Bills vs Pats Preview

Are you ready for some football? And a butt kicking? ehh… Well that’s what most likely will happen tonight when the Bills play the Pats in the season opener. The Bills haven’t beaten the Patriots since the season opener way back in 2003, and the last two times Tom Brady played against the Bills he threw for 9 touchdowns. I’m predicting nothing short of a blood bath to be honest. The stars are aligned for Brady to return from a career threatening injury to show the world he’s back. But for s#$ts and giggles, here is how the Bills can keep it close.

The only way to slow down Tom Brady is by getting into his face. That’s how the Giants pulled off the biggest upset in Super Bowl history. Unfortunately for the Bills, Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay aren’t Michael Straham and Osi Umenyiora. If the Bills decide to just run a four man pass rush for the game, I’m going to be double fisting jack and cokes to ease the pain. The Bills have to blitz, in fact they have to live by it. Perry Fewell has to get creative and blitz line backers, safties, and corners. Jauron is suppose to be this defense guru with the cover 2. It’s time to cover at least 2 defensive bodies on Brady’s ass.

Fred Jackson finished his 2008 season in a very impressive fashion. He started for an injured Marshawn Lynch, and rush for 134 yards on 27 carries against… the Patriots. The Bills need a heavy dose of Fred Jackson to not only ease the pressure of Edwards, but to keep the Patriots prolific offense off the field. The next 3 games are going to be huge for Jackson with Lynch on suspension. I’ve been saying for a while if Jackson plays suberb, he may supplant Lynch in the starting line-up. It’s Jackson’s time to shine, and maybe even get a raise.

So long Bruschi, Harrison, Seymour, and Vrabel. The Patriots defense is in transition. Don’t get me wrong, a Belichick transition would be equivalent to the Bills making the playoffs. But the Patriots are younger in a lot of key spots, and did have one of the worse passing defenses in the NFL last year. The Pats still do have Bills killer, Vince Wilfork whom has eating alive every center the Bills have had. If the Bills are going to be competitive in this game it’s going to be them executing against a new Patriots defense. 

Well you can’t go through a preview of the Bills without mentioning Terrell Owens. Owens is the only thing Bills fans have been holding their hats to since March. T.O. is the reason fans are confident (although shrinking confidence) that the team can maybe end a 9 year drought of not making the playoffs. But more importantly Owens should be able to take some of the pressure away from Lee Evans, who has had some god awful games against the Patriots. It should be the first time Evans won’t be facing a double team since his first 2 years with the Bills. Evans hasn’t been the same since his breakout 2006 season, where he had almost 1,300 yards and 12tds. Since being recognized, Evans has been virtually invisible in last 2 years, averaging only 59 catches and less than 1,000 yards receiving. It’s time for Evans to give the Bills a return investment on the 4-year 40 million dollar contract he signed last year. 

Even before the Bills decided to whack their offensive coordinator and Left Tackle, and Trent Edwards went into crisis mode with his confidence, I wasn’t a fan of the opening game against the Patriots on national TV. Fans can be optimistic all they want about how it’s better to play the Pats the first game of the year, rather than down the stretch. I don’t buy that logic, as a matter of fact, Belichick and Brady have been preparing for this game since January. The Pats are all about making statements. How could we forget the team running up the score during the 2007 season. The Bills offense I think will put some points up, but the defense will whittle away in the spot light and the pressure Brady will put on them.

Patriots-41

Bills-23