BillsZone's Postgame Report Card: Bills vs. Bengals

[Michael82]

<b><img height="120" alt="Bledsoe_pic.jpg" hspace="4" src="/mtimages/2004/12/Bengals/Bledsoe_pic.jpg" width="106" align="right" border="1" />Quarterbacks</b> Drew Bledsoe struggled with the cold, windy conditions. He threw a bunch of passes off target and almost had a couple picked off. However, he still made the plays when they were needed and a couple nice drives that ate up the clock, even when the run wasn’t working. Bledsoe was 15/30 for 183 yards and a touchdown. He even had a couple runs for 13-yards. The Bengals rushed Bledsoe all day long, but he still only had 2 sacks and no interceptions. Overall, I was pleased with his play. Drew Bledsoe may have made a few bad plays here and there, but he never gave the ball away and didn’t make his normal away game mistakes. <b>Grade: B-</b>

<b>Running Backs:</b> The Bengals have a terrible run defense, but it didn’t show on Sunday. They keyed on Willis McGahee and Shaud Williams all game long by putting 7, or even 8 men in the box. This worked; as the backs were held to under 60 total yards rushing. Willis McGahee was injured early and had problems after it. The Bills decided to take him out of the game in the middle of the 3rd quarter, while they had a big lead. McGahee had 11 carries for 25 yards and a fumble when his knee was hyper extended on a play. Shaud Williams took over and also struggled. He finished the day with 14 carries for 30 yards. Overall, it was a tough day for the backs. Hopefully, McGahee will be okay and the Bills can get back to pounding the ball in the final 2 games of the season. <b>Grade: C</b>

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[Michael82]

What do you think? Any suggestions, comments or complaints...please leave them here.

:feedback:

[Jan Reimers]

Good job, Mikey. I think you might be a little high on the defensive grades, given that they ran pretty well on us. But we DID force the big turnovers, which we're starting to get in bunches.

[Michael82]

Good job, Mikey. I think you might be a little high on the defensive grades, given that they ran pretty well on us. But we DID force the big turnovers, which we're starting to get in bunches.
Thanks. I think the reason why my D grades were so high, was because of all the big plays. The turnovers that they forced and the sacks.

[G. Host]

What do you think? Any suggestions, comments or complaints...please leave them here.

:feedback:

I do not think you should lead article everytime with QB/RB for it implies that Offense is more important than Defense and Special Teams. I do not agree with all of the grades but that is why they are your grades.

[colin]

pretty much bang on mikey (i think your stuff is getting pretty good), but i think you have to take a closer look at the O line and blocking. we have no healthy tight ends so we seem to only run a max protect all the time, 7 guys blocking 4 isn't worth much, and it makes passing next to impossible. of course, it allows drew to run and frankly he should have run more, could have had several first downs out there (god that is weird to say).

good stuff tho, but the fact that without our TEs we have to run this max protect really bothers me

[The King]

B-

Not your best report card this week but still a good read!

[Drive 4 Five]

Nicely done bro. I thought it was excellent...

[Michael82]

B-

Not your best report card this week but still a good read!
I actually put a C+ first, but then I thought I was being too harsh on a QB who had a QB rating of 80 and didn't throw any picks.

[The King]

I actually put a C+ first, but then I thought I was being too harsh on a QB who had a QB rating of 80 and didn't throw any picks.


No. I was giving your report card a B-.

[justasportsfan]

No. I was giving your report card a B-.why a B- ?

[The King]

I think the Running backs grade was way too gracious and the O-Line to harsh.
McGahee lacked rythym all day then the injury sent him to the sidelines. Shaud Williams has a hard time hitting holes, the RBs sucked.
I did think the O-line did an awesome job protecting Bledsoe He had the time he needed and he had 2 gapping holes to run through on the QB draws. They were also exceptional picking up the Blitz.

[Michael82]

I think the Running backs grade was way too gracious and the O-Line to harsh.
McGahee lacked rythym all day then the injury sent him to the sidelines. Shaud Williams has a hard time hitting holes, the RBs sucked.
I did think the O-line did an awesome job protecting Bledsoe He had the time he needed and he had 2 gapping holes to run through on the QB draws. They were also exceptional picking up the Blitz.
Thanks for the feedback. :up:

[SABURZFAN]

i disagree with a few of them.


QB-bledsoe stunk it up.other than the one play to evans,what else did he do?not much.he should have gotten a C-.


OL-what a pathetic bunch.the RBs had no room ALL day.they should have gotten a D-.


DL-adams and PW were getting pushed around in the first half.they did not bring their A game.they should have gotten a B-.even that's pushing it.


LB-this should have been an A+ all the way.they kept rudy from making a big play while the "cheeseburger twins" were getting pushed backwards.spikes makes the big play for a TD.what about fletcher's return on the kickoff?


ST-where's the love,Mikey??peters and lindell should have given this score an A.how many points did those two put on the board?

[Dozerdog]

When you are up 2-3 scores- I'll give them 5 yards and have them burn 35-45 seconds a play every time. The Bengals killed their own clock. We choked their big play threats all game. I don't recall a single big pass completion.

And when it came to making the big play, the Bengals coughed it up. I think blitzing more and concentrating on the pass & getting to the QB instead of stuffing the run was the perfect formula by Gray.