After three straight road games to start the season, the Saints will get a week that resembles a home game -- at least in terms of preparation -- when they face the Buffalo Bills.
The football championship ring that Glenn Bass wears didn't even come up until it was almost time to go. That shiny ring sure looked like a great conversation piece, though. It was one of two that he received for helping the Buffalo Bills win back-to-back American Football League championships.
--Third-year LB Angelo Crowell on replacing injured Takeo Spikes in the lineup the rest of the season: "That's what you prepare for. As a backup, you're just one play away. I was one play away, but I've prepared myself."
It's safe to say the Buffalo Bills would be better off if they didn't face running backs with catchy nicknames.
Spikes done for season
The Buffalo Bills lost more than a 24-16 decision to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. A lot more
Lateral takes everyone back in time
ST. LOUIS — Nobody loves a good lateral controversy like the Tennessee Titans.
Jaworski says J.P. can do better
Ron Jaworski, the former NFL quarterback who grew up in the Buffalo suburb of Lackawanna, has a word of advice for all of his pals in western New York.
Be patient with quarterback J.P. Losman.
Buffalo Bills report card
Quarterback: J.P. Losman survived getting benched this week, but he couldn't survive a Falcons defense wracked by injuries and missing its two starting corners at one point. D
The two-minute read
Play of the game
Michael Vick's 27-yard scramble early in the fourth quarter. It was vintage Vick, and exactly the kind of play there is no defense for.
Bills and their coaches still coming up short
Knute Rockne himself could not have delivered a healthier serving of inspiration. Perhaps that's what made Sunday's 24-16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons so disheartening for the Buffalo Bills.
Linebacker Takeo Spikes, his eyes moist, his right foot dangling from an Achilles' tendon injury that likely will end his season, went before his teammates at halftime and asked them to find something inside themselves that would produce a win before a sellout crowd at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Vick's hamstring was fine, thanks; so was his strong left arm
There were concerns he would be hamstrung by his hamstring against the Bills.
As it turned out, Vick's leg was just fine, and so was his arm as the Atlanta Falcons exposed Buffalo's overhyped defense and quarterback J.P.Los(t)man in a 24-16 victory at the Ralph.
Bills' struggling offense cut off at the pass
It's three weeks into the National Football League season, and this is what we know about the Buffalo Bills: They are not as good as they, or we in the media and the fan base, thought they were.
Falcons @ Bills: The game's 5 key moments
First quarter, 4:29 remaining Falcons fans waiting to see a staple West Coast offense play got it on Atlanta's ninth snap. Before several Buffalo defenders were ready, and while linebacker Takeo Spikes was turned around talking to the secondary, the ball was snapped.
Falcons run past Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park
Michael Vick threw for 167 yards with two touchdowns and added 64 yards on the ground to lead the Atlanta Falcons to a 24-16 victory over the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Vick and Falcons down Buffalo
Atlanta's Michael Vick threw for two touchdowns and also rushed for 66 yards as the Falcons' rushing attack dominated in a 24-16 victory over the Buffalo Bills, who wasted a great effort from Willis McGahee.
The Bills battle the Falcons this Sunday for Michael Vick's first trip to Ralph Wilson Stadium. Vick is one of the most recognizable names in the NFL, he was voted the most exciting NFL player at the rookie symposium and he has the top-selling jersey in the league.
Three Buffalo starters remain questionable for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. Linebacker London Fletcher, safety Lawyer Milloy and offensive tackle Mike Williams will each be game-time decisions, after suffering injuries last weekend in Tampa.
Hello and welcome to another edition of the BillsZone Roundtable. After an exciting home opener against the Houston Texas, the Buffalo Bills went on the road to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their rookie Cadillac Williams. The result was a disappointing 19-3 loss that exposed some offensive weaknesses. Primarily, the game showed just how green starter JP Losman is and how far he has to go to become a premiere NFL QB. Against a strong defense, and on the road, Sunday JP had more than a few problems handling the Buccaneer defense that hid their defensive schemes and utilized the blitz to perfection. Today I am joined by two of BillsZone.com’s regular posters; Keith Kraska (Philagape) and Steven (DarthKrumrie). Steve, are JP’s struggle against the Bucs something that the Bills fans are going to have to get used to or was the fact it was defensive coordinator Monty Kiffin and the Bucs?
Steven:
It's something that we will have to deal with against above average defenses. The learning curve will take its toll on our record. We must endure it. So yes it will happen again.
Keith:
Obviously every opponent will try to rattle him, but the Bucs have a lot of speed on defense, and that's a problem for a scrambler like JP. He needs to calm down, stay in the pocket more and try to throw downfield.
Steven:
Tampa took away the run and JP gets killed in the pocket. That put them in control.
Frank:
Keith, were you disappointed the Bills play callers didn't try to establish the running game a little bit more instead of mixing it up like that did?
Keith:
The running game wasn't working very well even when they did try it. TB would have been vulnerable to a power running attack, but Willis didn't run that way
Frank:
As much as they need to try to establish the running game a little bit more don't they also need to throw it vertically a little bit, no?
Keith:
Yes they do. Atlanta will be a good opportunity to do that.
Steven:
Willis had ample opportunity. He was indecisive and our run suffered. In my opinion, Clements had a decent conservative approach and I agreed until the safety.
Keith:
I read that Mularkey got into Willis about his running style, and he looked better in practice today.
Steven:
Good. It really bothered me the way he danced.
Frank:
Was it Willis or was it the offensive line?
Keith:
Both JP and Willis played right into TB's strengths
Steven:
Yup. JP, like Drew Bledsoe doesn't throw to the flats more. Shelton is a beast when he has the ball. But Willis should be involved in the passing game especially if he's getting rushed. Dumpoffs work. It even worked for Rob Johnson to Larry Centers.
Frank:
It did look like they were not prepared for what TB might throw at them.
