SB Nation - Rian Lindell

Bills Fantasy Thursday: Week 16 Start 'Em/Sit 'Em

Kurupt — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:00:19 -0000

More photos » by John Russell - AP

Welcome to the final edition of Bills Fantasy Friday for 2009! Which is actually happening on a Thursday, for obvious reasons. The Buffalo Bills travel to Atlanta to take on the recently eliminated Atlanta Falcons. It's Week 16, which is the Super Bowl for most leagues. If you're still alive, congratulation and good luck. I'll keep this brief as it's unlikely this will help you, and mostly because it's Christmas.

Quarterbacks
Brian Brohm - Assuming Brohm will not only be making his first NFL start in relief of the injured Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards, he'll be taking his first NFL snap. Expect it to be ugly and mistake filled. There is no value here. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Matt Ryan - Ryan has been somewhat of a fantasy disappointment this year. He's already thrown one more touchdown pass this year (in 12 games) than he did in his rookie season, but overall, his performance isn't what fantasy owners were hoping for. His yards per game and yards per attempt numbers are down, and he never really took that next step this year. He'll again be a nice sleeper option next year. Wait until then to start him again. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Running Backs
Fred Jackson - Jackson put together a nice all-around game last week (80 yards rushing, 32 yards receiving, 108 return yards) and had a touchdown taken off the board because of penalty. With Brohm under center, expect the Bills to rely as heavily on the running game as possible. Jackson will again get a ton of touches, and should have some solid success against Atlanta's 20th ranked run defense. Verdict: Start 'Em in all leagues

Marshawn Lynch - A week after his most productive rushing day of the season, Lynch had just 8 carries for 25 yards against the Patriots. Right now, Jackson is the man with Lynch getting roughly a third of the carries. Look elsewhere if you're still alive and actually contemplating starting Lynch: Verdict: Sit 'Em

Jason Snelling - The big guy makes for an excellent start this week against the 32nd ranked rush defense in Buffalo. With Michael Turner on the shelf after re-aggravating his ankle injury, Snelling looks like a good bet for 15-20 touches. He's put up solid numbers when given the majority of the touches this year, so expect something similar to what he's produced thus far. Look for around 100 total yards and a touchdown or two. He's a great flex play this week. Verdict: Start 'Em in all leagues

Jerious Norwood - The speedy back hasn't had much of an impact this year since returning from injury. He'll get some touches, but isn't much of an option unless you are super desperate. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Wide Receivers
Terrell Owens - With Brohm starting, Owens has little to no value. If he catches any passes this week, I'll be surprised. Expect Perry Fewell and Alex Van Pelt to look for creative, simple ways for Brohm to get Owens the ball. I'm not sure I trust Brohm's ability to get that done though. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Lee Evans - Evans has even less value than Owens. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Roddy White - White, despite having somewhat of a down season, will always be on my must-start list. He should surpass 1000 yards on the season this week and could be in for a huge day when matched up against Reggie Corner. I expect White to have a great day, and you should too. Verdict: Start 'Em

Michael Jenkins - Jenkins is a mediocre real life wide receiver. He's rather useless as a fantasy wide receiver. Don't be surprised if he has a nice game, just don't bank on it. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Tight Ends
Shawn Nelson - Someday. Maybe someday. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Tony Gonzalez - Gonzo's numbers are down in his first year with Atlanta, but he's still having a very good year. He still has a good chance of reaching 90 receptions and 1000 yards again for this season. He's another guy you should be confident starting every week, especially this one. Verdict: Start 'Em

Kickers
Rian Lindell - I don't think the Bills will have enough scoring opportunities for Lindell to even be considered worthy of a fantasy start. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Matt Bryant - I couldn't remember who replaced Jason Elam, but it's the veteran Bryant. He has four field goals in three games, so he hasn't exactly lit it up, but could be in line for his best day as a Falcon. The Falcons will be able to move the ball and should control the ball and the clock for most of the game. Bryant is a nice sleeper kicker this week. I'm sure you have been riding a better option though. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Defense/Special Teams
Buffalo D/ST - The Bills defense played quite well against Tom Brady and the Patriots last week, but didn't have a strong fantasy day. They'll have their moments this week, especially if Matt Ryan continues floating passes high, but aren't worth the start. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Atlanta D/ST - I'd start this unit if I were still alive in my leagues. With Brohm taking his first NFL snaps, expect him to be blitzed and harassed every time he drops back. There will be sacks and there will likely be a few turnovers. I also wouldn't be shocked if this unit pitches a shutout against the Brohm-lead Bills. Verdict: Start 'Em

