SB Nation - Marshawn Lynch

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/16

MattRichWarren — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:25:15 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

3 days ago: Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) is chased by Buffalo Bills defensive end Ryan Denney (92) and safety Donte Whitner (20) as he runs 76 yards for a touchdown during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009 in Kansas City, Mo. The Bills won the game 16-10. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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Bills' Byrd doesn't mind sharing the wealth : The Buffalo News
Rodney McKissic profiles the Bills' safety phenom Jairus Byrd and his 9 1/2 interceptions.

Video: Bills run D historically bad - AFC East Blog - ESPN
KC Joyner, aka the Football Scientist, highlights the biggest matchup in Sunday's game between the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills in Ralph Wilson Stadium. Joyner notes the Bills could give up 3,000 yards on the ground this year, something that has been done only three times in NFL history. [Ed note: Bad like in the picture above, giving up a 76-yard TD run.]

How the Buffalo Bills can still win the division : Buffalo Sports Daily
"The following is what needs to occur for the Bills to be still playing football after January 3; The Buffalo Bills win out, while the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins lose out, and the New York Jets win no more than one of their last three games."

Bills Daily - "A Christmas Carol"
A Buffalo Bills Christmas Carol from Bills Daily. It's amusing.

Bills secondary a den of thieves - BuffaloBills.com
Despite being banged up all year, the Bills defense, the secondary in particular, leads the league in interceptions. "Their 25 picks have already matched their best total since the AFL-NFL merger as the 1975 Bills had 25 in a 14-game season."

Rival receivers have some catching up to do - The Boston Globe
"The Bills and their bombastic receiver, Terrell Owens, host the Patriots and Randy Moss in a matchup of AFC East rivals that features two go-to receivers who do not like each other."

Let’s see what Brohm brings to the table - Wellsville, NY - Wellsville Daily Reporter
Paul Jannace adds his voice to the litany of writers pining for Brian Brohm.

How I See It: AFC East Stock Watch - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Stock Rising - Marshawn Lynch "He has rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown and averaged 8.0 yards per carry the past two weeks."

Week 15 power rankings: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The Bills move up one spot to 25 after defeating the Chiefs.

Where's AFC East in Pro Bowl balloting? - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"The Bills' Brian Moorman, one of the NFL's top three or four punters, isn't in the AFC's top five. "

AFC East: Patriots circling wagons around Moss - The Sports Netowrk
"But if there's one area that person is least likely to touch, it's a secondary that has ever-so-quietly been among the best in the league this year, and is unquestionably the single best piece to build around on this team."

McShay has OT going to Bills – Inside The Bills
"The Bills are projected to pick 10th overall in his mock draft where he has Buffalo taking Rutgers OT Anthony Davis. Mel Kiper says if he waits a year Davis will be a top 5 pick, otherwise he’ll go in the 10-15 range of round one this year. Kipier has him as his top rated junior tackle."

2009 NFL Redraft - Don Banks - SI.com
Don Banks does the draft over again and the Bills end up with Brian Orakpo with the top three OTs off the board.

Losman update – Inside The Bills
"With Bruce Gradkowski injured, JaMarcus Russell a mess and Charlie Frye an unrealistic option J.P. Losman heads to Oakland with an opportunity to be a long term answer at quarterback."

Raiders sign former Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman - Inside Bay Area
Jim Fassell coached J.P. in the UFL and his son is on the Raiders staff. Think that had anything to do with it?

Willy Living his Dream | WIVB.com
Former University of Buffalo QB Drew Willy was signed to the Colts practice squad a few weeks ago and could see time in the final game of the season in Buffalo.

Bills need to keep pounding the rock

Brian Galliford — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:46:13 -0000

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The Buffalo Bills have struggled to run the ball this season. Amidst massive offensive line changes and a three-game suspension to former starting running back Marshawn Lynch at the outset of the season, the Bills have surpassed 100 rushing yards as a team in just 6 of 13 games this season, to the team's overall offensive detriment.

Things are turning around for this unit, however. Interim head coach Perry Fewell has re-established the importance of the running game into his offensive game plans, and as a result, the Bills have rushed for over 100 yards as a team in three of Fewell's first four games as the head man, all in the last three contests. Buffalo's 200-yard rushing effort in yesterday's win over the Kansas City Chiefs may have been their most dominant ground performance of the season.

Why are the Bills suddenly running the ball well? It has a lot to do with the fact that the team has finally strung together a few games in which the same offensive line has started. Buffalo has begun games with seven different line combinations this season - most in the NFL - but in their last three games, the Bills have been fortunate to start the same five along the offensive line (Jonathan Scott, Andy Levitre, Geoff Hangartner, Kendall Simmons and Kirk Chambers). Say what you want about the quality of our opponents or the issues that remain up front, but continuity has played an important role in the run game increases over the past three weeks.

This is a trend that needs to continue, particularly if Fewell is serious about removing the interim tag from his current job title. The only thing that matters to Fewell's job prospects right now is wins. Forget style points. Fewell doesn't need them. He just needs to keep winning, and if he wants to do it, he'll continue to emphasize the running game.

