November 30, 2006

Bills Edge Jags - Prepare to Face Powerhouse Chargers

The Bills prepare for the red hot San Diego Chargers after edging the Jaguars at the Ralph last week. While an exciting game to view, and while the Jags have been the best opponent to date that the Bills have beaten, the reality is that these Bills keep squeaking by in tremendously unlikely fashion, not based on sound fundamental football.

Bills Edge Jags - Prepare to Face Powerhouse Chargers

The Bills prepare for the red hot San Diego Chargers after edging the Jaguars at the Ralph last week. While an exciting game to view, and while the Jags have been the best opponent to date that the Bills have beaten, the reality is that these Bills keep squeaking by in tremendously unlikely fashion, not based on sound fundamental football.

Bills Offense Spreading Things Out

The past two weeks the Bills offense has shown an increase in its efficiency particularly in the passing game. Shorter drops, quicker passes along with bootlegs and screens have all helped, but spreading things out with open formations may be one of the bigger reasons for the recent success.

Bowen: Making the Band, Buffalo Bills Style

I've watched all the so called "making the band" shows, with the result being garbage like O Town coming out of it. It bothered me. It really did. If that stuff could actually be put on a record label, why couldn't a couple members of the Buffalo Bills?

Bills vs. Chargers Blacked Out

Please be advised that the Buffalo Bills-San Diego Chargers game this Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium is not sold out and will not be televised locally. Sunday’s game will mark just the third blackout in the past 30 regular season home games for the Buffalo Bills.

Bills’ Losman Emerges From the Class of 2004

J. P. Losman was the last of four quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2004 N.F.L. draft, but in the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world of pro football, there was grumbling in Buffalo that the Bills had squandered their pick. What a difference a month has made for Losman. Buffalo has won three of its past four games, and Losman engineered the winning score during the final possession in two consecutive games.

'Lights Out' Merriman ready to flip switch

Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman will be back in the San Diego Chargers' lineup Sunday when the Chargers visit the Buffalo Bills. Merriman has been out the past four games serving a steroid-related suspension. He came back to practice this week with his nickname - "Lights Out" - carved into his hair. Merriman celebrates sacks by pretending to flip a switch tattooed on his forearm.

L.T., the touchdown MACHINE

Tomlinson comes to town on Sunday to face the Bills in a game that has "bad matchup" written all over it for Buffalo. Tomlinson's Chargers are No. 1 in the NFL in scoring and No. 2 in rushing. The Bills have given up 188 and 207 rushing yards in the last two weeks.

Spikes not the same in cleats

Not surprisingly, the hot topic at Wednesday's media day was San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson, and how could the Bills' struggling defense possibly contain the NFL's top playmaker this Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium. You know what they could use? The old Takeo Spikes - the outside linebacker who was one of the elite players in the sport in 2003-04.

Bills' revamped line has silenced critics

Things have been going pretty well for the oft-maligned Buffalo Bills offensive line the last couple of weeks and the incessant cacophony of criticism about their performance has quieted.

Even McGahee admits Tomlinson is great

Is Willis McGahee, his ever-confident Buffalo Bills peer, ready to concede that L.T. is the best back out there? Well, sort of. "He's up there. Going by the stats, he's like No. 3 in rushing, but he is one of the best in this league," McGahee said on Wednesday as the Bills (5-6) began serious preparations for Sunday's showdown against the Chargers (9-2).

Mailbag: A playoff season for once-beleaguered Bills?

Look, if we can beat the Chargers this weekend, I'm thinking playoffs. Call me crazy, but it's hard not to be optimistic about this team.

November 29, 2006

Bills and Verizon Wireless Launch Mobile iNzone Site

Mobile iNzone is the place to go for Bills fans who want first access to breaking news about the team and personnel, updates on game day, pre-game scouting reports, post-game comments and statistical milestones, as well as special offers during the season – delivered via text messaging right to their Verizon Wireless phone.

Parrish Takes AFC Special Teams POW Honors

Not many at One Bills Drive were surprised to hear that Roscoe Parrish was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his electrifying performance in Buffalo's 27-24 win over Jacksonville last Sunday. "The guys in front of me did a good job blocking and we made it happen," said Parrish. "It was a good feeling.

Takeo Spikes visits Hoover Middle

Students at Herbert Hoover Middle School learned about the importance of a balanced breakfast and dairy products from the pros Tuesday. Buffalo Bills Linebacker Takeo Spikes, mascot Billy Buffalo and a team strength and training coach attended the morning assembly.

Bills fans support their local Parrish

Buffalo second-year wide receiver Roscoe Parrish wasn't even a blip on the Bills' radar screen before Sunday, and since then, has been bigger than legends on most maps. Parrish is commonly used as a return man, and showed why in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Buffalo already had the lead, and Parrish padded it with an 82-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter.

Bills Front Four Getting Pressure

All season long Buffalo's defensive ends have provided steady pressure against the pass. It's why Aaron Schobel (8.5 sacks) and Chris Kelsay (5) are tied for third in the league for total sacks by a defensive line duo (13.5). But the last two weeks the line's interior defenders are getting more consistent penetration up the middle on pass plays and it's been a main reason why Buffalo has allowed just two third down conversions over their last six quarters of play.

Bills look Cieslak's way

He was one of the Buffalo Bills' leading receivers against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Only Lee Evans had more catches, and only Evans and Roscoe Parrish had more yards. Yes, that was tight end Brad Cieslak running through the Jacksonville secondary during the Bills' 27-24 victory.

Jills director emphasizes model behavior, not looks

Jills director Stephanie Mateczun says being on the squad that cheers for the Bills is about much more than looking pretty.

Bills cheerleader in a class apart

For eight Sundays each fall, Aimee G stands in front of about 75,000 people at Ralph Wilson Stadium. But five days a week, the Buffalo Jills cheerleader and Pittsford native stands in front of a classroom of children at Burger Middle School in west Henrietta to teach math.

Losman, turnover ratio make for Bills' 3-1 November

After racking up an unimpressive 2-5 record in the first two months of the NFL regular season, things looked bleaker than ever for the Buffalo Bills , a team that hasn't ventured to the playoffs since 1999. Despite their two-month long struggles, the Bills turned themselves around in November, finishing 3-1 and climbing to the outside of the wild-card race in the AFC.

November 28, 2006

Parrish, Special Teams Giving Bills Spark

After muscling past the last defender near midfield, Roscoe Parrish found himself stumbling forward, on the verge of falling, when the Bills' punt-returner felt someone tugging at the back of his jersey.

Bullish on the Bills

We'd have been remiss (or stupid) if we didn't ask Levy while we had him on the phone about the work done by three of his young offensive players -- quarterback J.P. Losman, wide receiver Lee Evans and running back Willis McGahee -- in the past few weeks.

McGahee’s Sense of Team Gets Him Back on the Field

Willis McGahee is a man of faith. He relied on it when his knee was torn apart in the National Championship game three years ago, and he admitted to turning to that same faith these past few weeks as his body tried to heal itself again after another serious injury.

Survival not a worry for Losman

Losman took a big step these last two games - his 18th and 19th NFL starts. Something clicked once he had the equivalent of a full season under his belt. It's no longer a question of whether Losman will survive, but how much better he'll be with another year's experience and a better supporting cast.

Rapid recovery has Willis feeling good

Running back Willis McGahee was a little sore, but he was feeling good a day after his return from broken ribs. His sunny disposition reflected the mood of the Buffalo Bills, who are playing their best football of the season.

Blocks on big plays made it a big day

After struggling to make big plays most of the season, the Buffalo Bills have gotten a bunch of them over the past two weeks. Four plays in particular helped them pull off a 27-24 upset over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The plays were a combination of fine blocking, but also great individual effort by the skill players involved.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

K Rian Lindell converted a 22-yard chip shot field goal at Cincinnati to give the Bills a 30-27 lead with 58 seconds left in a game the Bills would ultimately win 37-27. But Sunday's 42-yarder at the final gun was his first walk-off winning kick in his four seasons with the club.

Bills report: Inside slant

Quarterback J.P. Losman has led his team to victory on the final possession of the game two weeks in a row. A guy could get used to this.

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

PASSING OFFENSE B-plus -- QB J.P. Losman's 75 percent completion percentage was a career high, but his 21-of-28 day was good for a modest 169 yards and no TDs. Those numbers hardly tell the real story, though.

Bills better find a run defense, and quick

Del Rio's physical Jaguars pounded the Buffalo defense into submission with 207 rushing yards, while Kubiak's undermanned team piled up 188 yards on the ground, second-most in its brief franchise history. Common sense, at least NFL style, dictates that when you get run on like that, you lose the game. Yet despite allowing 395 rushing yards the past two games, the Bills, inexplicably, won both games.

Are the Bills really playoff contenders?

Leo: I can't believe we've actually tossed this question out for debate, but hey, the Bills are 3-1 since the bye week and could be 4-0 if not for a one-point loss at Indianapolis, which leads the AFC with a 10-1 record. After Sunday's 27-24 win over Jacksonville, Buffalo has already matched its win total from a year ago and has won back-to-back games on its final drive to climb into the wild-card picture, as fuzzy as it may be.

