SB Nation - Bryan Scott

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/19

MattRichWarren — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:52:34 -0000

More photos » by Winslow Townson - AP

3 months ago: Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly, right, talks with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady before an NFL football game between the Bill and the Patriots on Monday, Sept. 14, 2009, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Browse more photos »

Bills O-line a comedy of calamities - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"Buffalo's football operations department left the line woefully inexperienced at the start of the year, and it deteriorated from there. It's the NFL's most-penalized unit. One of the five has started all 13 games at his position. Four who've started are on injured reserve. Kugler has patched together seven different starting combinations and could assemble an eighth Sunday against the New England Patriots in Ralph Wilson Stadium. "

Kelly's Call: Injuries Bills' biggest detriment - BuffaloBills.com
"The continuity of the offensive line has been a compromising factor in all of this and I feel bad for the offensive linemen trying to hold that thing together despite all the changes. As a quarterback I know it has been no picnic for them and for Ryan Fitzpatrick. When the quarterback is getting hit and sacked the first set of guys that are blamed are those linemen."

Buffalo Bills game sells out, TV blackout avoided | Democrat and Chronicle
"Sunday's AFC East game between the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park is officially sold out and will be televised locally, the team announced this morning."

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Schopp + Bulldog's Bills 'Bad' Team of the Decade
The list includes captain Willis McGahee, Marshawn Lynch, Terrell Owens, Jason Peters, Antoine Winfield, Nate Clements, and an empty spot at punter. "They don't have to be the worst player in Bills' history, just a name that personifies what was wrong with the last 10 years of Bills' football."

Bills' secondary to face major exam : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Randy Moss and Wes Welker, not to mention the rest of the Patriots passing attack, may present challenges to the Bills pass defense that they haven't seen yet in their otherwise stellar season.

Final Word: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
- Terrell Owens and Lee Evans have to be amped to face the Patriots secondary.
- If the Bills defeat the Patriots on Sunday, then interim coach Perry Fewell gets the job

Fan Friday 12-18 – Inside The Bills
Chris Brown tackles questions on how the Bills are doing right now, switching to a 3-4, Eric Wood's recovery (he's still in a wheelchair), next year's opponents, and Tim Tebow.

NFL fines Incognito for on-field actions : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
The NFL fined the new Buffalo Bills guard $50,000 on Friday for committing two unnecessary roughness penalties during St. Louis' 47-7 loss at Tennessee last Sunday, according to several reports.

BillBoard: T.O. in TO
It looks like Terrell Owens' "illness'' didn't keep him from making a trip to Toronto Friday night. On his Twitter page, he talked about his autograph signing at Sears and attending a Toronto Raptors game (he was dogging the Nets, calling them a D-League team, which they are). But doesn't it strike you as odd that Owens was well enough to go to Toronto, but too sick to practice the last two days? Or is it just me?

Owens questionable for Sunday | BuffaloBills.com
"It wasn’t the cold that kept Terrell Owens off the practice field late this week, it was an illness. Owens missed practice on Thursday and Friday, and it’s left him questionable for Sunday’s game against New England."

Simmons to I-R; Klopfenstein re-signed | BuffaloBills.com
"The revolving door leading to Buffalo’s injured reserve list is spinning again and another Bills offensive lineman is walking through. Just a month after being signed by the club to fill a hole on the interior of Buffalo’s offensive line, veteran Kendall Simmons was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury."

Buffalo Bills' Bryan Scott finds success at linebacker | Democrat and Chronicle
"The second coming of Ray Lewis he is not. But as learning-on-the-fly linebackers go, Bryan Scott has filled in surprisingly well for the Buffalo Bills. So well that even one of the NFL's most respected coaches, Bill Belichick, was praising the move earlier this week."

Injury-prone Bills place T Simmons on IR - The Sports Network
"The Buffalo Bills placed offensive lineman Kendall Simmons on injured reserve Friday, marking the 16th player the team has placed in IR this season. The Bills' team record for players on IR is 17, set in 2007. Simmons became the sixth offensive lineman this year to be placed on the list."

Video: How do T.O. and Moss compare? - AFC East Blog - ESPN
ESPN analysts Mark Schlereth and Tedy Bruschi discuss how Buffalo Bills receiver Terrell Owens compares to New England Patriots receiver Randy Moss in advance of Sunday's game in Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Byrd expects Moss to be on a mission - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"He's going to come in here with a chip on his shoulder," Jairus Byrd said. "Everything that's in the media and what happened last week with Carolina. We know he's going to have a chip, try to prove something. That's the game of football."

Patriots may look more to the ground game against Buffalo | New England Patriots | projo.com | The Providence Journal
"Because of the problems against the run, Buffalo’s opponents have had the ball for 902 plays. No other team has had to play defense for that many plays. "

The New England Patriots need to come together as a team to beat the Buffalo Bills - ESPN Boston
Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston and former Pats linebacker Tedy Bruschi break down this weekend's matchup. It's rather in-depth but obviously from a New England perspective.

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
"If the Bills find a way to upset the Patriots, it would be a huge feather in interim coach Perry Fewell's cap. "Without a doubt, it'd be huge ... we want to be part of that reason for him to be considered for the position of the head coach," RB Fred Jackson said."

