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Bills vs Lions: postgame review
What a difference three games can make. It is hard to imagine that at one point this team was holding a 2-3 record and sported one of the leagues worst defenses. Then in week six, after a half of watching the Texans push our D all over the field, something happened. The Bills defense started to improve. They started to stop giving up big plays, they started to get more consistent pressure on the QB, the LB started to take their jobs seriously, Watson recalled that his job was to cover, and Big Pat Williams decided it was time to stop morning the loss of Ted Washington, and play like the DT we know he is, and finally the D started to play with Pride.
Now the season has reached the halfway point, and my original prediction of a 7-9 Bills season is looking more and more incorrect as the Bills have now pushed their record to a respectable 5-3. Strange what a little pride can do, the Bills are now on a three game winning streak, and looking more and more like a playoff contender. Sure the Lions scored some points. Sure the Bills (and luck) kept the Lions close with multiple gaffs and strange bounces. But what truly maters in the end is that the Bills now are just 1/2 a game back of the Dolphins, and are currently in possession of one of the two AFC wildcard spots.
The Positives:
1) The Bills D finally looks like it has turned the corner, and might be turning into a middle of the pack unit. One of the big reasons for this is Fletcher is finally beginning to look comfortable in the MLB spot. Fletcher lead the Bills with 10 tackles, was all over the field, and made a crucial 4th and 1 stop at the Bills 20 with 2min remaining (after T.Henry's fumble). Honorable mention to Eddie Robinson who seemed to wake up for the first time in Miami, he recorded 8 tackles, and played well in the passing game keeping Ricks from having a big day.
2) Watson looked like a pro today as Joey Harrington (staying away from Clements) threw at him several times, with no completions (unless you count a strange TD pass which went off Watson, Prioleau and to a different Detroit receiver, Hakim for a TD) and even fielding an INT at the end of the first half. He also made a Tasker-esque play to pin the Lions deep in the first half... keeping the ball out of the endzone on a Moorman punt.
3) Bledsoe throws up another gem, passing the 300yard mark for the 4th time this year. He also posted a 94.9 QBR, and found both Price and Moulds deep. Drew (who's still threatening Dan Marino's yard/season mark) now has thrown for 2,500 yards 16TD and just 5 INTs in 8 weeks. What is really fun about Bledsoe's year is how often he's gone deep... and how accurate he's been.
4) Moulds lit up the Lions secondary today despite some early drops. He caught 9 passes for another 120+ yards. Price also had a big game, catching a critical 59yard TD pass from Drew at the end of the 1st half.
5) The coaching staff deserves credit for keeping this team focused with this game hiding between a big Miami win and the upcoming "Bledsoe Bowl." Kevin Gilbride continues to keep the O rolling, and despite some miscues, Danny Smith has the special teams playing much better. Jerry Grey also deserves credit for (much as he did last year) turning the D around. Now, if only our D had played like this all season?
6) The Bills played relatively penalty free ball all game. They were only penalized 6 times, and only gave the Detroit O one first down with a penalty. I know this may not seem like much, but considering the number of flags the Bills usually get this was a noteworthy game.
The Negatives:
1) The Bills still haven't developed a killer spirit, as they've found a way (either through screw-ups or strange luck) to keep their opponents in the game. That might work against a team like Detroit, or Houston, or even the Fiedler-less Dolphins, but that sort of play will only cost them later in the year.
2) Henry fumbled again. Now I know, I should probably give him a pass (because in all likelihood the Detroit player who caused the fumble did it with an illegal and suspension worthy hit) but that fumble nearly gave the game away. Had Henry been a back with a rep for not dropping the ball I'd definitely given him a pass. Needless to say Henry isn't one of those and this time, the fumble erased what was in my mind a solid 70yard 2 TD performance.
3) Rodgers made one of the biggest mental errors you can make in all of pro football. He let a kickoff bounce. You never let a kickoff hit the turf in the middle of the field. Because of his poor play, the lions recovered the ball at the Bills 20, and scored the go-ahead score seconds later to make the game 14-7. Luckily the Bills won, or else I'd be tarring Rodgers a goat for that inexcusable play.