Buffalo's Miami connection saves the day

In the Buffalo Bills ' 27-24 upset victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, the former's offense was able to muster a meager 241 total yards against the latter's third-ranked defense. Had it not been for two of Buffalo's highly talented youngsters -- both University of Miami (Fla.) products -- the team likely wouldn't have won, thus dropping the Bills to 4-7 instead of them moving to 5-6.

November 27, 2006

Bills-Jets game "flex scheduled"

The Week 14 New Orleans Saints-Dallas Cowboys game on Sunday, Dec. 10, will be played at 8:15 p.m. ET on NBC and the Buffalo Bills-New York Jets game will move to 4:15 p.m. ET on CBS, the NFL announced.

Tripplett's game taking shape

Now this is what the Buffalo Bills had in mind whey signed Larry Tripplett in the offseason: 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and four tackles. Those were the numbers the defensive tackle put up against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon, an effort that helped the Bills to a 27-24 victory.

Bills fans who stayed home missed a great show

McGee said the Bills weren’t bothered to be the first team this season that failed to fill its building. Didn’t feel slighted. But I think they sensed that a good deal of the fan base was losing interest. Especially with the Sabres putting on such a great show. So the Bills went out and put on their own show Sunday, effectively posing a question to the 63,680 die-hards in the building: Where would you rather be than right here, right now?

Second Down: Week 12

Buffalo's pass protection has taken some positive steps forward the past two weeks. While fewer five and seven step drops have helped, the men up front have tightened things up as well and proved it by posting their first no sacks allowed performance of the season. In fact Sunday's win over the Jaguars marked their first game without allowing a sack since Nov. 7, 2004 against the Jets. That's a span of 35 games.

Low-Key Lindell Finally Has a Clincher

It had been almost four years since Rian Lindell faced such a situation. December 29, 2002 was the last time the Bills kicker had a final play of the game opportunity to assure victory for his team. Only on Dec. 29, 2002 it was a chance to get a victory for the Seattle Seahawks.

Parrish cuts loose with a little help from his friends

It's about time that Parrish broke off the big one, went the distance, turned nothing into everything. Ever since he arrived at his first minicamp looking like a gazelle among koalas it was a foregone certainty that one day he'd unleash a turbocharged assault in the return game. But as the clock kept ticking, moving past the halfway point of his second season, you couldn't help but wonder if the day would ever come.

Hitting their stride

Conventional wisdom indicated a Bills team that went five years without winning a single game decided by three or fewer points wouldn't manage to win two in a row by that margin. Conventional wisdom wasn't wearing a uniform Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

McGahee gives Jaguars' defense a ribbing

Bad ribs? What bad ribs? Running back Willis McGahee is undoubtedly feeling a little sore today, but you never would have known he had three broken ribs the way he played Sunday.

Buffalo Bills report card

Quarterbacks: The numbers don't tell the story of J.P. Losman's day. He was 21 of 28, but for just 169 yards with an interception. His first five possessions in the second half netted a whopping 47 yards and several throws were off target. But for the second week in a row, he made the plays in the final seconds with the game on the line including a 30-yard bullet to Roscoe Parrish that set up the winning field goal. He continues to put the questions to rest. B

The two-minute read

While it's true that Rian Lindell's field goal provided the winning margin, there is no field goal without Roscoe Parrish's fantastic toe-the-sideline 30-yard catch with 10 seconds left to play. With J.P. Losman buying time behind good protection, Parrish managed to get away from CB Scott Starks and give Losman the slightest opening to make a play.

Buffalo rules with late heroics

There was a beehive of activity on the Buffalo Bills' sideline right after Jacksonville completed an impressive drive to the game-tying touchdown with 28 seconds remaining Sunday afternoon at balmy Ralph Wilson Stadium. And amidst all the chaos, quarterback J.P. Losman calmly took it all in as if he'd been there and done that, because, in fact, he had.

Clutch Losman delivers another triumph for Buffalo

Losman wasn't great on Sunday, but when it was all said and done, he did enough to win for the Bills. More than likely, he did enough to at least lock down the starting job for the 2007 season. Finally, the potential Losman entered the league with back in 2004 is beginning to shine through; undoubtedly, the Bills, in November 2006, are beginning to reap the benefits.

November 26, 2006

Bills beat Jaguars on final play

Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman is getting accustomed to last-second dramatics. Losman hit Roscoe Parrish for a 30-yard completion to set up Rian Lindell’s 42-yard field goal as time ran out Sunday, lifting Buffalo to a 27-24 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jags' sturdy defense will test Bills' passing and running attacks

The Bills finally took the shackles off QB J.P. Losman and he responded with a career-best 340-yard performance last week. Now he must produce against a Jaguars defense that ranks fifth in the NFL against the pass and is third in interceptions (14).

A slice of real life

You can usually find him behind the counter on Monday evenings, as Jimmie's Pizza Co. braces for the blitz that accompanies Monday Night Football. It's when Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Tim Anderson leaves his day job for his second gig as a 6-foot-3, 304-pound pizza boy.

Jaguars pose tougher test for J.P.

Losman had his feet planted firmly on the ground this week because he knows what's in front of the Bills today at Ralph Wilson Stadium: one of the NFL's toughest, nastiest defenses. The Bills' offense takes a huge step up in competition against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Q&A: Ashton Youboty

This wasn't exactly how Ashton Youboty envisioned his rookie season in the NFL unfolding. Ten games into the year, Youboty still hasn't gotten on the field, though after not even dressing for the first nine games, he was in uniform last week at Houston.

The scouting report

The Bills snapped out of their offensive funk last week in Houston. Now the trick is to take another step in the process of becoming a competent attack, but J.P. Losman and company will have to do it against a playoff-contending Jacksonville team that is ranked in the top eight in 11 defensive categories.

Blackouts frustrated Dollinger

Former state senator Richard Dollinger of Rochester, who served in Albany from 1992 to 2002, led a petition drive that garnered more than 20,000 signatures to repeal the NFL's blackout rule.

Playoff hopes alive, but big test looms

With the Buffalo Bills going through more growing pains than an adolescent entering high school, nobody setting foot onto the soil at One Bills Drive had uttered the word "playoffs" in quite awhile.

Jaguars-Bills Preview

Despite suffering yet another critical injury, the Jacksonville Jaguars hope their defense can remain one of the NFL's best. Considering the breakout performance the Buffalo Bills offense produced last week, Jacksonville might need to its defense to be just that.

Frustration in Buffalo shows how NFL's television policies irking fan base

Kristin Luconte, a lifelong fan of the Buffalo Bills, supports her team by buying merchandise and attending training camp at St. John Fisher College. On Sunday, however, the 40-year-old mother of two can't watch the Bills game against Jacksonville at Ralph Wilson Stadium on TV because of the NFL's controversial blackout rule.

November 25, 2006

Jaguars not looking past Bills in making playoff push

The Jaguars (6-4), coming off a convincing 26-10 win over the New York Giants, might have a better record than the Bills (4-6), a team enduring another year of rebuilding pains. And yet Buffalo, in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for a seventh straight year, has the edge on Jacksonville in one particular category. The Bills have defeated Houston, something the Jaguars failed to do twice against their AFC South division rival this season.

Sellout streak ends

The Buffalo Bills have the dubious distinction of ruining the NFL's streak of lifting the local television blackout this year. The Bills did not sell out Sunday's game against Jacksonville by the 1 p.m. deadline Friday, and the game will not be shown on local television.

Garrard has plenty on the line

Few NFL players have more invested in the final six games of the regular season than Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard. What's on the line for Garrard? Only the chance to lead Jacksonville to the playoffs, secure his spot as the team's quarterback of the future and probably earn himself a big, fat pay raise.

Rare TV blackout sacks Bills game

Area fans planning to watch the Buffalo Bills play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, start your engines. For the first time in 16 games and only the second time in 29 games, dating to 2003, a Bills home game will be blacked out here.

Bills' Fletcher at top of his game

Never mind all the tackles, or that undersized London Fletcher makes all those tackles even though most of the quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends and receivers he slams are taller, heavier, or both, than he. His fellow Bills have come to expect weekly double-digit tackle performances from the 5-foot-10 (and that's being generous), 245-pound dynamo because, like Martin Luther King Jr. was born to lead, Fletcher was born to tackle.

Jags' offensive line quietly improving

David Garrard, Fred Taylor, and the Jaguars' wide receivers have received plenty of publicity throughout the season. But perhaps one of the most overlooked units is Jacksonville's offensive line, which has consistently churned out solid performances, helping the team's rushing attack climb to No. 3 in the NFL while allowing just 14 sacks.

November 24, 2006

Jags not looking past Bills in playoff push

Besides Houston, there’s one other nagging opponent coach Jack Del Rio and his Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t been able to defeat this season: perception.

Bills Game Blacked Out

The only way you'll see the Bills take on the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday is at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The game did not sell out in time to lift the TV blackout.

