Archives for November 8, 2016

'So a post-season berth would be a heavy lift … as in going 6-1 the rest of the way with no guarantee that 10-6 would make the playoffs.'

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'It also was another prime time when the Bills' secondary let them down. Badly. Similar to their Thursday night loss against the New York Jets in Week Two, the Bills' biggest problem was their secondary. Specifically, it was their secondary's inability to deal with Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham, who made a pair of amazing, one-handed grabs in the back of the end zone.'

'"I felt comfortable out there," he said. "Relaxed. Confident, able to play my game and the ball kept finding me. Just playing my game, playing comfortable."'

'The answer seems to be that because quarterback Tyrod Taylor had scrambled outside of the pocket on the play, he became a runner, which gives defenders privileges to hit receivers as if they are blocking for a runner.'

'Because a trainer came out to check on Carpenter after the hit, he had to leave the game for one play. The Bills spiked the ball to count as the play Carpenter would miss, but referees were late resetting the ball after Carpenter got back on the field, which resulted in a delay of game penalty being assessed after Carpenter had hit the kick. With the kick moved back to a 54-yard attempt, Carpenter missed wide right, keeping the score 28-17 Seahawks at halftime.'

'How could anyone complain about boring football if the Bills were a regular nightly feature? Their pass defense is a perfect antidote for dull games. They turn every night game into a shootout, every quarterback into a superstar.'

'They were supposed to be the cornerstones of this defense, but have become liabilities. The defense wasted what was a valiant effort by quarterback Tyrod Taylor, wide receiver Robert Woods and the rest of the offense.'

'You’re left wondering how much faith the Bills truly have in Taylor. Anthony Lynn’s answer, with the Bills down six points and facing a third-and-20 situation from the Seattle 43, was a draw play for LeSean McCoy rather than a pass from his quarterback.'

'Despite winning the time of possession battle by an overwhelming 40:17 to 19:43, the Bills allowed too many big pass plays that ultimately did them in. The Seahawks were able to move the ball effectively through the air, with Russell Wilson completing 20 of 26 passes for 282 yards and a pair of touchdowns to tight end Jimmy Graham.'

'The loss was the Bills' third in a row, dropping their record to 4-5 and extending their losing streak on Monday Night Football to six games.'

'Of all the games left on the Buffalo Bills' schedule, the one they could most afford to lose was Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks. What they could not afford to lose were center Eric Wood, a series of misguided verdicts from the officiating crew and their composure.'

'Then the game went from wild to feral before my eyes.'

'It was an outstanding quarterbacking exhibition. Taylor was 27 of 38 for 289 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Wilson was 20 of 26 for 282 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Taylor rushed for 43 yards and one TD. Wilson rushed for 10 yards and one TD. Call it a draw.'

'About those “elite” cornerbacks the Bills are supposed to employ … what happened to them? It was Ronald Darby’s turn this week to get beat on a bomb, which he did when Doug Baldwin got behind him for a 50-yard gain to set up the Seahawks’ first touchdown. His pass-interference penalty also set up the Seahawks’ go-ahead touchdown in the second quarter, earning him a spot on the bench. The secondary desperately misses safety Aaron Williams, but that’s not enough to explain away that first half.'