******

That's it for this year, folks. I hope you enjoyed reading this each week as much as I did writing it. Good luck to everyone still alive in their leagues. I can't wait until next (fantasy) season, already! Enjoy the day and the games this weekend. Merry Christmas everyone!

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/21

MattRichWarren — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:23:19 -0000

More photos » by Mike Groll - AP

3 days ago: New England Patriots running back Laurence Maroney (39) gets past Buffalo Bills cornerback Drayton Florence (29) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009. The Patriots won 17-10. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

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Penalties, lack of offense lead to latest loss - BuffaloBills.com
"The Bills defense played valiantly holding Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to just 115 yards passing and giving up just 109 yards on the ground was an effective day for Buffalo. In the end there was just not enough support from the other side of the ball to stage an upset."

Bills' popgun offense produces dud : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"We were not converting on third downs," Fewell said in explaining the QB switch. "We needed something to give us some momentum so I made the decision. I thought Trent could come in and maybe give us a little spark, give us some momentum."

Bills' secondary contains Patriots' passing attack : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"Maybe the Buffalo Bills' pass defense is for real after all. Led by tight coverage in the secondary, the Bills justified their No. 5 NFL ranking against the pass by slowing down the New England Patriots' vaunted attack. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who has been a Bills killer, was far from lethal Sunday. He completed only 11 of 23 passes for 115 yards — all season lows — with one touchdown and one interception. His passer rating was 59.1, which is far below the 102.6 rating he had in the previous 15 meetings with Buffalo."

Bills' aura of futility catches up with Fewell : Jerry Sullivan : The Buffalo News
"Fewell has to know he's cooked. He was a long shot for the permanent job even if his team had won Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium. But it's looking grim now, after the Bills lost to the Patriots, 17-10, in a game that was all too reminiscent of the losses that came before it in this dying, dysfunctional decade. "

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Immediate Reactions, Wk15
Nick Mendola has cracked, guys. He gives his immediate reactions to the Bills game before predicting "Atlanta 735, Buffalo -4" for next week.

Patriots Extend Streak to 13 Over Bills - 13WHAM.com - Rochester News, Weather, and Sports
"No matter how inconsistently the Patriots have played -- particularly on the road -- or what distractions they've faced, one thing remains constant: They can always count on beating their perennial patsy, the Buffalo Bills."

Postgame injury update – Inside The Bills
Trent Edwards (ankle), Terrence McGee (Shoulder/arm), and Bryan Scott (head) all sustained injuries sever enough to keep them from returning.

It's tough to pay attention to the Bills these days : Bucky Gleason : The Buffalo News
Bucky Gleason was so bored and distracted during the game Sunday his mind kept wandering to Brittany Murphy's death.

BillBoard: Woe for the '00s
Comparing the Bills losing decades of the Dolphins in the 70s to the Patriots in the 00s. It's surprisingly close.

Bills-Patriots report card : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
The Bills get better grades than you might expect from the Buffalo News.

Quarterly report: Bills-Patriots : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"The News' Mark Gaughan breaks down the Bills' 17-10 loss to the Patriots quarter-by-quarter, analyzing statistics, key plays and more."

Miscues add up to 124 yards in penalties : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"The Bills had 11 penalties for 124 yards. They had more than 100 penalty yards in the first half alone."

Buffalo Bills: Two-Minute Read | Democrat and Chronicle
Breaking down the Buffalo Bills' Sunday loss to the New England Patriots.

Buffalo Bills' newest lineman states his case | Democrat and Chronicle
"Anytime you lose, you obviously didn't play well enough," said Richie Incognito when asked to analyze his game. "We'll watch the film and correct what went wrong and keep battling. But this group has a lot of fight in them and I like it. I'll fight with these guys any day of the week. We were close at the end, we just came up short."