Lynch and Fred Jackson are simply too good to not get touches. Yes, the same can be said of Terrell Owens and Lee Evans, but let's face facts - Ryan Fitzpatrick is much more adept at getting touches for Lynch and Jackson than he is for Owens and Evans. If you want those receivers to get the ball, run a reverse.

Speaking of Fitzpatrick, a good running game is his best friend. It opens up the play-action game and, as much of that particular brand of offensive football features rollouts, it allows Fitzpatrick to utilize the one consistent strength to his game - his ability to make plays with his legs.

The offensive line is OK with a run-dominated offensive game plan, too. This is a group that has fatal pass protection flaws. They only gave up two sacks to the Chiefs, and the fact that that two-sack performance feels like a milestone achievement should speak volumes. But no matter how deficient this unit is pass-blocking, they know how to run block, because every blue-collar offensive lineman knows how to run block. It's what they've done their entire lives. There are no finesse players on this line. Every one of those guys is physical and plays the game with the correct demeanor. Their strength is in run-blocking. They may not be very good at it, but it's what they're best at. Let them continue to do what they're best at.

In 2008, Jackson and Lynch combined to rush for 1,607 yards and 11 touchdowns on 380 carries. Buffalo's quarterback play has gotten worse from '08 to '09, as hard as that is to believe, and as a result, the rushing numbers have suffered; the two backs have 1,153 yards and 4 touchdowns on 284 carries this season. But in their last three games, their numbers have picked up, with the two backs rushing for 353 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Buffalo's next three opponents are ranked Nos. 17 (New England), 23 (Atlanta) and 18 (Indianapolis) against the run. The matchups are there for the Bills to keep running the ball effectively. It's what Buffalo's offense does best, and the team's two most consistent threats just happen to be runners. Knowing Fewell's preferred brand of football and his quest for a starting job, the Bills should - and likely will - keep pounding the rock.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/14

MattRichWarren — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:33:01 -0000

Bills 2nd half takeaways get win over Chiefs - BuffaloBills.com
"Three turnovers by the Bills offense kept it a closer game than it should have been, but a strong defensive takeaway effort by Buffalo coupled with solid rushing from Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch lifted the Bills to a 16-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs."

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Immediate Reactions, Wk14
"Game ball: The offensive line -- This much-maligned unit only allowed two sacks, and pushed the Chiefs around for 5.7 yards-per-carry on 35 attempts. Seriously, give those hogs a hand."

Bills front men excel – Inside The Bills
The Bills defensive front put in a solid effort stopping Matt Cassell on fourth and goal, recording three sacks, and pressured Matt Cassell into throwing an interception.

Scott Pitoniak: Are the Bills losing by winning at this point?
"The reality is that Sunday’s victory against an NFL dreg improved the Bills record to 5-8 but hurt their draft position. So, it can be argued that this win, or any win during the season’s final three games against New England, Atlanta and Indianapolis, would be ugly because it will adversely affect Buffalo’s draft position and hence its ability to bring aboard the talented players it needs to make a true turnaround."

Fewell takes blame for long TD – Inside The Bills
"The only blemish was a 76-yard TD run by Jamaal Charles, but Buffalo’s head coach faulted himself for the result of that play. 'It was a blitz,' said Fewell. 'They caught me in a blitz. I thought I had some tendencies on them and they caught me.'"

Postgame injury update – Inside The Bills
"The Bills came out of Sunday’s game relatively unscathed. TE Shawn Nelson suffered an ankle injury but did return late in the game. OT Jonathan Scott got poked in the eye, but should be fine according to interim head coach Perry Fewell."

Bills Roundup: Bills Pick Off the Chiefs (2:45) - BuffaloBills.com Video
The Bills picked off four passes in their triumph over the Chiefs in Arrowhead.

Some jump up and down, while others jump for exits : Jerry Sullivan : The Buffalo News
"Sorry, but I can't summon the energy to lavish this team with praise for nipping another bad team and keeping alive the chances of another 7-9 finish. This was the sort of triumph that would have tickled Dick Jauron, an uninspired show where the Bills won by screwing up less than the opponent."

Bills' Jackson chews up Chiefs with extra effort : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"Fred Jackson spent Sunday afternoon turning what looked like 1-yard gains into 4 yards and 4-yard gains into 8 yards. He led a Bills running game that finished with 200 yards and carried the team to a 16-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs." Also some notes on how AVP used Jamon Meredith as a sixth lineman at times.

Quarterly report: Bills-Chiefs : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
The News' Mark Gaughan breaks down the Bills' 16-10 victory over the Chiefs quarter-by-quarter, analyzing statistics, key plays and more.

Whose INT on final play? Take your pick : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"Sunday was the Bills' third four-interception game this season. More important was when the interceptions occurred. The last three picks came on the Chiefs' last three possessions, when they were driving."