Game Day Tipsheet: Week 12

Buffalo's cornerbacks are more than capable of defending Jacksonville's receivers with man-to-man coverage. After a strong performance last week that demanded a lot of man coverage against a mobile quarterback, the Bills corners may be asked to do a good bit of that again to enable Buffalo to put eight defenders in the box to defend the Jaguars' potent rushing attack.

NFL Hall-of-Famer Kelly visits children's home

When the time came to finally meet Jim Kelly, Dave Ziegler wasn't gushing about the Hall of Fame quarterback who took his beloved Buffalo Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls in the 1990s.

Buffalo QB gets wings

A career day chalked up as a fluke by the opposition. That's what Buffalo quarterback J.P. Losman faced last Sunday after guiding the Bills on a game-winning drive during a 24-21 triumph over Houston.

Bills have a long way to go on short-yardage plays

Question: What is the Bills' record on third-and-1 situations this year?  Answer: The Bills have converted 9 of 19 third-and-1 plays. That's not too good. They're 9 of 15 when they run and 0 for 4 when they pass. J.P. Losman is 3 of 4 on quarterback keepers. Willis McGahee is 5 of 7 in those situations. Anthony Thomas is 1 for 4.

Run defense braces for another dynamic duo

There's something about facing running back tandems that brings out the worst in the Buffalo Bills' run defense. On Sunday, the Bills face Jacksonville's 1-2 punch of Fred Taylor and rookie Maurice Jones-Drew, who have run for 1,151 yards and nine touchdowns between them.

Immovable forces await Bills' O-line

Combined, they stand more than 13 feet tall and weigh 631 pounds. They're big. They're quick. They're mobile. And they're almost impossible to move. Marcus Stroud and John Henderson of the Jacksonville Jaguars form one of the most dominant defensive tackle tandems in the NFL.

Evans remains humble in end zone situations

Flamboyant Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Johnson looked an awfully lot like Buffalo's Lee Evans last week during the Bengals' game in New Orleans. Mr. Ocho Cinco scored a touchdown, nonchalantly dropped the ball, and jogged back to the sidelines. What a concept.

Air it out again, Buffalo

In their 24-21 victory over the Houston Texans last weekend, the Buffalo Bills ' coaching staff elected to try an all-new offensive game plan. For a unit that was sputtering severely, the plan worked. Quarterback J.P. Losman, who was struggling badly entering the game, dropped back to throw 41 times (including three sacks) and passed for 340 yards and three touchdowns. He and receiver Lee Evans, frankly, were why the Bills improved to 4-6.

November 23, 2006

A peek into Marv Levy's personal life

Unless you've been living in a cave the past 20 years, you know all about Marv Levy, the football celebrity. Coach of the Buffalo Bills from 1986 through 1997 including all three Super Bowl years, and now General Manager, Marv’s football successes are well known. However, we wanted to tell Marv Levy's personal story.

Jaguars Out To Tame Buffalo

On Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars hit the road to face the Buffalo Bills, who are looking to put together consecutive wins for the first time this season.

Bills 'guardedly optimistic' about RB McGahee

Bills coach Dick Jauron was "guardedly optimistic" Willis McGahee will play against Jacksonville this weekend after the running back took part in his first practice in full pads.

A-Train Not Just An Express

Bills running back Anthony Thomas has carried a heavy load of responsibility the past two weeks, and it's involved a lot more than just carrying the football. Last week his other responsibilities were a lot more noticeable as he had seven catches against Houston and was the team's second leading receiver. But the aspect of his game that has really been impressive is his blitz pick up.

Bills report: Inside slant

Quarterback J.P. Losman and wide receiver Lee Evans, both first-round picks, were Buffalo's prized recruits in the 2004 draft. They were tagged the modern-day version of Jim Kelly and Andre Reed.

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

RB Willis McGahee, who has missed two games with three broken ribs, was able to practice some on Wednesday. He's listed as questionable for Sunday but it seems likely that the Bills would rest him another week or two with veteran Anthony Thomas performing well.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

The Bills signed TE Matt Murphy to their active roster. Murphy is a fourth-year veteran who played for Houston three seasons. He signed with Seattle last off-season but was released. He was a seventh-round pick of Detroit's in 2002 out of Maryland.

Reed vows caution in returning

It's not a matter of whether Buffalo Bills wide receiver Josh Reed wants to play, but rather if he feels like he can. Reed had no problems getting through practice Wednesday, but he has lingering concerns about the possibility of taking another hit in the kidney area.

McGahee gives his injured ribs a test run

Willis McGahee took handoffs, ran routes and caught the ball out of the backfield, all the things a running back is required to do. Though far from 100 percent, McGahee's first appearance on the practice field in three weeks was a step forward in his recovery from three broken ribs.

Losman's confidence continues to grow

It's amazing what one last-second win can do for a quarterback's confidence. Just three days after leading the Buffalo Bills to a come-from-behind win over the Houston Texans, Buffalo QB J.P. Losman was already talking about helping break the team's single-game receiving mark of 265 yards set by Lee Evans in the win over the Texans.

Bills still unsure if McGahee, Reed will face Jags

In the case of Buffalo running back Willis McGahee, it is the known that could prevent him from playing Sunday afternoon against the Jacksonville Jaguars. For wide receiver Josh Reed, the unknown is what could ultimately cause him to miss the game as well.

Mailbag: Evans, Clements Bills' fans focus on Thanksgiving

Where would you rank Lee Evans in the pantheon of NFL receivers? It seems like this guy just gets better and better.

Sunday's Bills game likely won't be on TV

The National Football League has extended its blackout deadline for all games this weekend due to the Thanksgiving holiday, but that isn't expected to alter the fact that Buffalo's game Sunday against Jacksonville at Ralph Wilson Stadium probably won't sell out.

November 22, 2006

Everyone now knows Crowell's name now

Every player has his "I've arrived" moment that he won't soon forgot. For up-and-coming Bills linebacker Angelo Crowell, he recently realized that he was beginning to make a name for himself when one of the sport's biggest names, Peyton Manning, commended Crowell on his performance, yup, by name.

Bills Host Fundamentally Sound Jags

Can a couple of big plays once again overcome opponent domination via fundamentally sound football? Bills fans will find out on Sunday vs. the Jags back in Orchard Park. Coming off of their highest offensive output of the season last week, the Bills prepare to face a much more thoroughly sound defense this week in Orchard Park.

Bills Sign TE Matt Murphy

With an open spot on their 53-man roster for almost a week, the Bills finally filled the vacancy with four-year tight end Matt Murphy.

Bills Team Even Tighter Going Forward

This past spring during the OTAs and offseason workouts you could sense in the locker room a much stronger team concept. It's a collective vibe that one can unmistakably feel if one stands in the room long enough.

Price to Losman: I'm open over here

Price has refused to buy the notion that one reason he hasn't been overly productive this season is because he's covered. The 30-year-old veteran might not possess the same speed he had early in his career, but he insisted that he's had no problems finding separation against zone-happy defenses this season.

Bills report: Inside slant

Sunday's electrifying, come-from-behind victory over the Texans erased the memory of five consecutive shaky performances by the Bills offense.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

CB Nate Clements made his second game-changing play in the past three games, batting away a pass intended for Andre Johnson on third-and-2 right after the two-minute warning and forcing the Texans to punt the ball back to the Bills and setting up the winning drive. "I'm anticipating something quick in that situation," Clements said. "I told the guys, 'Press it up, cover our ends and see what happens.' They happened to run a slant. I saw it and just batted it down."

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

WR Lee Evans, who finished with a team-record 265 receiving yards in Sunday's win at Houston, had 205 in the first quarter. That's the most in the NFL since Qadry Ismail had 210 yards for Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh on Dec. 12, 1999.

O.J. Simpson to be Removed from Buffalo Bills 'Ring of Fame?

Is it time for the Buffalo Bills to rip down O.J. Simpson from the 'Wall of Fame' that surrounds Ralph Wilson Stadium with Bills greats? Some fans think so. MSNBC is reporting that O.J. Simpson may lose more than a book deal.

Buffalo's OL struggles don't include Peters

The Buffalo Bills ' offensive line, which has allowed 32 sacks through the first 10 games of the season, has been one of the team's most highly criticized areas. However, in no way has the line's best player, Jason Peters, been responsible for the group's struggles this season.

November 21, 2006

Price is right for Bills

Peerless Price finally came through for the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, catching the game-winning touchdown pass with 15 seconds remaining against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. Price, in his second stint with the Bills, didn't have a touchdown reception since Week 4 and has no more than five catches in a game this season. But on Sunday, quarterback J.P. Losman was not worried about those stats and directed his attention to Price in crunch time.

Wintry Buffalo, humble style can't totally obscure gifted Evans

Yes, there is a football god. There must be because one of my favorite receivers, Lee Evans of the Buffalo Bills, just had the game of his life. You know what I'm talking about: That 265-yard effort against Houston that included a pair of 83-yard scores.

How Does Losman Stack Up?

