A little switch from my typical quarter by quarter review of the Bills game. I was traveling a bit yesterday and was visiting with family while “kind of” watching the second half. So while I saw some plays, or lack there of, during the last 30 minutes of the game, I don’t think I can properly dissect the whole thing as usual. But I still have some observations that I’d like to share. Overall, a terribly disappointing game for our Bills. If this was a prize fight, we were basically knocked out after taking a beating for 12 rounds. Does this mean we won’t make the playoffs? It’s too early to jump off the bridge yet, folks. We have a softer schedule the last 8 weeks and what’s important is how our young players come out the next few games and respond. Do they wither and die like recent Bills teams or do they rebound and show they can hang with the best of the them after all? Maybe the Jets showed they are a much better team, but it’s still only one week and I’m looking forward to the rematch in NJ to see where we really stand vs them.
Random thoughts in no order whatsoever:
– On the WGR post game show, I heard Sal Capaccio mention that this game was on Chan Gailey’s shoulders due to play calling and basic philosophy during the game planning. Chan himself even pointed the finger at himself for not having his players properly prepared to execute on the field. The idea here is that unlike the first 7 weeks, the Bills did not dictate play themselves but let the Jets’ skill and strengths limit our play calling. I can see that. I know Darrelle Revis is the best CB in the league but that doesn’t mean you can’t throw to Stevie sparingly in games like this. If Stevie is to be an elite WR, he has to face that challenge of Revis and make plays. There also seemed to be a tentative aspect of the offensive play calling, not the aggressive, up tempo play we’ve seen all season. And since the running game seemed to be working slightly better than the passing game, more Freddy would have been nice. This guy has been your MVP and win or lose you need to ride him.
– The defense? Just poor play again. I wouldn’t say the Jets have a fearsome offense and I actually picked the Bills to win just because of that fact. But they can run the ball and simply dominated us on the line of scrimmage physically. Yes they had much less yardage than the two games last season, but if you can’t get off the field on those long drives it adds up to a bad day. Mark Sanchez looked like his haphazard self on a couple throws, namely the INT to Byrd, but I don’t think we created enough pressure to make him uncomfortable. These are problems that have existed all season long and aren’t going away.
– Our corners continue to play several yards off the line of scrimmage, and that basically indicates the coaching staff doesn’t have enough confidence in their skill level to press their receivers. I can’t say I blame them.
– Fitz was bad, but again I would like to see more shots down the field to open things up. We may not have that true deep talent, Donald Jones was in but it was his first week back, but you still need to try a few deep. Spiller needs to be utilized in this fashion, as he was vs Washington.
– The officiating was questionable, especially on the overruling of George Wilson’s interception, but I’m just not going to go there too much right now. When you’re completely dominated, one or two calls are not going to tilt the game in your favor.
– The problem on offense wasn’t just the play calling and Fitz playing poorly, as usual sure handed players like Freddy and David Nelson were dropping easy catches.
– Please do a QB sneak on 4th and 1 plays, Bills!
– Curious that we didn’t use Brad Smith against his former team in the Wildcat. Perhaps the Jets know his tendencies, but it kind of shows the Bills were indeed playing a little scared on Sunday.
– Marcell Dareus had his hands full with a Pro Bowl caliber center in Nick Mangold. While I still think Dareus is better suited at NT, he’s going to have weeks like this when it’s just not quite as easy when you’re playing upper echelon players. But it’ll only make him better facing challenges like this.
– I was ticked when LT called us “the same old Bills” before the game, but until we can play at a higher level in these important games, he’s right.
I’m really looking forward to next week. It’s not going to be an easy game, but it’s always fun to see how adversity affects certain kind of players. I still think there’s something special about this team and we’ll see a strong bounce back game. The Cowboys are not an elite team, but the Bills have also not played particularly well on the road. But dropping 2 straight at this point of the season would be difficult and at the very least I expect a much better effort. Not just that, but I’d be surprised if we lose and hopefully that’s the mentality the team is taking.
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