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Questions the play calls:
And calls free agents a disappointment (sorry, no link, just the story):
Winfield: `Nothing's left' in Bills season
By John Wawrow, Associated Press, 11/24/2003 18:46
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) Mathematically alive, realistically done.
Even with five games remaining, that's how cornerback Antoine Winfield gauged the status of his underachieving Buffalo Bills (4-7) and their playoff hopes on Monday.
''Nothing's left,'' Winfield said. ''We've got five games left. Go out there, do what you do. Go home at the end of the season.''
Winfield's was a blunt assessment of a team that has lost four straight and seven of its last nine after squandering an 11-point fourth-quarter lead in Sunday's 17-14 loss to Indianapolis.
The loss, combined with the Jets' win over Jacksonville, dropped the Bills into a tie with New York for last place in the AFC East. Overall, Buffalo ranks ninth in the AFC with four other teams, three wins behind Miami (7-4), which currently holds down the conference's sixth and final playoff spot.
The picture dims further when considering the Bills, who next face the New York Giants at the Meadowlands on Sunday, still have games against New England and Tennessee, both 9-2, and Miami.
''Right now we're 4-7, five games left and tough opponents,'' Winfield said. ''Running the table, I don't think it does any good right now.''
This is not where Winfield and the Bills envisioned themselves to be when they opened the season with wins against New England and Jacksonville. Those victories raised expectations even more for a team that bolstered its defense with several veteran free-agent additions including linebacker Takeo Spikes and safety Lawyer Milloy and was coming off last year's encouraging 8-8 finish.
''It's tough,'' Winfield said. ''Bringing the players that they brought in, I thought for sure that we'd at least make it to the playoffs. But it didn't work out that way and we just have to move on.''
Winfield said a lack of chemistry might have been a problem, comparing the Bills to the Washington Redskins, who have struggled the last few years despite a roster of high-profile players.
''The free agents (the Bills) brought in this year on defense just didn't live up to expectations,'' Winfield said. ''It's kind of like the same thing that happened in Washington. They brought in free agents there and didn't make it to the playoffs so it's the same situation.''
While Buffalo's defense has jelled over the past month, allowing a combined 39 points in its last three games, its offense is banged up and sputtering.
The Bills two touchdowns against Indianapolis ended a three-game drought, and they've yet to score a touchdown in four straight road games.
Injuries haven't helped.
Eric Moulds, their leading receiver, has missed three of the last six games with a slightly torn groin. Travis Henry, their leading rusher, has been hampered with torn rib cartilage and a hairline fracture just above his right ankle.
Then there's Buffalo's offensive line, where all five starters are nursing injuries: tackles Jonas Jennings (hip flexor) and Mike Williams (left shoulder strain), guards Ruben Brown (elbow) and Mike Pucillo (turf toe) and center Trey Teague (shoulder).
''You could go on for an hour about guys' injuries and why they shouldn't be out there,'' Teague said. ''And that's one of the reasons it's become more frustrating to the way the season's going.''
Bills president Tom Donahoe had trouble providing answers following Sunday's game.
''It's frustration more than disappointment. We have to find that missing ingredient that keeps us from winning,'' Donahoe said. ''We have to find a way to get better. That's on all of us.''
And calls free agents a disappointment (sorry, no link, just the story):
Winfield: `Nothing's left' in Bills season
By John Wawrow, Associated Press, 11/24/2003 18:46
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) Mathematically alive, realistically done.
Even with five games remaining, that's how cornerback Antoine Winfield gauged the status of his underachieving Buffalo Bills (4-7) and their playoff hopes on Monday.
''Nothing's left,'' Winfield said. ''We've got five games left. Go out there, do what you do. Go home at the end of the season.''
Winfield's was a blunt assessment of a team that has lost four straight and seven of its last nine after squandering an 11-point fourth-quarter lead in Sunday's 17-14 loss to Indianapolis.
The loss, combined with the Jets' win over Jacksonville, dropped the Bills into a tie with New York for last place in the AFC East. Overall, Buffalo ranks ninth in the AFC with four other teams, three wins behind Miami (7-4), which currently holds down the conference's sixth and final playoff spot.
The picture dims further when considering the Bills, who next face the New York Giants at the Meadowlands on Sunday, still have games against New England and Tennessee, both 9-2, and Miami.
''Right now we're 4-7, five games left and tough opponents,'' Winfield said. ''Running the table, I don't think it does any good right now.''
This is not where Winfield and the Bills envisioned themselves to be when they opened the season with wins against New England and Jacksonville. Those victories raised expectations even more for a team that bolstered its defense with several veteran free-agent additions including linebacker Takeo Spikes and safety Lawyer Milloy and was coming off last year's encouraging 8-8 finish.
''It's tough,'' Winfield said. ''Bringing the players that they brought in, I thought for sure that we'd at least make it to the playoffs. But it didn't work out that way and we just have to move on.''
Winfield said a lack of chemistry might have been a problem, comparing the Bills to the Washington Redskins, who have struggled the last few years despite a roster of high-profile players.
''The free agents (the Bills) brought in this year on defense just didn't live up to expectations,'' Winfield said. ''It's kind of like the same thing that happened in Washington. They brought in free agents there and didn't make it to the playoffs so it's the same situation.''
While Buffalo's defense has jelled over the past month, allowing a combined 39 points in its last three games, its offense is banged up and sputtering.
The Bills two touchdowns against Indianapolis ended a three-game drought, and they've yet to score a touchdown in four straight road games.
Injuries haven't helped.
Eric Moulds, their leading receiver, has missed three of the last six games with a slightly torn groin. Travis Henry, their leading rusher, has been hampered with torn rib cartilage and a hairline fracture just above his right ankle.
Then there's Buffalo's offensive line, where all five starters are nursing injuries: tackles Jonas Jennings (hip flexor) and Mike Williams (left shoulder strain), guards Ruben Brown (elbow) and Mike Pucillo (turf toe) and center Trey Teague (shoulder).
''You could go on for an hour about guys' injuries and why they shouldn't be out there,'' Teague said. ''And that's one of the reasons it's become more frustrating to the way the season's going.''
Bills president Tom Donahoe had trouble providing answers following Sunday's game.
''It's frustration more than disappointment. We have to find that missing ingredient that keeps us from winning,'' Donahoe said. ''We have to find a way to get better. That's on all of us.''
People say he can't cover. How is he going to cover if he isn't put into position to cover?
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