Matching up against the Bills - the Patriots take on another divisional opponent - Pats Pulpit
"It's no secret the Patriots are an aerial team. But with a suspect Buffalo run defense and a very strong pair of Bills running backs, I think both teams will keep to the ground more often than not."

Poor writing mars good stories about Van Miller : The Buffalo News
"Heaven knows, the 81-year-old Miller deserves a book. "Fasten Your Seatbelts: The Van Miller Story" isn’t it."

Perfect gift for Bills’ fans | Olean Times Herald
Chuck Pollack reviews Jeff Miller and Marv Levy's book Game Changers about the best play s in Bills history.

BillBoard: Shanahan reportedly talks to Redskins
"The Post also said that, according to an NFL source, when Shanahan met with Bills COO/GM Russ Brandon about the team's coaching and front office opportunities last month Allen was supposed to be part of the package deal."

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/17

MattRichWarren — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:42:37 -0000

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

Browse more photos »

Practice is inside and out – Inside The Bills
"In an effort to have the players ready for the elements interim head coach Perry Fewell has his players spending portions of practice inside the Fieldhouse with all the doors open to let in the freezing cold air, and outside on the team’s grass field."

Scott: safety by trade, LB by necessity - BuffaloBills.com
Lead editor Chris Brown talks with the Bills' defensive staff and LB Bryan Scott about his transition from safety to linebacker this year.

Buffalo Bills might face local TV blackout Sunday vs. New England Patriots | Democrat and Chronicle
"If the 2000 remaining tickets are not sold by 1 p.m. today, the home game will not be televised in the western New York market for the first time this season."

Buffalo Bills' defense to face test with Wes Welker | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
"On that opening night in New England, Tom Brady threw for 378 yards in his first game back after sitting out almost all of 2008 with a knee injury. He found Welker 12 times for 93 yards, and Moss caught 12 for 141 yards. Oh, and tight end Ben Watson caught two touchdown passes in the final four minutes to deliver a pulsating 25-24 Patriots victory, New England's 12th in a row over the Bills."

Bills Notebook: Terrell Owens does like the cold: Buffalo News
"Asked what he thought of the weather, he said: 'I can't remember. I'm still frozen. I'm trying to thaw out right about now. Brutal.' Was it good to get outside a little and get acclimated? 'Absolutely not,' joked Owens.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Cold Snap
"Ryan Fitzpatrick is the exception. The Arizona native doesn't mind being outside, and noted that the Bengals didn't have an indoor practice facility. He said that helped the Bengals quarterbacks be better prepared for the cold, and thinks Fewell's decision to put the offense outside was a good one, though a stiff wind limited some of their drills."

Belichick on Bills screen game – Inside The Bills
"The screen game was its most effective in Week 1. The Patriots will undoubtedly be better prepared for it this time. It’s probably safe to assume the Bills will use it sparingly this week knowing the Pats will be looking for it."

Beating Pats could boost Fewell's stock with Bills -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY
"If Fewell, who's 2-2 after Dick Jauron was dismissed, is to solidify himself as a serious contender for the job beyond this season, there's no better opportunity than this. A win over the Patriots (8-5) would snap the Bills' 12-game losing streak against their AFC East rivals, a drought which began after Buffalo's 31-0 season-opening victory in 2004."

Stevie Johnson chops the dreds! – Inside The Bills
"Steve Johnson said equipment manager Dave Hojnowski had to tighten his helmet one head size now that the hair is gone." I don't even recognize him in the picture that's in the post.

Brady, Moss don’t practice – Inside The Bills
Tom Brady (finger), Randy Moss (rest), Ty Warren (ankle) and Vince Wilfork (foot) didn't practice for the Patriots yesterday.

Bills and Jills spread holiday cheer - BuffaloBills.com
"Ninety children and their families had a great time celebrating the holidays with the Bills players, Jills cheerleaders, Billy Buffalo and Santa Claus at the Buffalo Bills Toyota Rookie Club’s Annual Holiday Party held December 15th in the Jim Kelly Club at Ralph Wilson Stadium." Bryan Scott played Christmas carols and other Bills participating were Ryan Denney, Chris Draft, Jon Corto, Ellis Lankster, Jairus Byrd, Andy Levitre, Jamon Meredith, Andre Ramsey, Nick Hennessey, Jason Watkins, Garrison Sanborn, Cary Harris, Ashlee Palmer, Shawn Nelson, Rashaad Duncan and Lonnie Harvey.

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
- It looked like a few Bills skill players were surprised to do some work outside in the cold. The rest of the team worked indoors. WR Steve Johnson was in shorts, and someone eventually gave him a sweatshirt. Quipped one equipment man: "It's like the pop quiz at school you didn't study for."
- Bills WR Terrell Owens believes playing well outside in cold weather has more to do with the mental aspect of the game than the physical aspect. "It's all about just being mentally prepared to catch the ball," he said. "The ball's going to be hard."

Video: AFC East Blogger's Blitz - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Tuesday night on ESPNEWS, anchor Ducis Rodgers and blogger Tim Graham discussed a variety of AFC East topics.

New-look Bills - BostonHerald.com
"I wouldn’t say it was our best night," Tom Brady said about opening night. "I don’t think any of us felt really great about the way we played and kind of escaped with a victory. I’m sure Buffalo was very disappointed with the outcome of the game just because they had us there for a long time."