Keith:
Atlanta is similar because they have good LBs. But if we stick with power running to set up deep play actions, we can do better.
Steven:
I felt terrible for our defense. They were toast. We need more 1st downs or were doomed.
Frank:
The defense did what they were suppose to. It was like the dam burst after the safety.
Steven:
Agreed, if Willis hits the line/hole hard we should be fine; at least better then last week.
Keith:
TB picked on Terrance McGee when they threw to Michael Clayton. That may be a problem. And we missed London Fletcher big time in the 2nd half
Steven:
And not having Fletch hurt!
Keith:
There was also some shoddy tackling on our part on Cadillac.
Frank:
Sunday, the Bills take on the Atlanta Falcons. What is the more important match-up? Atlanta's defense against JP or Buffalo LBs and Atlanta QB Michael Vick?
Keith:
Vick. Take him away, and we can contain Atlanta. I think we match up well against Vick. Our LBs and DBs have the speed to chase him down, or at least rattle him into making mistakes. Hopefully JP won't have to do much. We need to control the clock and win Time of Possession.
Steven:
Atlanta's defense against JP. He can take control if we wear them down with the early run game. If our run struggles and he takes a sack or two early JP will be in for a long day. IMO it's asking a lot of JP to comeback from 14 points or more. I agree. Our LB's have amazing Speed. Even Posey is a fast LOLB. I want Vick to play. Maybe we get some free stats like sacks etc. Awesome point about Time of Possession.
Keith:
I see at least two picks off Vick, and we should force a couple of fumbles too. Then pound them with Willis.
Steven:
Last week, the D was so freaking toast that they were spent.. Time of Possession is important, and I think we all saw first hand last week. I think Vick gets nicked up by Milloy, Clements or McGee. We have so many hard hitters in our secondary that have speed too.
Keith:
Actually I'm more wary of Atlanta's RBs. If Dunn and Duckett get into a rhythm, we're in trouble
Frank:
People have been saying that they want Vick to play. That a victory wouldn't mean as much without him. Do you guys agree?
Keith:
I want to win, period
Steven:
Me too but I think against Vick our D can take control.
Frank:
So you don't care if Vick plays?
Keith:
A victory is a victory, I don't care what it means
Steven:
I want Vick to play
Keith:
Schaub is a pretty good backup. Vick would be more entertaining, of course
Steven:
Yes he is. I think he is a decent passer but I could see Vick making mistakes that put us in great shape. We can't start out 1-2..!!
Keith:
If Schaub plays, that would be good for us because of their lack of stud WRs. Nate should easily handle any of their WRs
Steven:
Schaub will only matter if their RB's get a rythem. Nate can handle any WR. LOL I think Nate has taught McGee how to hit hard. The Ghost of Winfield.
Keith:
That's why Atlanta needs to keep it on the ground. If they try to throw on us, we'll eat them alive.
Frank:
Let's switch over to the NFL for a minute. After two weeks is there anything that has really shocked or surprised you, Keith?
Keith:
I thought the Ravens would be better. And the Bears' offense has kept up their end surprisingly. People said Thomas Jones was just keeping the seat warm for Benson, but TJ did pretty well Sunday
Steven:
I agree about Thomas Jones. One of my best buds is a Bears diehard and we discuss this often. TJ is a starting back who is just now starting to play like Arizona expected when they drafted him in the top 10. I like him. Benson might have been a reach because TJ showed this last season. I am surprised and upset by Gus Ferrotte playing good. NE losing Sunday. The Steelers didn't miss a beat without Staley or the Bus.
Keith:
Steelers have an awesome O-line. On some teams you can plug in any RB and they'll do well
Frank:
Shows how good and deep the Steelers are and maybe answers why they beat the Bills last year.
Steven:
In Miami Randy McMichael’s stellar plays make me jealous. He will hinder us.
Keith:
I'm interested to see what happens when Ricky returns
Frank:
Anybody watch that Monday night game? Roy Williams, pro-bowler? That was bad. He was toasted twice. Parcells must have been burning inside.
Steven:
Roy was a tad abandoned on the second TD. What was the CB doing? Sleeping?
Keith:
I saw parts of it. Brunell was thought to be done but he still has some left in the tank
Frank:
He can't run any more but the best attribute of a QB is his mind.
Keith:
Savvy veterans can make up for physical shortcomings
Steven:
Fine. Since we are talking about the game I will say same ole Drew. Passes at WR's feet etc.
Keith:
Yup he blew it
Frank:
How many times was he supposed to win that game? He staked them to a 13-0 league. Bill Parcells’ defenses aren’t suppose to give up two TDs in the last three minutes of games.
Keith:
They had two drives in the final two minutes...more than enough time to get into FG range
Frank:
Drew's fault they lost because they didn't come back but not the defense's fault? That's a little unfair.
Steven:
The only thing I miss about drew is that awesome down+ out pass. He throws that pass teh hardest in the NFL. I don’t ever recall him getting picked on that play. Many QB's struggle on that pass, but not him.
Keith:
Kind of reminds me of the Jets game last year.
Frank:
I never blame a QB that gives the defense the lead in the last five minutes and then the defense blows it...especially a 13 point lead at home.
Keith:
The Dallas D gave up 14 points. An offense should be expected to do better
Frank:
That was Washington. They were one of the better defenses last year. Gregg Williams is getting rave reviews.
Steven:
I don't think it was Drew’s fault they lost. 1st and 10, they get a 6 or 7 yard run, then pass on 2nd and 3rd down for incompletions. Then punt?? What's the difference if they go for it & don't get versus punting? The Skins still had to drive either 80 yards or 50. Bad play calling, imo.
Keith:
If you need your D to hold an opponent to less than 2 TDs, then your offense is not in good shape. A good NFL offense should be expected to score 20.