Moorman lifts teammates with booming punt : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"With the Bills at their 20-yard line and holding a three-point lead at the end of the third quarter, Moorman uncorked one of the best punts of his NFL career. The ball sliced through the wind, landed at Kansas City's 25 and kept rolling until it stopped at the 7 for a 73-yard punt, the ninth-longest in Bills history."

Buffalo Bills win ugly, but it's still a win | Democrat and Chronicle
"The Bills' red zone efficiency remains a major problem. They entered the game with just nine TDs scored from inside the 20, tied with the Rams and Raiders for fewest in the NFL. They tacked on just one more against the Chiefs in four trips and were lucky those failures did not cost them the game."

Buffalo Bills 2-minute read | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
Sal Maiorana looks back on his Six Points from his game preview to see if the Bills and Chiefs were successful.

Buffalo Bills defeat Kansas City Chiefs | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
"This is one for the vault, but only if the plan is to put the tape of Sunday's Bills-Chiefs game in said vault, lock it up, and throw away the key. Beauty is clearly in the eye of the beholding winning coach, because this game was uglier than the clothes pro golfers wore in the 1970s."

VIDEO: Chiefs v. Bills Highlights - Arrowhead Pride
VIDEO: Chiefs v. Bills Highlights

Chambers Dropped Pass Dooms the Chiefs - Arrowhead Pride
"One play certainly doesn't define the game but, boy, Chris Chambers dropped pass towards the end of Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills was ultimately what doomed the Kansas City Chiefs."

Chiefs Struggle Against the Bills; Lose 16-10 - Arrowhead Pride
Arrowhead Pride gives their perspective on the good, the bad, and the ugly from yesterday's Bills win over Kansas City.

Recap: Kansas City vs. Buffalo
The Sports Network recap of the game.

Byrd takes over NFL interception lead - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"Buffalo Bills safety Jairus Byrd ended his longest interception slump since he became a starter. Whew. Three whole games. Byrd has nine interceptions, separating himself from New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper, who also went into Sunday with eight. "

Wrap-up: Bills 16, Chiefs 10 - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"In the least interesting AFC East game of the day, a team won with a quarterback who started, played the whole afternoon and threw for 86 yards."

Take 2: Bills Win Doesn't Change Reality | Adam Benigni | wgrz.com
"It's important to note the Bills are playing hard for Perry Fewell. In two out of the last three weeks, they've been able to close out games in the fourth quarter - remember, they scored 24 unanswered in the fourth to beat the Dolphins."

Bills Defense Picks off Win in KC - WIVB.com
Paul Peck's quick game recap.

Crucial decisions on fourth downs don't pan out for Chiefs - KansasCity.com
"Chiefs head coach Todd Haley had three critical fourth-down decisions to make Sunday. Only one of them worked out in the 16-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium." Randy Covitz breaks down each for the Kansas City Star.

Defense, kicker lead Bills to win - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
John Marshall of the Associated Press recounts the game.

Bills Hold On In KC 16-10 - Bills Daily Gameday Review
Bills Daily reviews the Bills-Chiefs game breaking down key plays and players.

Bills Daily Gameday Grades - Week 14
The Bills blog grades the different aspects of yesterday's game.

Bills hang on, pick up 16-10 win over Chiefs - Buffalo Rumblings - Arrowhead Pride
The Chiefs fans' perspective on Brian's postgame recap.

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
- Coming into the game, Bills K Rian Lindell was the best kicker in the league over the last five seasons from 50-plus yards. But he just missed a 51-yarder against the Chiefs. Since 2005, he's 9 of 13 from 50 or beyond.
- Rian Lindell's 36-yard FG makes him 16 for 16 inside the 40-yard line this season and 66 for 67 since 2006. Those are the best numbers in the league from 2006 to 2009.

Bills/Chiefs Postgame Thoughts : Buffalo Sports Daily
"Lou Saban and Hank Straham must be rolling over in their graves right now. That was as bad of a game as you can see in the NFL today."

Bills Stink Less Than Chiefs In 16-10 Win : Buffalo Sports Daily
Great headline by Pat Moran in his game recap.

Countdown Daily Recap: Bills-Chiefs - ESPN Video - ESPN
Cris Carter and Alex Loeb recap the Bills victory over the Chiefs

Chiefs should thank anyone who sat through this game - KansasCity.com
Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star says the Chiefs should, and did, thank the fans for actually showing up and watching that kind of game.

Cassel booed as Chiefs fall to Bills | ProFootballTalk.com
"Fitzpatrick went just 12-of-20 for 86 yards passing, but that was enough, and the Bills improved to 5-8 in a game that was notable less for the Bills' win than for the major step backward that Cassel took."

Owens on Marshall breaking his record – Inside The Bills
"No more deserving a guy than he is," said Terrell Owens of Brandon Marshall. "They say he’s the ‘Baby T.O.’ All records are made to be broken as some point. He’s going to have a great career. He flirted with it last year too. Great job by him."