Harvard kid answers NFL call - BostonHerald.com
Ian R. Rapoport of the Boston Herald interviews former Hardvard QB Ryan Fitzpatrick about his days playing for the Crimson and his new gig with the Bills.

Belichick recalls the night T.O. put on a show - Brockton, MA - The Enterprise
"Hauling in nine passes for 122 yards came up second best to game MVP Deion Branch (11 receptions for 133 yards) as the Eagles came up second best to the Patriots, 24-21, on that February night at Alltel Stadium [in Super Bowl XXXIX]."

New coach Fewell has had positive impact on Bills | New England Patriots | projo.com | The Providence Journal
"While head coach Bill Belichick acknowledged that under Jauron the Bills were always prepared for their meetings with the Patriots, he also gave a tip of the cap to Fewell, calling him an "excellent" defensive coach who has done a good job of getting Buffalo to play well in all three phases of the game."

Fitzpatrick takes NFL detour - Framingham, MA - The MetroWest Daily News
"At this point in his life, Ryan Fitzpatrick figured he'd be putting on a suit and tie every day in Manhattan rather than shoulder pads and cleats in an NFL locker room."

Patriots deal with banged-up defensive line - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
"It’s uncertain whether Wilfork will be ready for Sunday’s game at Buffalo. With three games left in the regular season, New England (8-5) leads the AFC East by one game over the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets and three over the Bills."

Wilson: Bills cut Klopfenstein | National Football Post
"In order to make room for newly-signed offensive guard Richie Incognito, the Buffalo Bills have released veteran tight end Joe Klopfenstein," reports Aaron Wilson.

AccuScore Report: Patriots-Bills - ESPN Video - ESPN
Jenny Dell tells you if the Patriots can get past the Randy Moss distractions and win against the Bills.

Oakland Raiders sign quarterback J.P. Losman | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
The Oakland Raiders signed J.P. Losman, a former starting quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, to be it's No. 3 quarterback. Charlie Frye gets the nod over Jamarcus Russell.

Incognito claimed off waivers
Incognito claimed off waivers; Mitchell is no fan : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"Incognito was rated by NFL players as the dirtiest player in the league in a poll conducted by the Sporting News recently. "

BillBoard: Bills claim 'dirtiest player'
"The Bills have claimed the player who could be the second coming of Conrad Dobler. Actually, comparing Incognito to Dobler is giving Incognito too much credit at this point of his career. Incognito is a three-year starter and has 44 career starts. Dobler, who played for the Bills in 1980 and '81, had a 10-year career in the NFL and was a three-time Pro Bowler."

Bills recognize Incognito - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"Maybe Incognito and New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork will sit down for tea and crumpets Sunday. Incognito might just be passing through Buffalo. His contract expires after the season. "

Team in Transition
Candidates abound for Bills' personnel job : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Mark Gaughan compiles a list of potential general manager candidates for the Bills.

Brian Brohm
Brohm: "I’ll be ready if called upon." – Inside The Bills
"The offensive system has steadily become more and more familiar to [new qyarterback Brian Brohm]. But getting an opportunity on the field before the 2009 season is over looks remote at best at this point in time. "

Fewell on Brohm prospects – Inside The Bills
"I don’t know how far he is along in the development of our offense because he doesn’t take the reps in our offense. He takes the reps with our scout team," said Fewell. "So to put him in that position might be a recipe for failure for him. But you never say never."

Sullivan: Why keep Brohm in closet? : Jerry Sullivan : The Buffalo News
"It seems the Bills lead the league in allowing people to figure things out on the fly. But suddenly, a month isn't enough time for Brohm to at least suit up as the No. 2 quarterback."

Bills fans shouldn't expect Brohm in '09 - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"Eight seconds doesn't sound like a lot. But when a coach stands silent for that long in front of dozens of waiting reporters, it can feel like an eternity. Count out eight seconds in your head. That's how long a bull rider has to stay on a Brahmin's back, and it's how long it took Bills interim coach Perry Fewell to formulate a diplomatic response when asked if he'd consider putting quarterback Brian Brohm in."

Bills Tweets
Twitter / Steve Bradley
Still 2,000 tickets remain for Bills-Pats on Sunday. Could this be the first local television blackout of the season?

Twitter / Daniel Jeremiah
Incognito story: During OL drill at combine, he was so out of control, I said he was going to hurt himself, tore his acl 1 min later, no lie

Twitter / Sal Maiorana
Perry Fewell was asked if he would play QB Brian Brohm. He thinks it would put Brohm in a bad situation, but he also said "never say never.:

Twitter / Nicholas Mendola
Alex Van Pelt says the #Bills still have no plans to use Brian Brohm this year.

Twitter / Eric Stangel
NFL - Richie Incognito, waived by Rams, is claimed by Buffalo. Perfect fit. The Bills have been incognito all season

Twitter / Sal Maiorana
So the Bills signed OG RIchie Incognito. Labeled a dirty player. What I've heard, probably true. But he could now be best O-lineman team has

Twitter / Sal Maiorana
T.O. didn't like practicing outside: "I’m still frozen," he said w/ a laugh. "This is by far the coldest practice I’ve ever been a part of."