Frank:
I'd have to check but I don't think Washington gave up 20 too many times last year. They've only given up 20 this year. Steve, I agree. Sean Peyton called a terrible game. He has a history of that going back to his time with the Giants.
Steven:
I love Greg Willliams as a D coordinator. I also liked Phillips.
Keith:
Ironically, they didn't blitz Drew. They dared him to beat them, and he didn't. Still, Drew had his chance and he failed.
Frank:
So then it is all Drew's fault?
Keith:
No, but he's the one we're talking about
Frank:
I can't fault him more than 10%. Give the defense the majority of the blame, give some to Peyton and some to Drew.
Steven:
Drew did hit that young WR (Crayton) but he was leveled. Still he should have caught the pass with the game on the line. It would have been a 1st down.
Frank:
The 3 yard pass was Drew's fault. He has to look further downfield.
Keith:
The high and low passes to the sideline were his fault
Frank:
There were a couple he clearly threw away rather than take a sack.
Steven:
Drew is what he is. And that's conservative QB with below average pocket skills and gets frazzled easily. But his arm strength and accuracy is money. His accuracy goes down the toilet if he is rattled early, It's like he is paranoid the rest of the game
Frank:
Then again, If Roy Williams doesn't do his best toast imitation we don't even have this conversation
Keith:
If you need him to win the game for you, you're in trouble.
Steven:
Agreed. Well put
Frank:
Define win. Do you mean comeback after he has staked his team to a win? Then fine. How many QBs fit into that category. A lot of great QBs were never great comeback QBs. They are not all Elway.
Keith:
Lead a team into FG range with 2:35 left
Steven:
I just want a normal QB without the pocket problems, JP. But he is very, very raw
Keith:
That's bad news for teams that need to come back
Steven:
Will you guys settle for 7-9 but JP is locked & loaded for next year? Anything is possible but .500 or lower is more realistic
Keith:
I think 9-7 is possible; that was my prediction and I stand by it
Frank:
No, I won't settle for 7-9. This team has not been in the playoffs since 2000. They were too close last year to go below 7-9 this year. The defense has a finite period of time at this level. I think the object of sports is to win now, no?
Steven:
I can only see that if Willis improves his decision making. No run game, were screwed
Keith:
I do too. I'm just being realistic. It is but the kid is so raw.
Frank:
Although, I will say. Even with DB this team is 1-1 right now.
Keith:
Agreed. He would have done no better in TB.
Steven:
Agreed, With Drew we would still be 1-1. Great D and green QB. Baltimore had a conservative QB who was past the growing pains
Frank:
Guys, as we close let's get back to the Bills. A couple of fans have been a little disturbed about Tom Clements and his play calling. Is there anything to worry about?
Keith:
I didn't think we had the right game plan against TB. So many quick, short throws ... I was wondering if Gilbride had returned (NOOOOOOOOOOOO)
Frank:
Don't say that name around here
Keith:
Campbell was lined up wide a few times. We really need Roscoe back
Steven:
YES, Tom Clements needs to let JP to more hurry up or give him so freedom out there. I think the kid is a winner but he's on a leash. I want more downfield attempts and dumpoffs. It's no surprise to me how well JP worked in a hurry up. Clements needs to make minor adjustments. But it's not "code red" yet
Keith:
When we threw deep on the final drive, it worked.
Frank:
That final drive meant nothing. TB was playing prevent. Do we want to see JP run, say, 7 to 10 times a game?
Keith:
As long as he knows when to do it (like NOT in your own end zone), that's what I want. I want quality more than quantity.
Steven:
From what I've seen I think the kid has tremendous leadership skills. He is smart enough to read defense. TC needs to take advantage of that, or he could end up in the media in a negative way. Yeah, Tampa allowed the passes to Shaud Williams on the last drive.
Keith:
But the final drive made me wish we had done that more. That's why we spent a first-rounder on Evans
Steven:
Evans, Moulds, Cambell. Same thing as the past for them. Their talent don't mean jack if they don't get attempts.
Frank:
But how do you gauge this offense when TB lets you complete passes? They became a wall when they had to at the end of the drive.
Steven:
Playcalling or JP? TB's D was fresh all game, and they took our run game.. I'm not gonna overreact
Keith:
We'll never know.
Frank:
I blame Sunday completely on the offense...you can divide it up anyway you like but it was a complete failure.
Keith:
Total team failure
Steven:
I think they need more screen but at the same time JP could take advantage of Evans & the WR's more
Frank:
As we are on the topic of Sunday, any predictions?
Steven:
Who does the rest of the division play?
Keith:
Bills, 23-14
Steven:
Carolina will get upset I think by Miami. I hope not but I just have a feeling. In our game I say 16-10 BILLS.
Keith:
Carolina has found a winning plan...power running
Frank:
No way Miami beats Carolina. I think, if Vick plays, the Bills will have their hands full. They will have to commit a player to spy on him. Couple that with Milloy's injury and it might be trouble. If Milloy cannot go and Vick plays it will be a long day.
Steven:
Milloy’s injury??? I just saw the headline at bb.com and saw Milloy but didn’t read it. What happened? Milloy healthy made me very happy since he broke his arm last year
Keith:
He'll play...even a broken arm didn't keep him out
Steven:
This was fun guys. ANYTIME you guys wanna chat about Buffalo, I'm down.
Frank:
Well guys, it's been fun. As always, the hour flies right by. I hope you'll be willing to join me again.
Keith:
Thanks Frank, I had fun too.
Steven:
Thanks Frank.
Despite getting hurt early in last weekend's game at Tampa Bay, Milloy didn't miss a play and finished with a team-leading 10 tackles and a sack.
And while it's still very early in the season and one game certainly doesn't mean anything, this weekend's matchup at Ralph Wilson Stadium may give Bills fans a glimpse of what's in store for the rest of the year.