Conclusion
Now that the Bills have won 3 straight games, everyone’s expectations are beginning to rise. With the Bills now 1/2 a game back of the Miami Dolphins next week's game against the NE Patriots takes on even more significance. Furthermore, the Bills are learning to win dirty, because it seemed like none of the bounces went buffalo's way today and yet we still won. Here’s hoping next week will be another positive step toward regaining dominance over the division we once owned.
Now the season has reached the halfway point, and my original prediction of a 7-9 Bills season is looking more and more incorrect as the Bills have now pushed their record to a respectable 5-3. Strange what a little pride can do, the Bills are now on a three game winning streak, and looking more and more like a playoff contender. Sure the Lions scored some points. Sure the Bills (and luck) kept the Lions close with multiple gaffs and strange bounces. But what truly maters in the end is that the Bills now are just 1/2 a game back of the Dolphins, and are currently in possession of one of the two AFC wildcard spots.
The Positives:
1) The Bills D finally looks like it has turned the corner, and might be turning into a middle of the pack unit. One of the big reasons for this is Fletcher is finally beginning to look comfortable in the MLB spot. Fletcher lead the Bills with 10 tackles, was all over the field, and made a crucial 4th and 1 stop at the Bills 20 with 2min remaining (after T.Henry's fumble). Honorable mention to Eddie Robinson who seemed to wake up for the first time in Miami, he recorded 8 tackles, and played well in the passing game keeping Ricks from having a big day.
2) Watson looked like a pro today as Joey Harrington (staying away from Clements) threw at him several times, with no completions (unless you count a strange TD pass which went off Watson, Prioleau and to a different Detroit receiver, Hakim for a TD) and even fielding an INT at the end of the first half. He also made a Tasker-esque play to pin the Lions deep in the first half... keeping the ball out of the endzone on a Moorman punt.
3) Bledsoe throws up another gem, passing the 300yard mark for the 4th time this year. He also posted a 94.9 QBR, and found both Price and Moulds deep. Drew (who's still threatening Dan Marino's yard/season mark) now has thrown for 2,500 yards 16TD and just 5 INTs in 8 weeks. What is really fun about Bledsoe's year is how often he's gone deep... and how accurate he's been.
4) Moulds lit up the Lions secondary today despite some early drops. He caught 9 passes for another 120+ yards. Price also had a big game, catching a critical 59yard TD pass from Drew at the end of the 1st half.
5) The coaching staff deserves credit for keeping this team focused with this game hiding between a big Miami win and the upcoming "Bledsoe Bowl." Kevin Gilbride continues to keep the O rolling, and despite some miscues, Danny Smith has the special teams playing much better. Jerry Grey also deserves credit for (much as he did last year) turning the D around. Now, if only our D had played like this all season?
6) The Bills played relatively penalty free ball all game. They were only penalized 6 times, and only gave the Detroit O one first down with a penalty. I know this may not seem like much, but considering the number of flags the Bills usually get this was a noteworthy game.
The Negatives:
1) The Bills still haven't developed a killer spirit, as they've found a way (either through screw-ups or strange luck) to keep their opponents in the game. That might work against a team like Detroit, or Houston, or even the Fiedler-less Dolphins, but that sort of play will only cost them later in the year.
2) Henry fumbled again. Now I know, I should probably give him a pass (because in all likelihood the Detroit player who caused the fumble did it with an illegal and suspension worthy hit) but that fumble nearly gave the game away. Had Henry been a back with a rep for not dropping the ball I'd definitely given him a pass. Needless to say Henry isn't one of those and this time, the fumble erased what was in my mind a solid 70yard 2 TD performance.
3) Rodgers made one of the biggest mental errors you can make in all of pro football. He let a kickoff bounce. You never let a kickoff hit the turf in the middle of the field. Because of his poor play, the lions recovered the ball at the Bills 20, and scored the go-ahead score seconds later to make the game 14-7. Luckily the Bills won, or else I'd be tarring Rodgers a goat for that inexcusable play.
Conclusion
Now that the Bills have won 3 straight games, everyone’s expectations are beginning to rise. With the Bills now 1/2 a game back of the Miami Dolphins next week's game against the NE Patriots takes on even more significance. Furthermore, the Bills are learning to win dirty, because it seemed like none of the bounces went buffalo's way today and yet we still won. Here’s hoping next week will be another positive step toward regaining dominance over the division we once owned.
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