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

Browse more photos »

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.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/9

MattRichWarren — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:27:05 -0000

Simmons still playing catch-up with Bills : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Rodney McKissic profiles the season of guard Kendall Simmons, the newest member of Buffalo's injury-depleted offensive line.

Bills still want to finish strong - BuffaloBills.com
"Coming off the field after practice early this week, the players made it clear that finishing strong is top priority with four games to play."

2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame Ballot | Pro-Football-Reference.com
PFR has put together a 2010 Hall of Fame Ballot with stats. Go check out and compare.

Chiefs enter the blackout derby | ProFootballTalk.com
"The Chiefs have announced that 3,500 tickets need to be sold before Thursday at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Chiefs have not suffered a local blackout since December 16, 1990, giving the franchise a 155-game streak of sellouts."

Chiefs Blackout Alert: 3,500 Tickets Remaining for Bills - Arrowhead Pride
Arrowhead Pride is doing their best to get the game sold out.

Terrell Owens wants to play 2-3 more years | ProFootballTalk.com
Terrell Owens told Jay Glazer he wants to play for two or three more years.

Buffalo Bills' problem is "our own stupidity" | ProFootballTalk.com
"Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams says he and his teammates are good enough that they could be right in the thick of the AFC East race. Williams says he's figured out what the problem is: He and his teammates are stoopid."

Bills players support KED | BuffaloBills.com
Buffalo Bills players Aaron Maybin, Fred Jackson, Chris Kelsay, and Bryan Scott sent a strong anti-drug message to kids in their support of the Kids Escaping Drugs (KED) Campaign Monday night at an autograph session at McKinley Mall.

Spielman enters Hall weeks after wife's death : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Former Buffalo Bills Chris Spielman was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame a few weeks after his wife, Chris, Succumbed to a long battle with cancer.

Buffalo Bills the Early Favorites Over the Kansas City Chiefs - Arrowhead Pride
The Bills are favored by a mere point in Arrowhead.

AFC East Roundup - The Sports Network
"The Bills won a wild 54-31 win affair at Kansas City last Nov. 23rd. The team has averaged 15.4 points in their 17 subsequent contests."

How I See It: AFC East Stock Watch - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick's stock is falling in Tim Graham's (and everyone else's) eyes after his 34.3 passer rating Thursday night.

Week 14 power rankings: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The Bills fall to 26 and as a result, the Raiders moved past Buffalo. Goes to show you how much a QB means.

Video: Bills hung 54 on Chiefs last year - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"ESPN's KC Joyner previews Sunday's matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium. Joyner believes the key for Kansas City will be forgetting last year's 54-31 loss."

Patriots scored in decade with trades for Randy Moss, Wes Welker - 2000s: The Decade in Sports - SI.com
Nate Clements signing with the San Francisco 49ers is the second-worst free agent signing of the decade mainly because of the contract. Mike Williams is the third-biggest draft bust.

Tom Brady, Patriots are tops in NFL decade; Lions at bottom - 2000s: The Decade in Sports - SI.com
Terrell Owens was named the Villain of the Decade.

Titans 22, Bills 16 - AFC wild card; Jan. 8, 2000 - 2000s: Top 10 NFL Games - Photos - SI.com
Music City Mirage is number 7 on the list of top ten games of the decade.

2010 NFL Draft
Evaluating Notre Dame’s early entries | National Football Post
NFP looks at Jimmy Clausen.

Jake Locker seeking NFL info; Ryan Mallett dodges draft question - Mocking The Draft
Top quarterbacks have yet to make a decision on their NFL futures.

New York Jets Run Offense vs. Buffalo Bills Run Defense

John B — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:39:57 -0000

More photos » by Seth Wenig - AP

Browse more photos »

The Jets went off for 318 rushing yards on the Bills in the first meeting. They are giving up 165.1 yards on the ground, which is the most in the league. They give up 4.8 per rush. That's Adrian Peterson's average over the past two seasons. That means every back they face turns into the 2008-2009 version of Adrian Peterson. Ok, that might be hyperbole, but the Bills are really bad at stopping the run. That's bad for them, considering the Jets are the number two rushing offense per game in football.

Surprisingly for a run defense so lousy, the Bills actually do not have a disaster tackle situation. Marcus Stroud and Kyle Williams are a good pair. Stroud's not having a great year, but he's still a guy who commands a lot of attention. Williams always seems to hold his own in the middle of the line. Aaron Schobel has also been decent.

Let's get into where the Bills will have problems. It's on the right side, which is New York's strength. End Chris Kelsay does a poor job holding the point of attack and containing. The Bills have also had a nightmarish year in terms of linebacker injuries. Chris Draft wasn't playing anywhere at the start of this season. He's now starting outside for Buffalo and seeing a ton of time. The other outside linebacker, Bryan Scott, is a safety by trade and very undersized for the position at 219 pounds. Paul Posluszny in the middle is an emerging quality young player, but there is very little depth for the Bills.

The problem for the Bills in the first game was even their good players against the run got beaten. Nick Mangold and Brandon Moore had their best games of the year against Stroud and company on the line. If the Bills have any hope of slowing down the ground game, this will have to improve. The way this offensive line is playing, that's a tall order. Even if the Bills play this to a draw, they are weak in the back of the front seven. We'll see a lot of eight man fronts out of necessity. I don't think the Jets go for over 300 yards again, but I do think they should have another good performance on the ground.