Bills hang on, pick up 16-10 win over Chiefs

Brian Galliford — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:21:50 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

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The Buffalo Bills went into Arrowhead Stadium and picked up what can be loosely defined as a victory, outscoring the Kansas City Chiefs 16-10. Terrell Owens scored his fifth touchdown as a Bill, Rian Lindell kicked three field goals, and Bills defenders intercepted four Matt Cassel passes in the win.

At times, the Bills were borderline dominant. Buffalo ran the ball better than they have all season, with Fred Jackson (99 yards) and Marshawn Lynch (84) keying a 200-yard ground effort. Ryan Fitzpatrick couldn't make Buffalo's offense two-dimensional, however; in easily their most conservative game plan of the season, Fitzpatrick made many poor decisions in completing 12 of 20 passes for a hugely pedestrian 86 yards. His 9-yard strike to Owens put the Bills up 7-0 in the first quarter, but he lost a fumble and threw an ugly interception into triple coverage. Not his best effort, and it really hampered the Bills' ability to put the game away much sooner than they did.

Three offensive turnovers kept the Chiefs in it, and after the Bills opened up a 13-3 lead, Jamaal Charles raced for 76 yards and a score to cut the Buffalo lead to 13-10. Charles finished with 181 yards on 27 touches, with 143 of those coming on the ground. Just another running back shredding the Bills. Hope you started Charles in your fantasy leagues, Charles owners.

Buffalo's defense shut the door late in the fourth quarter, however. Jairus Byrd recorded his league-leading ninth interception of the season with roughly two minutes remaining, and after the Bills failed to pick up a first down and punted the ball back to Kansas City with a minute remaining, George Wilson intercepted a desperation heave from Cassel on the last play of the game to preserve the win. Wilson now has four interceptions on the season.

Paul Posluszny and Terrence McGee each recorded interceptions as well. Aaron Schobel, Chris Kelsay, Spencer Johnson and Bryan Scott recorded one sack apiece; without those big plays defensively, the Chiefs - who missed plenty of opportunities to take leads on this day - likely take the win.

The Bills improve to 5-8 on the season - they are now 2-2 under interim head coach Perry Fewell - while the Chiefs drop to 3-10. Buffalo hosts the 8-5 New England Patriots next Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Keys to Victory: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs

Kurupt — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:30:13 -0000

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The final quadrant of the season is upon us, as the Buffalo Bills travel to Kansas City to take on the 3-9 Chiefs. Both teams have struggled all year on both sides of the ball and will be looking to take advantage of the weaker aspects of their opponent. The Bills will again be starting Ryan Fitzpatrick, while the Chiefs continue plugging along with the $63 million Matt Cassel experience. This isn't one of the better quarterback battles of the week. The Chiefs present potentially the last winnable game (against starters) for the Bills this year. Let's jump on in to see what they need to do to earn their fifth W.

Run wild: The last couple weeks, the Bills' running game has had some frisky moments. Last week against the Jets, Marshawn Lynch averaged 10 yards per carry and picked up his second touchdown of the season. The week prior, Fred Jackson had over 100 total yards and two touchdowns. The Chiefs are one of the worst defenses in the league trying to shut down the run, allowing 143.8 yards per game. There will be plenty of opportunities to run at this defense. In what should be a brisk afternoon, look for the Bills to try to grind out a victory. Taking advantage of the weak Chiefs front seven will go a long way in deciding the outcome of this game.

Hit a big one or two: The Bills looked to Terrell Owens deep a few times last week, but Darrelle Revis simply shut him down. A pair of Brandons (the dinged up Flowers and Carr) will attempt to duplicate Revis' success against Owen. I like TO's chances of having a bounce back performance, just as I like the potential (but not probability) of a nice Lee Evans game. In yet another game with nothing to lose, I'm guessing Ryan Fitzpatrick will air out some deep ones. Let's hope he hits a few.

Protect the football: The Bills have turned the ball over 5 times in their four victories (1.25 per game) and 18 times in their 8 losses (2.25 per game). If the Bills can hang on to the ball, with say just a lone turnover or none(!) at all, that will bode well for their chances this week. Giving the ball to a weak offense, one that is actually worse than Buffalo's, in good field position is just asking for poor results. Hang on to it Fitzpatrick and friends!

Eliminate Charles: Eliminate sounds so much cooler than "shut down" or "focus on", doesn't it? Jamaal Charles has been most of Kansas City's offense the past month after becoming the Chiefs' starting RB following Larry Johnson's dysfunctional exit. He's a big play threat every time he touches the ball, and has proven that already this season. Expect the Chiefs to run their offense (and kick return unit) through him. The Bills need to avoid giving up a big play to Charles for the same reason they need to protect the football: don't give the Chiefs offense any easy points!

