Greg de'Ville

The Bronx will likely be toast Christmas night, courtesy of the Volek/Bennett combo. Besides, Jake the Fake has been a freakin' pick machine, he was brutal in KC today. Denver has been a major disappointment. Texans won in the cold of Chicago today, can they make it two straight on the road? They've been so inconsistent. If it comes down to it, I'd like the Faiders' chances at home to take out Jax in the closer. Choakland's played hard all season and would not expect anything less in the finale.

...now up 20-3, looking good to put the Nevermores in the loss column. Wow. That score holds up, then there are four AFC teams at 8-6: Bills, Nevermores, Jags, Bronx. Who could possibly have believed we'd still be talking "P"-word after that dreadful 0-4 start? Bills need to stay on course next week and take it to Frisco. Steelers, at home, should avenge lone loss to Baltimore. Come on, Texans! Somebody's got to hang a loss on Jags. Drat those Packers. It would royally suck if that Game 1 loss would come back to bite the Bills in the * at the very end. The way Volek and Bennett are lighting the scoreboard up for Tenn., the Bronx should reach the end of the trail for a less than merry Christmas next Saturday in Nashole.

...I said it a few weeks ago, and I'll repeat it tonight: forget about the Dog-Ass Jets. Besides, does anyone believe given the way the Lambs played today in Arizona, that they have a prayer? It might well be the last game for Mr. Know-it-all, Mike Martz. They're 6-8 for cryin' out loud! It's the Jags, the Nevermores, and the Bronx who concern me re: the Bills' WC chances. I don't know if the Dog-Ass Jets can hang with NE, but they're still in pretty good shape at 10-4, knowing an upset of the Patsies at home locks up the WC.

...as long as the Bills GET THERE, I don't care if it's BDDB, Losman or whoever. Just GET THERE. BDDB's not Manning, or Brady, or McNabb, but the Bills are still winning. He's not losing games of late, and the coaches have put together game plans in recent weeks that minimize risk on Bledsoe's part. Just MAKING the dance would be one bodacious feat on the Bills' part. After wandering three years in the desert via Gregg-O of Arabia, it would be nice to drink from a playoff cup.

McNabb beat the Cowpokes today with his feet instead of his arm. But the guy who must be contained is Brian Westbrook. The Iggles like to run a lot of underneath iso plays for him (1-on-1 slants vs. a 'backer). He's the kind of player who can turn a 15 or 20-yarder into a 50-yarder if he's not brought down on the first contact.

Yeah, something like that. He also got dinged up today but returned to the game. Once he hears footsteps, he flinches. Does it every time.

...Iggles did just enough (late TD drive mostly via McNabb's legs) to eke out a 12-7 win over Cowpokes to nail down the home field. TO was hurt on a 3rd quarter pass catch, limped into the locker room. X-rays negative (ankle sprain), he'll have a month to get healthy since they won't host until the divisional playoff round 1/15 or 1/16. Iggles are sputtering offensively at the moment. Stinkston had another "moment" today, took a fleeting glance at a DB zeroing in on him, ball comes his way, goes through his hands, BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

...it's the curse of Matt Millen. He blows lollipops.

Uh, Thurmal, the Bills survived just fine, thank you very much. We're still in survival mode, but we're coping OK, all the same.

Bob, thanks. And a good win for the Dog-Ass Jets today against a Seaduck team that frankly has no business being in any playoff hunt. I understand McCareins had a pretty good game today and CM had his usual strong effort. To be honest, your team got screwed over bigtime in Pgh last week thanks to some dubious first half calls. 10 wins is usually good enough to get a WC. Unless something really crazy happens in the next two weeks, the j-e-t-s, Dog-Ass Jets should be in the playoff party.

...more fun & good times from the defense (yeah, TA-KE-O!) and the STs (Peters recovery of blocked punt in EZ). And another strong effort from Evans. Even Lindell seems to be finding the target lately with four treys. 5 straight & 7 of the last 9...nice! Put the hammer down on Frisco next Sunday and then cram for the FINAL EXAM 1/2 vs. the Stinky Little Steelers. And folks, the Stinky Littles are ripe for the taking--the gravy train they've been on is gonna hit a red signal soon. I want that game to mean more than just a case of beer bet with my dad-in-law. Bills still need help to make the playoffs, but they are helping themselves in the meantime and that's what matters. I wonder if that troll Bungle Butthead or whatever his name is will show up again now that his team is in the scrap heap. Congrats to Marty S. & the Bolts on wrapping up the AFC West today. The Dog-Ass Jets took a major step towards locking down a WC berth by routing the pathetic Seaducks (bye-bye, Holmgren). It would be nice to get some major help from GB and Indy to take Jax & Balt down a notch. In the meantime, a five-game win streak by Our (resurgent) Heroes is a nice way to celebrate the holiday. But there's a lot more work to be done. But these '04 Bills have given all of us diehards the one ingredient that's been lacking in recent years: hope!