The Bills-Falcons game this Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium is sold out and will be televised locally.
The bad news is that JP Losman and the entire Buffalo Bills team were awful in their first road game of the season, a 19-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that wasn't as close as the final score indicated. The good news is that the Bills will return home to the friendly confines of Ralph Wilson Stadium for this weekend's game. The bad news is that they will be facing the defending NFC South champion Atlanta Falcons. The good news is that the Falcons will be coming to Buffalo, for their second road game in a row, off of a grueling cross-country trip to Seattle where they were beaten by the Seahawks.
p>The bad news is that, after allowing Carnell "Cadillac" Williams to rush for 128 yards on 24 carries and yielding 191 yards and two touchdowns rushing to the Bucs, the Bills will be facing an Atlanta offense that led the NFL in rushing last season with an average of 167 yards a game on 32.8 carries. The good news is that it won't be 91 degrees in Buffalo on Sunday and Atlanta QB Michael Vick, perhaps the Falcons most dangerous runner, is suffering from a hamstring injury that may prevent him from playing against the Bills and will likely limit his mobility if he does.The bad news is that JP Losman, who looked absolutely lost against the pressure put on him by the Tampa Bay defense, will be facing an Atlanta defense which shut down Donovan McNabb and the explosive Philadelphia offense in its season opener and led the NFL in sacks last season. The good news is that JP and the Bills offense will be playing them at home where Losman has played much better thus far and the Falcons are coming off of a road game where they yielded 428 total yards to Seattle.
Bad news...Good news.... You get the picture. What will it be for the Bills this week?
The Bills Offense vs the Atlanta Defense: Looking as nervous as a skittish colt, JP Losman couldn't hit the side of a barn with a pass in the first three quarters against the Bucs, going a pathetic 5-18 for a whopping 39 yards before being pulled for Kelly Holcomb while yielding a safety when he stepped out of the end zone trying to avoid a pass rusher instead of throwing the ball away. "Momma said there'd be days like this..." there always are for young, inexperienced quarterbacks--just ask John Elway, who has often talked about being pulled at halftime of his first NFL start after throwing 3 interceptions. Even the best veteran QB can have a rough day: at one point on Sunday, Peyton Manning, generally regarded as the best QB in the NFL today, was 8 for 22 for all of 76 yards.
The question is whether JP can bounce back from his bad performance against the Bucs and play better this week at home against the Falcons. It will help if Willis McGahee stops trying to dance like Michael Jackson when he gets handed the ball and begins to run with the kind of authority that endeared him to Bills fans last season. Better blocking by everyone on the Bills' offensive line, particularly for the running game, will be necessary against a top-flight Atlanta defensive front seven led by DT Rod Coleman and the linebacking trio of Keith Brooking, Demorrio Williams and MLB Edgerton Hartwell, who was brought in from the Ravens as a free agent. If right tackle Mike Williams, who suffered an ankle injury against the Bucs and is questionable for this week, can't go against the Falcons or is limited in his playing time, back-up Greg Jerman will have to step up his game against DE Brady Smith.
Seattle was able to control the ball for 36:35, with Shaun Alexander rushing for 144 yards on 28 carries, against Atlanta by throwing the ball to set up the run early in the game and then, after scoring 3 second quarter TDs, mixing the run with the pass the rest of the way. For the Bills to do that, the offensive line will have to keep the Falcons, who led the NFL in sacks with 48 last season, from putting pressure on JP Losman. Mike Gandy, who did a reasonable job against Simeon Rice last week, will have his hands full once again with high-motor DE Patrick Kearney who led the Falcons with 13 sacks and the interior of the Bills offensive line will have to do a much better job against Coleman, who chipped in a career-high 11.5 sacks, than they did against the Bucs' Anthony McFarland. When the Bills do give JP time to throw, he will have to do a better job of delivering the ball to his receivers and both Eric Moulds and Lee Evans will have to do a better job of getting open than they did last week. The Falcons' secondary is led by up-and-coming cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who did a very good job against Terrell Owens in Atlanta's season opener, safety Bryan Scott, who is making the switch to free safety after being a standout strong safety, and former Bill Keion Carpenter, who has stepped into the strong safety spot vacated by Scott. The Atlanta defense is not as experienced as the Tampa Bay defense, but is just as talented. The Bills' offense will have to mix things up to keep them off-guard and will have to take advantage of the openings and opportunities that present themselves during the course of the game. The Bills cannot afford to make mistakes or fail to take advantage of opportunities to control the tempo of the game the way that they did against Tampa Bay because the Atlanta defensive line can pin its ears back and rush the quarterback as well as any defense in the NFL. They can also stuff the run when they know that it is coming, so the Bills will have to keep them off-balance with a good mix of runs, passes, screens and draws. Don't expect them to wear down. After yielding 21 second quarter points, they shut the Seahawks out the rest of the way and gave their offense a chance to stage a comeback, despite being on the field for more than 36 minutes and giving up over 400 yards.
The Bills Defense vs the Atlanta Offense: Perhaps the most disturbing part of the Bills' loss at Tampa Bay was the way that the Bills defense allowed the Bucs to drive 70 yards for a touchdown after JP Losman and the offense yielded a safety. A great defense, knowing that its young QB has been rattled and the offense is struggling, simply does not do that. A great defense rises to the occasion and gets the ball back for the offense or, better yet, takes it upon itself to score. The Bills defense did not do that, but, instead, folded under the relentless onslaught of the Bucs' running game like a schoolyard bully who suddenly finds himself being pummeled by his chosen victim.
