BuckeyeBill

Remember... the number 1 goal for the Chiefs and Raiders was to stop the run. Force the Quarterback to beat us (which Campbell almost did yesterday). We will not have the same philosophy against the Patriots*. In fact, it will be quite the opposite. Focus everything on stopping Brady and make the runningbacks beat us. Easier said than done, but we will be more focused to stop the pass this week, I assure you.

It's a combination of a few things. First, Bell is better and getting better. He reminds me a little bit of Jason Peters in that respect (uh oh... did I just say that?) Second, Fitzpatrick is getting rid of the ball very quickly, which is impressive in itself, and makes all the OLine look better. Finally, the scheme the Bills have been using the past two weeks is working. After two games, only giving up one sack to Tamba Hali (and that wasn't even Bell) is very impressive. Didn't the Raiders lead the league in sacks last year... or close to it? And against the Bills they got nothing!

Look for 1,200 yards this year and 10 touchdowns from Jackson. Not quite in par with TDs 2000 yards and 20 touchdowns. So, in response to your question... no, I do not believe Fred Jackson is another Terrell Davis... but he is pretty good nonetheless.

I can forsee a similar blowout... it's set up to look like one too. But I could be wrong... heck, I was wrong last week when I thought it would be a close game. Who knows?

Will he be effective? That's what we won't know until we see him burning the Raider corners on Sunday.

We can all hope, right?

Five reasons why I don’t see Buffalo possibly losing this game: 1. Their win was more impressive against the Chiefs (10-6) than the Raider win against the Broncos (4-12). Both the Chiefs and Broncos were excited about their home opener… and both blew it. The Chiefs turned the ball over 3 times, leading to 17 points by the Bills. The Broncos turned the ball over 3 times as well, leading to 20 points by the Raiders. Both games should have been blow outs, right? Well the Bills won by 34 points and the Raiders won by 3. Only THREE!! If Janikowski had not been kicking through the thin mile-high air, the Raiders would not have made that 63 yard field goal… and the game would have gone into overtime! Nearly going into overtime against a 4-12 team that shot themselves in the foot three times? How is that an impressive win?! Not to mention that the Chiefs are a superior team to Denver. 2. The Raiders best players are hurt. Jacoby Ford is out, Darius Heyward-Bey is listed as questionable, so is Michael Huff, Kevin Boss, and Richard Seymour. Heck, even Jason Campbell and Darren McFadden are listed as probable. I don’t think the Raiders would beat the Bills even if all their guns were loaded… too bad the Raiders will be running on empty. 3. The Raiders had a short week (game ending around 2AM Tuesday morning EST). Therefore Oakland have had about 131 hours to rest and prepare for this game. The Bills on the other hand will have had 165 hours to rest and prepare. The Raiders have to fly from Denver-to Oakland- then to Buffalo (3907 miles)… while the Bills just have to come home (986 miles). Historically, teams in the Raiders position don’t play sharp on Sunday! 4. You could state an argument that the Chiefs are a better team than the Raiders because the Raiders are one dimensional. The Chiefs have pro bowlers Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe, while the Raiders have… um… Jason Campbell and… a questionable DHB? Yes, the Raiders have a good running attack… a great running attack… but so did the Chiefs and the Bills pretty much shut them down. The Bills will key on the run (putting 8 in the box) and dare Campbell to beat them in the air. I would argue that Charles = McFadden, but Cassel > Campell. 5. The Home Field advantage will give the Bills another huge advantage (even if they don’t it). Home opener… new uniforms… new hope… the Bills fans want this win badly, and you know the Bills players want it even more so! I don’t remember the last time the fans were so thirsty for a win against an 8-8 team that was not in the AFC East. The Ralph will be rocking on Sunday my friends… too bad for the Raiders. They never had a chance…

The key to stopping the run is not YPA, but rather stopping drives. I am okay with runs of 30 yards, followed by 2, 1 and 3. (That is a 9YPA). But I am not happy when I see 9 yards, followed by 10, 8, and 9. (Also 9YPA)

I think the priority here has to be Fitz... he is a smart guy and realizes that he doesn't deserve Brady/Manning/Vick type money. Stevie Johnson I believe may be a bi-product of Fitzpatrick. Don't get me wrong, I believe him to be a very good wide receiver... but he is no where near the level of Larry Fitzgerald or the Johnsons (Andre and Calvin). Sadly, Stevie might think he deserves a similar payday. If that's the case, I would let him test free angency. We have many good young Wide outs, but Ryan Fitzpatrick is better than most give him credit for.

Amazing how things change in one year isn't it?

Didn't Kurt Warner and the greatest show on turf do it?

