Archives for November 2, 2009

‘Just when it looked like the Bills were taking a step forward coming off two consecutive road wins, they took a giant step back this week. However, it shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise considering the putrid play of their offense recently. Averaging 11 points in the last six games, the club has failed to reach 300 yards of offense in any of those contests and has topped out at 160 passing yards. In each of the past two weeks, Buffalo has recorded a whopping nine first downs.’

‘Promoting Hardy would require the Bills to drop a player, potentially one of the six receivers currently on their roster.’

‘Jairus Byrd (groin), Keith Ellison (quad), Jamon Meredith (MCL) and Aaron Schobel (groin) were the latest casualties on Sunday and Byrd spent Monday seeing a specialist to check up on his sports-hernia surgery from this past summer.’

‘”It’s just difficult when you need the stops and just aren’t getting them. In the second half, we needed to get the stops and just didn’t do it, the defense as a whole,” Terrence McGee said. “It’s something we’ve got to go back and correct.”‘

‘With the bye week, this would be a better time than most for Wilson to put his seal of approval upon Jauron’s dismissal. It was the owner who defied many fans’ wishes and gave Jauron an extension after last season.’

‘Bills rookie safety Jairus Byrd recorded two more interceptions, and the defence held on as best it could, limited only by the dreadful offence for which it had to compensate. The team heads into its bye week with a 3-5 record, and no clear reason for optimism.’

‘The Bills are 1-8 in their last nine home games. In their last six home losses combined they have one – one – offensive touchdown.’

‘Of the 58 offensive snaps by both teams in the second half, the Bills’ defenders were on the field for 40 of them. In fact, the Texans’ 40 plays on offense in the third and fourth quarters were only five fewer than the Bills ran the entire game. Is it any wonder why the Texans held the ball nearly 40 minutes on Sunday?’

‘If last week’s win at Carolina was a signature Jauron win, this was a textbook loss for the embattled coach. The defense plays well and keeps the Bills in the game for three quarters. The dysfunctional offense can’t hold up its end of the bargain. The bend-don’t-break defense wears down and the Bills get blown out.’

‘Give the defense credit. It’s a proud group. The “D” refuses to entertain excuses no matter what the circumstances, no matter how many injuries it incurs or how far the scales sway on time of possession. But let’s be realistic. It does have its limits.’

‘Ellison is the third member of the Bills’ trio of opening-day starters at linebacker to get hurt this season. Paul Posluszny is three games back from a broken arm, while Kawika Mitchell is out for the year with a knee injury.’

‘The Bills have outscored opponents in the first quarter 41-10.’

‘A signature Jauron loss. Offense sputtered, causing defense to spend too much time on the field. Despite winning turnover battle, got blown out. Grade: F.’

‘Yes, there were still nine minutes to go and it was “only” a two-touchdown game, plenty of time for a competent NFL offense to perhaps stage a comeback. But the fans knew it might as well have been a five-touchdown deficit because they’ve seen this tired act for too long and they realized there was no way the dreadful Bills had any chance of beating the Texans.’

‘Moats took over for benched starter Steve Slaton in the first quarter and ran around, between or right over Bills defenders for 126 yards and three touchdowns.’