Monday Night "Football"

by Skin Patrol on Oct 9, 2007 12:19 AM EDT in Recaps Comment 9 comments

[editor's note, by Skin Patrol] Quotes around Football in no means meant to dismiss what was actually an exciting game in virtue of Buffalo's meltdown. Dallas never quit despite playing very forgettable football through most of the game and deserves credit for that. This was a game worth watching, even if the result didn't please me one bit.

I'm reluctant to dwell too often on the decisions of other team's football games, for fear of appearing obsessed or something, but this was as good an opportunity for us to pull within half a game of the Dallas Cowboys for the NFC East as we will get from the likes of Buffalo. Quickly, two good bloggers covered this game, at Blogging the Boys and Buffalo Rumblings.

Thanks, Buffalo. Might be the worst team in the National Football League. If you win the turnover battle 6 to 1 in virtue of Tony Romo treating your players as teammates, two of those turnovers immediately generating 14 points, and return a kickoff for a touchdown, and lose, then you shouldn't be allowed to play anywhere besides Canada. There aren't going to be any games that are more winnable than this, Bills. I just watched what couldn't have been more gift-wrapped W for Buffalo yet there they were, giving Dallas a chance to win with a two-point conversion. When that failed, thanks to TO, who was a failure the entire game, they managed an onside kick. Two field goals later and the game is over.

Terrell Owens who? I'm pretty sure he was thrown at 11 times, at least 10, and finished with 2 receptions for 25 yards. That's somewhere below a 20% catch rate, which ain't half awful; it's full awful.

Trent Edwards who? It's just this kid's second start, so expectations were low heading into this game, yet you'd never have known given the amount of slobbering Ron was doing late in the game. When in the history of MNF has a guy done less and received more praise? 5.6 yards per pass won't get the job done. Through 4 quarters and 31 passes, you generate a grand total of 3 points offensively. I didn't see him throw the ball more than 10 yards down the field once. His longest pass was 23 yards in virtue of Marshawn Lynch likely getting some YACs. I did see him throw a costly interception when the Bills had an opportunity to put the Cowboys to bed, returned by Newman damn near the entire field. Huge credit to Lee Evans for chasing him down and saving six, though who cares? You guys can't win football games.

Silver lining? None, Cowboys won. Ok, ok, I was giddy to see Tony Romo look so bad, throwing 5 picks on 50 attempts with two more easy interceptions dropped by Buffalo defenders. Buffalo isn't going to coax five interceptions out of any quarterback for the rest of the year and thus won't win a single football game from here on out. I wonder if the Football Gods will punish me for that comment on December 2nd, but I can't help myself; what an absolutely miserable showing by the Buffalo Bills.

I miss commercials. Someone explain this to me, because I'm not a television guru. If I'm watching the game on ESPN, I'm picking up beer and car commercials on play stoppage. (Not that I love watching commercials, but production value suddenly means more to me than it ever has previously having suffered through hours and hours of its privation.) I'm watching it on ESPNHD and I get the benefit of learning about life saving neck-beepers on low budget commercials with the unsolicited views of the former Surgeon General on why my 24 year old heart could use an emergency "I've fallen but ~~it's because I'm drunk~~ can't get up" device. Or some really bald, really old guy -- who clearly missed a thousand opportunities to fufill his life's mission -- telling me why a mini-swim-in-place pool is so much better than a regular sized pool because he doesn't have to navigate those treacherous turns. Besides affording me the opportunity to work on my stroke (yuck yuck), thus reliving my dream of becoming an Olympic swimmer that I gave up in utero, why should I really buy your crappy tiny pool? I'd rather have a hot tub. That shit only looks enjoyable out of a Sky Mall at 10,000 feet when I'm loaded off Jack Daniels minibottles. Give me a break.

Looking towards Green Bay for the rest of the week.

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Bitter much?

Look, SR, you'd think that the Bills, you know, showing up in this contest and nearly beating Dallas would be enough - they were supposed to be steamrolled, after all. Annihilated. But they dominated the game. Miserable performance? More like miserable game management, offensive play calling and 3 minutes of special teams play. The loss cuts deep enough, but your lack of respect for a team that damn near just did you a favor ruined my evening. Seriously, would it have been better if we'd lost by 40?

Buffalo Rumblings: the best Bills community on the Internet!

by Brian Galliford on Oct 9, 2007 2:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I wanted the Bills

to win nearly as much as Bills fans wanted them to win. The only aspect of their game I was impressed with were special teams, but even they blew it at the end by giving up an onside kick.

I don't attribute the close game so much to the Bills playing well, rather to the Cowboys playing so poorly; how often is it that Tony Romo, or any quarterback, is going to throw five picks (seven if you count obvious drops by Bills defenders)? If we do want to credit the defense for generating so many turnovers, it should be asked why they gave up 385 yards.

If a team has miserable game management, miserable offensive play calling, and 3 minutes of miserable special teams play that happens to lose them the game, then I'd say that qualifies for a miserable performance. I was so pumped to see Buffalo win this game that it was devestating to watch them completely and totally self-destruct at the end. I would stand by my earlier comments; there won't be a game that's easier to win for the rest of their schedule. It's but once every two or three years that you get to win the turnover battle 6:1.