After the first fourth quarter comeback of his career last week it has already been widely debated whether J.P. Losman has arrived. It certainly looked like a game where the light bulb went on for the Bills quarterback. Whether it's onward and upward from here remains to be seen.

O.J.'s book, TV interview canceled

Rupert Murdoch bowed to public pressure Monday and canceled both a book and a two-part television interview in which O.J. Simpson described how he would have killed his ex-wife and her friend Ron Goldman - if he were the real killer.

Bills taking small steps to mediocrity

So I woke up here Monday morning, groggy and disoriented, wondering if I had only dreamed that Peerless Price made a big play, and asking myself, "What the heck are we to make of this Bills team, 10 games into the season?"

A nice Sunday drive

It has been a long time since the Buffalo Bills had a last-minute drive that ended in a game-winning score. They finally got one on Sunday as quarterback J.P. Losman engineered a seven-play, 55-yard march that ended with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Peerless Price with nine seconds to play.

Evans yet to catch full meaning of record day

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Lee Evans spent Monday morning still trying to comprehend the totality of his record-setting performance against Houston after he torched the Texans for 265 yards receiving and two touchdowns in a 24-21 victory. It was one of the best games by a receiver in NFL history.

J.P. has way to go to get NFL's respect

It was just one game against a fellow NFL bottom feeder, but there was a lot to like about what transpired Sunday. Now, if the Bills can throw some quick-dry cement between the foundational blocks that were set in place and start building on the victory, perhaps the dark cloud that has hovered over One Bills Drive will start to lift.

Was this a breakout game for Losman?

Leo: Yes, but before anybody accuses me of jumping back on the J.P. bandwagon, let me say I never hopped off. For those who said give the kid time, he rewarded that patience with a career-best 340 yards passing, two 83-yard touchdowns to Lee Evans, and his first fourth-quarter comeback Sunday against Houston.

Close losses coming back to bite Buffalo

Although the Buffalo Bills are 4-6 and have looked terrible at times throughout the aging NFL season, the team is actually within a few moments of being, in terms of record, one of the best in the AFC. These Bills, who have won two of their last three, certainly don't have the talent of an elite team, but considering the rampant parity in the league, 7-3 actually isn't miles away.

Texans take blame for J.P.’s big game

J.P. Losman’s standout performance in Houston on Sunday didn’t draw praise from his opponents. Dunta Robinson, the Texan corner who scored on an interception of Losman in the third quarter, wasn’t impressed with Losman’s twin 83-yard bombs to Lee Evans in the first quarter.

November 20, 2006

This is the Losman the Bills counted on

NFL TV analysts can be given to hyperbole. But moments after the Bills had scored their winning touchdown in Sunday’s 24-21 decision at Houston, CBS’ Steve Beuerlein made an observation that was on the mind of every Buffalo fan. “This is the kind of game that could change J.P. Losman’s career and the direction of the team,” he concluded. That was a perfect summation.

Losman Produces Surprising Ending

J.P. Losman, the Buffalo Bills and the people who watch them had seen this one before. The plot was simple and painfully familiar -- make some big plays and take a sizable early lead on the road, only to watch it inexorably slip away.

Bills Pull a Gem Out from Between their Cheeks in Houston

Bills finally come out and dominate a poor team while winning a game on solid fundamentals, … NOT! The reality of the situation is that the Bills pulled a gem of a nugget out from between their proverbial cheeks to log a W in this one.

3 things learned during Bills' win at Houston

1. Playing to win is fun. Unlike the Colts’ loss a week ago when J.P. Losman passed just 12 times, he passed 38 times against the Texans. CB Dunta Robinson said he was embarrassed to lose to Losman. He should be embarrassed that the Bills thought so little of him and his teammates in the Houston secondary, they passed the ball 17 more times than they ran it.

Second Down: Week 11

Lee had 205 yards receiving in the first quarter alone. It was the most prolific quarter of football turned in by a receiver in the league since Baltimore's Qadry Ismail had 210 receiving yards against Pittsburgh in the third quarter of a game played on Dec. 12, 1999. His 11 receptions was a career-high as were his 265 receiving yards.

Puffed up with pride, Losman wears it well

J.P. Losman arrived at the postgame interview podium in Reliant Stadium late Sunday afternoon, wearing a big smile and an oversized Buffalo Bills T-shirt. "Is the shirt big enough for you?" Losman asked the assembled media. "This is the shirt they gave me to wear. It's . . . huge."

Evans' big receiving day is one for the books

When Eric Moulds played for the Buffalo Bills, he said that Lee Evans would become a great receiver. Before Moulds left Buffalo, he guaranteed that Evans would thrive as the Bills' new featured wideout. From the opposing sideline, Moulds witnessed how prophetic his words were.

Texans' wounds self-inflicted

Dunta Robinson, the All-Pro cornerback for the Houston Texans, wasn't in any mood for praising the opposition following Sunday's loss to Buffalo. Bills quarterback J.P. Losman torched the Texans' secondary for 340 yards and three touchdowns in Buffalo's 24-21 triumph at Reliant Stadium.

Clements' play resonates

Johnson entered the game as the NFL's leader in catches and second in yards. But with Clements shadowing him all day, Johnson finished with 76 yards on six receptions. Not bad numbers, but not enough to make a significant impact.

Busting Loose

Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild went up to quarterback J.P. Losman before Sunday's game and told him caution was being thrown to the wind. "Before the game started," Losman recalled, "Steve said, "We're going to be aggressive throwing the ball. J.P., don't hold anything back. I don't care. I'm calling it. You wing it, and let's roll.' "

Bills Dynamic Duo Put Up Career Day

They were both taken in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Bills. They've talked about having a special on field connection. That connection was on full display Sunday as J.P. Losman and Lee Evans combined for 265 of the team's 340 passing yards in Buffalo's dramatic 24-21 win at Houston.

Buffalo Bills report card

Quarterback: J.P. Losman was magnificent in silencing his critics with a career performance when he and his team needed it the most. He threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner with nine seconds left. He shook off a brutal interception, handled the two-minute drive like a salty veteran, and made Bills' history with two 80-plus yard pass plays, both for touchdowns. So this is what a quarterback with time to throw looks like. He may be a keeper after all. A

The two-minute read

Play of the game J.P. Losman's 15-yard touchdown pass to Peerless Price with :09 left to win the game. Buffalo had lost its last 16 games that were decided by four points or fewer dating back to 2001, so Price's dazzling catch in the back of the end zone qualifies as a watershed moment for a franchise that had forgotten the joy of the successful two-minute drill.

A special delivery from J.P. to Price

Peerless Price had to laugh as he recalled the moment just before the Buffalo Bills broke the huddle for their final offensive play Sunday afternoon against the Houston Texans. "J.P. in the huddle said 'I'm not throwing the ... check down, I have to take a shot in the end zone, so get open,'" Price said.

Untimely errors prevent yards from translating into more points

Fourteen offensive points, even at home, rarely hold up in the NFL, and they didn't against the Buffalo Bills, who scored a late touchdown to capture a 24-21 win at Reliant Stadium. After a roaring start, the sluggish Texans exacerbated their problem with a penalty and fumble that almost certainly cost them points that might have sealed a victory.

Secondary's struggles a primary problem in loss

Cornerback Dunta Robinson could hardly compose himself to talk. He stood in his locker, faced the wall and shook his head. After three seasons and 30 losses with the Texans, Robinson was never more humiliated than Sunday, when Buffalo quarterback J.P. Losman led the Bills to a 24-21 comeback victory at Reliant Stadium.

Smith looks back at Bills' drive

Texans defensive coordinator Richard Smith second-guessed his own play-calling after the Buffalo Bills won Sunday's game on a 15-yard touchdown pass in the waning seconds.

In victory, Losman may have turned the corner

On Sunday, the Buffalo Bills ' young passer, J.P. Losman, may have started something special, though nobody's comparing him to Montana, obviously. In a 24-21 victory in Houston over the Texans, he completed a 15-yard touchdown pass with nine seconds left to receiver Peerless Price, giving the Bills their fourth win of the season.

November 19, 2006

A horrible, pathetic performance against Bills

I still can't believe it. In the dressing room after the game, some of the Texans were in a trance. Kind of like they were during the game. I heard them use words like frustrated, disappointed and embarrassed. Well, they should have been embarrassed.

Bills 24, Texans 21

David Carr's record day was spoiled by a late game collapse. Carr tied the NFL record for consecutive completions with 22, but Peerless Price caught a touchdown pass with just 13 seconds left to give the Buffalo Bills a 24-21 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday.

Price lifts Bills over Texans

Peerless Price's 15-yard touchdown reception with just nine seconds left in the game, gave the Buffalo Bills a thrilling 24-21 victory over the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium.

Losman and Price Stage Come From Behind Win

It was déjà vu all over again for Peerless Price as he gave the Bills a 24-21 come from behind victory in Reliant Stadium. Down 21-17 with 15 seconds left, Losman delivered a 15-yard strike in the back of the end zone to Price on a 2nd-and-10 play that beat a cover-two zone by Houston. Price deftly dragged both feet before falling through the back of the end zone.