New York Jets Pass Offense vs. Buffalo Bills Pass Defense

John B — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:09:55 -0000

More photos » by Julie Jacobson - AP

Browse more photos »

You may remember the first meeting between the Jets and Bills as one of the most disastrous showings in the history of quarterbacking by Mark Sanchez. A week after holding Derek Anderson to a 2 for 17 game, Buffalo intercepted Sanchez 5 times in an overtime victory. More than any other factor, their pass defense won the Bills that game. Through one week of Rex Ryan's codes to Sanchez, things have worked out. Sanchez made good decisions against the Panthers, and the Jets won the game. Mark didn't try to do too much. If the Jets want to leave ~~Orchard Park~~ Toronto with a win, they could sure use an efficient game from the rookie quarterback.

The Bills will look to use the same formula everybody use against the rookie quarterback, attempt to generate pressure. Aaron Schobel leads their club with 6 sacks. He's probably the best pass rusher they have, although slowing him down will be an easier task for D'Brickashaw Ferguson than handling Julius Peppers. Schobel hasn't been a model of consistency this year, though. Chris Kelsay, who is battling a shoulder injury, is the other end. He has 3 sacks. You'd have to think Damien Woody has a favorable matchup.

In the middle, Marcus Stroud returned from a knee injury for the Miami game. He is a guy who always occupies attention. Neither he nor Kyle Williams register many sacks, but their job will be to get a push up the middle and flush Mark Sanchez from the pocket. We may find out a lot about the status of his knee and that brace.

Buffalo blitzed sparingly under Dick Jauron. Since Jauron's dismissal, the numbers appear to have increased a bit. Paul Posluzny is the most likely guy to come from the middle. It could present a test for the middle of the line dealing with the tackles.

Cornerback Terrence McGee has been limited by a knee injury for the Bills. Drayton Florence will start next to him. Florence is having a nice year, but he and a gimpy McGee are a good matchup for Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery. They do have a pair of good cover safeties in Donte Whitner and George Wilson.The problem could be the run defense for the Bills, though. The Jets ran all over them in the first meeting. You have to think the biggest adjustment they will make will be to stop the run. That probably means they'll want their safeties up and won't dedicate them as much to the passing game.

Buffalo has been decimated at the linebacker position by injury. In one regard, that might help them in this matchup. Bryan Scott is starting at outside linebacker. He was converted from the safety position and is a good pass defender, which leaves the Bills in good shape covering Dustin Keller. Posluszny is also a good pass defender. The other starting linebacker, Chris Draft, was limited in practice with a neck injury and is probably the weakest cover linebacker the Bills have but is still solid. It will have to be a day for the receivers. Sanchez should have time to find them. Again, after the rushing numbers the Jets posted in their first meeting, the Bills won't be overly aggressive for fear of being caught up field.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/30

MattRichWarren — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:45:12 -0000

In a game of gut checks, Fewell passes the test : Jerry Sullivan : The Buffalo News
Sullivan runs down the list of Fewell going with his gut: attempting a 56-yard field goal, the deep bomb to T.O. (which Fewell didn't call), and starting Fred Jackson over Marshawn Lynch.

Miami Dolphins' Vontae Davis says officials gave Terrell Owens a break - Palm Beach Post
"We knew that we were playing against them and the refs," rookie cornerback Vontae Davis said. "That's tough. You can't make the game close. After that, I just knew (the officials) were not letting us get out of here with that game."

Bills Notebook: Moorman and Lindell find their finishing kicks : The Buffalo News
Brian Moorman and Rian Lindell had rough starts to the game but when it counted the most the Bills' kickers delivered late in the fourth.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Immediate Reactions, Wk12
Nick Mendola is downright giddy in his postgame analysis.

Buffalo Bills trample Miami Dolphins | Democrat and Chronicle
"Playing to win as opposed to playing not to lose as his predecessor, Dick Jauron, often did, Fewell was grandly rewarded."

Buffalo Bills two-minute read | Democrat and Chronicle
Sal Maiorana recaps the game in condensed fashion.

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
- The Bills technically had four safeties on the field for most of Miami's first drive. George Wilson and Jairus Byrd lined up at strong and free safety, respectively, with Donte Whitner at the nickel spot and Bryan Scott starting his third game in a row at LB.
- The Bills suffered only one injury today, as LB Nic Harris left the game with an eye contusion.

Bills 4th qtr changes perception – Inside The Bills
"In less than two weeks Perry Fewell has gone a long way in convincing this team they’re capable of better and that fighting to the end of games despite the postseason not really being in the cards is impressive."

Bills use fourth-quarter surge to put away Dolphins : The Buffalo News
"The great thing about it is the fourth quarter has been our Achilles' heel," said Bills linebacker Bryan Scott. "This fourth quarter we were able to ... score some points and then light our tails on fire and get after the quarterback."

Fitzpatrick shows qualities that are Peytonesque : Bob Dicesare : The Buffalo News
"If only for a day there's reasonable cause to compare Ryan Fitzpatrick, a starting quarterback by default, with Peyton Manning, a star quarterback by birthright."

