Archives for November 23, 2008

‘The Bills tried to mix things up as Turk Schonert coached from upstairs in this game. There were many communication breakdowns as they wasted three timouts. Staying with the passing game when they had a big lead raised some eye brows but it worked. They ran more out of the shotgun and doing much more play action than previous weeks including doing it in the shotgun. They went to the swing passes way too often and it wasn’t working. Three times on third down they failed with swing passes. I usually don’t mind deferring on the opening kickoff but with the Bills needing a fast start and going against a weak defense they should have taken the ball. The fact that the Chiefs marched down the field and scored is a bad indictment of how prepared Perry Fewell’s defense was. They did make the right adjustments and forced four turnovers on defense. Grade B: Interesting game plan was successful.’

‘Leodis McKelvin – Took over the game when it was still in doubt with two picks, one TD, and one big kickoff return.’

‘Leodis McKelvin didn’t look like a rookie in this contest, as the first round draft pick out of Troy caught two interceptions including one that he returned for a 64-yard touchdown.’

‘Edwards finished 24-of-32 for 273 yards, helping the Bills (6-5) snap a four- game slide. Marshawn Lynch rushed for 79 yards and scored a touchdown, while Lee Evans caught five balls for 110 yards.’

‘The Bills pounced on five Kansas City turnovers and came within four points of matching their 42-year-old record for most points in a game. The previous high against the Chiefs was 51 in an overtime loss at Seattle in 1983.’

‘The last time Buffalo put up 50 points or more in a game was on Sept. 8, 1991 in a 52-34 win over Pittsburgh. The 54 points was the team’s highest point total since they scored 58 points on Sept. 18, 1966 against Miami.’

‘For the Bills, safety Donte Whitner, cornerback Jabari Greer and defensive end Aaron Schobel were inactive starters.’

‘Bills, 27-16.’

‘We’ll find out about their character now. They haven’t quit on Jauron before. But if they don’t turn it around soon, they’ll be playing for the coach’s job. Signed contract or not, Jauron is almost surely safe if they finish .500. But if they melt down completely, it’ll be hard to sell him to the ticket-buying public in ’09.’

‘Was quarterback Trent Edwards brought back into the lineup too quickly after his concussion in Arizona six weeks ago? He hasn’t been the same since. There doesn’t seem to be consensus in the medical community about how to treat recovery from concussions. Edwards had a growing reputation for quick decision-making before the injury but after the debacle against the Browns his reputation is in tatters.’

‘Because of injuries, Kansas City was forced four games ago to turn its offense over to 24-year-old second-year quarterback Tyler Thigpen. He entered the league as a seventh-round draft choice out of Coastal Carolina and got his chance with the Chiefs after Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard both were injured.’

‘”Coach (Dick) Jauron has made it known that we’re still even (.500), there are teams still below us, and if we reel off six in a row we’re right back in there,” said offensive tackle Langston Walker. “We may not win the division, but we might get a wild-card.”‘

‘Adversity has not only knocked on Edwards’ door, it has blown it off the hinges.’

‘”I need to be able to adjust to that,” Edwards said. “What’s hard is that you have your reads, you have your progressions, and then when they’re not giving you the defense you’re ready for, those change.”‘

‘Of course, this living-with-the-sister thing isn’t permanent. After all, if Edwards truly is following the Brady model, he’ll have his sister move out and a supermodel move in.’