Evans sets Bills record with 205 yards receiving in quarter

Lee Evans set a franchise record with 205 yards receiving in the first quarter of the Buffalo Bills' game against Houston on Sunday. Evans caught two 83-yard touchdown passes from J.P. Losman in the first 8:25. He finished the quarter with six catches for 205 yards.

Loss to Colts among the season's lowlights

Most frustrating game: Last week's one-point loss by the Bills to unbeaten Indianapolis. Yes, if Rian Lindell had been successful with his 41-yard field goal, Peyton Manning likely would have supervised a full drive for the winning points. But wouldn't it have been more satisfying to let the game play out and hope for another fumble, a lucky bounce or another defensive stonewall?

If I did it, O.J. would be gone from Bills' Wall

Do me a favor. A week from today, when you're sitting in Ralph Wilson Stadium during the Bills' next home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, gaze up at the Wall of Fame and take a long, hard look. Look at O.J. Simpson's name and uniform number, inscribed on that wall as if he were a hero for all time, a man to be glorified.

Hanging 'em high

Brian Moorman was an All-American and NCAA Division II Hall of Famer in track and field at Pittsburg (Kan.) State, earning three national championships in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. Therein lies a secret to his success as a punter in the National Football League.

Challenge for both teams is protecting vulnerable QBs

RB Anthony Thomas gets his second straight start and, like a week ago, figures to be the focal point of the offense. Thomas gained 109 yards on 28 carries against the Colts. He should get that many touches again today.

Two teams in search of offense

Quarterbacks David Carr and J.P. Losman will try to ignite their struggling offenses today when the Buffalo Bills visit the Houston Texans. The quarterback who can make something - perhaps anything - happen through the air may be the winner in the battle of 3-6 teams at Houston's Reliant Stadium.

Bills are facing a look-alike opponent

Quarterback J.P. Losman vividly remembers the last time the Buffalo Bills played the Houston Texans. It was last year's regular-season opener, his NFL debut as a starter. The Bills won handily, 22-7, and Losman completed 17 of 28 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown. Buffalo outgained Houston 316-120 in yards, collected five sacks and intercepted Texans quarterback David Carr three times.

Q&A: Anthony Thomas

As a graduate of the University of Michigan, Anthony Thomas was naturally rooting for the Wolverines on Saturday when they played archrival Ohio State in college football's game of the year.

The Scouting Report

After a disastrous 0-3 start when they were outclassed by Philadelphia, Indianapolis and Washington, the Texans have played .500 ball since and count two impressive victories over Jacksonville. After a promising 2-2 start, the Bills have flat-lined with four losses in their last five games. And now these two also-rans with matching 3-6 records come together for what is surely one of the day's also-ran games.

Texans receiver treats game like a true professional

"I don't know what this season would have been like without him guiding me," Johnson said. "I've never had anybody like him to be around, learn from. It's made a huge difference."

Texans' Moulds Looks Forward To Buffalo

When Eric Moulds signed with the Houston Texans in April after demanding a trade from Buffalo, he started looking forward to this weekend's game with the Bills.

Preston ready for a starting role

There’s no more guessing for Duke Preston. He no longer has to worry about whether he’ll be playing or what position he’ll fill. The versatile Buffalo Bills offensive lineman will now start at right guard in place of Chris Villarrial, who was placed on injured reserve Thursday with an ankle injury.

Time to part with Takeo

He’s been the heart, soul and neck of the Bills’ linebacking corps since the team signed him prior to 2003. But unless Takeo Spikes shows plenty of improvement in the final seven weeks, there’s little reason to bring the veteran back next year.

Moulds has fond memories of Buffalo

Eric Moulds remembers it well. When the Bills spent their 24th pick in the first round of the 1996 draft on him, Moulds felt he had died and gone to heaven. He knew the history. Buffalo had made the playoffs seven of the previous eight years including four Super Bowls and five appearances in the AFC Championship game.

November 18, 2006

Ultimate Warriors

Buffalo comes to town carrying a 3-6 record, including a 1-3 mark on the road. They have lost four of their last five games and averaged a paltry 14 points per game over that span.

What Texans fans should know about the Buffalo Bills

Clearly, J.P. Losman is struggling mightily, and there's serious debate in Buffalo as to just how long you give the third year pro. His major weakness is that he is a one-read quarterback, rarely making his full progression of reads. Perhaps that's why there are whispers that the Bills coaches do not want Losman scrambling - they want him to become more of a pocket passer, and to learn how to better read defenses.

Bills' OL crams for test

Buffalo Bills offensive line coach Jim McNally is giving a crash course to his young linemen this season. The predicament for McNally is there is no real crash course for offensive-line play. It takes months and years, not weeks, to turn a raw lineman into a solid NFL starter.

Moulds gives youthful Texans a leader

"I knew we were going to take our bumps and bruises here and there because Coach (Gary) Kubiak and his staff had to get the type of players they wanted for their system. So far, the team has played well in certain games and at the same time, we're still a young team that's learning how to play the game. We're starting to get a little more confidence in the system. It's starting to show a little bit."

November 17, 2006

The Blame Game: Bills Have the Cart WAY Before the Horse

It is both ironic and sad to read about the leadership of this team attempting to explain what’s wrong with it. Problems going back prior to the hire of this recent collection of the NFL’s ’06 version of the Keystone Cops remain on and are evident to a blind, deaf, and dumb man.

Cieslak Promoted to 53-Man Roster

As expected the Bills moved practice squad tight end Brad Cieslak up to the 53-man roster Friday to have three healthy tight ends for Sunday's game at Houston. Cieslak replaces fellow tight end Ryan Neufeld who was placed on injured reserve Thursday with a plantar fasciitis condition that will likely require surgery.

Haggan will have his own cheering section

Mario Haggan has spent four season with the Buffalo Bills, but his mother has never watched him play a professional game in person. It will change this week when she and 17 family and friends drive 12 hours from Clarksdale, Miss., to Houston for the game.

Fixing what ails Bills offense will take more than a new QB

There are a number of reasons why Buffalo hasn't been able to "do it," and while it starts with Losman, it doesn't end with the third-year pro. "J.P. is part of some of the problems we have, but he's certainly not the only person," coach Dick Jauron said.

Air it out, Buffalo

In order for the Bills to record their fourth victory of the season, they'll need to loosen the reins on offense against the Texans' porous defense. Not necessarily when it comes to running the ball, but in the passing game.

November 16, 2006

Reed and Thomas Among HOF Semifinalists

Former Bills greats Andre Reed and Thurman Thomas have been announced as two of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 25 semifinalists for enshrinement next August. The Hall of Fame's Board of Selectors whittled the list of 111 preliminary nominees down to the current list of 25.

Losman and Carr Traveling Similar Paths

Houston Texans' quarterback David Carr is now in his fifth season in the NFL, but he went through a lot of the same struggles that J.P. Losman has been experiencing in 2006. In his third season as a starter Carr improved his touchdown to interception ratio, his passer rating (69.5 to 83.5), but was still sacked 49 times for a team that went 7-9.

Bills Head to Houston for Hope

This week the Bills head to Houston for a "mystery meat" game vs. a comparably matched Texan team. Andre Johnson is having a huge season and Eric Moulds promises to be motivated for this one. Rookie MLB DeMeco Ryans is playing very well and leads the Texans in tackles and leads all linebackers in sacks.

Injured Reserve for Neufeld and Villarrial

Bills head coach Dick Jauron said roster moves would be considered based on how the injuries to Ryan Neufeld and Chris Villarrial panned out this week. A day after being declared out for Sunday's game in Houston, Neufeld and Villarrial are now out for the season.

Losman recalls fast start

Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman offered a wistful laugh when asked Wednesday to recall his first meeting with the Houston Texans. It was in the opening game last season, it was Losman's first career start, and it looked oh, so easy. Losman led the Bills' offense to scores on four of its first five drives in a 22-7 victory.

Texans weakened for Bills

A week after losing to the best team in the National Football League, the Buffalo Bills have a weaker and wounded foe in their headlights. Injuries figure to be a huge factor Sunday when the Bills visit the Houston Texans in a battle of 3-6 teams.

Mailbag: Losman, Parrish the focus of Buffalo fans

Where's Roscoe Parrish? Do the Bills know what they've got in this guy? The Bills haven't had someone with this type of quickness ever, and they only used him for punt returns Sunday. Get the ball in the hands of playmakers!!!

November 15, 2006

Bills RG Villarrial ankle injury could be season-ending

Starting guard Chris Villarrial is out for Buffalo's game this weekend at Houston and could miss the rest of the year because of a severe right ankle injury.

Villarrial Could Be Out for Season

The Bills starting right guard was declared out for this week's game at Houston, marking the second contest he will miss because of his ankle injury that was initially sustained in Week Four against the Vikings.

Four Out Vs. Texans; Villarrial Perhaps For Year

Four Buffalo Bills will miss Sunday's contest with the Texans, including guard Chris Villarrial, who may be lost for the season, according to Dick Jauron.