Bills-Dolphins report card : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
The entire Bills team gets a "B-" or higher. What gives?

Dolphins' late collapse is tough to explain : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Dave Hyde of the Orlando Sentinel is despondent about the fourth quarter collapse the Dolphins suffered.

Quarterly report: Bills-Dolphins : The Buffalo News
The News' Mark Gaughan breaks down the Bills' 31-14 win over the Dolphins quarter-by-quarter, analyzing statistics, key plays and more.

Buffalo Bills two-minute read | Democrat and Chronicle
Sal Maiorana recaps the game in condensed fashion.

Buffalo Bills Report Card | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
The OL gets a "C-", tight ends "C+". Everyone else is sitting pretty in "B" territory or higher.

Playoff hopes take big hit as Dolphins fall in Buffalo - The Phinsider
"The Dolphins 17 point loss in Buffalo was a tough one to swallow."

Recap: Buffalo vs. Miami
The Sports Network recaps the game.

My First Dolphins Game Ever...with some pictures - The Phinsider
Great pictures from the game yesterday from dolphinsinbuffalo.

Refreshed Rivalry and Bright Future ahead - The Phinsider
DPL3 Rollin of the Phinsider is glad the Bills-Dolphins rivalry is back.

Bills playing with pride under Fewell - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"About a third of the way into the tryout, I'd say Fewell is making a sound case to get the job permanently. I'm not saying Fewell is the best option, but there's no denying he has been impressive so far."

Wrap-up: Bills 31, Dolphins 14 - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"The Buffalo Bills deadened the hopes of an AFC East playoff race by denying the Miami Dolphins their first peek at a winning record this year."

Run, Ryan, run? Throw, Ricky, throw? - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"Ricky Williams is throwing interceptions and Ryan Fitzpatrick is busting off 31-yard touchdown runs. What's next? Joey Porter taking a monastic vow of silence and Dick Jauron taking a job as a color commentator?"

Fitz and Fewell Bring Bills Fodder for the Future | wgrz.com
"Loved the way Perry Fewell has injected enthusiasm into his team, and is playing to WIN, not playing not to lose. On the other hand, to be honest, it's a bit easier to play it that way when you have everything to gain and little to lose."

Fewell's gut instincts provide spark for Bills | Democrat and Chronicle
Buffalo interim head coach Perry Fewell trusted Rian Lindell to come through on a fourth-quarter 56-yard field goal and it paid off for the Bills on Sunday.

Fewell fuels Bills | Ken Fidlin | Columnists | Toronto Sun
"It's probably too little, too late, but there's no questioning that Perry Fewell's appointment as interim coach has energized the Buffalo Bills in a way most of them never thought possible."

Niagara Gazette - BILLS NOTEBOOK: Fitzpatrick flashes running ability
"Ryan Fitzpatrick is making Bills fans forget about Trent Edwards. Ironically, he’s doing it with some of J.P. Losman’s old moves," says Jonah Bronstein.

Niagara Gazette - TIM'S TAKE: Fewell's fire gives Bills a much-needed spark
"It’s a difference, right? It’s a difference," Donte Whitner said. "And around here, it’s no knock on anybody, but we’re used to playing it safe in those situations. And the opposition, they know that. Today, they didn’t really expect that. Even last week, when (Terrell Owens) caught the 98-yard touchdown pass, they expected us to run the ball, run the ball, run the ball, punt the ball."

The right spark - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow
"Fitzpatrick proved Sunday you don’t need to have a lot of style, or the strongest arm, to win a game in the NFL. With the way the season has gone for the Bills and their fans, it might just be what the team needs going forward."

Jackson's the man in Bills backfield - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow
Bryan Sullivan looks at Perry Fewell's decision to start Fred Jackson over Marshawn Lynch.

Fewell’s presence is having an impact in the locker room - The Dunkirk Observer
"The players stood behind Jauron and always gave him their vote of confidence. I honestly believe the players LIKED playing for Jauron. But I think the players LOVE playing for Fewell."

The Miami Dolphins' defense allowed Buffalo to rush for 129 yards and score three rushing touchdowns in Sunday's 31-14 loss. -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Buffalo averaged 5.3 yards per carry against the Dolphins and scored three rushing touchdowns

Ex-Dolphin Jim Mandich's take on Dolphins game. -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
"You wish you had that one back, but the Dolphins let many more get away by letting the Bills hang around all game."

T.O. helps Bills beat Dolphins in 31-14 win - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
The AR's John Wawrow gives his account of the game from the press box.

Bills strong 4th quarter sinks Dolphins - BuffaloBills.com
"For once this season the Bills owned the fourth quarter, and it was pivotal as Buffalo outscored the Dolphins 24-0 to overcome a touchdown deficit and win for the first time in a month, 31-14 over division rival Miami."

Scott Pitoniak: New coach "Fewells'' Bills victory vs. Dolphins
The Rochester writer likes what he sees from Perry Fewell so far and gives other thoughts from the win over the Dolphins.

Does God Hate the Buffalo Bills? : Buffalo Sports Daily
Jeff Nixon gives his recollections from losing to the Dolphins for the 19th and 20th straight times before finally knocking them off in 1980.

You Can’t Rush Beauty, Partna : Buffalo Sports Daily
"The T.O. turnaround is in full flight and suddenly, labeling it as beauty would be quite the understatement. Breathtaking may be more fitting."

