Archives for December 8, 2014

‘So why am I being such a grinch 17 days before Christmas? Because while fans have every right to keep the faith for as long as their team’s playoff chances flicker, the Bills face a much more serious issue than microscopic odds to make the post-season. As in quarterback.’

‘All the Bills needed to do was be sound and efficient on both sides of the ball. They were neither.’

‘When the game was in doubt, though, Orton wasn’t up to it. The fact is, he needed to be great for the Bills to pull the upset. He was terrible.’

‘Hughes said the coaches told to him to “just cool down, drink some water, clear my head, collect my thoughts.” He had plenty of time because he didn’t play much after that.’

‘The play-calling wasn’t the problem. The Bills’ run game isn’t good enough to merit more rushing attempts against a quality foe like Denver. The Bills miss C.J. Spiller in a big way.’

‘Down by 21-3, the Bills were trying to climb back into it. On a first-down play from the Denver 19, Orton threw for Robert Woods on a skinny post to the left. Woods was unable to press Harris to the outside before making his cut inside. Harris returned the INT 38 yards to set up a field goal.’

‘Bills coach Doug Marrone punted on fourth and 2 from the Buffalo 16-yard line with less than 6 minutes to go and his team down 14 points. Marrone fooled everyone earlier in the game going for it on fourth down in Denver territory, but reverted to form with any chance of winning the game on the line.’

‘I’d love to give Doug Marrone credit for benching defensive end Jerry Hughes for unsportsmanlike conduct. But Marrone claimed Hughes’ absence for much of the game was not for disciplinary reasons. Then why was Hughes off the field for all but two plays in the third quarter? Fourth-down decisions remain dubious.’

‘”I felt like it was a game we could win,” said defensive back Corey Graham, who intercepted one Manning pass and also recovered a Jacob Tamme fumble in the red zone that kept it a 14-3 game at halftime. “I wasn’t overly impressed (by the 10-3 Broncos); we made plays, but we didn’t make enough.”‘

‘Forget his numbers – Orton was awful for most of the game.’

‘The Bills lost a game that most felt they would lose, and thanks to a garbage-time fourth-quarter rally made it look closer than it probably was. This game came down to two things: The offense’s inability to get anything going early, and huge penalties that cost Buffalo points for and against.’

‘Putting up the big numbers was former Broncos QB Kyle Orton: 38 of 57 for 355 yards. He led the Bills (7-6) on two long TD drives in the fourth quarter after they’d fallen behind 21-3.’

‘Hughes’ lack of playing time led to a couple of questions: What did he do to earn the flag? And why was one of the team’s best defensive players spending so much time on the sideline, helmet unbuckled and far away from the action knowing he wouldn’t be going into the game?’