‘Since 2001, the Bills rank last in the NFL in both turnover differential and sack differential (excluding the second-year Houston Texans). That’s a parlay guaranteed to lose a lot of football games.’
Archives for November 16, 2003
Bills’ playoff hopes face must-win
‘And, surprisingly, the Bills’ faithful remain loyal, producing the fifth home sellout in as many games this season.’
Oh, Henry
‘The Texans have allowed an average of 137 rushing yards a game, fourth-worst in the NFL. Not surprisingly, opposing offensive coordinators are watching game tape and making it a point to exploit the Texans’ injury-depleted defensive line.’
Position-by-position matchups
‘It has become painfully obvious that the Texans can’t defend the run, and the Bills will exploit that on a day when the conditions could make it difficult to throw the ball. Buffalo’s defense has been solid, but the Texans consistently have moved the ball on good defenses this season. The offense can’t afford to leave plays on the field, as it did in last week’s loss to Cincinnati. If it does, the result will be the same.’
Fangio still has a Jones for a good challenge
‘All of which sends Fangio scrambling in against the Buffalo Bills the way he has since the start of the season, scheming and plotting and playing chess without the right number of pieces, juggling with one arm. The defense that a year ago was eighth-best overall in the league now is ranked 31st.’
Knee injuries play havoc with running back corps
‘A recent survey of NFL physicians showed that nearly 90 percent of NFL athletes who tore the ACL — the primary stabilizing ligament in the knee — were able to return to competition after surgery. That doesn’t mean all were as good as they were before their injury. The Buffalo Bills, the Texans’ opponent today, are counting on the percentages after selecting former Miami running back Willis McGahee late in the first round of this year’s draft despite serious health questions. The All-America running back, projected as a top draft pick, tore the ACL, the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) early in the fourth quarter of the Hurricanes’ 31-24 double-overtime loss to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.’