Archives for September 16, 2008

‘Buffalo won thanks to some very exciting plays. Plays that I saw. In person. With my very own eyes. And then again, probably four or five times each, replayed on the Humongotron scoreboard at the stadium. Driving home, I rehashed the very exciting plays with my brother-in-law and a couple of buddies, while simultaneously switching back and forth between two radio stations airing game audio of the very exciting plays. When I got home, I dashed pell-mell to the TV, because, naturally, I had recorded the entire game. Yes, the game that I just saw in person. This enabled me to watch all the very exciting plays again. Not to mention the replays of those very exciting plays. By this point, I’d seen the very exciting plays so many times that I could pretty much pantomime the actions of every player on the field during each of the very exciting plays, as well as the reactions of the coaches and the maniacal hysteria of the leather-lunged, beer-swilling, body-painted fans.’

‘The Bills’ success to start the season is not an accident. It just happened a year earlier than I thought it would.’

‘"When we came off the field," said Bills defensive end Chris Kelsay, "I saw [Bills chief operating officer] Russ Brandon, and I told him ‘Last year we don’t win that game.’"’

‘Comparing these Bills to those of the K-Gun era is mighty premature, but continued winning is only going to raise the profile of a team that has been well below the NFL radar since making their last playoff appearance in 1999.’

‘Walker, who had been manning the left tackle position for Buffalo full-time in the absence of Jason Peters, had double duty against the Jaguars. With Peters not in 100 percent game shape Walker had to play right and left tackle throughout the course of the game.’

‘Are we back to that point yet? Definitely not, but they are probably a playoff contender and maybe even a division title contender. Their offense is becoming more capable of working with a defense that keeps them in games, with special teams that can swing the momentum at any time.’

‘Simply put, this is a game the Bills would have lost last season. Instead, they found a way to win it – not through a trick, gimmick, or someone else’s mistake – they did it through sound fundamental football in all three phases of the game. It suggests there are better things to come.’

‘"It was a huge part of the game," coach Dick Jauron said of Edwards’ poise. "Not only did he take us down when he had to but he also took us down in the midst of the heat. You know, those guys are all dog-tired and sucking it up and he was keeping them focused and keeping them moving."’

‘A pretty shrewd day for Dick Jauron’s staff.’

‘The Bills are 2-0 for the first time since the 2003 season, but that year they went on to lose 10 of their final 14 games and it spelled the end of the three-year coaching tenure of Gregg Williams. In 2000, the Bills started 2-0 as well, and finished 8-8 and out of the playoffs.’

‘The heat was a huge factor as the Bills rotated both the offensive and defensive lines with the exception of center Melvin Fowler. “I’ve never been involved in (a game) where the offensive side (was rotated), but it made a lot of sense to us with Jason (Peters, tackle) just three practices into this season (after a holdout),” Jauron said.’

‘But there was something special about the way the Bills rallied past the Jaguars, 20-16, on Sunday afternoon at sweltering Jacksonville Memorial Stadium … specifically, Edwards’ performance.’

‘When asked if he was bothered by temperatures, Peters, who was rested during the game, said, “No way. I just came here from Texas where it was 105.”‘

‘”I just really came in figuring this is what he does, and he’s one of the best at it,” Hardy said of Evans. “If I just listen to what he says and… come in and try to outwork him some days, I’ll be fine, and I’ll be able to contribute to this team and get us to the playoffs and hopefully a Super Bowl here.”‘

‘He’s either the head zombie or vampire depending on one’s geek film preference, but the important factor is that Whitner is leading his henchmen to glory in part because the talent around him is rising. The question of who benefits from whom is ultimately irrelevant; the important point is that everyone is benefiting.’