...Dicky's gonna tell Mike Wallace how much in love he is with his "girl", Maryjane.

The frickin' Cleveland Browns are an ABORTION. Period.

Plexiglas is Big Ben's third option. Ward #1, Randle El #1A.

...it's the "Pittsburgh Rules." Saw it last week vs. the Dog-Ass Jets, and more of the same today. Toomer may have been pushed on that pick play; of course, no call. I'm telling you folks, Pittsburgh's charmed life is gonna end soon, say 1/2 at Ralphie's. Then they'll know the free ride is over.

...based on the way Pgh is struggling with the Jints today, I'd say the Bills have a heck of a chance to knock 'em off in two weeks. But the one guy the Bills MUST put a hat on is Randle El. He's a very talented player.

...the Steelers need a dose of humility. If not the Jints today, then certainly the Bills in two weeks.

...If you haven't seen this, check it out. It is a architectural and engineering masterpiece...now the tallest span in the world. Very impressive. Dedicated Tuesday and open to traffic Thursday. I'd love to see a new Peace Bridge--whenever it is built--take some elements of what the French did with the Millau Bridge. http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=e...hl%3Den%26lr%3D

...he's got Denver rated too low. According to Jake the Fake, the Bronx are "#1"!

Hopper, You can throw Son of Wick (Kort) in there as well. Wick (Sr/Jr), VBK, Lane. The quartet from hell. The Bonnies winless and one of the dreg teams this season in college basketball. Not a pretty picture back home, is it?

"Pink"--what a guy.

...you thought the Buffalo sports scene was tough back in October (0-4 Bills start and no Swordsmen hockey with the NHL lockout), it must be hellish to be a New Orleans sports fan these days. The 'Aints "ain't" going anywhere (again), and Haslett's days as skipper may be numbered. Then there is their NBA team, the Hornets, off to a glittering 1-19 start. They had the ignominy of losing last night to the franchise that replaced them in Charlotte--the expansion Bobcats, a fledging enterprise with five wins in 19 outings (not bad for a first-year outfit). 1-19 x 4=you do the math over an 80-game slate (82 to be official). The ol' 9-73 '76ers mark for season-long ineptitude may be in jeopardy. Sheesh. There's poor, and then there is dirt poor. Nawlins is right now in the latter group.

Just got an update...Erickson has taken himself out of consideration for the Ole Miss post. But if he thinks he has a future with the Niners considering the sorry state of that team during his watch, well...

...is for the Bills to lay such a whuppin' on the Niners that the camera will continually roll to the SF sideline to get another vacant (read: "Hello, is anyone home?") look on Dennis Erickson's mug. What a carpetbagger this guy is...he should go back to college because he's proven he can't cut it in the NFL. If Ole Miss wants to take a flyer on him, well, good luck because he carries a lot of baggage from his days at Miami and Oregon State. At either level, college or pro, Erickson-coached teams have had a reputation for undisciplined play. His successors at both levels have had to clean up a lot of messes he left behind. Given the fact the Niners granted permission for Ole Miss to talk to Erickson, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure his days in SF are numbered. The Bills game 12/26 likely will be his home swan song. Couldn't happen to a nicer putz if Our Heroes give him something to remember the pros by. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/foot...n.ap/index.html

...the one sporting goal I have in life is to bowl a 200 game. I bowled a 183 in youth league play but never got to 200...still haven't. It would take some beaucoups practice on my part, but it's something I would really like to accomplish. It amazes me how effortless the pros are with their technique and footwork on the lanes, plus their ability to consistently hit the pocket and string strikes. I'm all over the place on my first rolls (lot of Brooklyn balls especially), can't ever seem to dial in to the 1-3 pocket. And the pros don't get rattled when they have corner spares (7 or 10) or baby splits (2-7 or 3-10). to pick up Seems more often than not, I chop a lot of 2-4-5 or 3-5-6 spares, or blasted 1-3-6 or 1-2-4 spares. Chops on the 4-7 and 6-10 also are frustrating. 200. That's my goal on the lanes.