Archives for November 8, 2011

‘For all the great strides the Bills have made this season on offense, the defense has not progressed the way one would hope. There was a coming out party in Toronto last week against a pitiful Washington offense, but the unit has yet to show any kind of consistency.’

‘Scott Norwood’s return to Ralph Wilson Stadium was quick, quiet, and unassuming – just the way he likes it.’

‘ “In this league, you’ve got to play a full game, you’ve got to play 60 minutes. In the past we’ve played 30 minutes and snuck away with a win but that’s not going to happen every week.”‘

‘A Clay man returning from a Buffalo Bills game was charged Sunday with felony driving while intoxicated with a child in the car, state police said.’

‘The Bills converted just 3 of 11 (27 percent) on third down in Sunday 27-11 loss to the Jets.’

‘So at the midpoint of his second season, Spiller is wandering into bust territory. No other running back has gone in the top 10 in the last three drafts. Nowadays, a back has to be a rare talent to go that high, a difference-maker.’

‘Williams has missed the team’s last three games because of a foot injury, believed to be bone spurs irritating his Achilles tendon.’

‘Much to the dismay of those who expected otherwise and would love to call us out for being glass half-empty jerks, I’m not burying the Bills either. They had a lousy game, their first one of the year. I thought they’d have a few of those by now, and not be 5-3, so good for them.’x

This was Buffalo’s biggest test on home turf since 2004 and it flopped. From here on in, with the spotlight that accompanies a playoff race becoming more intense with each passing game, can the Bills learn to win when the stage continues to grow?

“I don’t know if I’m ready to go there yet,” Gailey said. “I’ll be honest with you. I think we have the makeup to be that. We were not that (Sunday).”

‘”I know Buffalo maybe has a bad rep, but the people in that city treated us so well everywhere we went,” said the Regina-based Morrison. “They took us under their wing, so to speak, and they showed us a great time. It was a trip of a lifetime.”‘

‘Coach Chan Gailey says the injury to kicker Rian Lindell’s(notes) right shoulder is “not good,” and the team will try out replacements this week. Gailey ruled out Lindell from playing at Dallas on Sunday, but wouldn’t say whether the injury was season-ending.’

‘Scott hopes the allegations are false. If true, then the nine-year NFL veteran says he’ll pray for the victims and their families because what’s being alleged is “just bad.”‘

‘Now Gailey has to find a way to get the Bills prepared for a three-game road swing that starts with a stop in Dallas, moves on to Miami and finishes back in New Jersey with a rematch against the Jets. It is a pivotal time in Buffalo’s schedule and could determine if the Bills are going to remain in the chase for a playoff berth that has eluded them for 11 consecutive seasons.’

‘Chan Gailey had a bad day calling plays, and he admitted it. He was not able to find any chinks in the Jets’ armor and he made some puzzling decisions, most notably not sneaking Fitzpatrick on fourth-and-inches deep in Jets territory in the fourth quarter. He called for a run to Jackson which was stuffed. On defense, the Bills did a better job against the run, but they allowed Mark Sanchez to make plays in key situations as New York pounded out 24 first downs.’