Turn over the Chiefs: Obviously, turnovers have been a huge factor in the Bills' four victories this season. Maybe the biggest factor, actually. In those four games, the Bills defense has forced a whopping 16 turnovers. In their 8 defeats, they've only forced 9 turnovers. Without those key turnovers, the Bills are likely a one or two win team thus far. Against a weak quarterback and overall struggling offense, putting them in 3rd and long situations could easily result in some game-changing turnovers. (Side note: the Bills offense needs to avoid those situations just as much as the Bills defense needs to force the Chiefs into them)

Signs of Life: This is one of those games where it might be pretty easy to determine whether some players are just playing out the string while others are still going full blast. For those looking to remain in Buffalo next year, playing tough and inspired football will really give the new staff reasons to keep these guys around. There's nothing I hate more than a team that gives up and players that quit. I hope the Bills don't do that like they have the past few years.

*******

In what should be the most exciting game of the season (/sarcasm), we will all be hoping for no major injuries and a big play or two. What a sad, indifferent afternoon this is going to be. After this week, only three more games until the Bills Super Bowl... the offseason. Yay, I suppose! Anywho, go Bills! Another 54 point explosion in Arrowhead would be a fun sight to see!

Vote: Most disappointing 2009 Buffalo Bill

Brian Galliford — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:30:14 -0000

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The 4-8 Buffalo Bills still have a full quarter of their season to get through, but they're also on the verge of missing the playoffs for a tenth consecutive season. While we could spend our time in this space talking about the intricacies of four mostly-uninteresting football games, it's much more fun - and constructive, in my humble opinion - to start wrapping this season up and moving on. Again.

The premise here is simple. As a community, we're voting on the one Buffalo Bill that has most disappointed us this season. I know, the season isn't over, so there are new and unique ways that these players can twist the knife over the next month. We're doing it anyway. I've got five nominees; if you have a differe

Trent Edwards. Buffalo built its entire attack around Edwards being "the guy" at the game's most important position. The no-huddle was installed to play to Edwards' intellect, the offensive line was re-tooled, and an explosive playmaker at receiver was brought in. Then everything crumbled - the line, the offensive coordinator, and most importantly of all, Edwards' confidence. He's now the backup quarterback, and his career looks all but over in Buffalo.

Marshawn Lynch. Coming off of a Pro Bowl season, Lynch missed the first three games of the season on a league-mandated suspension. Since his return to the lineup, Lynch hasn't rushed for more than 69 yards in a game, and once Dick Jauron was replaced by Perry Fewell as head coach, Lynch lost his starting job to two-year understudy Fred Jackson. He's still an extremely talented back, but his touches are down, mostly because he hasn't been productive.

Terrell Owens. At least to me, it's been profoundly intriguing to watch Owens play in person and on my favorite team. I love the guy. But he was brought here to "fix" the offense, and while that was always an unrealistic expectation - particularly given the status of the offensive line - Owens' numbers have at least been slightly disappointing. Through 12 games, he's had one 100-yard receiving effort. He's nowhere near the offense's biggest problem, but even if it's unrealistic, I don't think there's a fan out there who isn't secretly craving more big plays before T.O. leaves Buffalo forever.

Demetrius Bell. We heard about his athleticism as a rookie, and after a solid training camp, the Bills cut Langston Walker and installed Bell at left tackle, protecting Edwards' blind side. He struggled with consistency early, and of late, he's struggled with shoulder and knee injuries. He might not play again this season, and he certainly hasn't proven he's capable of handling the left tackle spot next season.

Aaron Maybin. Right idea, wrong player? Quite possibly. Buffalo needed an instant-impact player with their top draft pick this past April, and while I'll still maintain for the time being that Maybin's potential is elite, it was clear from the moment he declared himself eligible for the 2009 NFL Draft that he'd be a project-type player. A 21-year-old kid at the most difficult defensive position to break in at? People are surprised that he has yet to record an NFL sack?

Poll

Cast your vote for Most Disappointing Buffalo Bill.

Bills Fantasy Friday: Week 14 Start 'Em/Sit 'Em

Kurupt — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:30:14 -0000

The Buffalo Bills return to the field this Sunday as they travel to Arrowhead to face the 3-9 Kansas City Chiefs. It's safe to say, this won't be one of the marquee games this weekend. There also aren't many fantasy options available either. Coming off a rotten performance in Toronto against the New York Jets, the Bills are looking for a rebound performance against a team that just got waxed at home by the Denver Broncos, 44-13. Knowing how bad these two teams are, this could be an ugly one. Are there any players worth starting from this game as many of you are beginning your fantasy playoffs this week? Let's find out.

