Archives for December 2011

‘Spiller is looking downright phenomenal when he gets into open field, and he’s getting himself there much faster than he has in the past. I love Fred Jackson and the concept of a Jackson-Spiller 1-2 punch next season in whatever order they prove themselves to be suited in training camp, but as I said last week, I’d be surprised if Spiller’s success doesn’t make Jackson re-think any concept of holding out for a bigger deal.’

‘The Bills were just 1 for 6 in the red zone. Imagine how much worse the final score could have been?’

‘Chris Kelsay had a big sack of Tebow late in the first quarter. He then had a run stuff on third and inches for a loss to force a punt. He then stopped Tebow on a third and two run short of a first down. His biggest play was knocking the ball out of Tebow’s hand and the pass was picked off by Spencer Johnson and returned for a score. Kelsay had nine tackles and 2 sacks in the game.’

‘The fourth quarter had been dubbed Tebow time by those that closely followed the Broncos, but on Christmas Eve in Buffalo the fourth quarter belonged to the Bills defense. Buffalo posted back-to-back interception returns for touchdowns on two straight Denver possessions to turn a comfortable lead by the Bills into a rout in a 40-14 victory over the Broncos. The win snapped Buffalo’s seven-game losing streak.’

‘”He’s not a great thrower of the football, and he’ll never be a great thrower of the football in my estimation, because you’re not going to get him to change,” said former Bengals great Boomer Esiason in a Boston radio interview this week. “And why would you ask him to change, especially with the way he’s been playing the last few weeks in the fourth quarter alone. … I don’t think he’s the long-term solution at quarterback for the Denver Broncos.”‘

‘Broncos 28, Bills 10.’

‘The notion is particularly resonant with Bills fans, many of whom are skeptical about Ryan Fitzpatrick’s long-term prospects in Buffalo just two months after he got a six-year, $59 million contract. As it turns out, the Bills could pay Fitz $5 million in March and walk away from the rest of the deal.’

‘”I can say there are pretty much pros and cons, goods and bads with everything,” Tebow said the other day during a conference call with western New York reporters. “I think for me the good outweighs the bad as far as all that goes.”‘

Broncos had can’t-miss choice of Miller, Dareus (Denver Post)

Broncos-Bills scouting report (Denver Post)

Broncos Set for Christmas Eve Tilt (DenverBroncos.com)

‘There’s a 30 percent chance of snow in Buffalo, and the temperatures will be in the low 30s, making this likely the most inclement day in which Tebow has ever played.’

‘Broncos 33, Bills 14.’

‘Buffalo’s aforementioned run game doesn’t have to be explosive, but it must provide manageable down and distance situations. When the Bills have been behind the sticks, especially on third down, their offense has struggled mightily of late. In a game against a pass rush the caliber of Denver’s getting in long down and distance is a recipe for disaster.’

‘"I would never put the blame on the coach, especially a coach like George," veteran linebacker/defensive end Chris Kelsay said. "The guy works tremendously hard and his defense has worked in the past. When the coach gets the blame, which many times they do, I’ll always be the first one to step up and say, ‘It’s the players who aren’t executing the plays.’ The coaches can do only so much from the sidelines."’

‘"I’m dying to get out there, so hopefully I’ll get out there this week and get some playing time," Chandler said. "It’s feeling better every day. I think I’ll be out there and be fine."’

‘So, in the dispirit of another suck-the-football-passion-out-of-you Bills season, I give you not the 12 Days of Christmas, but the 12 Years of Bills Futility.’