After allowing themselves to be run over by a Cadillac, this week the Bills face the Atlanta rushing attack that led the NFL last season and features the "Thunder" of TJ Duckett, the "Lightning" of Warrick Dunn, and the "Magic" of Michael Vick. While Vick isn't the greatest passer in the world, he's probably the most dangerous open-field runner in the NFL and the centerpiece of the Atlanta offense. When healthy, the threat that his running ability poses forces defenses to make adjustments that open up running lanes for Dunn and Duckett as well as the passing game. Fortunately for the Bills, Vick strained a hamstring muscle late in the Seattle game and it is uncertain whether he will be able to play on Sunday or not. His participation will be a game-time decision. If he does play, the injury, which can easily be aggravated and cause him to miss more time, could limit Vick's mobility or willingness to run with his usual abandon. That is likely to result in the Falcons relying more on running Dunn and Duckett and, perhaps, passing more than usual. Because of his small size, Dunn is very under-rated, but is an elusive back who leads the Falcons in rushing with 171 yards on 37 carries, despite getting only 54 on 16 carries against Seattle. He is also a superb receiver out of the backfield. Duckett, on the other hand, is a younger version of Tampa Bay's Mike Alstott, a punishing runner who often gets the ball in the red zone. After seeing how well the Bucs were able to run against the Bills defense last week, it is likely that Atlanta will try to pound the Bills with the running game whether or not Vick plays.
While Vick possess one of the best arms in the NFL, he is not a very accurate passer and, as a result, the Atlanta passing game has been very inconsistent to say the least. Vick's favorite target is tight end Alge Crumpler, a huge, athletic target that has to be accounted for on every play--especially in the red zone. With Dez White hampered by a hamstring injury, slot receiver Brian Finneran has emerged as Vick's favorite alternative to Crumpler as a possession receiver. Four of Finnneran's seven receptions this season have been for first downs and another resulted in a TD. The Falcons' 2004 first round pick, Michael Jenkins, is an emerging star who has replaced ex-Bill Peerless Price as the deep threat in the Atlanta passing attack. Jenkins had a huge catch to set up a TD against Philly and nearly had a TD on another bomb from Vick against Seattle. Rookie first rounder Roddy White, also a speed-burner like Jenkins, has begun to see more playing time after recovering from a preseason injury that sidelined him. The weakness of the Atlanta offense is the inconsistency of Vick's passing: when he's on, he can throw an absolute bullet into the hands of a receiver 60 yards downfield or hit a half dozen passes in a row underneath to Crumpler and Finneran, but, when he's off, Vick can be wildly inaccurate for an entire game. He is just accurate enough that defenses have to respect his arm, which is just enough to allow him to use his legs, which is the most dangerous part of his game. If Vick is unable to play on Sunday because of his hamstring injury, he will be replaced by second year QB Matt Schaub. Schaub doesn't have anywhere near the mobility of Vick, but is a much more accurate passer. Schaub stepped in for Vick when he was injured against Seattle and helped to finish off a TD drive despite going 0 for 1 passing. If Schaub plays, Atlanta is almost certain to rely heavily on the rushing of Dunn and Duckett on offense. The Bills will need London Fletcher's leadership and run-stuffing abilities to blunt the Falcons' running game and must hope that he has recovered sufficiently from his injury to play the entire game. If he can't, Angelo Crowell and the rest of the Bills' front seven will have to play much better than they did against Tampa Bay. This week they won't be able to use the heat or the road as an excuse if they don't shut down the Falcons' rushing attack.
The Bills Special Teams vs the Atlanta Special Teams: While the Bills special teams did not make the big game-changing play against Tampa Bay, they played reasonably well, with the exception of the punt team. Brian Moorman continued to be inconsistent with his kicks and the punt coverage team allowed the Bucs Mark Jones to average an unacceptably high 16.7 yards on three punt returns. The coverage teams, particularly the punt coverage team, will have to play much better this week, especially if Atlanta's return man extraordinaire, Allen Rossum, is sufficiently recovered from his hamstring injury to play. Rossum, who has averaged 22.8 on kickoff returns and 11.0 on punt returns for his career, ranks first in kickoff returns, kickoff return yardage and total return yardage in the NFL since 1998. Rossum is a real weapon for the Falcons. But, Rossum isn't the only weapon that the Falcons special teams possess. In his absence last week, rookie wide receiver Romby Bryant averaged 20.2 yards on 4 kickoff returns and DeAngelo Hall brought back a punt return 27 yard. Additionally, the Atlanta coverage teams are excellent. After ranking first in average punt and kickoff yardage yielded last season, the Falcons are giving up only 17.7 yards per kickoff return this season and are leading the NFL in average drive start on kickoffs allowing opponents to begin drives on average at the 18.6 yardline. Rookie Mark Koenen handles the punting for Atlanta and is averaging 44.9 on punts, with only 6 of 14 being returned and 3 inside the 20 thus far this season. Todd Peterson, signed as a free agent from the 49ers, is very accurate inside 45 yards, going 18 of 22 on field goals last year and 212 of 271 on FGs for his career. Like the Bills, the Falcons rely on their special teams to win the field position battle for their offense and strong defense.
Things To Watch For:
1.) Can JP Losman bounce back from his ego-crushing, poor performance against Tampa Bay and play effectively against Atlanta? JP looked very nervous and out of sync in his first road start in the NFL, can he maintain his composure and throw the ball on target in the face of the pressure that the Falcons' pass rush will try to put on him?
2.) Will Willis McGahee respond to Mike Mularkey's criticism of his play against the Bucs by running hard, with authority, against the Atlanta front seven? Can McGahee run as effectively against the Falcons as Shaun Alexander did last week and help the Bills offense control the ball and the clock the way that Alexander did for the Seahawks?
3.) Will the Bills defense rebound from its poor performance against the Bucs' running game and stuff the run this week like a great defense should? With or without Michael Vick, the Falcons offense will rely on the running game to set the tone for their offense, can the Bills defense prevent Atlanta from running wild and controlling the game with the run?