Buffalo Bills' opening drive set bad tone | Democrat and Chronicle
"Nine minutes into the game, the Bills were ahead 3-0 and New England hadn't even touched the ball yet, and I knew Buffalo wasn't going to win. OK, I knew that all week, but this is what solidified my thought: Awesome opening drive, ruined by a false start penalty at the 2, and they settled for a Rian Lindell field goal. They needed a touchdown to start the game, and didn't get it. That set the tone for the rest of the day."

Buffalo Bills Report Card | Democrat and Chronicle
See what grades our experts give out and rate the Bills yourself. These grades make a lot more sense.

Buffalo Bills fall to New England Patriots | Democrat and Chronicle
"But when you factor in the litany of lousy plays the Bills offered up on a cold but mostly wind-free afternoon, the Bills have no chance against Bill Belichick's troops, not even when Tom Brady is looking merely mortal and the Patriots gain only 224 yards and score 17 points."

Quick Recap: Patriots defeat Bills, 17-10 - Pats Pulpit
Quick recap by the guys at Pats Pulpit.

Recap: Buffalo vs. New England
The Sports Network recap of the game.

Trent Edwards goes in, down and out - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Tim Graham gives a good summary of Trent Edwards' day.

$50k to bolt St. Louis? Fine with Incognito - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"With the fine of 50 grand, I would have gladly paid more to get out of that situation in St. Louis," Incognito said Sunday after the New England Patriots beat the Bills 17-10 in Ralph Wilson Stadium. "So I chalk it up to that."

Rapid Reaction: Patriots 17, Bills 10 - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Tim Graham, who was in the press box at the Ralph, gives his game summary.

Fewell Deserves a Chance -- Somewhere Else | WGRZ.com
Ed Kilgore meanders around the roster, the front office, and Perry Fewell in his most recent post.

Take 13 | wgrz.com
"So that's it... 13-straight and little signs of progress. Owner Ralph Wilson wasn't talking when he left the locker room today. After he fired Dick Jauron he talked about the need for an overhaul. 13-straight losses to the team that's set the standard in the division should underscore that point."

Y’all’s forgiven in Patriot land - The Globe and Mail
"When they assemble next season, trying to avoid their 14th consecutive loss to New England, Buffalo will surely bear little resemblance to the team that walked off the field yesterday. "

Niagara Gazette - TIM'S TAKE: Bills wear stare of humility
"A blank look of humility, one that so many Bills players and coaches have brought to the Ralph Wilson Stadium podium over the past decade, was the common thread after yet another lackluster loss to the mighty New England Patriots on Sunday."

Niagara Gazette - BILLS NOTEBOOK: Edwards makes a cameo
"The sequence symbolized the demise of Edwards, who was still considered the future of the franchise the last time Buffalo met New England, in the season opener. Too many checkdowns, too many injuries, too many punts. "

Failure to lead - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow
"The first drive was the game plan, and then the next few series that we had, we got ourselves into some trouble," Ryan Fitzpatrick said. "When you’re going to play a game like that where you want to wear your opponent out, you have to play mistake free football."

Best and worst of yesterday’s game - BostonHerald.com
Ron Borges gives his thoughts on the game. Interesting bits I think.

Analysis/reaction: Pats 'good enough' in Buffalo - Patriots.com
Escaping Buffalo with a 17-10 victory, New England did what it needed to do, right when it needed to most.

Bills Daily Gameday Grades
Game grades from the Bills blog from the Pats game.

Bills Daily Gameday Review
The Bills blog recaps the game.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Bills Fall to Pats 17-10; Eliminated from Playoffs
"The Buffalo Bills were their own worst enemy in their 17-10 loss to the New England Patriots at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bills gave the Patriots over 119 yards through penalties, which ended up being the difference in the game. "

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
- Paul Posluszny is the first Bills LB to have an INT in back-to-back weeks since Bryce Paup, who accomplished the feat back in December 1995.
- Just when you think it couldn't get any worse, Bills WR Josh Reed drops a wide-open pass on a 4th-and-9 near the goal line on one of the few well-thrown passes by Buffalo today. Reed has had an awful day, with two muffed punts as well (which were recovered by Buffalo).

