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This is probably the most important preseason game for the Bills since it is the third preseason game. It will look a little more like a regular season game than the other three, especially the first and the last. That's because coaches generally target the third game to give starters the most playing time. It's really the tune-up game for the regular season.
There are a couple of other reasons I'm looking forward to it. First, it's a game against a rather average opponent. Carolina, our first opponent is touted by many as a Super Bowl contender. They are very good, and were clearly more physical than our team was, and probably more ready to play. Consequently, until the game moved into the second quarter and reserves started playing Buffalo could do nothing offensively. We can't really make a comparison because Kelly Holcomb started and led Buffalo on four straight 3 and out series (actually three 3 and out series - the third of Holcomb's series was 2 and intercepted). We can't really know if JP would have done any better, but Willis was also completely ineffective running the ball. In any case, I really don't think Cleveland's defense is as good as Carolina's, or Cincinnati's, though Romeo Crennel probably has things moving in the right direction The point is, it lets us see if there is any likelihood Buffalo's offense can be more effective against opponents who are in the middle of the pack.
It will also give us a clue perhaps as to how seriously JP took the message about taking care of the ball. And of course it will show us how Buffalo's defense might fare against an average opponent, though Cincinnati's and Carolina's offenses were probably a lot closer to average than their defenses given the lack of Steve Smith for Carolina and Carson Palmer for Cincinnati.
How does anyone else feel about the Cleveland game?
There are a couple of other reasons I'm looking forward to it. First, it's a game against a rather average opponent. Carolina, our first opponent is touted by many as a Super Bowl contender. They are very good, and were clearly more physical than our team was, and probably more ready to play. Consequently, until the game moved into the second quarter and reserves started playing Buffalo could do nothing offensively. We can't really make a comparison because Kelly Holcomb started and led Buffalo on four straight 3 and out series (actually three 3 and out series - the third of Holcomb's series was 2 and intercepted). We can't really know if JP would have done any better, but Willis was also completely ineffective running the ball. In any case, I really don't think Cleveland's defense is as good as Carolina's, or Cincinnati's, though Romeo Crennel probably has things moving in the right direction The point is, it lets us see if there is any likelihood Buffalo's offense can be more effective against opponents who are in the middle of the pack.
It will also give us a clue perhaps as to how seriously JP took the message about taking care of the ball. And of course it will show us how Buffalo's defense might fare against an average opponent, though Cincinnati's and Carolina's offenses were probably a lot closer to average than their defenses given the lack of Steve Smith for Carolina and Carson Palmer for Cincinnati.
How does anyone else feel about the Cleveland game?
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