4.) If Michael Vick plays, will he run with his usual abandon or will he be limited by his injury or limit his running, himself, to avoid aggravating his injury? If Vick plays, can the Bills defense contain him and prevent him from making a big play with his legs?
5.) Will the Bills' offensive line be able to open some holes for Willis McGahee and do a better job of protecting JP Losman? Can Mike Gandy keep Patrick Kearny from putting pressure on JP? Can the interior linemen keep Rod Coleman out of JP's lap?
6.) Will Mike Williams be able to play? If so, how much? And, how effectively will he be able to play? If not, can Greg Jerman replace him effectively? Can Jerman keep Brady Smith from pressuring JP Losman?
7.) How will the Bills try to cover Alge Crumpler? Can they keep Crumpler and Brian Finneran from making the critical third down catches that Atlanta relies on them to make to move the chains and keep possession of the ball?
8.) Can the Bills' defensive backs keep Michael Jenkins and Roddy White from going deep and making a big catch?
9.) Will the Bills' WRs be able to go deep and stretch the field against the Falcons' secondary? Will the Bills throw the ball deep to open up the running game? Will they use screens and the draw play more often to keep the Atlanta pass rush at bay? Can they mix up the pass and run effectively?
10.) Can the Bills special teams win the field position battle? Will they be able to break a couple of big returns against the best coverage teams in the league? Can they contain Allen Rossum, if he plays, and the Atlanta return game? Will Brian Moorman return to the form that Bills fans have come to expect from him and be more consistent with his punts? Can Rian Lindell continue to make his field goal attempts?
JP Losman's performance against Tampa Bay should not have been unexpected: young QBs like Losman have games like that and can be expected to have more than one during the course of a season until they mature. It happens to the best of them. The difference between those who become good or great and those who end up being mediocre or flops is how they respond to such games and whether they learn from them or not. Only time will tell whether JP will become a great one or not, but Bills fans will get a glimpse of how he responds to adversity and learns from it in the way that he performs against Atlanta this week.
More disappointing and unexpected was the way that the rest of the team performed against the Bucs. Quite frankly, the Bills got their butts kicked by Tampa Bay. And, what was really disappointing was that none of the so-called leaders on the defensive side of the ball stepped forward, especially after London Fletcher got hurt, and took charge when things started to go wrong. One can talk about the heat or the fact that the defense was on the field for 21 minutes in the first half until the cows come home, but the fact is that, if the Bills defense had stepped up to the challenge, they would have stuffed the Bucs' running game in the first half and would not have spent as much time on the field as they did. And, they would not have let the Bucs drive 70 yards for a TD following the safety. At that point, the game was 2-0. A great defense recognizing the situation rises up and gets the ball back for the offense--and gets off the field. That's what great defenses do. The Bills defense failed to rise to the challenge and folded in the face of adversity. They cannot do that again if they want to make the playoffs, let alone be known as a great defense.
With or without Michael Vick, the Falcons are going to run the ball and play good defense and special teams when they come to The Ralph on Sunday. The Bills must rebound from their poor performance in Tampa and respond to the challenge if they want to win this game. If things don't go their way at some point during the game, the Bills must show that they have the character to overcome adversity and triumph in spite of it. The Falcons made it to the NFC Championship game last season and, then, beat the Philadephia team that defeated them in that game in their season opener because they are a good team. The Bills have a chance to prove that they are a good team by beating the Falcons, who are making their second long trip in a week. It won't be easy, but it can be done. But, the Bills will have to play better in every phase of the game than they did last week.
After Further Review:
Buffalo Bills fans are going to have to be rather patient with JP Losman. Sunday Losman faced a defense that disguised coverages and blitzes and came after him with a fire he had not yet seen. The decision to jettison Drew Bledsoe and go with JP Losman couldn't have been an easy one for the "Think Tank". That being said, the front office better hope the fans have the patience to let the kid grow. Going from a team that was 9-7 and on the brink of the playoffs to a team led by a growing QB might be hard for some fans to handle. 2000 was a long time ago. People in this town measure success by playoffs not growth. We may not find out for two or three years if the decision to go to JP will pan out. Stay tuned.
Flag on the play:
Willis McGahee had better start running north/south really quickly. I didn't get to see too many games of his while at U. Miami but I do remember McGahee having lots of speed. It almost seems like the "Think Tank" wants him to be a "three-yards and a cloud of dust" type of back. Something has to give.
Game Ball:
Cadillac Williams. Talk about real deal. It will not be surprising if he leads the NFL in rushing when the season is done. RB is the one position in the NFL at which a person can come up to speed really quickly. Williams is already there.
Goat of the Week:
The smoke from the fire that made Dallas Cowboys safety Roy Williams toast was not even out when Washington Redskins QB Mark Brunell blew him up again. Two long passes to Santana Moss for TDs in just 71 seconds, on plays that were surprising similar, can even make an All-Pro look like a Pop Warner player. 'Boys coach Bill Parcells, who demands great defense, must have popped three ulcers Monday night.
Post-Game Press Conference:
1. The Oakland Raiders have a lot of firepower but they still haven't learned to harness it. They've played well enough at times but apart from two long bombs to Randy Moss the Raiders haven't been an offensive juggernaut. Should they harness that power they could be in the AFC Wild Card race come December. They have two games though to get a win...pronto.
2. Genius move of the week: For a quarter and a half the Buffalo Bills offense couldn't move the ball against Tampa Bay. One play in particular was a third and ten from their own one yard line Inspector Gadget calls for JP Losman to roll out and throw a pass. The result was a Tampa safety. Message to Mularkey: the correct sequence of play calls in that situation should be; McGahee dive, McGahee dive, McGahee dive, Moorman punt...and not a free kick from the 20.
