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//  Saturday, July 31, 2010

Bills Continue Downward Spiral

Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Posted by Bryan Ault

The Buffalo Bills are still the Buffalo Bills, but they are playing like Buffalo Jills.


Falling to AFC East big dog New England by a final score of 10-17 on Sunday, the Bills, minus head coach Dick Jauron, continue down their long road of mediocrity.  


The play that may best-symbolize Buffalo’s season—let alone existence—came on a fourth down late in Sunday’s game.  A fourth-down pass from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was dropped by a wide open Josh Reed with 4:24 to play.  If Reed catches that pass, it’s a first down, and likely a touchdown that would have cut the Patriots lead to seven.

After forcing a three-and-out on the following possession, the Bills began touchdown drive that started off a nice punt return by Roscoe Parrish.  Only that cut the lead to seven.

An onside kick was recovered by the Bills, but an offside call on rookie Aaron Maybin forced a five-yard penalty, and a re-kick.  


Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s eight-yard pass to Wes Welker on the following third down sealed the win.
The Bills lost more than 160 yards in penalties and sacks.  Yes, 160.  


If there was any hope of beating the Patriots for the first time in years, 2009 was the best chance.  Sunday’s game provided a serious chance of redemption after the bitter Week One loss in Foxborough.  


The Patriots limped into the contest with defensive end Ty Warren and defensive tackle Vince Wilfork injured and out of the lineup.  The Bills’ magnificent opening drive exploited that weakness.  Guards Andy Levitre and Richie Incognito double-teamed Patriots rookie defensive tackle Ron Brace.  Handoffs to running back Fred Jackson netted 30 yards while running back Marshawn Lynch added 18.  Facing third-and-goal from the two-yard line, a false start on Andre Ramsey—at home, no less—pushed the Bills back five yards, forced a field goal instead of a touchdown and subsequently shot themselves in the foot.


Following the field goal, Bills linebacker Paul Posluszny intercepted Brady, but the Bills’ offense failed to score until the final minutes of the fourth quarter.


True, the Bills don’t have a quarterback.  Both Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards were injured during Sunday’s loss.  The Bills have never let the once-promising Brian Brohm take a snap under center.


Injuries, too, have inflicted the Buffalo roster.  As CBS commentator Dan Dierdorf noted during Sunday’s broadcast, the Bills started their eighth different offensive line combination of the season.

The Bills refused to stretch the field on offense.  Because of the offense’s ineptitude, the Buffalo defense has stayed on the field for a long amount of time.

Too long for stopping Brady and wide receivers Welker and Randy Moss.

But still, the Bills’ problem has been penalties and constant mistakes.  Who couldn’t win with a roster consisting of Terrell Owens, Lee Evans, Marshawn Lynch, Jackson and Posluszny?

It will be interesting to see whether or not interim coach Perry Fewell, a reported favorite among the players, still holds the reins after 2009.

Either way, they have suffered for too long.

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