Archives for December 28, 2008

‘The Bills were moving the ball at the end of the half, but on 3rd and goal and with: 22 left, The Bills called a running play that ran the clock out in the first half. The ball was blown dead but Center Duke Preston had an altercation with several Patriot players that resulted in the clock running out at the end of the half.’

‘Dick Jauron made a terrible play call running with Omon on third and nine with the wind at their back. He had way too much confidence that Lindell would hit a long field goal even with the wind at his back. His team showed an extreme lack of discipline on the debacle at the end of the first half that resulted in no points. Interesting call to take the wind in the third quarter failed as most of his moves do. Jauron doesn’t belong in the same stadium as Bill Belichick. They wasted a timeout with the wind in the third quarter when the Patriots acted like they were going for it on 4th and 11. Perry Fewell had no answers early for the play action pass to the fullback and his defense struggled against the run late in the game. Turk Schonert had no answers on offense. Grade F-: It’s time to clean house!!!!’

‘This season is now over and Dick Jauron has led the team to three straight 7-9 seasons if the fact that he got a contract extension back in October keeps him in Buffalo, then it shows that Ralph Wilson doesn’t care about winning. So why should the fans care so much? At least they can be happy that they won’t see another Bills loss until September. They’ve seen enough of them the past 10 weeks of the season.’

‘Trent Edwards connected on 14-of-25 passes for 128 yards and Fred Jackson amassed 136 yards rushing for the Bills, who finished with a 7-9 record for a third consecutive season under head coach Dick Jauron.’

‘For the third straight season under head coach Dick Jauron the Bills finished 7-9 as they lost eight of their last 10 on the season after a 5-1 start. Buffalo went winless in the division (0-6) for only the second time in team history and the first time since 1976.’

‘LaMont Jordan scored on a 2-yard run set up by Cassel’s 12-yard completion into the wind on fourth down, and Stephen Gostkowski hit a pair of field goals to secure a 13-0 win over the bumbling Buffalo Bills on Sunday.’

‘Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters (knee) and running back Marshawn Lynch (shoulder) didn’t play for Buffalo. Peters missed his second straight game, while Lynch was held out for the first time this season. Lynch, the Bills’ leading rusher after amassing 1,036 yards on 250 carries, was replaced by Fred Jackson. Receiver/punt returner Roscoe Parrish also missed the game because of a knee injury.’

‘Very strong gusts occurred at about 8:30 a.m., when they tore a strip 2 feet wide and more than 50 feet long off the metal roof of the 12-story fieldhouse across the parking lot from the stadium. There was damage reported inside the facility, but no one was injured. Pregame events inside the fieldhouse were canceled.’

‘Patriots, 31-19.’

‘So here we are today, staring at the same sorry scenario. Dick Jauron’s team brings a 7-8 record into the season finale against the Patriots. His players say they love him. If they upset the Pats, it will be hailed as an endorsement of the coach. That’s how far we’ve come in six years.’

‘For that matter, will the Bills’ coach, whomever he may be, allow the offense to play to its strength with its running game and let the combination of Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson control the ball to set up the passing attack? Of course that would assume the overpaid offensive line plays tougher mentally and physically. It spoke volumes when ex-NFL personnel man Mike Lombardi observed the Buffalo line is too soft, probably from the less-than-taxing work they get in the summer at St. John Fisher, which seems less a training camp than a spa.’

‘The expectation is Jauron is going to survive because of Wilson’s strong relationship with the coach and the owner’s assessment that the team’s talent level still needs to get better. However, today’s season finale against the New England Patriots in Orchard Park could impact the decision.’

‘”To end the season with a win against them would be fantastic,” said defensive end Chris Kelsay.’

‘While it will be tough to clean out their lockers on Monday knowing the year is done, they will do so with smiles if they can pull this upset, finish at 8-8, and knock the hated Patriots out of the postseason picture.’

‘Is it a coincidence that Peters is absent with the playoffs out of reach?’