I was quite impressed with the Bills on Sunday, as everyone was… so, I did some number crunching… and if we ignore the final two games of last year, (when the Bills had already packed it in against the Patriots and the Jets) the Bills have been playing some really good football. Since November 11, 2010, the Buffalo Bills have amassed a record of 5-2, with one of those losses being in overtime against Pittsburgh (which they should have won). During this time the Bills have scored 164 points and have given up only 127. Do the Bills suck when they play the Patriots and the Jets? Yes they do… but against everybody else, the Bills have been playing respectable football for 11 months now. I believe the Bills have discovered their identity with Fitzpatrick throwing to Stevie Johnson, and Fred Jackson slipping through arm tackles. This was not the case at the beginning of last year (Edwards trying to throw long to Evans, and Marshawn trying to be in constant Beast-Mode). If… (and it is a BIG ‘if’) the Bills find a way to win just one of the four games this year against New England and New York, I believe they have a good chance at having a winning season and being playoff bound. They definitely deserve more respect than what they have been getting. #1 pick next April? Are you kidding me? Those people haven’t been watching the new Buffalo Bills.

1. Williams 2. Dareus 3. Wood 4. S. Johnson 5. F. Jackson 6. Merriman 7. Barnett

If you see people like Brian Orapko, Michael Oher, Haloti Ngata, and Darrell Revis as players, "who were supposed to be Bills!" If you have ALREADY decided that you hate (or love) the new uniforms. (Only 23 days away folks!)

New England* made the best of their "crappy" picks last year.

Congratulations goes out to Drew! How many of your Bledsoe haters still have his jersey #11 in the back of your closet?

It also doesn't help that (in the expert's opinion) the Bills are in the same division with 2 of the top 4 teams in the NFL. That in itself probably drops us a few spots in the eyes of the experts. If we were in an easier division, I could see the Bills ranked about 20-25.

Imagine if we could bring Bruce back! Do you think he would unretire too?

Anyone who thinks that Gabbert is better than Darius is an idiot.

I remember a few years ago, when the Bills were picking #12 (and got Marshawn Lynch), Modrak said that he correctly predicted 9 of the first 10 picks... I wonder how well you would do? What are your top 10 picks? Here's what I predict will happen. Not that I agree with each one (look at #3), but I have a gut feeling that it will play out this way. 1. CAR QB Cam Newton AUB 2. DEN DT Marcell Dareus ALA 3. BUF WR A.J. Green GEORGIA (will make everybody's jaw drop) 4. CIN QB Blaine Gabbert MIZ 5. ARI CB Patrick Peterson LSU 6. CLE LB Von Miller TEX A&M 7. S.F. LB Robert Quinn NC 8. TEN DT Nick Fairley AUB 9. DAL DE J.J. Watt WIS 10.WAS QB Jake Locker WAS Let's see if I'm as talented as Modrak... What say you?

I think Arizona is happy with Larry, Houston is happy with Andre, and Detroit is happy with Calvin. They were all selected in the top 5, right? And with that said, I hope the Bills don't take A.J. tomorrow night!

In Defense of the Value Chart... I usually print out a copy and enjoy watching the draft with it in hand. I like to imagine where or how the trades might occur (especially concerning potential Bills trades). Of course, teams don't follow it precisely but here's two instances in recent Bills Draft History where I saw it work. 1. After the Bills drafted Donte Whitner (remember that year), I remembered that they were really weak at Defensive Line and thought that they potentially might move up to get Ngata or Bunkley or someone like that. I looked at the chart and determined that the Bills could probably make a move near the end of Round 1. I found their sweet spot where they would most likely move up to trade based on the chart. Of course those two DL were taken before the Bill's sweet spot at the end of Round 1, but when it came... the Bills did move up EXACTLY where the chart said they might... and they selected John McCargo. 2. A similar situation happened with the Bills drafted Marshawn Lynch. I thought they wanted a linebacker and immediately I thought of Posluszny. I looked at the chart and saw that the Bills could have moved into picks 30-35 range (the sweet spot), but Poz would have to fall. I remember after pick 30 came up, I began listening, hoping the Bills would pick up Poz (because he was slipping). At pick 34, the Bills moved up and got who I hoped they would. They also got him about WHERE I thought they could get him. So the chart is useful... at least from an entertainment point of view.

I love this post. Let's us know that it's not all about stats! Thank you.

2006 Haloti Ngata (initially wasn't mad about the Whitner pick though) 2007 Patrick Willis (49ers were willing to swap picks) 2008 Leodis McKelvin (I still don't think it was a bad pick at the time) 2009a Brian Orakpo (D'oh) 2009b Michael Oher (After watching Blind Side... D'oh) 2010 Buluga(I still don't think Spiller is a bad pick though)

Trade out of 3rd spot... move down a few slots and pick up a late 1st or early 2nd. (This would be ideal) 1) Darius/Quinn whichever falls to our new spot. 1b or 2a) Camrimi 2) Justin Houston Doesn't that just sound good!