Archives for November 20, 2008

‘Edwards tossed interceptions on three of his first six passes and turned noticeably gun shy against the Browns.’

‘The Bills (5-5), losers of five of their last six, would see their slim playoffs chances all but end with a loss to upset-minded Kansas City (1-9). The Bills need to shake the emotional damage of a four-game losing streak fast. The Chiefs have lost their last four by margins of just 4, 3, 1 and 10 points and have scattered playmakers capable of giving Buffalo matchup problems. Young QB Tyler Thigpen (10 TDs, five INTs) has terrific ball skills but is prone to being sacked. Alas, that’s what the Bills don’t do very well with Aaron Schobel (foot) out. This is no time to hold off on the blitz. Offensively, the Bills will finally see a 4-3 look, which most of their success came early against. The Chiefs can take the ball away, but they’ve also given up 4,025 yards, 205 first downs, 30 TDs and are allowing 5.1 yards per carry. If a struggling Trent Edwards can’t get on track against this defense, the Bills can start scouting QBs in next year’s draft.’

‘”We don’t try to hide from the fact that we haven’t played up to the standards that we’ve set for ourselves recently, but we’re still the team that played that way early to get us where we are. So here we are, and now we have to take the whole bundle and set it aside and just focus on this week. That’s part of the process, too. You have to be able to do that, regardless of how painful the losses have been. Regardless of how close in proximity the recent one is. You have to get by it. It’s not easy; it’s not easy to get by the loss and to get on with the project, but you have to do it. We have to do it if we’re going to have any chance to take what we’ve done, the good and the bad, to take the whole thing and move to the next game.” — Coach Dick Jauron, on his club’s mental state after starting 5-1 then going 0-4, putting its playoff chances in major jeopardy.’

‘But for once, Lynch and Jackson were rewarded for their combination of power and elusiveness. “We wanted to take it upon ourselves to try and have a good game,” said Jackson, who gained 60 yards on 12 carries, but had a key third-quarter fumble deep in Browns’ territory Monday night. “We were able to do so, but didn’t make enough plays obviously.”‘

‘Chiefs 16, Bills 13.’

‘”You start seeing things that you’re not really seeing, and you’re doing things that you’re not normally used to doing,” Edwards said. “Right now, I don’t really have any good answers.”‘

‘Edwards’ body language said, “How did something that started so well go so bad?”‘

‘"It doesn’t matter what they do. You have to come out there and play," Evans said. "If it’s running the football, it’s running the football. If it’s throwing, it’s throwing. You’ve got to be able to just make it work."’