Pupils get a kick out of Moorman

Jack Seminara has set a new standard for "show and tell" at St. Gregory the Great School in Amherst. Bills punter Brian Moorman stopped by his house for breakfast Tuesday and then gave Jack a ride to school in a limousine. Moorman hung out with the pupils for a while and tested his passing arm.

Bills Pro Bowl Punter Continues to Excel

In 2005 Brian Moorman finally was selected for the Pro Bowl. Forced to kick in foul weather his entire career as Buffalo's punter, coaches and players from around the league finally came to respect the success Moorman had despite the challenging elements. And while any Pro Bowl season is usually exceptional statistically, Moorman has taken his week to week performance up a few more notches thus far in 2006.

Bills having bad century on the road

In the aftermath of Sunday's loss to the Colts, I suggested it might have been the Bills' toughest road defeat since Home Run Throwback. Maybe I spoke too soon. The Bills have suffered countless excruciating road setbacks since that epic playoff loss in Tennessee on the first weekend of the year 2000. They've lost nail-biters and blowouts. They've had offensive games that set football back 100 years.

Bills' Youboty ready to turn corner

For now Ashton Youboty is content to just wait his turn, but it won't be long before the rookie cornerback sees action in his first game as a pro. Coach Dick Jauron considered activating the third-round draft pick from Ohio State for the Buffalo Bills' game Sunday at Indianapolis but elected to put in defensive tackle Jason Jefferson for depth on the defensive line.

By the numbers: How bad is Buffalo's O-line?

Currently sitting a disappointing 3-6 on the 2006 NFL season, many are looking for scapegoats as to why the Buffalo Bills have been so bad. More often than not, the two areas of blame are the quarterback position and offensive line. Judging by the reactions of Bills fans over this writer's criticism of third-year passer J.P. Losman, they seem to believe the line is mostly at fault.

November 14, 2006

McGee Back On Track

Fans of Terrence McGee were troubled by the rough stretch of play he had been experiencing during the month of October. His struggles in coverage had put a bulls-eye on his chest and opposing offenses were quick to test him. McGee admitted his confidence had been shaken a bit.

Missed blocks doomed four drives

During Sunday's game at Indianapolis, the Buffalo Bills had three possessions inside the Colts' 20-yard line and another drive that reached the 21. But none of those drives ended in a touchdown.

O-line faces adjustment

Because of mounting injuries, Buffalo Bills coach Dick Jauron may have to make more adjustments to the offensive line.

Harassment charge is dropped against Bills' rookie free safety

A prosecutor has dropped a noncriminal harassment charge filed earlier this month against Buffalo Bills' rookie strong safety Donte Whitner by his former girlfriend.

Frustrated Levy sees positives in Losman

"I don't want to try and make something good out of what happened, but I like the way he's conducting himself," he said. "He's going through some hard times, and he's growing a bit and profiting from it. If people expect him to be Dan Marino right now, he's not going to be. But I think there are encouraging signs."

When will the Bills become winners again?

Sal: Now that we're into what is going to be a seventh straight year of non-playoff football for the Bills, I'm starting to wonder if this franchise is ever going to turn the corner. I'm frustrated watching this as an unbiased reporter, so I can't imagine how frustrated the die-hard Bills fans are by this relentless losing culture that has hovered over Orchard Park since the start of the millennium.

Lost in the fray: Clements, McGee excelled Sunday

Against the Colts' high-powered offense, Buffalo's 'D' did a tremendous job containing Peyton Manning and Co. Though running backs Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai combined for an excellent afternoon on the ground (27 carries, 150 yards), Manning and, specifically, his receivers were held down. Manning ended the afternoon with a solid but not spectacular stat line: 27-of-39, 236 yards, one TD pass, zero INTs.

Bills report: Inside slant

The Bills are in the throes of a serious offensive crisis and, not surprisingly, quarterback J.P. Losman is at the center of it all.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

CB/KR Terrence McGee has struggled in coverage this year, and Sunday he allowed his fourth TD catch of the season when beaten on a difficult fade route by Reggie Wayne. But McGee did his best to single-handedly lead the Bills back, returning a fumble 68 yards for a touchdown and then returning a kickoff 88 yards to set up a field goal.

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

PASSING OFFENSE D -- QB J.P. Losman attempted just 12 passes, completing eight for 83 yards and no touchdowns. There were no interceptions, but the Bills' play-calling was very conservative, a reflection on how little faith there is in Losman to get the job done and the offensive line to protect him.

November 13, 2006

Bills' Evans calls offence 'awful'

Add wide receiver Lee Evans to the growing number of critics of the Buffalo Bills offence. "It's awful," the Bills receiver said after practice Monday.

Second Down: Week 10

Bills cornerback Terrence McGee had a fumble return for a touchdown that covered 68 yards. It was the second longest fumble return for a score in franchise history. What player has the longest in club annals?

Sloppy Colts still find a way

The Indianapolis Colts' perfect season remained intact Sunday afternoon in the RCA Dome, but their performance was hardly flawless.

Players left fuming after lost opportunity

It was deathly quiet in the Buffalo locker room after this one. You could sense an undercurrent of frustration and rage, the shattered spirit of a team that had just squandered a rare opportunity to shock the NFL.

Wide right spoils a special day

Rian Lindell said he hit it perfectly, the most solid contact he made all day. But Lindell's kick sailed just wide of the right upright. The field goal and an opportunity to pull off the NFL's upset of the year was missed.

Bills corner the Colts

Because of tight coverage by Buffalo Bills cornerbacks Nate Clements and Terrence McGee, Harrison and Wayne did not have much of an impact in the Colts' 17-16 win.

Kicking themselves

The famous magician Harry Houdini had an act in which he put himself in handcuffs and wrapped himself in a straitjacket. That's basically the situation the Buffalo Bills' offense was in Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Except unlike Houdini, it never found a way to escape from its self-imposed restraints.

Bills’ O Flounders vs. Weak Colt D in Loss

This game was the perfect analogy in some ways. Former Bill Polian pupil, and even more so Polian beneficiary, Marv Levy, met as peers in the Bills loss to at the hands of Polian’s latest marvel and achievement. The term ‘peers’ applies at least insofar as titles go. As performance goes the pair’s methodologies have their teams moving in opposite directions.

Upset bid drifts wide

On Sunday afternoon, it was the Buffalo Bills who were making all the noise, actually flirting with the very real possibility of upsetting the unbeaten Indianapolis Colts before 57,306 stunned horseshoe-loving fans who have gotten used to their team dominating the rest of the NFL, at least in the regular season.

The two-minute read

Play of the game The Bills made a number of big plays — none by the offense, mind you — including Terrence McGee's 68-yard fumble return for a touchdown late in the second quarter, and his 88-yard kickoff return early in the third.

Buffalo Bills report card

Quarterbacks: Once again, J.P. Losman had horrible protection, so on many plays he didn't have a chance to do anything. But when plays were available, he was typically unproductive.

Horrific offense stymies Bills' quest at shocking win

In a game that was expected by most to be over by halftime, the upstart Buffalo Bills battled the AFC's best team, the Indianapolis Colts , to a standstill. on Sunday. The Bills ended up faltering, 17-16, in the RCA Dome, falling to 3-6. The victorious Colts improved to 9-0, making them the first team in NFL history to begin consecutive seasons with nine straight wins.

November 12, 2006

Bills Can’t Cash In On Chance for Upset

The Bills had a chance to pull off the biggest upset of the 2006 NFL season, but they couldn't quite make it happen as they fell 17-16 to the Colts in Indianapolis. Trailing 17-16 with 6:27 to play Rian Lindell, who had missed just one attempt the entire season, pushed a 41-yard attempt wide right as the Colts killed the last six minutes on the clock to pull out the win and remain undefeated.

Colts Still Perfect With Win Over Bills

Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts stand alone in NFL history. They needed an assist from the opposing kicker. Rian Lindell missed a 41-yard field goal attempt with 6:22 left in the fourth quarter and the Colts consumed the rest of the clock and held on for a 17-16 victory over the Buffalo Bills.

Colts squeak by Bills, move to 9-0

An Indianapolis Colts defense that had spent much of the season taking a beating fought back Sunday. With the defense playing its best game, the Colts beat Buffalo 17-16 to become the first team in NFL history to start consecutive seasons 9-0.

Pounding between the tackles is Bills' best hope on offense

With RB Willis McGahee out with broken ribs, Anthony Thomas will lead the Bills' running game. Thomas is a strong downhill runner who showed last week (95 yards against Green Bay) that he can carry the load. . . . The Colts' run defense has been poor all year, allowing 165 yards per game. Indianapolis is yielding 5.3 yards per carry. Only the 1961 Vikings were worse (5.4 yards per carry).

It's time to stop making excuses for Losman

Which means for the next month, maybe longer, the offense will have to get a lot more than it's been getting from quarterback J.P. Losman.

Tripplett keeping it real

Larry Tripplett could have retrieved the Book of Cliches, turned to the section pertaining to facing former teams and regurgitated how the matchup today against the Indianapolis Colts was just another game, one among 16. He could have suggested his departure from Indy had nothing to do with money. But why twist the truth?

