth-and-2 with 14 seconds remaining on the Bills’ 36-yard line, a distance Buffalo would ultimately confirm too long for a field-goal attempt into a fierce wind. Young rolled left, looked long, pumped and began a memorable journey through the Bills’ defense.’

‘But in the end, this loss was reminiscent of so many others in recent Bills history. With a game and a season hanging in the balance, the defense came up small in the fourth quarter. The Bills’ defenders would make horrible Santa Clauses because when it really matters, you can’t count on them to make a stop.’

‘”It would have been different if the wind gusts had died down,” Lindell said. “It’s kind of tough to say, “No, I can’t make it.’ You try not to say that too many times. [Jauron] asked me and I didn’t know what to say. I try to leave up it to them and if it’s a field goal I’ll go out and try to bang it and hope for the best. But to tell you the truth, it would have been a tough one to make.”‘

‘Took too long to decide to go for it. Late third-and-1 pass failed. If Royal catches TD we’d be praising them.’

‘The Buffalo News interviewed two dozen people who wore Titans jerseys or sweat shirts to find out how Bills fans treated them before, during and after the game. Only two said they wouldn’t come back. “There were a lot of guys who were jerks,” said Destry Evans of Harrisburg, Pa., who said Sunday’s game would be his last Bills game. “It was not fun. The more they drank, the worse they got.”‘

‘And they have no one to blame but themselves.’

‘Leading 26-20 and playing with the wind in the third quarter, wide receiver Lee Evans threw a perfect option pass to Royal in the left corner of the end zone. Royal caught the pass but failed to get both feet in bounds even though there was enough green to spread a blanket for a picnic.’

‘So why isn’t he still here playing like that? Ask Tom Donahoe.’

‘Buffalo weather, which the Bills take so much pride in, actually may have cost them the game. The wind was a major factor all day as it blew hard from the scoreboard toward the tunnel. Neither team scored a point driving into the wind in the second half. The Bills had a great chance to put the game almost out of reach with the wind at their backs in the third quarter, but produced only 10 points despite running 17 of their 19 offensive plays in Tennessee territory. Then, at the end, they were clearly within Rian Lindell’s normal range for a winning field goal, but they couldn’t attempt a 45-yarder because he wouldn’t have gotten it within five yards of the crossbar.’

‘Coaching: Dick Jauron’s decision to attempt a fourth-and-one in the first quarter paid dividends, but things unraveled fast. Eschewing a two-point conversion after Evans’ TD gave Buffalo a 25-20 lead came back to haunt the team. Coordinator Steve Fairchild’s fourth-quarter play-calling into the wind was atrocious, as was the club’s 1 of 4 effort in goal-to-goal situations. Settling for field goals caught up with the Bills, thus ending their two-month high of chasing the playoffs. Bah, humbug. D+’

‘Once he strapped on the cleats and powder blue jersey, Henry was a wrecking machine, giving his former teammates fits with a combination of quick steps and potent stiff arms. It only took a few plays for Bills fans to remember why the team struggled to knock him from the lineup, even when Willis McGahee was anointed the next starter. Travis is tough. And December in Buffalo demands every ounce of toughness a man can muster.’

‘Had Buffalo defeated Tennessee, Bills fans would have found themselves in the odd position of rooting for Miami tonight, because a Dolphins win over the Jets would’ve put the Bills in control of their own playoff destiny next week. That prospective win-and-in scenario was further aided Sunday by Baltimore’s win over Pittsburgh and Houston’s upset of Indianapolis. Those outcomes clinched the a first round bye for the Ravens, who now will likely rest their impact players against the Bills next week.’

‘Fourth quarter…The Good: Skip ahead. This quarter belonged to the Titans as Buffalo did little to keep its playoff dream alive.’