Bills Tweets
Twitter / Donte Whitner
In my post game interviews I was not saying I want to leave buffalo....I wanna stay here forever!

Twitter / Thurman Thomas
I have never met Randy Moss, he came up to me during warm-ups and said" what's up old school, you are the man" ... WOW, made me feel good..

Twitter / Donte Whitner
Hope I didn't see moss jump in the stands and bills fans enbrace him!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope not!

Terrell Owens
Sometimes things must come 2 an end, u hv 2 move on & accept wht life has 2 offer. So looking 4wd to 2010.

Bills Fantasy Friday: Week 15 Start 'Em/Sit 'Em

Kurupt — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:00:25 -0000

More photos » by Ed Zurga - AP

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By now, pretty much every fantasy league should be in their playoffs. If not, what kind of league are you in?! For those of you lucky (or savvy) enough to still be fighting for your league's championship, congratulations.

The Buffalo Bills host the New England Patriots this Sunday in a matchup with decent fantasy implications - even for the Bills. Buffalo looks to finally knock the Patriots off, while Tom Brady and company are looking to better their playoff and division title chances with a road victory. Besides Brady, who might be worth a start in this do-or-die fantasy week? Let's find out.

Quarterbacks
Tom Brady - I think it's pretty obvious that if you own Brady, you start him. Despite having a "down" year from what many may have expected, he still has over 3800 yards and 23 touchdown passes thus far. And in case you forgot, he's owned the Bills throughout his career (240 yards per game, 2.1 touchdowns per game, 102.6 QB rating, 14-1 record). Start him with confidence, especially in this must win for the Patriots. Verdict: Start 'Em

Ryan Fitzpatrick - The typical Ryan Fitzpatrick games have returned as he's thrown for 184 yards the past two games....combined. Don't expect those numbers to improve greatly this week, even against a very susceptible Patriots' pass defense that's giving up 211 yards per game and has allowed 22 touchdown passes on the season. They've allowed over 300 yards passing in four of their last five road games. The opportunities will be there, but with Fitzpatrick as the quarterback, those will likely be wasted opportunities like so many other chances the Bills have had. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Running Backs
Laurence Maroney - Maroney has seen a bit of a rebirth this season, as he's been able to remain healthy and on the field for the entirety thus far. SInce taking over as the main rusher in the Patriots attack, he's put up 555 yards rushing and 8 touchdowns in 8 games. Those are solid numbers for a flex back, especially one who was mostly forgotten on draft day. With the Bills run defense still atrocious, Maroney will definitely have his chances to put up a monster game. Expect a short yardage touchdown and 75-100 yards at the very least. Verdict: Start 'Em

Sammy Morris - The former Bills has returned to the field recently after battling a knee injury. He's averaged roughly 7 touches per game in this three games since returning, but hasn't really had much of an impact. With Bill Belichick, you never know if Morris will assume the majority of the touches, but at this point, it's hard to believe he'll be anything more than a secondary option in the Patriots ground game. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Fred Jackson - Jackson continues to start and get the higher percentage of the rushes. I think that will continue. Jackson has been very successful against the Patriots recently putting up 276 total rushing and receiving yards and a touchdown in the past two match-ups between the teams. With Marshawn Lynch starting to come on, don't expect Jackson to get the type of work needed to reaches those numbers again, but he could be in line for a pretty solid fantasy day. I expect him to be a big factor in the passing game and he seems to be the goal line back at this point. I'd take a chance and go with him as a flex this week. Verdict: Start 'Em as a flex only

Marshawn Lynch - Lynch is starting to run a lot better recently, picking up 144 yards on 18 rushes over the past two games. With an offensive line that is beginning to run block a little better, Lynch is starting to benefit. However, he's still only averaged 8 rushes per game over his last six games. Don't expect a big game out of him, but he could have a solid game all around. He's not worth starting in fantasy though. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Wide Receivers
Wes Welker - Welker has been fantasy gold this year, in normal formats and especially in PPR leagues. He leads the league in receptions with a whopping 105 thus far, and his currently second in the NFL with 1,158 yards. Taking out the season finale last year where nobody could throw the ball in the wind, Welker has 34 receptions for 347 yards in four games against the Bills since joining the Patriots. Amazingly, he hasn't found the endzone. Don't worry about that though. Welker will be his usual self catching a ton of passes and moving the chains. Start him with a ton of confidence. Verdict: Start 'Em