Other Bills bits
Congrats, Hall Semifinalists, and Good Luck: You'll Need It This Year -- NFL FanHouse
"Andre Reed and now Tim Brown further clog the receiver backlog -- I'm coming around on Reed after long talks about him with his bosses in Buffalo: Bill Polian and Marv Levy."

Haslett hasn't been contacted as a candidate for NFL job | ProFootballTalk.com
A league source tells us that Haslett hasn't been contacted regarding himself.

No Monday update from Fewell – Inside The Bills
Interim head coach Perry Fewell will not be giving a wrap up on Sunday’s game Monday. It’s due to the fact that the Bills have a very short week of preparation with their next game coming on Thursday night against the Jets.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/28

MattRichWarren — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:42:24 -0000

A look at AFC East O-line stability - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The Buffalo Bills will use their league-leading seventh different starting lineup Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. The Bills have used as many offensive line combinations as the Jets (1), Dolphins (2) and New England Patriots (3) combined.

Kelly's Call: A coach, a QB and a rebuttal
Jim Kelly clarifies his statements regarding California quarterbacks and Tim Tebow.

Fan Friday 11-27 – Inside The Bills
Chris Brown answers questions from fans on Brian Brohm, whether or not Jauron addressed the team after he was relieved of his duties, Trent Edwards' future, Mike Shanahan and other coaching candidates.

Dolphins Prep
Downtrodden Buffalo Bills will try to rise up against their biggest rival, the Miami Dolphins
"It's on a greater level than the other division teams ... Our guys are keyed up," Perry Fewell said.

Miami Dolphins prepare to face Terrell Owens for second time this year -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
"I mean, look at him, he's a physical freak," Dolphins rookie cornerback Sean Smith said. "There's not a lot of wide receivers out there 6-3 and built the way he is. He's built to last the whole year without slowing down at all."

Bills look to regain home field edge | WIVB.com
The Buffalo Bills have lost seven of their last eight games in Orchard Park, three of four this year. Rebuilding their home field advantage is an important step towards eventual playoff contention.

Final Word: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
- Ricky Williams should record his third straight 100-yard rushing game. - Bills receiver Terrell Owens might have fun against the Miami Dolphins' rookie cornerbacks.

Video: Williams will run over Bills - AFC East Blog - ESPN
AccuScore doesn't believe the Bills can cope withRicky Williams this weekend.

Bills notebook: Stroud likely to play Sunday : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
The Bills position coaches had longer work days Friday and today to prepare for next week's game — on Thursday against the New York Jets.

Miami center not looking good – Inside The Bills
The Miami Dolphins are likely to be without their starting center. Jake Grove did not practice again on Friday and Miami head coach said Grove has been declared doubtful for Sunday’s game.

Sparano on weather factor – Inside The Bills
Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano isn’t worried about the weather that Buffalo might have in store for his team Sunday.

Team in Transition
Coaching carousel: Remember Mike Martz? | National Football Post
Mike Martz has the highest winning percentage among coaches who have won a Super Bowl.

GoErie.com: John Dudley - Bradford would be an acceptable answer to Bills' prayers
"If I'm the Bills, I take Bradford if I have the chance, and never look back," says Dudley.

Leftovers
BillBoard: More on DT Harvey
Perry Fewell talks about new DT Lonnie Harvey. He likes that the Bills offense can now practice against someone that big in a 3-4 look.

Bills players on a mission | BuffaloBills.com
Wide receiver Terrell Owens, safety Bryan Scott, cornerback Drayton Florence, linebacker Chris Draft and wide receiver CJ Hawthorne volunteered to serve more than 300 people a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

Sports on the Air: Bills fans continue to tune out : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
The Bills' 18-15 loss to Jacksonville had a 26.9 rating on WIVB-TV, making it the season's lowest-rated Bills game.

Losman's Las Vegas team wins UFL title : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Losman completed 21 of 35 passes for 193 yards.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/25

MattRichWarren — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:29:33 -0000

More photos » by Phil Coale - AP

26 days ago: Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew (32) runs for second-quarter yardage as Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Spencer Johnson moves into make the tackle during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

Browse more photos »

Wilson making mark at strong safety | BuffaloBills.com
In six starts this season Wilson stands third on the team in tackles, is tied for second in forced fumbles, fourth in sacks and fifth in pass breakups. He also caught his third interception of the season last week.

Bills' Johnson lending a hand on D-line : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Spencer Johnson's (pictured above) name may not jump off the stat sheet from Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but his impact was certainly felt by interim Bills coach Perry Fewell.

Give The Ball To Brohm : Buffalo Sports Daily
Pat Moran suggests that Brian Brohm is the only potential franchise QB on the roster so he should get some playing time down the stretch this year.

Team in Transition
Bill Cowher Snubs Bills, Would Not Snub Bears Or Texans - SB Nation
Apparently Bill Cowher would be "excited" to coach the Bears or Texans. Guys - welcome to the QB quandry.

Schottenheimer says he's not a coaching candidate | ProFootballTalk.com
"I'll be very candid with you and say it's nice to think that people would consider you," Schottenheimer said, "but the reality of it is is that after 30 great years I'm really not going to go back down that road again."

