Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards throws against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of the NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday Sept. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/ David Duprey)
The trick plays, the defensive harassment, the big play to seal it... Week Two's win over the Buccaneers felt a lot like 2008's home opener against Seattle.
With that in mind, let's talk about the game that was...
-- Let's not wait to talk about Trent Edwards: He made me feel a whole bunch better with his performance. There were some snafus and all, but I've often said that to win you need to have a quarterback at least as good as Matt Hasselbeck in his prime, and Edwards' day was very much in the vein. Hasselbeckian, if you will.
-- By the way, those who thought critics were crazy to suggest the Bills might want to have Edwards to stretch the field... about that. Derek Schouman's productivity in the middle of the field was not a coincidence. It was also a huge relief to see No. 5 take another stab downfield after the interception, too. This is something I feel very comfortable attributing to Turk Schonert's dismissal and Alex Van Pelt's, uh, gusto.
-- You ladies and gentlemen at the stadium sounded loud. Good work.
-- Week Two confirms it: The Bills run defense is nasty. Tampa's stable of backs -- Cadillac Williams, Earnest Graham and Derrick Ward -- is better than the Patriots' group, and Buffalo was still all over it.
-- As for the pass defense, I think Byron Leftwich is going to find bruises all over his body Monday, and more than usual. He made a bunch of terrible throws with a couple of very heady plays mixed in. If you asked me to categorize his performance, I'd say the up-and-down play I'd say it was very Losmanian.
-- Reggie Corner's fourth-quarter force out of Maurice Stovall on a jump ball in the end zone should be noted, and may be lost after Tampa converted a touchdown moments later.
-- Bryan Scott's interception almost certainly wasn't. As I "tweeted" during the game; "Fortuitous officials' decisions, creative playcalling and two picks from safeties? Who is this masked team?"
-- Assuming he doesn't vandalize someone's house or bring his own drugs into a Chippewa bar, I can't wait for Marshawn Lynch to get back and form a brutal one-two punch with Fred Jackson. I'm getting a lot of "Trade Marshawn" texts, but look around the league and see the tandems and trios doing work for good NFL teams. Xavier Omon is a young back, and not nearly the change of pace the team needs. Now, as a No. 3? Sure. But if the Bills deal Lynch, they better have another running back in mind to pair with "Fast and Furious Freddie" (There was a tee-shirt in the locker room Friday with that saying).
Jackson has adopted, or co-opted, Lynch's "always keep the legs pumping" mentality. If we continue with the classifications, you might say it's very Craigian (As in, Roger). By the way, how about the fact that for five years, San Francisco's starting running back and baseball manager had the same name? That's way harder than the Jason/Andrew Peters thing we had to deal with here in Buffalo.
-- The paranoid part of me says we should thank all that is good that Terrell Owens got himself a touchdown after dropping that big bomb early. Combine that drop with the fact that up to that point the Bills receivers had three catches and, oh, boy.
-- On that big drop: they showed a replay in the second half, and you could tell Owens had a visor on his helmet. When they shot back to the current play, no visor. Just saying.
-- Wasn't it nice to see a bunch of those Tampa players in long sleeves? Fellas... come on.
-- Tampa's two-minute warning field goal encroachment call was the team's eleventh penalty of the night, and pushed their total to 97 yards. I spent the next two minutes hoping they'd cross the century mark more than anything else. Then, they did it! Thanks to all who participated!
-- The injuries are a real concern moving forward. Leodis McKelvin, Brad Butler and two tight ends, one of whom may be out for the season (Derek Schouman). Let's hope Shawn Nelson, Butler and McKelvin are better for New Orleans.
-- My fantasy team, Chest Hair Casserole, would like to thank its manager for playing Buffalo defense, Rian Lindell, Lee Evans and Trent Edwards today. It was a brilliant move.
-- Big ups to Lew-Port's Darryl Johnston and the FOX crew for giving Buffalo a minute-long tourism PSA on the weather in Buffalo and the hospitality of Western New Yorkers. Also, big ups to FOX for showing that high school picture of Johnston when he looked like a mutant Patrick Kane.
Also, I really did enjoy Johnston as a color commentator, and after hearing Tony Siragusa give a mouth-band version of AC/DC's "Hells Bells" while setting up a plate of lasagne in the Bills media room on Friday, I've got a tiny soft spot for him, too.
-- I want more games like today, where the Bills would only be getting the ball back late to kneel it down and I'm wishing there was more time to watch the offense work.
-- FYI, and I must've missed this, good man Copeland Bryan signed with the Lions.
Stat line I enjoyed:
-- Fred Jackson, 28 carries, 163 yards; six catches, 25 yards; one fumble
As much as I wanted to put Edwards in this space, Jackson was unreal. As much as I don't want them to deal Lynch unless they can get a decent tailback in return, Jackson is literally impossible to miss. He's an incredible guy in the locker room, and has already made me forget the whole "give me more money" thing. I'm glad they gave him more money, and clearly the guy wasn't just playing for a contract. Stat line I didn't enjoy:
Kellen Winslow, seven catches, 90 yards, TD
-- After the Ben Watson fiasco -- and with Jeremy Shockey coming to town -- it would've been nice to see the Bills linebackers get a little better on the whole "cover the tight end" thing. I have concerns about this. Several. Or one. Whatever.
