Red

IMO, the critical, last ditch chance in the game to grab back momentum and give that hard-working D a chance to breath. I will not understand the logistics in Jauron's Yale educated brain there, as to default to the NFL's hottest offense just finding its stride in the closing minutes of the game where your defense has been given it their all and are beat to shiite, reeks of incompetence. I hesistate to say that the game hinged on this play/ decision, but I think the collective wind of hope was stricken from the players proverbial sails with this lame choice.

I would also like to add that after that 1st game, I came away so excited that the Bills were so much better. But after 3 weeks of watching the Pats this season, this is not the same Pats team we are all used to. I watched some of that Atlanta game as I waited to be let down (again), and Brady's receivers are not on the same page, the defense no longer has that swagger, etc. The key, I believe, is no more Scott Pioli. I can remember an article by Larry Felser back in the heyday of the Super Bowl Bills, that we had all better enjoy it while it lasts because players such as those come around on a single team like those teams but once in a lifetime. Oh, how true it rings today. That first game, where I initially believed to speak volumes about the growth of the Bills...actually speaks more of the decline of the Pats.

That's what is so hard to determine. I think that you would be mistaken if you said that the Bills did not have passion against the Patriots. They oozed passion. Today, in their "statement game" (not my words), they came out flat and got manhandled. The 'D' once again carried the team into the 4th quarter. There was no passion on the offensive side of the ball- with the sole exception of Jackson. Parrish fumbling?!!? After Week 1, that should NEVER happen again in the return game! I can remember that 4th and short play against the Bucs last week, where Owens had to wave the punt team off, Jauron ceded to Owens and the offense, and they got the 1st down thus keeping the drive and hopes of a win alive. I must agree, that there is alot of talent on this squad now, and it is good enough to win. Right now, the Bills need a Gruden in here ripping them a new arse every time they so much as fart offsides, fumble the soap in the shower, or any other creative phrase you can think of.

Though I doubt Owens is a saint (no pun intended), this is how the media seem to operate with this guy. It's similar to walking by the Tiger cage at the zoo, and continually poking a stick at the tiger waiting for it to, well...be a tiger and snap at you. Then the media steps back, in feigned shock and terror, at how vicious and nasty an animal that tiger really is. Media: "See? I told you so..." Jerry Sullivan: "And there you have it, fans. TO is a diva receiver who only needs a little provocation to lash out", etc, etc, etc. I agree on your post; though Sullivan irritates me in general with his mercurial and often opportunistic negativity. The press is looking to start a fire and create derision for the sake of starting a fire and creating derision to SELL PAPERS! So much for objective reporting...

So, here I sit, extremely frustrated and let-down after this loss against the Saints. I want to applaud the defense. For busting their butt the past few years the way that they have only to continually, continually deal with perhaps the most inept offense in the NFL. The problem for me, I believe, is that this team is so difficult to predict. I was expecting this type of score after the Patriots game. But the all out team effort, save for a McElvin fumble, the pure hunger and drive that guys like Kyle Williams and Schobel leave on the field, the Bills deserved to win that game. Then they come out and beat a team (though there was a point in the game where the outcome seemed in doubt as the Bills once again seemed powerless to control their own fate) in Tampa that they were expected to beat. Hard to get too excited about it alone. But, the offensive line held up, the defense looked tenacious, and now we have TO AND Lee. Now here we are, 3 games into the season, and we can't get the ball to Owens or Evans for anything over 20 yards?!? Don't get me wrong, I believe in the running to set up the pass, scripting some underneath routes, screens, etc to build some flow and confidence. I just can't accept that 3 defenses only have to double up on Evans and Owens and we suddenly have no receivers. Reed finally showed up early against New Orleans. For all of his yammering to contribute to the offense, when has Parrish ever done anything on a consistent basis when on the field on offense? He is more of a liability than an asset. I don't know. What does this loss say about the team? About Edwards? I believe in AVP. I believe that this defense, given an offense to help carry the burden, is good enough to get it done. Special teams seems to have taken a hit in the return game since the rule changes were made this offseason. But they have been at the top and April has proven himself to be a shrewd special teams coach, I trust them to find a way. But this was a MAJOR step backward today. The O-line, which had been playing so hard and solid, looked like the rookies and inexperienced players that they truly are. Edwards is King of The Checkdown. I love Jackson, but if he is 50% of the offense, you have to expect teams to gameplan specifically FOR HIM. In those situations, Edwards has got to be finding SOMEBODY else to throw to. IF the Saints want to focus on Jackson, where were Evans and Owens? I'm bummed about this loss more so than any other of late. I know a season has many ups and downs. But to come out so hot and on fire as they did against the Pats, and to basically get mauled against a Saints team that- granted- is probably deep playoff material, still takes the wind right out of my sails as a fan. The Jets are now 3-0 and are for real. How Sanchez can be gold and Edwards not? There is a theme here. Is it all Jauron? Would Ralph pull the trigger, and spend the cash to actually hire a proven coach/GM like holmgren, shanahan, cowher, or gruden? Or will he continue to be a miser and promote April? This team needs to consistently feel pressure. The whole "player coach" garbage has got to go. Dick Vermeil, IMO, is the only coach of record who was dubbed a "players coach" who won anything on a regular basis. The team came out flat, got man-handled on that first drive, and for that I can fault Jauron. When does this team take the next step? I believe that they now have the talent. Why can't they find a way to use it to win? How long do I have to continue to watch this until I fit that definition of insanity (keep doing the same thing but expecting a different result)? How long am I going to continue to spend hundreds of dollars on DirecTV Sunday Ticket because I live in Virginia? Who knows? I must be a masochist...