Quarterbacks
Ryan Fitzpatrick - After a stunningly decent two week stretch, Fitzpatrick came crashing back to Earth with his horrendous 98-yard performance against the Jets. He completed just 9 of 23 passes at 4.3 yards a pop. It was ugly and the only positive was he rushed for 32 yards! After facing the NFL's top ranked pass defense last week, he'll get a bit of a respite as the Bills will be going up against the 28th ranked passing defense. The Chiefs have allowed 250.8 yard per game, 8.0 yards per attempt and 21 touchdowns thus far. Looks appetizing, right? Well, it's Ryan Fitzpatrick we're talking about here. Don't even consider starting him unless your league starts four QB's per team. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Matt Cassel - Cassel has been a major bust for the Chiefs so far. The $63 million man has played so poorly that even Trent Edwards has a higher quarterback ranking. He's completed just 53.9% of his passes at 5.7 yards per attempt. Like Fitzpatrick, don't even think about rolling with Cassel. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Running Backs
Fred Jackson - After an excellent game against the Dolphins, Jackson struggled against the Jets last week. He finished with 13 rushes for 31 yards and added 24 yards on 3 receptions. But the Chiefs defense isn't the Jets defense. Expect Jackson to have a nice bounce back game this week. This late in the season, sometimes the best fantasy players arrive as the result of great fantasy matchups. This could be one of those arrivals. If Jackson gets the majority of the touches, or at least a solid 60/40 ratio, don't be surprised if he has one of the better games of his career. He's a great flex play and makes for a pretty solid RB2 play this week. Verdict: Start 'Em

Marshawn Lynch - Lynch had a nice performance last week with six rushes for 60 yards and a touchdown. It was probably the best he's ran all season, but he only had those six rushes. He'll likely get more carries this week, but Jackson seems like the better play and first option. I wouldn't be surprised by a very good performance out of Lynch, but at this point it's much more likely he'll end up with another 10 carry, 30 yard performance. He could be a nice flex option, especially if he gets any red zone carries, but I wouldn't even consider him in a two running back league. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Jamaal Charles - Charles has been one of the biggest fantasy surprises over the past month. The Chiefs have finally given him the majority of the touches and he's rewarding them with back-to-back-to-back-to-back nice games, including at least one touchdown in each of the past four games. He's averaged over 75 rushing yards per game in that stretch, continues to return kicks (including one for a TD against the Steelers) and is a big play RB in the passing game. The Chiefs will rely on him early and often. He should get 20+ touches and could reward fantasy owners with RB2 or even borderline RB1 numbers. For leagues awarding points for return yardage, Charles is an even better option. Verdict: Start 'Em in all leagues

Wide Receivers
Terrell Owens - Like Fitzpatrick, Owens was coming off back-to-back good games, and just like the big-headed QB, he struggled to put up numbers against the Jets. He should put up better numbers again this week, though it's hard to predict big numbers out of anyone in this passing game. I think the Bills will look to continue getting the ball to him downfield, so if they can hit on a big play, Owens might put up those big numbers here. This will be the last time I'm recommending a Bills' WR all season. Love it. Savor it. Cherish it. Verdict: Start 'Em

Lee Evans - Evans continues playing the Invisible Man in the Bills' offense. The team just can't get him the ball and I refuse to believe it's solely on the QB and play calling. At some point, Evans needs to play consistently right? Don't bother with him, although as typical with Evans, just as you write him off he responds with a monster game before fading into the sunset once again. If you have the stomach, roll the dice. Since you likely have better options, go with them. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Dwayne Bowe - In case you haven't been keeping up with the Chiefs this year, Bowe will be missing his fourth consecutive game for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Don't say I've never looked out for your best interest, Bills friends. Verdict: Duh

Chris Chambers - From the abyss, Chris Chambers has been surprisingly good since joining the Chiefs after being cut by the Chargers. Prior to last week's 11-yard stinker, Chambers racked up 17 receptions for 319 yards and 3 touchdowns in four games. I think last week is a lot closer to what Chambers will be doing the rest of the season. If you are stuck, I'd go with Chambers over Evans (for example), but don't in expecting much against the league's 4th best pass defense. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Tight Ends
Shawn Nelson, Sean Ryan - I'm lumping them together because even though they have the same pronunciation for differently spelled named, they will probably put up the same stats for different teams. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Kickers
Rian Lindell - Lindell had two field goals against the Jets last week and continues to be consistently okay as a fantasy kicker. However, okay isn't what you should be looking for. As always, go with a kicker for a better offense. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Ryan Succop - Yeah, I forgot who their kicker was and had to look it up. I suggest you treat him the same way and disregard him totally. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Defense/Special Teams
Buffalo D/ST - The Bills make for a sneaky play this week against a poor Chiefs offense. The Chiefs OL and QB's have been a part of 40 sacks this year, 2nd most in the NFL. However, surprisingly enough, they've only turned it over 15 times thus far. If the Bills can get after Cassel, look for a decent number of sacks and the potential for some turnovers. Maybe they'll even get another pick six in Arrowhead again! Unless you have a quality D/ST with a bad matchup (i.e. Denver against the Colts, Cincinnati against the Vikings, Arizona against the 49ers on the road), you'll probably steer clear of the Bills. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Chiefs D/ST - Even against the Bills, I wouldn't consider starting the Chiefs D/ST. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Sleepers
Buffalo D/ST - See above

Chris Chambers - Even though I could never imagine starting him, Chambers has indeed become the Chiefs go-to receiver. If Cassel can get the passing game going, Chambers could be in line for some good numbers this week.

**********

In what might be the last game any Bills player might have a relevant fantasy performance, let's hope we see some offensive production this week. Another ugly season can't end soon enough, but one more quality performance will at least give us a positive for this team heading into the Holidays! Good luck to any of you (except Brian) who may be taking part in your league's fantasy playoffs this week. Go Bills!

