ChasBB

Yes, see my post above about this game. Thanks for saying Pat Toomay -- I couldn't remember who recovered the fumble. I just know that it would have been a likely Bills win if the refs made the correct call.

OK, I'm going WAY back here, but does anyone remember this one? Oct. 22, 1972 (Miami's $#%@*&$ "perfect" season) Buffalo at Miami in the Orange Bowl Final score: Miami 24 Buffalo 23 Buffalo was down 24-16 and scored late in the 4th to draw within a point. Now, I may have events out of sequence, but I think what happened next is that Miami got the ball back and on that drive Mercury Morris appeared to have fumbled and Buffalo recovered. However, he was ruled down by contact. The replays clearly showed the ball coming loose just before he hit the ground. If Buffalo had gotten the ball back, they could have possibly nailed a game-winning field goal -- no perfect season -- no 0 for 20 in the '70's against the Fish. Instead, Miami runs out the clock. Again, I may be off a little on the sequencing, but that's how I remember it. I mainly remember that bad call and I'm pretty certain it was on the final drive, but whenever it was it was costly to the outcome of the game.

Agree -- that was a very good team.

I remember attending a game against the Baltimore Colts (late 70's I think). If memory serves, Buffalo was up 28-0 at halftime. Buffalo lost the game. They simply could not stop Bert Jones in the second half. The colts kept running this same screen play over-and-over again and Buffalo could not stop it. Unreal. I think Bills lost 35-28 or something like that.

Agree, if the Bills can play the Belichick-coached Patriots to near certain victory, there is NO team they can't compete with and defeat. This team should feel good about its direction. Furthermore, this sets up one hell of a rematch at the Ralph later this season!!

It comes and goes. They were saying the same stuff about Jim Kelly and the Buffalo Bills in the early 90's -- how Kelly could always manage to pull out a victory from seemingly obvious defeat. This team WANTS to win. I think that is clear. Edwards clearly is aiming for the playoffs. Yes, they still need to prove it by actually winning games and winning close games, too -- and they will I think this year. I think this is the year that the team develops a winning culture.

As always, enjoy your assessment of the game. My only comment is that I think it is a rush to judgment on Bell. True, he had a horrible game, but let's just see how he develops over the 1st half of the season. Obviously the coaching staff saw enough in him to move forward with him. Furthermore, we don't really know just how well his back is healed. Perhaps it is not as far along as said. It was his very 1st NFL start and against no less than the Patriots in a hostile environment. I think it's too early to write Bell off.

The moral victory is not very satisfying right now, but this game gives me hope for this season. The Patriots remind me of the Super Bowl years with the Bills. When the Bills were down, you just knew they'd find a way to pull it out. Well, the fumble really was a gift to the Patriots, but you have to give the Bills coaching staff some credit for playing a competitive game that they really ought to have won. But, like some of the other posters here, the moral victory just SUCKS right now. I'm tired of losing to that team.

Peters is gone. Get over it. Agree that this is an absolutely useless thread. Furthermore, it doesn't matter a damn what he is doing or will do for Philly. He damn sure was NOT going to give BUFFALO that level of effort, so it is absolutely pointless to say "we could have had him at LT if only ...". He wouldn't have been the same player for us as for them. I'm glad he's gone. Bell will make some youthful mistakes, but I highly doubt anyone will have opportunity to question his effort. This team needs fighters who want to win and that's what they have in Bell.

That's the ticket right there. Hit him high, hit him low, hit him while he's up, hit him while he's down. Smack him around like a %#*$@%$ ragdoll. Make him fear for his life instead of only worrying about which receiver he's going to throw to. That's the key to this game right there.

Good links -- I liked the 1st one about Shipp in particular. Love him or hate him, the guy is hands-down the best coach in the NFL today. The Bills coaching staff needs to really study this guy. I mean seriously STUDY his success -- Belichick 101 -- meet 3 times per week in the offseason to study his approach to the game, study how he game plans for various opponents. The only way to beat Belichick is to truly understand how he thinks. No one has really been able to do that. Of course, the other approach is to beat the hell out of the Patriots in a highly physical smash-mouth game. However, both a smart and physical approach would sure be nice to see.

