| October 25, 2009 | « Previous Story | HOME | Next Story » | Posted at 07:58 PM |
Rookie free safety Jairus Byrd was the hero of the game as his two interceptions gave Buffalo’s offense a pair of drive starts inside the Panthers 40-yard line. Though the Bills attack struggled for a good part of the day they cashed in with a pair of touchdowns on Byrd’s two takeaways and it proved to be the difference in the game.
The Bills were able to get on the board first, as rookie free safety Jairus Byrd set Buffalo’s offense up at the Carolina 37-yard line after picking off an overthrown Jake Delhomme pass on a 1st-and-10 play at the Panthers 13-yard line. It was the third straight game in which Byrd has recorded an interception and his fourth of the season.
Two plays later Marshawn Lynch found the end zone on a seven-yard touchdown run for Buffalo’s first rushing touchdown of the season and a 7-0 first quarter lead.
The lead held up until halftime with Buffalo’s only blemish being a safety that they surrendered when Fred Jackson was dropped for a four-yard loss two yards deep in the end zone, which made it 7-2 at the half.
The score would stay that way thanks in part to a pair of missed field goals by Carolina kicker John Kasay, but Byrd would put Buffalo in position to score again late in the third quarter. Jake Delhomme fired a pass attempt deep over the middle intended for Steve Smith. The pass was slightly ahead of the receiver, who was coming across the field. He was only able to tip it with his hand and the deflected ball was collected by Byrd on a dead run.
Byrd picked the ball off at the Bills 43-yard and returned it 30 yards to the Panthers 27-yard line. Six plays later Ryan Fitzpatrick fired a bullet to Lee Evans in tight coverage on a quick slant for a two-yard touchdown. Rian Lindell’s extra point made it a 14-2 lead early in the fourth.
Buffalo’s defense then forced a four-and-out to get the ball back for the offense and Fitzpatrick hooked up with Evans again for a 50-yard pass play to set the Bills up at the Carolina 16-yard line. Rian Lindell would put a 29-yard field goal through four plays later to make it 17-2.
Carolina briefly threatened with a touchdown drive to cut the lead to eight (17-9), but the Bills responded with a field goal drive of their own with under two minutes to play to put the game out of reach.
The defense spent most of the afternoon on the field, and came up with a huge stop on a 4th-and-1 at their own 13-yard line. Jonathan Stewart tried to run behind his left tackle Jordan Gross, but was stuffed by Chris Draft and Paul Posluszny for a two-yard loss forcing a turnover on downs midway through the third quarter.
On a day when Buffalo was without their starting quarterback, their offense was hoping it could lean on its run game. And while the Bills tried to move the ball on the ground, they had very little success doing so, particularly in the first half. Buffalo had eight carries for 18 yards and it greatly compromised any chance of sustaining offensive drives.
The team’s longest first half possession lasted just six plays and covered 14 yards. It led to a dramatic time of possession advantage for the Panthers that was better than 14 minutes at the half. The Bills had two first downs in the first half.
But the Bills improved to 3-4 on the season with the win and host Houston for a 1pm kickoff next Sunday.