Archives for November 2008

‘Edwards was left shaking his head after another disastrous performance.’

‘Bills fans also might have expected Jaworski to weigh in on the Bills’ decision to have three running plays in the final minute to set up Rian Lindell’s 47-yard field goal attempt rather than attempt or risk a pass that might have gotten the kick closer. He did say he expected the Bills would play it conservatively, but he didn’t say if he agreed with it. It also would have been reasonable of commentator Tony Kornheiser – who acts like ESPN’s game-day sports columnist – to raise the L word during the game. You know, J.P. Losman.’

‘”Obviously a disappointing loss for us,” said head coach Dick Jauron. “We had a chance.”‘

‘The Bills’ special teams, which had almost single-handedly kept the team in the game, would now be called upon to win it. In light of Lindell’s past successes it was assumed his kick would be a fitting exclamation point to a night rescued by special teams.’

‘It was a horrid early display, as Edwards threw one pick on one attempt, two on three, and three on six; in his defense, he cut his percentage of interceptions in half over that time, although improving to the point where he was committing turnovers on only 50 percent of throws isn’t quite a Pro Bowl rate.’

‘How bad was he? Besides the three interceptions in the first 11-and-a-half minutes? Well, he played scared, which is the worst kind of quarterbacking to play, or watch. Edwards was so gunshy that of his 16 completions, 10 went to his feature back, Marshawn Lynch, and I’m not sure more than three were clearly past the line of scrimmage.’

‘The Bills have now lost four-striaght and are 5-5 on the season, which is last in the AFC East. Their playoff chances took a major hit as there are four teams at 6-4 in the conference along with the four division leaders.’

‘Talk about taking the air out of the charged-up sellout crowd.’

‘Then a great run after the catch by Marshawn Lynch got the Bills back into the game. It was a short swing pass that Lynch caught at the line of scrimmage. It looked like Lynch broke a bunch of tackles. But actually it was just nifty cuts toward the middle of the field and a burst of speed up the middle that allowed him to elude at least five Browns. Lynch bulled into the end zone for an 18-yard TD catch. It was Lynch’s first TD reception of his career.’

‘Phil Dawson might as well be the Abominable Snowman as far as the Buffalo Bills are concerned.’

‘The Bills played it conservative on their final drive when they got down to the Cleveland 34 after a 22-yard pass from Trent Edwards to Robert Royal. They ran three straight Lynch runs into the line that gained 2 yards apiece. The way Edwards’ night was going, should they have put the ball in his hands and let him throw downfield? Hmm. In hindsight, some sort of safe short pass would have been preferable to putting all the heat on Lindell.’

‘Passing game: F: Edwards is regressing, threw three interceptions in first quarter to put team in big hole. Anyone seen Lee Evans, by the way?’

‘”It’s going to depend on your passion for this team,” he told the crowd in the HSBC Arena Harbour Club, citing the team’s regionalization efforts that have helped expand its market to the Southern Tier, Rochester and Southern Ontario.’

‘The Bills got in position for a 47-yard field goal try by Rian Lindell with 38 seconds left but the kick sailed just barely wide to the right.’

‘"I naturally get the ball up pretty high anyway," he said. "I was more focused on the line. I had a 50-plus against Washington to tie it and I got it too much and left the ball out to the right, which you do when you overstride. I was concentrating on staying short, trusting my technique and hitting the ball well."’