3. I was worried about the Buffalo Bills offense line before the Tampa game. I'm down right terrified now.
4. Mike Tice is "dead coach walking" in Minnesota. Mark it down. He is the first to go this year.
5. Washington is 2-0. Mark Brunell can still play this game.
6. I guess I get to find out if Michael Vick in an NFL quality quarterback in person this week. He was little more than average against the Philadelphia Eagles two weeks ago. The Seattle Seahawks made him look very human Sunday. Now is the time for the "vaunted" Buffalo Bills defense to stand up.
7. Did anybody else get really worried when London Fletcher went out on Sunday? Sorry, I am still not convinced the Buffalo Bills have any depth at LB.
Salute.
I have been looking at this blank Word document for about 10 minutes. I don’t even know where to start. Do I start with my personal frustration from the loss or the frustration that I know must be weaving through Bills Nation? Enough pondering, I am going to go with the frustration of Bills Nation first. I see the Bills fan base much like the political spectrum of the United States. There is a Right and Left Wing.
The Right Wing of Bills fans conservatively loved the idea of keeping Bledsoe and staying the course even though nothing was getting better. They would have ignored the chances that it would have probably only gotten worse. The Left Wing of Bills nation look at any change angrily and recall a better time (often citing the ‘90-94 Bills, but some going for the ’64-68 references). “Play JP instead of a veteran? Are you crazy, these long haired, California boys will be hopped up on peyote and unfocused. We never had these issues when Jimbo was our guy.”
When new personnel come to the team dancing after TDs and tackles, struggling to live up to immediate expectations, and/or is different (not a blue collar kinda guy), they have the Jerry Falwell-like sports writers to cite (i.e. Jerry Sullivan of the Buffalo News). These are the guys who predict the end of the season is here. REPENT!!! They come out with things like “J.P. is a bust; is Liehnart available?” Some will go as far as to eventually say that this is poor performance leads to poor ticket sales and the eventual sale of the team to LA. I’m sure in some dark corner of Bills Fandom there is an extremist right winger fan claiming we need to assassinate Hugo Chavez to protect the Bills interest.”
Of course, the other spectrum is the Left Wingers of Bills Nation. They are equally as kooky. They will shout that radical change at all cost is the best option. The Left Wing wants to see everyone happy no matter what the costs. Our practice squad shouldn’t have to live under the oppression of six figure salaries. They like to live on the edge and spend right up to the cap limit, run the triple reverse every third play, have the 200 yard-a-game rusher, have a 500 yard-a-game passer, and have a defense that gives up 0 points. “We should have everything because we all deserve everything.” They root for their chosen guy because he’s their guy. Even if there is no plan and no real progress being made, the Left will stand by their choices as the ship sinks refusing to even hold their breath. They sometimes make some outlandish claim that if we were more visionary we’d have chosen someone else in, say, the 1986 draft and been 9 time world champs by now.
As is the case with US politics, the same holds true for Bills Fandom. Somewhere in the middle lies the answer. The Bills played a special, impressive brand of horrible on Sunday. I remember writing in multiple articles in 2003 and early 2004, “I can’t stomach to watch games were we don’t score points. I can’t stand the un-entertaining game.” That was precisely what I watched again for the third straight season. However, that being said, some things made me feel like these were one time exceptions. I doubt we have many more games like that this season. That was JP’s first road game, and all of Bills Nation, Right and Left wingers, agreed there would be games like this. Now that it happened, we’re stunned? Come on; let’s live by the leash we agreed to give him. I, for one, say thank god that happened to him on the road and early in the season against a good team. I’d rather have learned that lesson in week 2 than be Big Ben and learn it at a home AFC Championship game.
If JP is half as intelligent as we have been told, he picked up a lot from that game. Additionally, the schemes the Bills ran weren’t that complex. There wasn’t too much in the way of motion, reverses or fake reverses. I believe with fast defenses that like to confuse the offense, it’s always good to set up and then have the massive formation shift. You then run that play quickly. It keeps the defense honest and on guard. Now the offense dictates the pace. The defense’s ability to anticipate the play becomes clouded. I believe if you run the receiver in motion of a reverse as a decoy or for a real reverse, you keep them guessing. Instead the Bills just tried to pound the ball away unimaginatively and throw standard 7-10 yards routes. We didn’t even give JP a chance to feel confident. We were asking him to get it done when the plan wasn’t working. It seems like a “stay the course” like plan, and JP’s confidence just went from bad to worse because of it. And from his complete lack of confidence grew a lack of accuracy. And from that, begat the receivers losing confidence in him. Geesh, now I sound like a Right Winger. So yes, JP sucked, McGahee sucked, and the coaches sucked.
I was more shocked by the defense. Obviously watch Hummer Williams….I mean Cadillac Williams run around crazy, I started to think the Bills meant they wanted to be the 1985 Bare (sp) Defense. Where they barely stop anything. I feel like Eugene Levy for that one. Sorry!
I do think having the defense on the field for 40 minutes is excessive. I also think they played well at the beginning. Had their challenge been to be Richard Hatch and win Survivor as opposed to being Odysseus and winning Penelope, perhaps they could have been amazing. Survivor contestants are asked to do a grueling job for about 30 days to be a winner. Odysseus had to battle the elements for 10 years before getting a chance to win his woman back. Talk about having bad time of Possession.
I think the D line is still inadequate. They don’t get pressure with 4 men rushing. Because that is the case, they have trouble stopping powerful runners. These sub-par rushers take the great circle route to get to the QB. They open natural lanes that the fat guys in the middle can’t always stop. Especially when asked to stop it for 40 minutes. So while I cringe just thinking about their performance and how badly they want to be known as a historic defense, I truly believe being on the field that long really did them in. Even the ’85 Bears had McMahon scoring for them. It wasn’t like he sat on the sidelines coming up with their Superbowl rap without picking up first downs.