The guy gets a 49 million dollar contract with an 18 million dollar signing bonus and his heart wasn't into it??!!!!! The guy needs to be taken out to the woodshed.

Agree, can't see things getting any worse. AVP could be exactly what they need. We'll just have to wait and see.

Turk Schonert quote upon taking over as the new offensive coordinator: "The offense will be different," Schonert told Buffalobills.com. "It will be different. And I'm going to put my stamp on it. It's going to be our offense, not my offense. I want to get the coaches involved. I like having the players involved and their input." (http://assets.buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=5809) Alex Van Pelt quote upong taking over as the new offensive coordinator: “Talking to them (Sunday) I want them to be open with me and communicate back with us as a staff with what they like and what they don’t like. I think the biggest thing is making them feel comfortable with what we’re going to call and why we’re going to call it. And I think if they feel good about it then they’ll go out and execute.” (http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-3/Van-Pelt-ready-to-assume-command/e644e357-03ac-4788-b480-0694402d8f49) Clearly, Schonert was feeding us all a line of BS with his quote. Hopefully, AVP is telling the truth (and I believe AVP is going to deliver on his promise to open up communication), but it is interesting to compare quotes. They can all say what they want to say or what sounds good, but they've got to deliver on their remarks.

However, if Rhodes is truly an integral part of their plans, then it is quite a risk to assume he'll clear waivers. It would seem there might be a number of teams that would like to have a veteran of his caliber on their roster. Guess we'll just see what happens.

I nominate this for post of the month (if there were such a thing here). Excellent.

One good thing is AVP has no track record. Belichick can't pull up a computer database with AVP's play-calling tendencies because he's never called plays in the NFL. I think this move makes the Bills less predictable and more exciting -- at least for a few games. The opening game just got a lot more interesting.

As per the press conference, it looks like this was 100% DJ's decision. I applaud him for taking this action. It must be very difficult for him to have to do this especially at this time, but I trust in his decision. This team has too much offensive talent to sit back and watch it go to waste. I don't know if AVP is the answer or not, but I think he could work out very well. Clearly, Turk wasn't getting it done.

Yeah, a couple weeks ago would have been nice, but I like this a helluva lot better than a couple more weeks into the future.

Maybe so, but if they knew the move had to be made, better to do it immediately than 4 games into the season. The season is not doomed.

I admire the FO for taking care of business now instead of later! It takes courage to do something like this at this stage, but it appears it was necessary. Once you know someone is a problem area, you've got to take care of it and soon.

Hey, obviously the Chiefs brass decided it was a problem and took care of it. Only time will tell if their decision was a good one, but I applaud them for taking action NOW. We should be so lucky. But, instead, we have to endure of FULL SEASON of obvious ineptitude before action will be taken -- or maybe 2 or 3 seasons the way things go here.

I'll confess I was in the "we don't need Cutler" camp. I really expected a break-out year for Edwards. I still think Edwards can pick his play up, but there is no more time left. I have to admit now that having Cutler's swagger and arm strength right now would be a good thing. Edwards really has no more excuses. They are all used up now. He has to produce immediately or be replaced. Well, there is ONE more possible excuse -- his coaches STINK! When your coaches play not to lose instead of to win, losing if more frequently than not the outcome -- thus the endless debacle of 7-9 seasons. Please Ralph, please, do NOT wait to pull the trigger on Jauron if your team has a sub-500 record after 5 games or so. Give another coach a chance to do something with the talent assembled on this team before the season cannot be salvaged.

I hope Jauron turns the corner and is successful and makes the playoffs. That said, if at any point the season looks in doubt, I hope the trigger is pulled quickly. Seasons CAN be salvaged. I don't buy this crap about waiting until the offseason to make changes. If a change is needed then you make it and you make it immediately. I want a playoff appearance THIS season and if Jauron gets off to a shaky start of has another meltdown like last season, then Ralph has to make a change immediately.

I remind myself that my success has nothing to do with their success and that this is only a game. I remind myself that each-and-every player on the team collects a nice fat paycheck, win-or-lose. I remind myself that *most* players view this as a business. We sure do get attached and feel the pain of a loss, but in the grand scheme of things, NFL football has little relevance in life. It's just a nice diversion -- something to enjoy and discuss with family and friends. However, for the City of Buffalo, I really hope they win an NFL Championship!