Randy Moss - A lot has been said about Moss the past week, and whether or not he quit against the Panthers. I don't believe he did, but then again, I didn't see a whole lot of that game. One thing I do know, Moss, Brady and Belichick will be hellbent on getting this guy going again. I fully expect them to go to Moss early and often. He's dominated the Bills during his Patriots career. Again taking out the Wind Bowl game, Moss has 32 receptions for 437 yards and 6 touchdowns in four games. I fully expect Moss to have a big game this week, especially if Reggie Corner is involved at all. He'll get his. Verdict: Start 'Em

Terrell Owens - Owens scored last week, but again had a down game. He's put up good numbers against teams that reside in Florida this season, but has struggled in pretty much every other game. In the first match-up, Owens had just 2 receptions and was effectively taken out of the game. The Patriots will try to do that again and it's hard to believe they won't succeed. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Lee Evans - If ever there is a team to definitely bench Evans against, it's the Patriots. He's struggled mightily against them during his career and those struggles should continue. Evans has been a non-factor for much of the season. God bless you if you are actually contemplating starting him this week, or ever again! Verdict: Sit 'Em

Tight Ends
Benjamin Watson - (Who goes by Benjamin?) Watson pretty much destroyed the Bills in the 4th quarter of the first match-up and ending up scoring the two touchdowns to give the Patriots the lead for good. He's been a bit player in the Patriots passing attack since that night, which is a surprise to no one. Stick with whatever has gotten you to this point. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Shawn Nelson - No way. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Kickers
Stephen Gostkowski - Gostkowski is 5th in the NFL with 106 points and 6th with 23 field goals made. He's one of the few kickers that you should keep in your lineup each week. Verdict: Start 'Em

Rian Lindell - Surprisingly enough, Lindell is actually tied with Gostkowski with those 23 field goals made. Still, you really can't rely on him to get his chances from week to week. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Defense/Special Teams
New England D/ST - With Fitzpatrick and the cringe-inducing Bills offense as the opponent, there will be ample opportunities to pick up sacks and pick off some errant throws. They've been a solid fantasy unit this season, so you shouldn't really be concerned that they haven't done it this year. As is usually the case with fantasy defenses, you can pick up good chunks of points week to week based on matchups. I think this is one of those weeks. Verdict: Start 'Em

Buffalo D/ST - The pass defense has been opportunistic this season, but it's still hard to imagine them shutting down the Patriots this week. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Sleepers
None - If you're still playing in your league at this point, you really aren't looking for any sleepers to get you some cheap points. Plus, I don't think there's any in this game as it is.

*******

Let's just hope the Bills put up a fight and keep the game within striking distance. The Patriots will likely be coming in hungry and ready to smack the Bills around. I just hope the Bills are ready to smack back! Good luck in your fantasy playoffs this week, and Go Buffalo!

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/15

MattRichWarren — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:47:31 -0000

More photos » by Ed Zurga - AP

10 days ago: Buffalo Bills defensive back Jairus Byrd (31) breaks up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Lance Long in the the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo. Long was call for pass interference on the play. The Bills 16-10. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

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Buffalo Bills’ All-Decay Team : Buffalo Sports Daily
"Every franchise has its busts, but few can put together a complete lineup of failures who came with so much promise. These aren’t just any scrubs; they’re guys who, based on what was invested in them, were counted on to make the team respectable at least. " Can't say I agree with Willis McGahee on here.

S Byrd leads NFL and interception-happy Bills - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
John Wawrow of the AP analyzes the Bills' interception totals from the year. [Ed. Note: Check out the caption on the photo above and catch the mistake.]

Evans again forgotten on Bills' offense : Jerry Sullivan : The Buffalo News
"You have to feel a twinge of sympathy for poor Lee Evans. Good guy. Good teammate. Good in the community. Good hands. Great speed. But in his sixth NFL season, the Bills' wide receiver is struggling through the most discouraging season of his career."

Bills replay: Running backs finally run wild : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
In his game tape review, Allen Wilson focuses in on the Bills run blocking and running backs.