I never got the criticism of Whitner. I mean, if all of these critics figured that he would automatically come in and have 7 INT's a season...well, I guess the disappointment is more a result of unreasonable expectations on their part than any ability or lack thereof on the part of Whitner. And the critics never seem to understand the delicate balance on defense that exists with the D-Line and the secondary. "Blanket" coverage and a decent pass rush go hand-in-hand. Take away the D-line pressure, and you can only cover a guy for so long. It happened when his royal highness Tom Donahoe allowed Pat Williams to walk. The D was predicated on that mammoth D-tackle occupying multiple blockers and disrupting the pocket. After Williams walked, the whole defense imploded. No, the parts are not greater than the whole. Whitner may very well benefit from being moved to FS...but he would also benefit from a rejuvenated Williams, Schobel, Kelsay, and Stroud.

"BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCE!"

Why can't we just clone Eric Wood and move the clone to RT?

You DONT take Jackson out. As AVP alluded to in the News...they will be getting both on the field at some capacity in the future. I could care less about this 'controversy' that some seem to want to start on this board. Most NFL teams use the 'running-back-by committee' approach to much success. Indeed, after reading Brian Billick's book, More Than a Game, it makes increasingly sane sense to use that approach to prolong the health of your players throughout the year as well as prolonging their careers. Now, the bigger issue IMO is what happens with the RT position and Brad Butler? We won't know until later the severity of his knee injury, but with John Runyan having made a visit last week, and unless he was picked up by someone, do the Bills sign him? If they do, what happens to Butler or Runyan when Butler returns?

dah, ...I'm sorry...were you saying something? I got distracted by the picture.

Yeah! Isn't it interesting that all of the critics of the offense not using the TE position the past couple years are suddenly, mysteriously, quiet? Now their beef is that "we don't throw deep enough". I wonder what the complaining will be about after the Tampa game. Go figure. You can please some of the people, all of the time...

I chit my pants on that play.

So, the only thing 'troubling' to you is the fact that he got caught and got off? @$$.

Sorry, but I must take extreme exception to the bold statement you made up above. Are you suggesting that Mr. Stevens does not know right from wrong? How can you make a statement that his choice, HIS conscious choice to do all of those things, EACH AND EVERY TIME, is what is "creating the problem", as you so aptly put it? Stevens IS the problem. Now, are schools, coaches, teaches, prosecutors, etc responsible for creating the environment (because of money) for the conduct of Mr. Stevens to thrive. Absolutely. I would go so far as to list them all as accomplices. I mean, if its a crime to know someone is going to commit a crime and to do nothing about it makes you guilty...all of these people who should 1.) know better and 2.) represent those ideals which they represent should grow a pair, and act like the ADULTS that they are supposed to be. Stevens is clearly the evil in this, but all of the enablers are also guilty.

Key phrase in whole article: ""I think we just felt, in our unit and in the Police Department as a whole, that this case was handled differently. And we felt it was because he was a University of Washington football star." It makes my stomach turn, as we know that Jeramy Stevens is far from an isolated case of "growing up". Its funny how money ultimately determines so much. Stevens represented so much to UW and their Bowl bid that everyone turns a blind eye. You could have Hannibal Lector eating young freshmen girls with some Chianti, but boy, if he scores touchdowns "he does have a good side". This should never happen. In a true system of justice, it is an abomination.

Well, to throw the proverbial wrench into your argument, you would think that with under 3 minutes to play and the Patsies on a drive, could the ESPN yellow have been that far off to NOT warrant a measurement? The ref seemed to give Welker an extra 1/2 yard or so on the spot. How could it not warrant a measurement in those circumstances? To be extremely conspiratorial, you could go to the 'No Goal' game and how everyone rushed onto the ice thus sealing the result despite the video evidence. Who knows? It seems a bit too obvious to me, but the 1st Monday night game, AFL throwback, 50th anniversary game, PATRIOTS and Belicheat...hmmmm...where are Mulder and Scully when you need them?

I remember this. In his defense (Jauron), the play was quick as NE was in the hurry-up. But Jauron should have threw the challenge flag and challenged the spot of the ball. Regardless of the spot, they were still going for it based on the circumstances of being behind late in the 4th. Spot notwithstanding, would the Bills have been able to stop the Pats on a 4th down play? However, that was a horrible spot which appeared to be a good yard short of the 1st down marker making it 4th and 1.