Bills face test no one has passed

It could be a pick-your-poison kind of game today for Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. "As I talk to coordinators around the league, they say you either take a quick death or you take a slow death," Fewell said, half-jokingly. "How do you want to die? That's kind of the question."

Veteran linebacker leads Buffalo’s fledgling defense

“I think he’s one of the most underrated players in the league,” said Atlanta safety Lawyer Milloy, who spent three seasons with Fletcher in Buffalo. “Pound for pound, you can’t measure the way he plays and what he means to that team.”

Undefeated Colts taking underdog Bills seriously

But the Colts contend they will take no one lightly, not even the Bills, who have the 30th-ranked offense, the 18th-ranked defense and are without their star running back, Willis McGahee, who has three broken ribs.

Colts are ready to face Bills’ stampede

The Colts (8-0) don’t believe there’s any secret as to how the Buffalo Bills (3-5) will play them today at the RCA Dome. They will run a lot.

Q&A: Keith Ellison

Linebacker Keith Ellison is one of seven rookies to start or see significant playing time for the Buffalo Bills this season. As a sixth-round draft pick out of Oregon State, that makes Ellison among the club's most pleasant surprises.

The scouting report

Remember the talk prior to Buffalo's visit to Chicago, about how the Bills might catch the Bears on a letdown following their blowout win over Seattle the previous week? Didn't work out so well: Bears 40, Bills 7. Now the Bills travel to undefeated Indianapolis to play a Colts team that is coming off two outstanding road wins at Denver and New England. Will the letdown theory hold true this time? Even if it did, it wouldn't be enough for Buffalo to beat the best team in the NFL.

Bills staring at scary task in trying to stop high-powered Colts

"Clearly, playing the Colts is a huge test for our football team," said Bills coach Dick Jauron. "They're the only undefeated team left and deservedly so. They're playing at an awfully high level and doing everything they need to do to win."

Old friends to reunite today

When the Buffalo Bills face the Indianapolis Colts at 1 p.m. today, two men won’t be having much fun. Colts President Bill Polian and Bills General Manager Marv Levy have been friends for 30 years.

November 11, 2006

A Bills Linebacker Is Making Tackles and Taking Names

Of all the names London Fletcher-Baker goes by — and that includes his new hyphen-extended last name — he prefers the one his Buffalo Bills teammates have come up with: Pops.

Colts look to keep rolling against lowly Bills

The Indianapolis Colts are aware of the trap. At 8-0, on the verge of making NFL history and a heavy favorite at home against Buffalo, the NFL’s last unbeaten team didn’t even need a reminder about keeping focus this week.

Parrish gets his chance

The Buffalo Bills need to find more open receivers. Roscoe Parrish's exceptional quickness should allow him to get open. Conclusion: The Bills need to find Parrish.

Tripplett shows Colts why Bills signed him

Polian, as respected a personnel man as there is in the NFL, said at the time that Tripplett would be a perfect fit and an outstanding player for the Bills, who were converting their defense to the same Cover Two scheme that Tripplett excelled in while wearing a horseshoe on his helmet.

Tripplett knows firsthand the talents Levy, Polian possess

"I'm really impressed with both of them," Tripplett said. "When I got the chance to meet with Mr. Levy, I really was impressed and it's one of the reasons I signed here. Of course, Mr. Polian, you've seen what he's done there. They both are just real smart, intelligent, strong football guys who know how to run an organization."

November 10, 2006

Game Day Tipsheet: Week 10

Quote of the week: "We're going up there to win a football game. We're preparing to win a football game. We're not going up there looking to have a good showing and get moral victories. I'm not interested in moral victories. Nobody in that locker room is interested in moral victories. I'm interested in going up there and winning a football game.

Question Mark: When it comes to third and long, Bills usually punt

Third and long has been a bad, bad situation for the Bills. If you count plays of third and 6 and longer, they have converted just 7 of 58 situations - or 12 percent. That's the lowest percentage in the league in that category. The Bills are 31st overall on third down conversions, at 27 percent.

With Willis derailed, A-Train back on track

After ducking and dodging Green Bay's defenders last Sunday, running back Anthony Thomas saved his best moves for after the game. The media crowded around his empty locker inside the Buffalo Bills' locker room, but he was nowhere to be found.

Buffalo has no defense for the Colts' offense

Week 10 of the NFL's regular season will be the most difficult test to date for the 3-5 Buffalo Bills . They travel to Indianapolis on Sunday to battle the league's only undefeated team, the 8-0 Colts, in the RCA Dome. So far this season, Peyton Manning and Co. have established themselves as the game's best team. Frankly, there's no reason why Indy should have any trouble against the Bills.

November 09, 2006

Buffalo Bills running back 'A-Train' Thomas set to roll on Sunday

Anthony Thomas signed with the Bills as a free agent hoping to revive a stagnant career under the tutelage of his old head coach, Dick Jauron. He'll get his chance this Sunday when Buffalo travels to Indianapolis to take on the undefeated Colts.

Bills' Whitner arrested for harassment in alleged dispute

Buffalo Bills safety Donte Whitner faces a harassment charge after an alleged domestic dispute with his girlfriend.

Colts Attack Draws References to K-Gun

The Colts offense is among the top three in the league in nine offensive categories including total offense, scoring, passing, first downs and third down conversions. Their ability to score seemingly at will sparked references this week to Buffalo's K-Gun offense of the early 90's that also ran roughshod over the rest of the league.

Bills add Preston to injury list

Bills reserve offensive lineman Duke Preston was added to the team's injury report on Thursday with a twisted left ankle and is questionable for Buffalo's game on Sunday at Indianapolis.

Bills add Preston to injury list

Bills reserve offensive lineman Duke Preston was added to the team's injury report on Thursday with a twisted left ankle and is questionable for Buffalo's game on Sunday at Indianapolis.

Moorman's clutch punts earn him weekly award

Buffalo Bills punter Brian Moorman produced in the clutch against Green Bay on Sunday and was rewarded with the AFC's Special Teams Player of the Week award.

'A-Train' right on time for Bills

It was just like old times for Buffalo running back Anthony Thomas Sunday afternoon. There he was, the go-to guy in the backfield, just as he once was in Chicago where in 2001 he set a Bears record for most rushing yards gained by a rookie.

McGahee sidelined after tests reveal broken ribs

Bills running back Willis McGahee will be sidelined indefinitely after further tests revealed he broke three ribs in Sunday's victory over Green Bay.

Mailbag: Leftwich to Buffalo?

What did you think of Anthony Thomas' performance last weekend? I'm tired of Willis McGahee and would like to see the A-Train get more work.

November 08, 2006

McGahee Out for Sunday; Damage More Extensive

Bills head coach Dick Jauron said on Monday that more extensive tests would be performed on Willis McGahee after the initial diagnosis of a broken ninth rib. The second round of tests unfortunately revealed more damage. "It is more extensive than we thought," said Jauron. "It's not just the ninth (rib), but he also has cracks in the eighth and tenth ribs."

Bills Prepare for Blowout in Indy

Once again it seems that this season the Bills need tremendous help from opponents in order to post wins. Some fans seem to take little issue with this in establishing at least two of the Bills’ whopping three wins. Others do.

Moorman Earns Player of the Week Honors

In recognition of Brian Moorman's impressive performance Sunday in Buffalo's 24-10 win over the Packers, the Bills punter was named AFC special teams Player of the Week.

Fletcher Having Honolulu-Worthy First Half

Bills middle linebacker London Fletcher has been a Pro Bowl alternate five times in his career by his count, but he's never made it to Aloha Stadium in February. However, with the first half he's put in during this 2006 campaign he may be too hard for the rest of the league to overlook.

Roles rise for reserve receivers

Backup wide receivers Andre' Davis and Roscoe Parrish will have expanded roles on offense when the Buffalo Bills begin preparations today for their game against the undefeated Indianapolis Colts.

Losman tunes out, and then turns off, boo birds

"It really doesn't (bother me) at all," Losman, the NFL's 21st-ranked quarterback, said of hearing the home fans boo him. "I feel confident and comfortable and I'm able to deal with those types of things. It's just the way it goes. I'm at the quarterback position and it's one of those times where we were going through a little skid, a little lull, but you have to stay positive and pick yourself up out of it."

Simpson records first interception with Buffalo

There was a time when Ko Simpson thought he would be a first-round draft pick. After being passed over for most of three rounds before Buffalo selected him, he’d promise to deliver payback to those teams that decided he was not good enough for them. That day came Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

Floundering Losman well behind rest of '04 QB class

In the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft, there were four quarterbacks taken. Three of those QBs already have solid accomplishments during their careers. Losman, who has the third-most starts of the group, has barely done anything for the drowning Bills.

November 07, 2006

Reed Released From Hospital

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Josh Reed was released from the hospital today.

Bills banged up coming to Indy

Dick Jauron had little time to focus on the good news Monday. That's because the bad news seems to always follow for the Buffalo Bills.

