Archives for November 18, 2008

‘Talk about taking the air out of the charged-up sellout crowd.’

‘Then a great run after the catch by Marshawn Lynch got the Bills back into the game. It was a short swing pass that Lynch caught at the line of scrimmage. It looked like Lynch broke a bunch of tackles. But actually it was just nifty cuts toward the middle of the field and a burst of speed up the middle that allowed him to elude at least five Browns. Lynch bulled into the end zone for an 18-yard TD catch. It was Lynch’s first TD reception of his career.’

‘Phil Dawson might as well be the Abominable Snowman as far as the Buffalo Bills are concerned.’

‘The Bills played it conservative on their final drive when they got down to the Cleveland 34 after a 22-yard pass from Trent Edwards to Robert Royal. They ran three straight Lynch runs into the line that gained 2 yards apiece. The way Edwards’ night was going, should they have put the ball in his hands and let him throw downfield? Hmm. In hindsight, some sort of safe short pass would have been preferable to putting all the heat on Lindell.’

‘Passing game: F: Edwards is regressing, threw three interceptions in first quarter to put team in big hole. Anyone seen Lee Evans, by the way?’

‘”It’s going to depend on your passion for this team,” he told the crowd in the HSBC Arena Harbour Club, citing the team’s regionalization efforts that have helped expand its market to the Southern Tier, Rochester and Southern Ontario.’

‘The Bills got in position for a 47-yard field goal try by Rian Lindell with 38 seconds left but the kick sailed just barely wide to the right.’

‘"I naturally get the ball up pretty high anyway," he said. "I was more focused on the line. I had a 50-plus against Washington to tie it and I got it too much and left the ball out to the right, which you do when you overstride. I was concentrating on staying short, trusting my technique and hitting the ball well."’

‘What he did Monday night was even more impressive when you consider the opponent. The Browns entered the game ranked third in the NFL in kickoff coverage. Bills special teams coach Bobby April said last week that Cleveland had the best combined return and coverage units in the NFL based on his own 22-category formula.’

‘Trent Edwards rarely looks more than 10 yards downfield anymore, pressured or not. He surrendered any inclination he might have had for venturing deeper into the secondary after throwing three first-quarter interceptions against the Cleveland Browns, one off a deflection, the other two off inexplicably poor decisions.’

‘How much more can Bills fans take? How many more of these heart-wrenching losses can people absorb before they throw their hands in the air and swear off football once and for all?’

‘However, Whitner only got through half the game as he re-injured his right shoulder and stayed in the locker room after halftime.’

‘Their season is on the brink and they may need to win out if they hope to qualify for the postseason for the first time in nine years.’

‘And it all might have added up to a season-saving victory if Rian Lindell had not pulled a Scott Norwood and Trent Edwards not continued producing more turnovers than a bakery.’

‘It left you thinking … where would this season be had Lynch gotten 33 touches every game?’