Game ball:
You know what? The obvious answer is Jackson, but I want to give some love to two members of the Bills secondary. Donte Whitner and Terrence McGee have taken their games to the next level in terms of big hitting and tackling. I'm very much feeling it. Huge credit to management for having the guts to move Whitner to free safety. Also, Bryan Scott is a guy who's been a class act in the locker room for a while, so it's nice to see him make nice plays in consecutive weeks (He stopped the two-point conversion in Week One against the Pats).
Lastly...
Sweet goodness did we need this. Get healthy, fellas!
Next week: It's going to be bombs away at the Ralph when Drew Brees and his superhuman productivity come to town. The Saints have made both Philadelphia and Detroit look terrible. I'd like to think Buffalo's pass defense is closer to Philly than the Lions, but either way, it'll be a challenge. Look for Buffalo's run defense to look a little less stout as they focus on the pass. Also, look for Buffalo try and chew on the play clock and strike first. Will it work? I'm not so sure. New Orleans 32, Buffalo 24.
Let's type about it: nick@wgr550.com
1. Usually, if you're on the East Coast and they give you a 4:00pm game, it means the TV Network cares about it.
2. More Tailgate time.
3. I get to sleep in a bit on Sunday.
09/20/2009 9:06PM
That it is Edward
Good game although I'm concerned they don't let #5 throw into the endzone from inside the oppopents 10. Other than Lee Evans one handed grab last year were there any others ever ?
09/20/2009 9:17PM
Glad Donte Whitner got some revenge
It's nice to see this young man with passion for what he does and today he certainly made himself known, my hat goes off to that guy.
09/20/2009 9:18PM
oline
credit to the OLine opening up space for Jackson. Tght ends are killing us and we need to imrove on this and fast.
09/20/2009 9:22PM
props to the defense
in two games thus far, the tackling has been excellent
09/20/2009 9:24PM
it was tampa..
lets not get carried away here folks, next week its the saints, a real team..
09/20/2009 9:33PM
re:tampa
Tampa at home. Glad they won, won convincingly and all that, but they will need the A game next week, steamrollers don't just stop on their own and NO is steamrolling now.
09/20/2009 9:35PM
Saints
Bills are going to have to go hard all game next week and figure out the tight end situation fast. They will need to keep the ball on the ground as much as possible, eat that clock and keep wonder boy and the flying circus off the field as much as possible.
09/20/2009 9:40PM
It's Not Easy Tweeting Drunk Nick
That was an interception by Scott. When you are straight, watch it again unless you forgot to DVR it. Next home game, drink coffee.
09/20/2009 9:42PM
obviously
nice game obviously. They're home again, but they're banged up. They may have to resort to a couple "trick" plays just to keep NO honest and to keep them off kilter. As much as I'd like to see them pressure Brees with Blitz packages he's got too many weapons and he won't make many mistakes. The Bills need to play nasty defense all game to have a shot at winning.
And the Bills special teams will need to win field position consistently...
09/20/2009 9:54PM
Re: I Like The 4:00pm Games
You must work days. Not fair if you work nights. Keep it at 1:00 PM. DVR what you miss fool or take Sundays off!
09/20/2009 10:05PM
reality
one bad team beat a worst team, blog about that
09/20/2009 10:11PM
Trade Lynch for a
D lineman and/or LB. Re-sign Rhodes.
09/20/2009 10:53PM
atmosphere
the crowd today was different...more relaxed than usual...not to "hyped up" from the later start time..but just felt good there...like we knew the Bills would win and all we had to do was cheer and the worries weren't there..not sure if that had to dowith how much Tampa sucks right now or confidence in the Bills..but felt good whatever the reason
09/20/2009 11:01PM
Re: 3rd downs...
The third downs were fine defensively (4-16) it was the 4th downs that are concerning (3-4) which puts the 3rd/4th down conversion to 7-20. The D works too hard to stop them on 3rd to only give it up on 4th. Secure that up, and we're a pretty good defense.
09/21/2009 1:04AM
Trade Lynch??????
Every good team has at least two running backs that contribute a lot...keep Lynch and start KILLING TEAMS!!!!
09/21/2009 1:17AM
mendola is sad
few things since i'm sure mendola will make this 'facinating' columns weekly. nobody cares about your fantasy team and its attempted funny team name. and the san francisco comment along w/ the peters one makes me want to leave the website as oppose tocontinue to browse. rediculous. you have opinions and thats fine. leave all the other crap and your predictions to yourself for the sake of EVERYBODY else.
09/21/2009 9:49AM
re: trade lynch
Great teams become great by accumulating high draft pics. Lynch is not only a character liability but his running style suggests he won't last long in this league. If i can get a first or second rounder for him i do it. We need the pics. Oman can't be a second back? NE will be better down the raod because they traded Seymour
09/21/2009 10:40AM
mendola doesn't sound sad.
usually when I don't care to read what someone has to say, I don't. although I just read what you had to say so I guess i'm wrong on that. I find nick's comments to be rather entertaining and it helps get me through the mundane work day. Keep it up!
09/21/2009 3:58PM
Copeland Bryan
Nick, You really missed it. He didn't sign with Detroit, but rather was claimed off waivers when we cut him. Unfortunately, a good mve by Detroit IMO.
09/22/2009 10:18PM
Mendola not sad?!?!
Whe elected you the representitive for EVERYBODY else?
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