Will Bills Players Be Distracted by the Kansas City Night Life?

Chris Thorman — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:03:03 -0000

"On the really crazy nights, Lynch has been know to return to Applebee's...."

Since we're playing Buffalo this week, it gives me the opportunity to post one of my favorite ESPN segments of all time. Back in 2007, Kenny Mayne of ESPN and Bills RB Marshawn Lynch checked out the local Buffalo hot spots and gave us a feel for Buffalo life.

The verdict? It's like living in a frozen strip mall.

You can make an argument for Kansas City not exactly being a cultural hot spot but KC is like classical Athens compared to Buffalo.

It's Friday AP readers. One day until the weekend!

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Link, 12/10

MattRichWarren — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:01:51 -0000

Bills' Maybin barely toes the line : Jerry Sullivan : The Buffalo News
"In time, Maybin might turn into a star. But it's disconcerting to watch so many other rookies having good years while the Bills' top pick struggles to find himself. Well, they're 4-8. Maybe someone up top should tell Fewell the time has come to find out about Maybin."

All Fundamentals Team - Brian Moorman
The Bills' punter was named to the USA Football "All Fundamentals team" for his excellent form on and off the field.

Lindell having another strong season | BuffaloBills.com
"The most accurate kicker in franchise history, Lindell is putting together another solid season. Entering this weekend’s action the veteran kicker is 20-23 on field goal attempts this season (87%). With four games left to play Lindell is within striking distance of his single-season career high in field goal percentage set back in 2006 when he went 23-25 for a 92 percent success rate."

Bills bleeding away points in the red zone : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"The Bills have scored just nine touchdowns inside the opponent's 20-yard line, tying the St. Louis Rams and Oakland Raiders for the fewest in the NFL. The Bills' 27 red-zone possessions are tied with the Detroit Lions and Sunday's opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs, for the fifth fewest in the league."

Byrd’s injury improving – Inside The Bills
"Fewell wasn’t ready to go so far as to say that Jairus Byrd’s snaps will be increased significantly as a result of his improved condition. But it’s a good sign that the rookie ballhawk could be out on the field more than he has been in recent weeks."

Bills notebook: Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"Cornerback Terrence McGee practiced fully for the first time since having knee surgery during the bye week. Whether he's able to return to the starting lineup won't be known until the end of the week. Defensive tackle John McCargo also practiced fully after being sidelined the last two weeks with a calf injury."

Injury report – Inside The Bills
Terrence McGee practiced fully. Check out the list of players who didn't here.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Bills vs. Chiefs; So Similar, It's Scary
"Fewell was asked if some of the Bills younger players, like Aaron Maybin, James Hardy and Steve Johnson would see playing time over the last few weeks of the season. He replied that he's trying to put the best 45-man roster on the field each week and that the younger players that aren't playing as much will get a chance when he (Fewell) feels that they give the Bills a chance to win. "

Time for Bills to go with Brohm? | Democrat and Chronicle
"One way the Bills could make some headway on 2010 is to start finding out, as soon as possible, if new quarterback Brian Brohm is someone that could help the team."

Back to Work With the Bills | Democrat and Chronicle | Three-Point Stance
Sal Maiorana looks back at the Jets loss and forward to next season.

Bills looking toward 2010 for Maybin - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"I think he's going to be a dynamic player for us," said Perry Fewell. "It's very tough to play in this league, and I think he will get better, and he’ll be a top-flight pick. Maybe not at the end of this season, but he’s going to be a top-flight pick for this football team."

Video: AFC East Huddle - AFC East Blog - ESPN
ESPN's John Clayton takes his weekly spin around the AFC East and touches on a variety of subjects.

Jones, McNabb headline the top fantasy starters for Week 14 | NFL.com
Terrell Owens is a "Start 'Em" this week now that he's not locked up against Darrelle Revis.

wgrz.com | Buffalo, NY | Bills Roundtable
Watch 2-On-Your-Side's Adam Benigni and Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle on this week's Bills Roundtable.

Owens and Lynch have long pass contest | WIVB.com
45 second clip of Terrell Owens and Marshawn Lynch in a long pass contest following Wednesday’s practice.

Bills search for motivation | WIVB.com
"We're all competitors number one," Fewell said Wednesday. "We talked about it this morning, that in order to get what you want in life, you have to have enthusiasm and a vision. Our vision is to win."

Bills top draft pick DE Maybin remains motivated - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
"Maybin is willing to lower his expectations a little for this year. The level of confidence he has in his abilities, though, remains unchanged."

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
Bills interim coach Perry Fewell on LT Demetrius Bell (knee): "That's a day-to-day thing with Bell. He worked out Monday, really looked good on Monday. Did not participate today so we’re just trying to find out what the problem is there."

Further Evidence Edwards Is Done : Buffalo Sports Daily
Pat Moran, who two weeks ago called for Briam Brohm to get a look, now wants Trent Edwards back as the starter since he lit up the Chiefs a year ago.