Buffalo Bills Replay | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
"We're trying to say some nice things about the Bills because this might be our last chance. This is probably the last game they're going to win this season." Thanks Sal!

Perfect ending for Colts, Saints would be Super Bowl | Democrat and Chronicle
Buffalo was holding opponents to a 62.5 passer rating before Kansas City's Matt Cassel registered a 35.4 rating in a 16-10 home loss to the Bills. The Bills entered Sunday with a 25th-ranked 70.0 passer rating themselves, and Ryan Fitzpatrick had a 65.8 rating in victory Sunday.

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
The Bills are currently leading the league in INTs with 25. The last time Buffalo had that many takeaways through the air was in 1975.

Moorman has shot at elusive number – Inside The Bills
"After Sunday’s masterful performance in which he finished with a net average of 53, Moorman’s net average for the season is now 41.4, good for third in the league."

Monday Morning Quarterback - Peter King - SI.com
King named Brian Moorman his special teams player of the week for punting four times for a 53-yard average and not surrendering a return yard. He forgot to mention the other stuff like getting a bad snap up for Rian Lindell and calling a timeout instead of taking a delay of game penalty.

Run game revs up - BuffaloBills.com
"My hat goes off to Jonathan Stupar because he played every play on offense," said Fred Jackson. "He was on the field (throwing up) at one point. He was a guy that wanted to perform for us and help us get a victory. Jamon coming in as another tight end to help us [when Shawn Nelson went down]. It was about guys just wanting to get a victory."

Scott growing into role at linebacker : The Buffalo News
"He's a big safety and a small linebacker," Fewell said. "Bryan is really stepping up to the plate for us because we need guys to step up to the plate. It's not the role that he envisioned himself to be in at the beginning of the season but it shows how unselfish he is and how unselfish this team is."

What Else Can We Expect? | Democrat and Chronicle | Three-Point Stance
Sal Maiorana lauds defensive ends Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay for playing well and explains why he dislikes Aaron Maybin so much. He also calls for Brian Brohm because Ryan Fitzpatrick "couldn’t start for about 20 Division I college teams."

No passing mark yet for Fitzpatrick | Olean Times Herald
"One question was emphatically answered on Sunday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium: neither Trent Edwards nor Ryan Fitzpatrick will be the Bills’ quarterback come training camp next July."

Taking out the Trash: Bill of goods - George Winkler - Fantasy Source Blitz - Sporting News
"Perry Fewell says he's sticking with Fitzpatrick, but it doesn't take an Ivy League education for fantasy owners to know the Harvard grad should be punted."

Bills Announce Tickets Available For Last Two Games | WKBW News
The Bills have announced that approximately 2,000 tickets are available for Sunday’s game vs. the New England Patriots and over 5,000 tickets remain for the January 3rd game vs. the Indianapolis Colts.

Countdown Daily Insight Center: NE-BUF - ESPN Video - ESPN
Football Scientist KC Joyner takes you into the IBM Insight Center to tell you the keys to victory.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Jake Locker Could Have Been #1
"Sam Bradford is a mid-first round talent. I project Colt McCoy as a late first to early second round pick, with the likes of Tim Tebow, Dan LeFevour, Tony Pike and Sean Canfield in a glut just beyond him. Watch out for Arkansas's Ryan Mallet, however. He's a very raw talent and underclassmen, but has the skills to sneak in to the first round if he elects to leave early."

It's my mom's birthday today so happy birthday mom!

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.

Chiefs Struggle Against the Bills; Lose 16-10

Chris Thorman — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:06:47 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

10 days ago: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel (7) is sacked by Buffalo Bills safety Bryan Scott (43) during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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This loss really hurts. Maybe it's because the Chiefs had a chance, deep in Buffalo territory, at the end of the game to win it.

But no.

Cassel's pass was tipped and picked off by the Bills with 2:13 left in the game. Chris Chambers had dropped a big pass near the goal line on the previous play.

Dropped passes. Sound familiar?

The Chiefs even got the ball back but a deep Hail Mary pass with no time left was caught by Buffalo.

Here are some notes on the game. Tweet your questions to Joel at @ArrowheadPride.

