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Week 16: Review | Judgements
I don't know if the Buffalo Bills make the AFC playoffs, but I know they should. And they're in the right place at the right time to get there.
That would be next weekend ... in Buffalo ... against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Under normal circumstances I wouldn't recommend playing the Steelers to anyone, especially a club trying to beat the crowd to the finish line.
Think the Steelers will enjoy running against the combined 640 pounds of Pat Williams and Sam Adams? Now that's a laugh. (Getty Images)
But there is nothing normal about what's going on next weekend in Buffalo, and let me explain. Here's what I like about the Bills' situation:
1.) They're home, where they won their last five. A January game in frigid temperatures is as much an advantage to the Bills as it was to Minnesota when it played at The Met. Unfortunately for Buffalo, there is nothing frigid about next weekend's weather. The early forecast calls for temperatures in the 30s with a chance of rain.
2.) They're playing Pittsburgh. The Steelers clinched home-field advantage Sunday, which means they're in coast mode. A win means nothing to them; an injury could damage their Super Bowl chances. Look for coach Bill Cowher to run through the roster.
3.) Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hurt his ribs Sunday. That's yet another reason for Cowher to feature the scrubs. Expect Roethlisberger to get the day off, with Tommy Maddox running the offense. The Steelers are undefeated with Roethlisberger; they're 1-1 with Maddox.
4.) The Bills aren't hot; they're burning down the house. The club that scored 51 points its first four games -- all of them losses -- averages 38 points over its last six games, all of them wins. In that span they outscored opponents 228-89, for a winning margin of 23 points a game, and never produced fewer than 33 in any start.
So let's hear it for Buffalo. Teams that make the playoffs generally have momentum, and the Bills lead this year's class. They won nine of their last 11. Teams that make the playoffs also run the ball effectively, and Buffalo hammered San Francisco for 226 yards on the ground Sunday. Playoff teams generally play solid defense, too, and that may be the most overlooked aspect to Buffalo's game. Entering Sunday, the Bills were fourth against the run, third against the pass and third overall.
And that was before they held San Francisco to 189 yards and one touchdown.
Yes, I like the Bills' chances next week. I like them a lot. And if they make the playoffs -- with some help from the Jets and Broncos -- you better put the AFC on alert. They're the club nobody wants to play now
I don't know if the Buffalo Bills make the AFC playoffs, but I know they should. And they're in the right place at the right time to get there.
That would be next weekend ... in Buffalo ... against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Under normal circumstances I wouldn't recommend playing the Steelers to anyone, especially a club trying to beat the crowd to the finish line.
Think the Steelers will enjoy running against the combined 640 pounds of Pat Williams and Sam Adams? Now that's a laugh. (Getty Images)
But there is nothing normal about what's going on next weekend in Buffalo, and let me explain. Here's what I like about the Bills' situation:
1.) They're home, where they won their last five. A January game in frigid temperatures is as much an advantage to the Bills as it was to Minnesota when it played at The Met. Unfortunately for Buffalo, there is nothing frigid about next weekend's weather. The early forecast calls for temperatures in the 30s with a chance of rain.
2.) They're playing Pittsburgh. The Steelers clinched home-field advantage Sunday, which means they're in coast mode. A win means nothing to them; an injury could damage their Super Bowl chances. Look for coach Bill Cowher to run through the roster.
3.) Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hurt his ribs Sunday. That's yet another reason for Cowher to feature the scrubs. Expect Roethlisberger to get the day off, with Tommy Maddox running the offense. The Steelers are undefeated with Roethlisberger; they're 1-1 with Maddox.
4.) The Bills aren't hot; they're burning down the house. The club that scored 51 points its first four games -- all of them losses -- averages 38 points over its last six games, all of them wins. In that span they outscored opponents 228-89, for a winning margin of 23 points a game, and never produced fewer than 33 in any start.
So let's hear it for Buffalo. Teams that make the playoffs generally have momentum, and the Bills lead this year's class. They won nine of their last 11. Teams that make the playoffs also run the ball effectively, and Buffalo hammered San Francisco for 226 yards on the ground Sunday. Playoff teams generally play solid defense, too, and that may be the most overlooked aspect to Buffalo's game. Entering Sunday, the Bills were fourth against the run, third against the pass and third overall.
And that was before they held San Francisco to 189 yards and one touchdown.
Yes, I like the Bills' chances next week. I like them a lot. And if they make the playoffs -- with some help from the Jets and Broncos -- you better put the AFC on alert. They're the club nobody wants to play now
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