FinFaninBuffalo
10-09-2007, 11:19 AM
First of all, gutsy performance. The Bills played with a lot of fire. EVERYTHING would have needed to go perfect for the Bills to win. Unfortunately for the Bills that didn't happen. Despite the 6 turn overs, the Bills were not able to get the win. IMO, the Cowboys were extremely lucky.
I've seen a ton of threads calling for Edwards' head. For the life of me, I can't understand it. I realize the offense only put up 3 points, but there are 10 other players on the offense. Here are the things (in no particular order) that seemed to me to be bigger factors in the game:
1. Too many ineffective runs on first down and short yardage situations. I don't know if the OL is to blame or if the Cowboys just sold out for the run at the right time. It is entirely possible that Edwards has a limited ability to audible at this point. Here are some the plays that led to bad down and distance situations for the Bills:
Drive #1 after the fake punt
1-10-DAL 49 (12:51) 23-M.Lynch left tackle to 50 for -1 yards (96-M.Spears, 93-A.Spencer).
Drive #2
2-4-DAL 38 (7:13) 23-M.Lynch up the middle to DAL 36 for 2 yards (94-D.Ware).
3-2-DAL 36 (6:39) 23-M.Lynch left guard to DAL 35 for 1 yard (31-R.Williams).
4-1-DAL 35 (5:56) 23-M.Lynch left guard to DAL 35 for no gain (99-C.Canty, 56-B.James).***this was a killer
Drive #3
1-10-BUF 6 (4:20) 23-M.Lynch left guard to BUF 5 for -1 yards (97-J.Hatcher).
Drive #4
1-10-DAL 41 (10:09) 23-M.Lynch left tackle to DAL 42 for -1 yards (93-A.Spencer).
2-8-DAL 8 (4:54) 23-M.Lynch right tackle to DAL 6 for 2 yards (94-D.Ware).
Drive #6
1-10-BUF 31 (6:44) 23-M.Lynch up the middle to BUF 32 for 1 yard (31-R.Williams, 51-A.Ayodele).
1-10- (5:13) 23-M.Lynch up the middle to 50 for no gain (93-A.Spencer, 96-M.Spears).
Drive #8
1-10-DAL 48 (9:51) 23-M.Lynch left end pushed ob at DAL 46 for 2 yards (31-R.Williams).
1-10-DAL 37 (9:03) 31-D.Wright left guard to DAL 35 for 2 yards (93-A.Spencer).
2-10-DAL 13 (7:03) 23-M.Lynch up the middle to DAL 11 for 2 yards (93-A.Spencer, 92-R.Ayodele).
Drive #9
1-10-BUF 38 (5:21) 23-M.Lynch left end to BUF 40 for 2 yards (56-B.James).
2-8-BUF 40 (4:39) 23-M.Lynch left tackle to BUF 41 for 1 yard (94-D.Ware, 51-A.Ayodele).
That's way too many ineffective running plays. 14 of Lynch's 20 carries went for 3 yards or less.
2. Questionable play calling. The obvious one is the pass that was picked off. Bad play call at that time. The other bad call was the reverse on 3rd and 2. The Bills were 5-6 yards from FG range.
3. Missed FG by Lindell just before the half. That led to the Cowboys FG. A 6 point swing in a 1 point game.
4. A little bit of luck by the Cowboys on the onside kick. The ball travelled a long way before it got recovered. If the Cowboys recover at their own 40, they probably don't win the game.
5. A little bit of luck by the Cowboys on the 2 point conversion attempt. If Owens makes that catch, the Cowboys don't try an onside kick. Who knows what happens then.
6. Very good tackling by the Cowboys. There were not a lot of yards after catches by the Bills.
7. Very difficult 3rd down situation most of the time. The Bills had 3 3rd downs with 4 yards or less to go. They had 10 with 6 yards or more to go. Very difficult to sustain drives that way. Many of those bad down and distance situations were caused by the running game.
I've seen a ton of threads calling for Edwards' head. For the life of me, I can't understand it. I realize the offense only put up 3 points, but there are 10 other players on the offense. Here are the things (in no particular order) that seemed to me to be bigger factors in the game:
1. Too many ineffective runs on first down and short yardage situations. I don't know if the OL is to blame or if the Cowboys just sold out for the run at the right time. It is entirely possible that Edwards has a limited ability to audible at this point. Here are some the plays that led to bad down and distance situations for the Bills:
Drive #1 after the fake punt
1-10-DAL 49 (12:51) 23-M.Lynch left tackle to 50 for -1 yards (96-M.Spears, 93-A.Spencer).
Drive #2
2-4-DAL 38 (7:13) 23-M.Lynch up the middle to DAL 36 for 2 yards (94-D.Ware).
3-2-DAL 36 (6:39) 23-M.Lynch left guard to DAL 35 for 1 yard (31-R.Williams).
4-1-DAL 35 (5:56) 23-M.Lynch left guard to DAL 35 for no gain (99-C.Canty, 56-B.James).***this was a killer
Drive #3
1-10-BUF 6 (4:20) 23-M.Lynch left guard to BUF 5 for -1 yards (97-J.Hatcher).
Drive #4
1-10-DAL 41 (10:09) 23-M.Lynch left tackle to DAL 42 for -1 yards (93-A.Spencer).
2-8-DAL 8 (4:54) 23-M.Lynch right tackle to DAL 6 for 2 yards (94-D.Ware).
Drive #6
1-10-BUF 31 (6:44) 23-M.Lynch up the middle to BUF 32 for 1 yard (31-R.Williams, 51-A.Ayodele).
1-10- (5:13) 23-M.Lynch up the middle to 50 for no gain (93-A.Spencer, 96-M.Spears).
Drive #8
1-10-DAL 48 (9:51) 23-M.Lynch left end pushed ob at DAL 46 for 2 yards (31-R.Williams).
1-10-DAL 37 (9:03) 31-D.Wright left guard to DAL 35 for 2 yards (93-A.Spencer).
2-10-DAL 13 (7:03) 23-M.Lynch up the middle to DAL 11 for 2 yards (93-A.Spencer, 92-R.Ayodele).
Drive #9
1-10-BUF 38 (5:21) 23-M.Lynch left end to BUF 40 for 2 yards (56-B.James).
2-8-BUF 40 (4:39) 23-M.Lynch left tackle to BUF 41 for 1 yard (94-D.Ware, 51-A.Ayodele).
That's way too many ineffective running plays. 14 of Lynch's 20 carries went for 3 yards or less.
2. Questionable play calling. The obvious one is the pass that was picked off. Bad play call at that time. The other bad call was the reverse on 3rd and 2. The Bills were 5-6 yards from FG range.
3. Missed FG by Lindell just before the half. That led to the Cowboys FG. A 6 point swing in a 1 point game.
4. A little bit of luck by the Cowboys on the onside kick. The ball travelled a long way before it got recovered. If the Cowboys recover at their own 40, they probably don't win the game.
5. A little bit of luck by the Cowboys on the 2 point conversion attempt. If Owens makes that catch, the Cowboys don't try an onside kick. Who knows what happens then.
6. Very good tackling by the Cowboys. There were not a lot of yards after catches by the Bills.
7. Very difficult 3rd down situation most of the time. The Bills had 3 3rd downs with 4 yards or less to go. They had 10 with 6 yards or more to go. Very difficult to sustain drives that way. Many of those bad down and distance situations were caused by the running game.