Cowher isn’t shuffling off to Buffalo | National Football Post
Robert Boland says Bill Cowher may or may not be interested in Buffalo but he is not going to give away the leverage he has over the Bills and other teams. He also doesn't want the Bills to pit Shanahan against Cowher.

Schottie addresses Bills coaching rumors – Inside The Bills
Chris Brown laments the disinterest of Marty Schottenheimer because of his great coaching record.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - NFL.com's Jason LaCanfora joins THSS
"It's more just a sort of extension of where Coach Cowher is coming from in terms of having a commitment to honor right now at CBS," LaCanfora said. "He doesn't want to become a part of a coaching search while guys like Perry Fewell are trying to make a statement."

Shanahan stays on Buffalo Bills wish list | Democrat and Chronicle
A person familiar with the Bills' search told The Associated Press that the team has contacted the former Denver Broncos' coach. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Bills are not discussing the search.

Bills owner Wilson willing to write the check, but who'll cash it?
Mike Holmgren has rejected an overture from the Bills as well, presumably because he has his eye on one or more other opportunities that would likely involve him taking only a front-office position.

NFL Videos: Around the League
Will Bill Cowher coach in Buffalo next season? Get the latest on that story and more from Jascon La Caforna.

News and Notes
Dolphins vs Bills: Five Good Questions - The Phinsider
Brian Galliford of Buffalo Rumblings joins the Phinsider to discuss the Bills as we look towards Sunday's Dolphins/Bills game.

Blogger's Blitz: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Tim Graham analyzes the state of the Patriots, Bills, Jets and Dolphins

Even in defeat, Fewell rouses Bills fans - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Fewell, the Buffalo Bills' interim head coach, lost his first game as Jauron's placement but as of Tuesday night was pulling down a 65 percent in SportsNation's weekly NFL head coach approval ratings.

Week 13 power rankings: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Tim Graham lists the AFC East teams best wins, worst losses, and close calls. The Bills-Patriots game is both teams' close call game and the Bills win over the Jets is their worst loss.

How I See It: AFC East Stock Watch - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The Bills offensive line stock is falling - and let's face it how could it not be - and Terrell Owens stock is rising.

Buffalo City Mission's Photos | Facebook
Chris Draft, Terrell Owens, Bryan Scott, and C.J. Hawthorne helped out at the Buffalo City Mission yesterday.

Bills bring cheer to kids | BuffaloBills.com
Bills offensive lineman Kirk Chambers, linebacker Jon Corto, kicker Rian Lindell, and safety John Wendling visited with children and their families from the Women’s & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo on November 23rd.

Niagara Gazette - BILLS DVR REWIND: Small errors keep killing Bills
Tim Schmitt looks back at the Bills loss to the Jaguars to give his thoughts.

Buffalo Bills' QB situation among the worst in the NFL | Democrat and Chronicle
Bob Matthews ranks the Bills QB situation 29th in the NFL.

Bills Tweets
Kawika Mitchell
rehab is goin good. Healin up and storin up energy

Aaron Maybin
just got done serving dinner to over 300 kids and their families in downtown buffalo. Great time!

Adam Caplan
Source said they brought in a young guard today, no name guy.RT @mdschmidt: @caplannfl Any word on other OLs Buffalo might be pursuing?

Donte Whitner
Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strength.when u go through hardship and decide not to surrenderthat strenth

Stroud one of three Bills starters out for Sunday

Brian Galliford — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:54:36 -0000

More photos » by Rick Havner - AP

Browse more photos »

The Buffalo Bills, led by interim head coach Perry Fewell, will be looking for a win in Jacksonville without the services of three key starters.

Marcus Stroud did not practice all week with a knee injury and has been ruled out, according to BuffaloBills.com. This could potentially leave the Bills with just two healthy defensive tackles on Sunday. Also ruled out were tackle Demetrius Bell (knee), linebacker Keith Ellison (thigh) and cornerback Ashton Youboty (ankle).

Stroud's absence is of critical importance. The Bills have the NFL's worst run defense, and they're about to take on the NFL's fifth-leading rusher in Maurice Jones-Drew without their most proven run defender. Exacerbating that issue is the fact that fellow defensive tackle Kyle Williams is on the injury report as well, listed as questionable with a knee injury that has caused him to miss Buffalo's last two games.

Spencer Johnson will start in Stroud's place, and if Williams can't go, John McCargo will make his first start of the season as well. Converted safety Bryan Scott will make a second straight start at outside linebacker in place of Ellison. Rookie guard Andy Levitre will flip out to left tackle in place of Bell, with veteran Seth McKinney getting the nod in Levitre's left guard spot.

Joining Williams as questionable for Sunday are receiver James Hardy (groin), cornerback Terrence McGee (knee) and rookie free safety Jairus Byrd (groin). McGee and Byrd were both limited in practice on Friday. With Donte Whitner returning to the lineup (he's not listed on the injury report and practiced all week), George Wilson would start at safety if Byrd can't go. If McGee cannot play, the Bills will dress just three healthy cornerbacks in Jacksonville (Drayton Florence, Reggie Corner and Ellis Lankster).

Meanwhile, Jacksonville will be missing one key defensive starter (cornerback Rashean Mathis) and is likely to be without another (middle linebacker Justin Durant is doubtful).