We need to keep our chins up for one more week in order to sell out the Browns game and preserve the NFL's longest sell out streak for another year.

The Good

The Chiefs defense came up big with twelve minutes left in the game. They shut down the Bills after Buffalo took over with great field position. Rian Lindell missed a 51-yard kick.
RB Jamaal Charles nearly does it all. After a tipped pass resulted in a Buffalo INT, Charles chased down the Bills linebacker and nearly stripped the ball back.
LB Tamba Hali applied pressure all day on QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. Hali had one sack, his 7.5 of the year.
On 3rd and 16, with 7 minutes left, Cassel hit Wade for a 22-yard first down. It was the offensive play of the game. Leonard Pope's 16-yard catch and run on 3rd and 8 was also big.
TE Leonard Pope had a huge game - 4 catches for 45 yards - with a couple of big catches near the end of the game.

The Bad

A Rudy Niswanger holding penalty in the fourth quarter negated a big pass play by Cassel to Chambers.
WR Chris Chambers was called for holding on that huge Jamaal Charles run late in the fourth quarter. This was a killer penalty.
DT Glenn Dorsey left the game before the half with a knee injury. He did not return.
WR Mark Bradley signaling first down when he was ten yards short.
The Chiefs had five penalties in this game, some coming at very critical junctures.

The Ugly

The Chiefs forced three turnovers and scored zero points off of them.
WR Chris Chambers dropped a huge pass near the goal line with under three minutes left. Another drop.
Cassel was 26/43 for 224 yards and four INTs. He had 145 yards passing the first half. His QB rating was 35.4.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments and vote in the poll.

Poll

Grade the Chiefs performance today.

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!

Bills can't defend "home" field, lose to Jets

Brian Galliford — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:28:20 -0000

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For a second consecutive year, the Buffalo Bills' trek across the border to Toronto ended badly. Thoroughly dominated on both sides of the ball, Buffalo was kept alive by some curious decisions and missed opportunites on the part of the New York Jets, but the "road" team pulled off a 19-13 win nonetheless.

New York dominated this game offensively, rushing for 249 yards and dominating time of possession in the second half. The Jets rushed for 567 yards in two games against Buffalo this season; let's just say that shoring up the run defense should be a priority for the Bills this off-season. You know, once we get that front office and coaching situation figured out.

Buffalo was about as adept at moving the ball offensively as they were stopping it on defense; Ryan Fitzpatrick completed just 9 of 23 passes for a paltry 98 yards, and though the Bills got quality secondary rushing from Marshawn Lynch (6 carries, 60 yards, 1 TD) and Fitzpatrick (5 carries, 32 yards), the Jets bottled up starting running back Fred Jackson (13 carries, 31 yards). When you can't run and you can't throw, you're probably not going to be lighting up the scoreboard.

The Bills trailed 19-10 in the fourth quarter when a Rian Lindell field goal - his third of the game - made it a one score game. Buffalo's defense held on the ensuing Jets possession, giving the Bills one last-gasp attempt at a win. Fitzpatrick was sacked on the first play of the Bills' final drive, and on the next play, he severely underthrew a pass to Terrell Owens (3 catches, 31 yards). Darrelle Revis picked it off, and that's all she wrote.

Lynch's touchdown gave the Bills a 10-6 lead in the second quarter, but Mark Sanchez found Braylon Edwards for a touchdown and Jay Feely added a field goal to make the score 16-10 in favor of New York at the half. Sanchez left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury after the Jets extended the lead to 19-10, but Buffalo still struggled to stop the run consistently with Kellen Clemens in the game. Buffalo just couldn't get anything going with Fitzpatrick to take advantage of the opportunities the Jets afforded them.

Buffalo drops to 4-8 on the season, including a 1-2 record under interim head coach Perry Fewell. They will travel to Kansas City a week from Sunday.

Keys to Victory: Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets

Kurupt — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:15:09 -0000

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The New York Jets and Buffalo Bills travel up to the Great White North tonight to square off in a not-so-key AFC East divisional battle. It's a home game for the Bills, but the atmosphere isn't expected to resemble that of Ralph Wilson Stadium in any way. Both teams are coming off of strong defensive performances and look to continue their success in the Rogers Centre.