Countdown Daily AccuScore Report: BUF-KC - ESPN Video - ESPN
Jenny Dell tells you the chances the Bills go into Kansas City and beat the Chiefs

Saints sign LB off Bills practice squad – Inside The Bills
"LB Anthony Waters, who was signed to Buffalo’s practice squad on Oct. 14 in the wake of a rash of injuries at the LB position, has been signed by New Orleans as they deal with injuries themselves at the LB position."

Owens open to re-signing with Bills in 2010 | BuffaloBills.com
"Terrell Owens seems to view the Bills as the victim of circumstance in 2009, which is why he’s not as discouraged by what has transpired this season as some might think." He is quoted as saying, "It’s no coincidence as (Ryan) Fitz(patrick) has been in the offense that I’ve been getting involved and he’s kind of been dropping back and looking downfield and he’s seen on the film where I have been open and we’ve taken full advantage of that."

Bills Week 14: Bills at Chiefs | Buffalo News Video
"The Bills head to Kansas City this week where they face the the Chiefs. Last time the Bills played in Arrowhead Stadium the Bills racked up 54 points in a win. Can the Bills repeat this season? Al, Sully and Rodney take a look at the matchup."

Bills celebrate Play 60 with students | BuffaloBills.com
The event included appearances by wide receiver Lee Evans, safety George Wilson, linebacker Chris Draft, long-snapper Garrison Sanborn, linebacker Jon Corto, defensive end Aaron Maybin, safety John Wendling and team mascot Billy Buffalo as they encouraged kids to stay fit.

Wilson: Bills work out Pettiti | National Football Post
The Bills worked out former Cowboys offensive tackle Rob Pettiti, late of the UFL's Florida Tuskers, Tuesday.

Team in Transition
WGR 550 SportsRadio - Getting a new football coach - in 12 stages
Jeremy White's 12-step program of getting over your old coach and finding your enthusiasm for the next season.

ProFootballWeekly.com - Assistants will draw interest for head-coaching jobs
"With the majority of the teams likely to be looking for new head coaches at the end of the season also having financial concerns that figure to keep them from pursuing heavy hitters such as Mike Shanahan, Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden and Mike Holmgren, PFW this week takes an in-depth look at the more affordable alternatives whom our leaguewide sources have identified from the NFL assistant-coaching ranks."

2010 NFL Draft
FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Cover-3: A Man Named Suh
FO profiles the big Nebraska DT.

Locker might return to Washington - San Jose Mercury News
"Washington coach Steve Sarkisian says he's "very optimistic" that star quarterback Jake Locker will return to the Huskies for his senior season rather than enter the NFL draft."

Bills Tweets
Nic Harris
Off tired, think this is what they call the rookie wall, imma fight thru! Time to bite down!

Letterman writer Eric Stengel
Terrell Owens has signed with a modeling agency. A couple of gigs and maybe the guy can finally get some attention!!

Kansas City Chiefs Coach Breaks Down the Buffalo Bills

Joel Thorman — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:35:26 -0000

More photos » by Darren Calabrese - AP

12 days ago: Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens take to the field during the pregame ceremonies before playing against the New York Jets during NFL action on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009, in Toronto. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darren Calabrese)

Browse more photos »

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley said today that he felt the team had a good start to their preparation for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. In a meeting with reporters this afternoon, Haley gave a broad overview of the Bills offensively and defensively.

His words, along with a few notes by me, after the jump.

"Like I said, we’ve got our week cut out for us with this Buffalo team. They’ve got multiple weapons on offense, a quarterback who can really run and does run; they’ve got two backs in Lynch and Jackson that are big, fast backs that have a bunch of carries over 10 yards much like last week, and two receivers who can hurt you in a lot of different ways and from anywhere on the field."

Overall, the Bills offense isn't very good. They're ranked 28th in passing yards and 19th in rushing yards.

This season RB Fred Jackson has seen three carries to every two Marshawn Lynch carries. Jackson has been more efficient, 4.1 yards per carry, than Lynch, 3.5 yards per carry.

Meanwhile, Terrell Owens has put up nearly 700 yards at 16 yards a clip. Not bad considering Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick have been throwing to him.

"Defensively," Haley continues, "we’re [facing] a four-three front after seeing a three-four for a bunch of weeks. That presents its own problems. This is a prideful front four that is big and strong and has one of the premier pass rushers in the league in Schobel. They’ve been beat up a little bit at linebacker but they’ve had some guys come in and play and are fitting in with what the defense is trying to do. They’ve got a secondary that finds a way to the football starting with this rookie Byrd. He’s one of those players that the ball seems to find its way into his hands. Those are the kind of guys who are dangerous."

The Bills are obviously terrible at stopping the run ranked last in the NFL. Their pass defense, however, is ranked fourth against yards. I'll admit I'm no expert on the Bills but a really, really low rush defense and, at least going by the numbers, a good pass defense sounds like the 2008 Chiefs.