Or when Eric Wood swept right and threw a DB about 8-10 yards backwards just as the play was over. . I love these guys!

I agree. I don't think the naysayers were watching the whole game in comparison to previous blowouts by the Patriots where the Bills did not even have any business being on the same field. In this game, not only did they belong, they deserved to win the game in the end. They were the better team Monday night. They had the swagger needed to win not only the game but the season. The Pats running game was contained. Moss and Welker put up yards, but they had to fight for every inch (unlike previous contests where the Pats pretty much could do whatever they wanted), and poor little Welker didn't get his precious YAC because Corner was all over him. And the O-line, if this game is indeed a marker of things to come, performed admirably (love Eric Wood). Bottom line, mistakes were made that ultimately cost the Bills the game. But, BUT...they were all correctable mistakes. Bell will learn to set himself properly. McKelvin will hang onto the ball (and probably run a few back). And Owens, Evans, and Jackson will hang onto more balls than they drop. IT'S AN IMPROVEMENT!! For a game one where everybody and their grandmother predicted a loss anyways (in blowout fashion), the Bills had the Patsies up against the ropes with 2:06 to play. 'Nuff said.

the two guys I highlighted are the real culprits. glad to see others are starting to see the light. GO BILLS!

THANK YOU, oh voice of reason! I can't believe the amount of whining on this site! I mean, c'mon! Everyone, EVERYONE predicted the Bills to be slaughtered. I simply wanted them to belong on the field and fight back. It was far from the blowout everyone predicted, the Bills owned the Patriots (poor little Wus Welker couldn't get his YAC- wahhh), were in Brady's face, and protected Trent with practically 3 rookies on the O-line. To have the Patsies against the ropes and have their fans silent for 58 minutes of the game, and to lose it on a correctable play...though the score did not indicate it, the Bills won Monday night. If they play like that the rest of the year, they WILL be in the playoffs. Now wipe the snot off of your shirts you bunch of pansies, stand up, and represent on Sunday. Cuz the Bucs are goin down!

Balderdash! There is a huge difference from 'not playing up to your level' and getting beat. Brady didn't 'play up to his level' because Williams was in his face all night. The Bills beat the Patriots last night; but unfortunately that was not reflected in the final score. Thank you Leodis.

I agree. The only losers are those who look at last nights game as a bad thing. This is the first time in the past decade where a Bills team really stood toe-to-toe with the Patsies and deserved to be on the field. Brady can whine all he wants to about not playing their game- but that is not true as they got beat by the Bills last night.

what he said. If McKelvin stays in the end zone with 2:06 to play, this Bills 'O' as called by AVP wins. The Bills beat the Patriots last night. The final score just didn't show it. Did anyone in Bills land even think that the Bills would be on the same field with the Patsies last night? Nay, everyone predicted blowouts, 100-3 games, etc. No one predicted a win, and I was only hoping to punch back when the Patriots hit us for a change. But it was better than that, as the Bills punched first and with 5:00 to go the Bills held a 24-13 lead in the 4th quarter. With 2:06 they had a 24-19 lead, and you could see the despair on Brady's face. The Patriot faithful sat in stunned silence. And Belicheat was sweating in his panties that he had been beat.

all of you naysayers are truly demonstrating yourselves to be the boobs that you are. The Patriots are lucky to have escaped with a win. If not for 1 critical error (McKelvin), this game was won by the Bills. The O-line was strong- particularly up the middle. Eric Wood is an ANIMAL! This has nothing to do with Jauron and everything to do with CORRECTABLE mistakes. McKelvin had 2 fumbles (1 critical), Bell had some learning-curve penalties (but also played better than expected- walker who?), and 3 different receivers had drive-killing drops (Jackson, Owens, and Evans) in the first half that could have resulted in points. The D-line is finally getting pressure to Brady AND without having to call blitzes as in the past. Kevin Williams, Aaron Schobel, and the crew were disruptive often and history has shown that that is the way to beat Brady. What about the tackling? I love Gruden's take on Reggie Corner chomping at the bit to take down Wes Welker. And how about the play-calling of AVP? Brady whined after the game that they did not play up to their level. Baloney! They got beat. If McKelvin stays in the end zone... ...I would take my chances with this offense last night to close out the game with 2:00 to go. Who cares about stats? The only stat I care about is the final score. And with the national media having a field day at the Bills expense (I don't know how the league can stand by and let 1 of its franchises be slandered like that over, and over, and over again) predicting wild 41-7 games, I think the Bills can walk away from this with their heads held high BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID THEY BEAT THE PATRIOTS, but they FINALLY SHOWED THAT THEY BELONG ON THE SAME FIELD. If they play like this for the rest of the season, I see 11-5 in their future. GO BILLS!