Mark Sanchez is battling a minor knee injury, but is expected to play, while the Bills will be going with Ryan Fitzpatrick's hot hand again. In the teams' first meeting, Thomas Jones ran for 210 yards, while Sanchez threw an absurd five interceptions. Fitzpatrick came off the bench for a concussed Trent Edwards and connected with Lee Evans for the game-tying touchdown; Rian Lindell hit a 47-yard field goal in overtime to win it. It was an ugly game, and the good people of Toronto are hoping for a more explosive affair this time around.

What do the Bills need to do to give their pseudo-home fans reason to celebrate? We've got six key factors for you after the jump that, if met, will make Buffalo's job infinitely easier this evening.

Ride Fred Jackson: With Jackson getting the start last week against Miami and picking up the majority of the touches out of the backfield, the Bills' offense looked better than it has since very early in the season (coincidentally with Jackson as the starter then). It's pretty evident that behind this patchwork offensive line, Jackson's talents are better suited to picking up chunks of yards than those of Marshawn Lynch. Perry Fewell seems more comfortable with Jackson, and that needs to continue this week. With Jackson netting 73 yards rushing on 15 carries, the Bills finished with 129 total yards on the ground. In the first matchup, the team rushed for 142 yards against the Jets. With an emphasis on Jackson, establishing the run and going against a Jets run defense without their best player in Kris Jenkins, the Bills could very well have one of their better rushing games of the season. Jackson was also more involved in the passing game last week (five receptions for 43 yards), so look for more of that this week. The Bills will probably go as Jackson goes in this one.

Hit some big plays: The vaunted Fitzpatrick-to-Terrell Owens connection has combined for 14 receptions, 293 yards and two touchdowns the past two weeks. Under Fewell, there has been a strong push to get the ball into T.O.'s mitts. It has worked as the Bills had hoped it would when Owens was signed earlier this year. Look for the Bills to try hitting some deep balls with Owens again this week, especially if the running game is keeping the Jets' safeties honest.

Take advantage of Lito Sheppard: Darrelle Revis might be the best cornerback in football right now. He has shut down some of the best receivers in the NFL all season, including Andre Johnson, Randy Moss (twice), Marques Colston, Steve Smith and that T.O. guy. Those five big-time receivers combined for just 19 receptions, 144 yards and one touchdown in six games against Revis. He's as good as it gets. Opposite Revis, however, is the mediocre Sheppard, a guy the Bills really need to target in the passing game this week. Evans beat him for the touchdown in the first game. Expect the Bills to work Sheppard's side with both Owens and Evans this week. If they can take advantage of the opportunities, those big plays could be there.

Pressure Sanchez: We all saw first hand how bad Sanchez can be when he feels some pressure and is forced to make plays down the field. With Jerricho Cotchery playing this week and the controlled indoor conditions, it won't be as easy to force Sanchez into mistakes. Therefore, he needs to feel the pressure. Buffalo's defense seemed to get after Chad Henne a lot better in the fourth quarter last week, leading to three poorly thrown interceptions. Sanchez is obviously mistake prone; it's up to the defense to force him to make them again this time around.

Key on Thomas Jones: Jones had the two longest runs of his career in the first game... on consecutive carries. The Bills' rush defense was terrible that day, allowing well over 300 yards on the ground. Jones will be the centerpiece again this week, and he's having a terrific season. After witnessing Sanchez implode against the Bills in the Meadowlands, don't expect the Jets to rely on him too much if they don't have to. The Bills will need to keep Jones under wraps and prevent him from moving the chains. Do that, and we might get to see some Sanchez turnovers again.

Keep up the intensity and confidence: The Bills have looked like a different team under Fewell. His energy and controlling presence on the sidelines have really given a spark to his players. In what is expected to be a sterile environment in Toronto, Bills players will again need to dig deep and continue playing tough, confident ball. If they come out flat and play without any passion, this could be one boring game.

*******

It's kind of cool getting a Bills game in prime time on a Thursday, isn't it? The Bills could move to 3-2 in the division with a sweep of the Jets in front of a "nation television audience." My advice to you all is to get through the work day as soon as possible, grab some Labatt's and plant yourself on the couch to root for the Bills on foreign soil. Go Bills, eh?