Offensive Line Encouraged By Progress

By no means was Sunday's win over the Packers a banner day for the offense. But for the offensive linemen, who endured three position changes and had a week and a half to make it work, some strides were made.

Tim Miller Named Bills H.S. Coach of the Week

Coach Tim Miller of Cattaraugus/Little Valley High School has been named the Buffalo Bills High School football “Coach of the Week” for the tenth weekend of the 2006 season (November 4-5).

McGahee probably out

The euphoria the Buffalo Bills felt in their 24-10 win over the Green Bay Packers was tempered Monday by the possibility that running back Willis McGahee will be out this week and perhaps longer with a broken rib.

Left Side, Best Side

The left side is now the strong side of the Buffalo Bills' revamped offensive line. Despite the absence of injured Willis McGahee, the Bills rediscovered their rushing game behind the new tandem of left tackle Jason Peters and left guard Mike Gandy.

McGahee likely to sit on Sunday

Although the Buffalo Bills won't say anything official, it is very likely that running back Willis McGahee will miss Sunday's game at Indianapolis with a broken rib.

Did the Bills win, or did the Packers lose?

Sal: At the end of the day, I guess it doesn't matter to the Bills because the "W" went up on their side. But I, for one, wasn't at all excited about this "victory," because I don't think anything improved on either side of the ball.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

The win over the Packers was costly, as Buffalo lost RB Willis McGahee to a broken rib and WR Josh Reed to a kidney bruise. Coach Dick Jauron on Monday did not rule either player out of Sunday's game at Indianapolis, but it's doubtful either would be ready to play.

Bills report: Inside slant

Last season, the Bills blew a game at Miami when a pass by J.P. Losman near the goal line was intercepted. On Sunday, the Bills got payback from none other than Green Bay's Brett Favre.

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

PASSING OFFENSE D -- Until heaving a desperation 43-yard touchdown pass to Lee Evans with eight minutes to play for what proved to be the winning score, J.P. Losman had 21 yards passing against the Packers' secondary, which entered the game ranked dead last in the NFL.

Valiant Fletcher-Baker stands out in Buffalo

On a day when most of the Bills left their skill in the locker room, middle linebacker London Fletcher-Baker rose to the occasion in the winning team's cause. The ninth-year man, who has always been regarded as a tackling machine, racked up 14 takedowns on Sunday and was generally all over the field. Fletcher-Baker's biggest play of the day wasn't a tackle, however. It was his interception in the first half that he returned for a touchdown, giving the Bills an early 10-0 lead.

November 06, 2006

Lady Luck Shines Her Light Brightly Where it Rarely Shines in Bills’ Win Over Pack

What a horrible display this game was for the Bills. Say what one wants, but this so-called win left about as bitter a taste in the Wysman’s mouth as any win possibly could.

Bills RB McGahee has broken rib, WR Reed a bruised kidney

Buffalo Bills running back Willis McGahee has a broken rib and backup receiver Josh Reed was hospitalized overnight Sunday with a bruised kidney.

McGahee Breaks Rib Bone

"Injury-wise it's a broken ninth rib," said Jauron. "My understanding is we'll just see where it goes. It's painful obviously and they'll do some more tests today. He's scheduled for a scan today to examine it further."

Offense Working Through Struggles

Bills quarterback J.P. Losman admitted there has been some frustration with the slow rate of progress on offense.

Favre's time to talk nearing end

Had Brett Favre retired at the end of last season he'd be fighting the demons of career withdrawal destined to haunt him once he finally walks away. Because the game of football is not out of Favre's system yet, not even close, the proof pouring from his mouth late Sunday afternoon as he went the distance to dissect the key plays in Green Bay's 24-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Not too shabby, eh? Now that you asked ...

Afterward, Dick Jauron could barely contain himself. He came into the interview room, giddy and distracted, and said he would take only a few questions. He was eager to get back to the locker room and share the moment with his team.

Breakdowns haunt the Packers

Al Harris' body language confirmed there was much more to the play than it initially appeared. The Green Bay Packers' veteran cornerback pleaded guilty to getting burned, obvious when he became handcuffed on Lee Evans' fake in the flat before the receiver raced wide open down the sideline.

Some failures, some triumphs for rebuilt line

The Buffalo Bills got a first look at their retooled offensive line Sunday. What they saw was a unit that, like the offense as a whole, is still a work in progress. The new-look line was still porous in pass protection, but it did a solid job run-blocking during the Bills' 24-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

Picking and grinning

You could call Sunday's football game at Ralph Wilson Stadium a robbery by the Buffalo Bills' defense, which stole the game from the Green Bay Packers thanks to four takeaways.

McGahee, Reed sidelined

The Buffalo Bills are keeping their fingers crossed that they haven't lost their star running back and a key backup wide receiver for a while.

Buffalo Bills report card

Quarterbacks: J.P. Losman defeated his Packers idol, Brett Favre, but wisely wasn't taking any credit. He did connect with Lee Evans on a 43-yard touchdown pass with 8:00 to play that proved to be the winning score, but until that play, he had 21 yards passing and his ears were ringing with boos from the home crowd. C

Two-minute read

Play of the game This one wasn't too hard to figure out: Ko Simpson's dynamic 76-yard interception return which not only prevented Green Bay from tying the score late in the fourth quarter, but led to Anthony Thomas' put-away touchdown run.

Defense delivers in gift-wrapped win

Don't you think former Green Bay coach and Hall of Fame legend Vince Lombardi was spinning in his grave when he heard what transpired at Ralph Wilson Stadium late Sunday afternoon?

Punchless Bills win the turnover battle, beat the Pack

In the process of racking up their third victory of the season on Sunday, the Buffalo Bills were totally outclassed by the visiting Green Bay Packers . However, the difference for Buffalo, which is now 3-5, was turnovers.

Bills' turnover-happy defense carries load vs. Packers

When Willis McGahee went down, London Fletcher and the Buffalo Bills defense stepped up.

November 05, 2006

Bills Defense Pilfers Packers

The defense kept the Bills alive with four takeaways as they held Brett Favre and company in check, until the offense woke up midway through the fourth quarter as Buffalo scored 14 unanswered points in a five-minute span of the final frame to win a 24-10 decision over the Packers.

This is not the time to give up on Losman

It's started already. J.P. Losman has hit a rough patch in his first full season as quarterback. Losman is turning the ball over too much. He's locking onto receivers. He seems skittish and confused, and that's just in the interview room. The Bills have lost three straight and the offense has been wretched.

The Buckeye biographies

NATE CLEMENTS Draft: First round (21st overall), 2001 Position: Cornerback

Packers' secondary opens door to big plays for Bills receivers

QB J.P. Losman has struggled during the Bills' three-game losing streak with eight turnovers. He must take care of the ball and make the right reads in the passing game. . . . Losman could rebound in a big way against Green Bay, which allows an NFL-high 270.3 yards per game.

In an OHIO STATE of mind

Donte Whitner had the dream again last week. He can never remember exact details, but each time he's back with his teammates at Ohio Stadium, the famed Horseshoe, and patrolling the Ohio State secondary. There's no opponent or score or anything, just that feeling that comes with winning.

Bills need to boost offense

The Bills have gone 11 straight games without scoring three offensive touchdowns. They have three offensive TDs in just two of their last 24 games. So the Bills need some kind of offensive awakening today when they play host to the Packers and their future Hall-of-Fame quarterback at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Scouting report

A few weeks ago when Buffalo was 2-2 and coming off a nice win over Minnesota, and Green Bay was floundering at 1-4, Bills fans probably looked ahead to today's matchup at Ralph Wilson Stadium and figured this was a sure win for the home team.

Rejuvenated Favre shows his true grit

What has changed this season is Favre is more comfortable with everyone around him. Wide receiver Donald Driver remains his favorite receiver, but he's also starting to trust young players such as Greg Jennings and David Martin.

Q&A: Terrance Pennington

Today, Pennington will be starting at right tackle and trying to block Green Bay's Aaron Kampman, who is tied for the NFL lead in sacks with 8.5.

Bills remain patient with Losman; Favre puts jump back in Packers

It's snowing outside, and J.P. Losman is part of a small group of Bills players in no rush to leave the cozy confines of their practice facility. With most of the team already hitting the showers, the quarterback had fullback Daimon Shelton running routes, Losman efficiently completing every pass with no one looking over his shoulder or putting a hand in his face.

Weather should be OK for Bills-Packers game

By local standards, the weather for Sunday's game between the Buffalo Bills and the Green Bay Packers shouldn't be that bad. The forecast calls for a chance of rain or snow showers in the morning, but things should dry out by the 1 p.m. kickoff and the temperature could reach 50 degrees.

Shelton hopes to pave the way for McGahee

It’s easy to overlook Daimon Shelton’s contribution to the Buffalo Bills offense this season. After all, through seven games this season, he has just one reception for six yards.

November 04, 2006

Packers at Bills: Five Questions With the Enemy Blogger

Had not the Bills traded up to get J.P. Losman in the '04 draft, were the Packers poised to take him? And are you glad the Packers did not?