Additionally, I don't think my criticism of the Bills should ruin your evening, and that certainly was not my intent. The post wasn't directed at you, but at the Bills. And I think we both should (and do, from above) share criticism of that Bills team for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Nothing I said or say should cut as deep as the loss.

Go Register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Oct 9, 2007 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What's the reason...

for attacking the Bills? Just because it was the Cowboys? Seriously, if New England had pulled that on us, you wouldn't even be talking.

You were only impressed by the special teams that gave up an onside kick that eventually cost them the game? How about a defense that, literally, made Tony Romo look like Heath Shuler? The fact that the Bills found a way to make the once indestructible offense look, well, like Buffalo's was incredible. The 385 yards was the lowest amount that the Bills gave up this season, and the second-lowest amount that Dallas has picked up. That's something the freaking Bears couldn't do. But you're right - we deserve to play in Canada.

I will grant you one thing - Dick Jauron and (offensive coordinator) Steve Fairchild deserve to coach in Canada. If you'd like to attack them, and not the players, please, by all means, have at it. They lost this game, not the players.

And for the record, I apologize - I came off a bit angrier in my first comment than I really was. I'm not really angry - just bitterly disappointed, as I'm sure you are as well. You run a great blog, Skin Patrol, and I have nothing but respect for how you operate this thing in regards to the Redskins.

Buffalo Rumblings: the best Bills community on the Internet!

by Brian Galliford on Oct 9, 2007 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re:

for attacking the Bills? Just because it was the Cowboys? Seriously, if New England had pulled that on us, you wouldn't even be talking.

This is absolutely correct. In virtue of it being against a division rival, the outcome of that game had a direct impact on my team's ability to win the division. I was rooting for the Bills. I will be virtually uncaring of them in weeks where they don't play anyone of consequence for the Redskins, which is actually most of their games since it is an AFC team.

How about a defense that, literally, made Tony Romo look like Heath Shuler?

A defense that gave up nearly 400 yards, that dropped two interceptions, and allowed the Cowboys to score 25 points which, by the way, would be good for around 10th worst overall in the NFL and is actually worse than the Bills season average.

The 385 yards was the lowest amount that the Bills gave up this season, and the second-lowest amount that Dallas has picked up. That's something the freaking Bears couldn't do.

That's why the defense doesn't deserve praise. If you need 6 turnovers to (barely) keep an opposing offense under 400 yards, then you aren't very good. Also, the Bills gave up fewer yards to the New York Jets last week than they did this week.

If you'd like to attack them, and not the players, please, by all means, have at it. They lost this game, not the players.

I'm fine with that. Trent Edwards doesn't deserve to get slandered for losing his second start to an undefeated team, and he appeared (in some respects) a very competent guy with a future. But Ron Jaworski was going nuts praising him for dink and dunk passes. He played like an above average 2nd career starter; I think he's got a future.

I don't know who individually I can criticize on Buffalo since there were a lot of great individual efforts defensively due to the turnovers (though zero sacks I think) and Marshawn sure as hell looks like he's going to be a damn fine player in the NFL. If blame needs to be meted out, and it does, I'm impartial whether it goes to the players or the coaches. I'll trust your viewing of a team you are infinitely more familiar with than I am and side with you 100% that the staff is to blame.

Ditto right back at you on all the respect stuff. You know I read your blog and love your blog. I was rooting for the Bills and it's unfortunate they didn't win, and I did not at all intend to target my post towards you, or Bills fans. It was a critique of what I viewed to be a very disappointing effort put forth by the Bills in a game they should have, could have easily won. Obviously my interest in that outcome was totally egotistical; I wanted the Cowboys to lose thus putting us within a half game of the division, but nonetheless I feel genuinely bad for the Bills. The Canada remark was hyperbole.

Go Register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Oct 9, 2007 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

One more thing...

How about a defense that, literally, made Tony Romo look like Heath Shuler?

I absolutely loved that the Buffalo Bills made Romo look small-time.

Go Register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Oct 9, 2007 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lack of respect?

How so?

The Bills were spotted 21 points (2 INTs for TD and the kickoff) and only scored 24. That still leaves 4 other turnovers, plus other possessions, to tally a whopping 3 points.

BUF had drives starting on the DAL 44, DAL 43, and the DAL 48 that resulted in a turnover on downs, a missed field goal, and a 70 yard INT the other way... for 0 points. The one drive that produced points was a field goal... after the Bills had 1st and goal from the 8... and gained 3 yards on the next 3 downs.

All this, and the Bills still had the game wrapped up if they could only recover an onside kick. Or cover the sideline on 2 identical plays to get DAL in field goal range. Or score more than 1 field goal after offensive drives. Or go better than 3-13 on 3rd down. Or get better than 81 yards rushing to eat up some clock... since the Bills had a double-digit lead halfway through the 3rd quarter.

Funny how much "calling it like you see it" and having a "lack of respect" look alike... until you look at the numbers.

Or watch the damn game.

by TexSkins on Oct 9, 2007 4:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs