Buffalo Bills News - November 20, 2008

Strategy and personnel [6:03 AM]
The Sports Xchange reports: 'The Bills (5-5), losers of five of their last six, would see their slim playoffs chances all but end with a loss to upset-minded Kansas City (1-9). The Bills need to shake the emotional damage of a four-game losing streak fast. The Chiefs have lost their last four by margins of just 4, 3, 1 and 10 points and have scattered playmakers capable of giving Buffalo matchup problems. Young QB Tyler Thigpen (10 TDs, five INTs) has terrific ball skills but is prone to being sacked. Alas, that's what the Bills don't do very well with Aaron Schobel (foot) out. This is no time to hold off on the blitz. Offensively, the Bills will finally see a 4-3 look, which most of their success came early against. The Chiefs can take the ball away, but they've also given up 4,025 yards, 205 first downs, 30 TDs and are allowing 5.1 yards per carry. If a struggling Trent Edwards can't get on track against this defense, the Bills can start scouting QBs in next year's draft.'

Notes, quotes [6:02 AM]
The Sports Xchange reports: '"We don't try to hide from the fact that we haven't played up to the standards that we've set for ourselves recently, but we're still the team that played that way early to get us where we are. So here we are, and now we have to take the whole bundle and set it aside and just focus on this week. That's part of the process, too. You have to be able to do that, regardless of how painful the losses have been. Regardless of how close in proximity the recent one is. You have to get by it. It's not easy; it's not easy to get by the loss and to get on with the project, but you have to do it. We have to do it if we're going to have any chance to take what we've done, the good and the bad, to take the whole thing and move to the next game." -- Coach Dick Jauron, on his club's mental state after starting 5-1 then going 0-4, putting its playoff chances in major jeopardy.'

Silver Lining [6:01 AM]
Wellsville Daily Reporter reports: 'But for once, Lynch and Jackson were rewarded for their combination of power and elusiveness. “We wanted to take it upon ourselves to try and have a good game,” said Jackson, who gained 60 yards on 12 carries, but had a key third-quarter fumble deep in Browns’ territory Monday night. “We were able to do so, but didn’t make enough plays obviously.”'

Contribute to Two Bills Drive! - Submit Bills Articles and Videos!

November 19, 2008

Bills vs. Chiefs Preview [10:09 PM]
BillsDaily.com reports: 'Chiefs 16, Bills 13.'

Buffalo (5-5) at Kansas City (1-9) [10:09 PM]
AP reports: '“You start seeing things that you’re not really seeing, and you’re doing things that you’re not normally used to doing,” Edwards said. “Right now, I don’t really have any good answers.”'

Losses taking their toll on Bills’ Edwards [9:47 PM]
Olean Times Herald reports: 'Edwards’ body language said, “How did something that started so well go so bad?”'

Bills WR Evans questions offensive play-calling [9:44 PM]
AP reports: '"It doesn't matter what they do. You have to come out there and play," Evans said. "If it's running the football, it's running the football. If it's throwing, it's throwing. You've got to be able to just make it work."'

Injuries mounting for reeling Bills [5:14 PM]
AP reports: 'Starting safety Donte Whitner, his backup Bryan Scott, and starting cornerback Jabari Greer missed practice Wednesday, leaving their status uncertain for the Bills game at Kansas City on Sunday.'

Football book makes Bills fans want to shout [2:00 PM]
Niagara Gazette reports: 'Whether a newbie Bills fan or a die-hard devotee, this book — which comes with an audio CD of additional interviews — offers a pleasant trip down memory lane while likely educating readers on at least a couple facets of the team’s history. Bills fans won’t want to miss it.'

Wednesday's Kansas City Coverage [8:27 AM]
TwoBillsDrive.com reports:
Ending Chiefs’ losing streak is in players’ hands (Kansas City Star)
Gailey, system deserve more credit than Thigpen (Kansas City Star)
Herm’s terms (Kansas City Star)
Herm Edwards Press Conference - 11/18 (KCChiefs.com)
Tickets Available for Sunday's Game vs Buffalo (KCChiefs.com)
Chiefs vs Bills - Game 11 (KCChiefs.com)
Leaking everywhere (KCChiefs.com)

Few steals, few sacks, fewer wins for Bills [7:35 AM]
RealFootball365.com reports: 'Take their last game. While Buffalo’s offense notably lost the ball four times against the Browns, almost as alarming is the fact that the turnover margin for the game was minus-4: The defense couldn’t manage a takeaway on the evening.'

How Good is This Guy? Vol. II [7:34 AM]
WGR-AM reports: 'Again, he's been miserable with a capital M. So, Miserable. Edwards looked scared on Monday Night, and had Lee Evans open all night, and passed to him once. I'm not heaping his issues on the coaching staff at all, either. Edwards has been bad. All I'm saying, after four weeks of complaining myself, is that if you're selling your 100 shares of Edwards, I might just be buying 20-30 of them.'

Lee Evans Speaks [7:34 AM]
WGR-AM reports: '"Even with the soft zones and trying to throw, there were still opportunities to make some plays. It's not that you can't throw against a soft zone but you have to be able to run it a little bit and be able to mix in the pass a little bit to really be effective."'

Patience a needed virtue for young Browns, Bills [7:33 AM]
The Sporting News reports: 'It has been a long time, but it's important for both franchises and their fans to be patient. Each team can build around a core of talented skill players. That means the franchises' front offices should avoid drastic measures and stick with Romeo Crennel and Dick Jauron as their respective coaches.'

A cavalcade of big plays in prime time [6:52 AM]
Buffalo News reports: 'The Bills rediscovered a running game and both of their touchdown-scoring drives were led by the legs of Lynch and Fred Jackson. They also got a huge game from McKelvin on kickoff returns. But the Browns made their share of plays, from the three interceptions of quarterback Edwards to impressive touchdown runs by Josh Cribbs and Harrison.'

No catch: get the ball to Evans [6:51 AM]
Buffalo News reports: 'Evans had more in common with the fans in the stands than his teammates in the huddle Monday, which is to say he had no catches and spent the game waving his arms and wondering why he wasn’t getting the ball. It snapped a streak of 67 games with at least one reception and marked just the second time in his career that he was shut out.'

Stadium arrests fewer than feared [6:50 AM]
Buffalo News reports: 'Orchard Park police, Erie County sheriff’s deputies and stadium security logged a total of 60 arrests. Seven of those were for underage drinking.'

Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards isn't giving the team much chance to win [6:49 AM]
Rochester D&C reports: 'Naturally all the blame cannot be laid at his suddenly happy feet, but he has not been efficient, nor has he been very good, and the Bills are suffering because of it.'

Edwards must work through funk [6:48 AM]
Rochester D&C reports: 'But this much seems real — Edwards will be the next guy growing a beard and shuffling his feet around One Bills Drive if the coaches don't start helping this kid. Oh, wait. He already has the beard. And he is shuffling his feet in the pocket.'

Lynch, running game finally get going [6:47 AM]
Niagara Gazette reports: '“We talk every week about getting the run game going,” tackle Langston Walker said. “Sometimes situations don’t allow us to run the ball as much as we’d like to, but (Monday) was that day when we were doing well. I don’t know the stats, but it looked like Marshawn was getting out there.”'

Another one down the drain [6:46 AM]
Tonawanda News reports: 'I turn into a child throwing a temper-tantrum. I stomp, curse, pace, yell at a television set. When things get really bad on the field things within easy reach tend to go airborne. Remote controls, pillows — those are potential projectiles when the Bills are losing.'

Bills, Edwards hit slump together [6:45 AM]
Erie Times News reports: 'Even with adequate protection and an effective running game -- Lynch surpassed the 100-yard mark for the first time this season with 119 yards and Fred Jackson added 60 yards -- Edwards struggled.'

Inside slant [6:44 AM]
The Sports Xchange reports: 'Teams have found success lately in playing coverage against the Bills, and Edwards has been unable to figure out how to beat it. Because the offensive line has been struggling in every aspect, pass protection included, teams have been able to rush just four and cover with seven, sometimes eight. This has made it tough for Buffalo's receivers to get open, and Edwards has nowhere to go with the ball.'

Strategy and personnel [6:43 AM]
The Sports Xchange reports: 'It was a brutal night on the national stage for Trent Edwards.'

Notes, quotes [6:42 AM]
The Sports Xchange reports: 'SS Donte Whitner tried his best, but in the end, it could end up costing him more lost playing time.'

November 18, 2008

Monday Night Meltdown [7:24 PM]
Olean Times Herald reports: 'Does anybody really believe the Bills will win out and snatch a wild-card berth?'

Wide Right — Again [5:48 PM]
Wellsville Daily Reporter reports: '“I will remember this for 70 years probably,” a very somber Lindell said. “You just have to know what to do with them a little bit more. I missed my line really,” explained the usually accurate Bills’ kicker. “I hit the ball, had a good approach, form, snap and hold ... I just got to make that, it’s ridiculous.”'

Fear did the Bills in again [5:47 PM]
Wellsville Daily Reporter reports: 'A lot of us fell for it. We thought this team was different.'

QB Edwards' latest meltdown has Bills reeling [5:45 PM]
AP reports: '"You start seeing things that you're not really seeing, and you're doing things that you're not normally used to doing," Edwards said after the game. "Right now, I don't really have any good answers."'

Defense Covered Up For Offense Early [5:17 PM]
BillsDaily.com reports: 'Dick Jauron showed no faith in Edwards but settling for a 47 yard field goal attempt at the end instead of trying to get closer. Perry Fewell had his unit defending the short pass better by using some good blitz schemes but they still struggled to get to the quarterback. Turk Schonert is in love with the passing game. Why spread the field and pass it on 3rd and 1 in the first quarter with the QB struggling. The result another interception and another field goal for Cleveland. Grade F: They need to have some guts to mix it up.'

Page 2 of 1282 pages  <  1 2 3 4 >  Last »