I guess in conclusion I am saying, “I had expected the Bills to be better than what they put out there.” But noting the weather, the fact we knew games like this were going to happen, and that it happened early in the season, I’m ok. You know why? Because we are still tied for first in the AFC East. We are still going to be able to beat the Jets and the Dolphins, and we are probably in the best position in the last 4 years to beat the Pats. That counts for something. So unless you were the delusional fan who had visions of an undefeated season, we can totally overcome this.
Mularkey is the moderate Bills guy. He can see both sides of the argument and make better decisions as a result. If in two weeks we still look like this team in Tampa, yes, let the contention between the Left and Right rage on. And let us watch this team sink to the basement. I just don’t think now is the time to get angry and call the whole thing off. I still think minor changes from players and coaches and a little belief in themselves still have us gunning for the playoffs. I stand by my belief in Billy Joel. “I’ve had the good times, I’ll take the bad times.” Let’s just hope there are more good times than bad.
DVD Extras:
So I’ll part this week’s article with lyrics again:
Heartbreak Enemy Despise Eternal
Love Shines In My Eyes
So Let Love Take Us Through The Hours
I Won't Be Complainin'
'Cause Your Love Is Alright, Alright.”
Lyrics that essentially say “heartbreak happens, but love is out there to pick you up. You just have to keep believing.” That’s what I get out of Michael Jackson’s dance fever hit “Don’t stop ‘til you get enough.” Because I won’t stop til I get enough, and I certainly have not had enough of Bills Football. Keep Believing, guys! It’s going to be OK.
Three Buffalo starters are listed as questionable on the injury report and were held out of practice on Wednesday: LB London Fletcher, OT Mike Williams, and S Lawyer Milloy.
The growing pains of JP Losman came a lot sooner than expected as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers dominated the Buffalo Bills in virtually every facet of the game. Losman was unable to get into any rhythm as the Buccaneers defense stifled any attempt at a pass or run. From the start, Tampa Bay’s defense man-handled the Bills offensive line with ease and although there weren’t many sacks, they rushed JP enough to cause him to take bad shots, several which should have been intercepted easily. Tampa Bay’s hybrid cover-2 defense proved to be too much for the young quarterback to decipher, leaving his 1st half stats to a measly 13 yards in passing and 11 yards rushing for his life. The Bills wouldn’t even get a 1st down until the 2 minute warning of the 2nd quarter!Willis McGahee too was unable to get the run game going, rushing for a paltry 31 yards on 8 attempts in the 1st half. One thing that bothers me about McGahee and his running lately is that he always seems to stop and look for a hole and then hop/shuffle sideways toward it. This gives a fast defense time to close in on him. I am disturbed that McGahee seems to run with less intensity now than when he had Travis Henry looking over his shoulder. I observed how Carnell (Cadillac) Williams, the Bucs’ running back, and others around the league ran, and those running backs don’t do much dancing, taking off and hitting a hole hard.
In this case, however, McGahee’s inability to move forward also fell on the shoulders of the offensive line of the Buffalo Bills, which protects Losman reasonably well but can’t make holes for the running backs to run through. For an offensive line that is geared to support the run, it is incomprehensible how inept the line is at doing just that. I understand that part of the reason is because the defense’s line backers are playing up to cover the run, but the entire unit played badly. Mike Williams did leave the game on an injury when a blitzer rolled up on his leg behind him in the 3rd quarter. He was able to walk off, albeit gingerly, but Williams would not return to the game.
In the cover-2 style of defense that Tampa Bay plays, the safeties lean and help the cornerbacks and prevent long passes being thrown. This means, a big portion of Buffalo’s offense would need to rely on a slot receiver or tight end to receive passes across the middle. Unfortunately, this is probably the Bills weakest positions in terms of talent level. A speedy Roscoe Parrish or Kevin Everett (speedy tight end), two currently injured players, might have been able to provide that speed across the middle that would force Tampa Bay to move their line backers back some to help compensate and cover that area, in turn opening up the run more. Instead, they rightly showed no respect for a middle of the field attack, and although Reed had several good catches in the 2nd half finishing with 6 catches for 71 yards, it was too little, and this realization…too late.
Excuses of the terrible offensive line play aside, JP just had a terrible day. He did not make good reads against this defense and threw bad passes that were almost intercepted at least 3 times. Rattled and completely out of rhythm, he also had some bad passes, completely overthrowing or under throwing his receivers. In a costly mistake, JP back pedaled into the end zone and stepped outside the back end of the end zone while being pursued by 2 blitzing defensemen. Stepping outside the end zone is an automatic safety for the defense and I am puzzled as to why JP didn’t throw the ball to his wide receiver. Looking at the replay, the wide receiver did the right thing and stopped as he saw the defender blitz. Perhaps JP saw that another cornerback was lurking and that there would be no yardage gain in a quick tackle. Nevertheless, it was a mental error to take a safety instead of a few yards or even a zero yard gain.
In the interviews after the game, JP was asked about this and his response was that his wide receiver didn’t do what they had talked about doing. Perhaps JP had told him to go long regardless and when the wide receiver stopped to wait for JP to throw him the ball on the blitz, JP was waiting for him to take off, which he never did and JP’s reaction to this was way too slow. Losman ended up completing 12 of 29 passes for 113 yards, but don’t let these stats fool you. Most of those yards were obtained in garbage time at the end of the 4th quarter. One thing Losman also needs to learn is to turn his head one way, and look the other. He doesn’t use his eyes much and turning his whole head ends up giving away who he intends to throw to. Tampa Bay’s line backers had a field day in following Losman’s attention and batting away and almost intercepting several passes! Any way you choose to look at it, JP gets an ‘F’ for performance.
Buffalo’s defense didn’t fare much better, though a big part of this blame has to fall on the offense. In the first half, the defense was on the field almost 21 minutes. The Bills chose to wear their throwback jerseys because they were lighter in color, and with the wilting heat at 90-95 degrees and moderately high humidity levels, they thought the lighter jerseys