Archives for November 26, 2012

‘The Bills did not have to be great to be in a position to make the playoffs. Wins over the Titans and Colts would make them 6-5 right now and you would be all fired up for these very winnable games against the Jags and Rams. But the Bills couldn’t even give you the gift of hope for Christmas. These last 5 games were supposed to be the run to ending the playoff drought at 13 years. Instead it’s becoming a referendum on Chan Gailey and the entire coaching staff going forward.’

‘The Bills held Indianapolis to 312 total yards of offense and just 13 points. The other seven came off a punt returned 75 yards for a touchdown by T.Y. Hilton. Buffalo’s front four had another impressive effort holding the Colts to 87 yards rushing and registering four sacks.’

‘Buffalo is in desperate need of a new coach and a quality quarterback and understand neither of the incumbents will be changed this year. Meanwhile, we’re stuck with watching unexciting excuse-making football for five more excruciating games.’

‘But the Bills called 37 pass plays and just 21 runs.’

‘The coach is second-rate. The quarterback is second-rate.’

‘”You watch other games, and you see guys making two or three 50s in a game,” Lindell said. “I want to play, too.”‘

‘The Bills had first down at the Colts’ 32 with 5:27 left. Then came a pass for minus-4 yards and an interception induced by pressure on Fitzpatrick. A run would have been nicer on either play.’

‘Gailey still can’t seem to figure out how to maximize two star-quality running backs. He badly mismanaged his time at the end of the first half and cost Buffalo three points. Backed up on the 8-yard line, his play-calling failed to gain a first down or force Indy to burn its timeouts. Gailey also declined to try a 52-yard field goal in a dome about four minutes into the second quarter, choosing instead to punt from Indy’s 34-yard line.’

‘Not to burst Gailey’s bubble, but the Bills should never – and let’s repeat, never – be compared to the Giants, at least not during the past decade-plus, and quite possibly in the decade to come.’

‘Chan Gailey is losing me. I’m sure he’s already lost many of you. He made some decisions in this game that defied explanation.’

‘Spiller carried only 14 times, but he gained 107 yards. Fred Jackson carried six times for 16 yards. What are we missing here? For much of the game it seemed like Spiller was inactive rather than active. It’s mind-boggling why he’s not on the field every play in the fourth quarter.’

‘Chan Gailey is in a slump. He has not had a good month or so. Not allowing Lindell to try the 52-yarder in a dome was foolish. His clock management at the end of the first half was abhorrent and it cost the Bills three points. Not keeping Spiller in the game and active is an ongoing mystery. And the repetitive use of empty backfield sets just makes it easy for the defense to know what’s coming, and that’s usually short passes which can be defended.’

‘For the Bills, who haven’t won in Indy since 1998, this was a bitter pill to swallow. They’ve fallen to 4-7 and that faint hope for a playoff spot is all but gone.’

‘C.J. Spiller looked explosive and dynamic which is nothing new. He gained 107 yards on just 14 carries (7.6 average) which is great, but Gailey again was unwilling to give him the ball. Twenty-five touches should be the minimum for Spiller.’

‘C.J. Spiller had a great game, even though he only touched the ball 15 times — 14 rushes and one catch. He had more than 100 total yards again and when he touched the ball, he made plays. The Bills needed to get him the ball more and in a one or two-score game, there’s no excuse for it. He should have touched the ball 20 or 25 times. He didn’t. That’s Chan Gailey’s fault.’