SB Nation - Ryan Fitzpatrick

Fewell has not yet ruled out Ryan Fitzpatrick

Brian Galliford — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:00:43 -0000

Multiple sources have reported over the last 24 hours that the Buffalo Bills are expected to start Brian Brohm at quarterback for the team's Week 16 game in Atlanta. With the team's top two quarterbacks sidelined in practice on Wednesday with ankle injuries, Brohm took first-team reps, throwing to Terrell Owens and Lee Evans.

Interim head coach Perry Fewell, however, has not yet ruled out his starter, Ryan Fitzpatrick, telling reporters Wednesday afternoon that Brohm would start only if Fitzpatrick could not go. Fitzpatrick is considered day to day. The Buffalo News reported on Monday that crutches were spotted in Fitzpatrick's locker, but unlike backup Trent Edwards, Fitzpatrick was on hand at practice Wednesday, taking "mental reps," as Fewell termed it.

Gibran Hamdan, who was re-signed on Tuesday to boost Buffalo's depth at the QB position, is not considered a starting option. Fewell said Edwards has been ruled out this week, but will be re-evaluated next week, likely postponing reports that he was heading to Buffalo's extensive Injured Reserve list.

Buffalo won't play Fitzpatrick if he doesn't take any first-team reps in practice this week. If Fitzpatrick can't suit up on Thursday or Friday, look for Brohm to get the nod. But it's quite clear at this point that Brohm is not Fewell's first choice - nor should he be.

Patriots 17, Bills 10: Week 15 Film Session

Brian Galliford — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:32:47 -0000

More photos » by Mike Groll - AP

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Listen. It's a holiday week. I'm on vacation for most of it. There was absolutely no way that I was going to waste my time re-watching the Buffalo Bills' 17-10 loss to the New England Patriots. It's enough that I'm a Bills fan, and therefore subjected myself to that type of performance once. It wasn't going to happen again. I'd like to spend my holidays sane.

Rather than talk about what I saw on the re-watch, therefore, I'm just going to dump the notes I took during the game as it happened live, krytime mind dump style. These notes won't appear in our usual verbose manner; rather, they're copied verbatim, in bullet point form. If you're confused by any of the references or the meaning behind some of the statements, feel free to ask.

Good game planning from Perry Fewell/Alex Van Pelt. Hit 'em where they're missing players. (Guess that only applies to the first drives.)
Richie Incognito is one of the strangest-shaped dudes I've ever seen.
Like what I'm seeing from Geoff Hangartner and Andy Levitre. Both solid players.
Terrible idea to sub in an extra OT on that goal line play. Just asking for a penalty. Bye, TD.

Pretty sad that BUF is so bad on misdirection that Welker can pick up a first down on an end around, 3rd & 2. They've got to know it's coming sometime. Nice play call.
Terrific read by Paul Posluszny on the interception.
Pats are going to have a field day rushing the passer. Belichick always knows how to get pressure.
Holy Lord, Donte Whitner looked awful in deep coverage. Ugly, ugly PI penalty on Moss.
Brady knows how to attack Jairus Byrd - go high. Byrd might never be a good red zone defender.
Man, I like watching Mike Wright play football. Tough dude.
Absolutely no way the Bills will be able to attack NE deep.
Why can't Terrell Owens be used the same way NE uses Moss? That middle route was too easy, and too quick.
Yet another penalty on the DBs. Getting abused.
Aaron Schobel isn't great, but he makes at least one heady play every game.
A quarter and a half in, we have a Lee Evans sighting.
Two holding penalties now on Incognito. Not surprising, but killer nonetheless.
Have to figure out a new way to praise Fred Jackson.
Drive killed by a terrible Ryan Fitzpatrick throw. Good idea, horrid execution - Josh Reed wasn't even open. Throw it away!
Another end around, this time to Matt Slater. So annoying to watch them repeatedly abused by this play.
Laurence Maroney looks fantastic. (Easy to do against BUF.)
PI on Reggie Corner. DBs are complaining, but the calls are legit. TD coming...
... and there it is. Maroney from a yard out.
Didn't like Fewell's decision to kick the long FG. Rather have seen a hail mary; down 14-3 at the half.
Screen pass execution not working - gee, I wonder why? Do you think Belichick might have expected it?
Terrence McGee's shoulder injury looks pretty serious. Might see Ashton Youboty next week, with Corner starting.
Six straight NE run plays. Should have been running more all day.
Shawn Nelson seems to be a focal point of the game plan. Nothing wrong with that.
Come on, T.O. He's losing focus. False start, probably a drive-killer.
Nice heads up play by Jackson, catching the tipped pass from Jonathan Stupar.
Nelson wide open - Fitzpatrick misses him by a good yard and a half. I want a QB. :(
NE three and out. Defense is doing its job; NE looks pretty out of sync, though.
Trent Edwards?!
Hate this move by Fewell. 5 is not your QB. Don't ask him to save the game.
Trent's down. Hobbles off the field. Horrible, horrible decision, Perry.
Surprised there aren't more boo birds - Fitzpatrick back in, Brian Brohm on the sidelines.
Another sack. Absolutely brutal pass blocking.
Josh Reed drops a touchdown. Holy crap. Zero focus from the receivers today.
Another NE three-and-out. Can't blame the D for this loss.
Roscoe Parrish with a 20-yard punt return. Bills ball, deep in NE territory. Might we be on to something?
Beautiful catch by Lee for the TD. First career TD against the Pats. It's about time.
Of course it's Aaron Maybin on the false start. Of course it is. Who else would it be? The blogging gods hate me.
Pats' first third-down conversion of the quarter is a stupid little throw to Welker. Ballgame.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/22

MattRichWarren — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:58:13 -0000

Sources: McGee to IR, Edwards and Scott Could Follow : Buffalo Sports Daily
"According to more than one source, Trent Edwards has suffered a significant high ankle sprain that will force him to miss the rest of the season. He suffered the injury while being sacked in the fourth quarter against New England on Sunday. Also, staring cornerback Terrence McGee will be forced to have surgery this week on the shoulder he injured Sunday and will be placed on injured reserve."

Fitz’s ankle injury on plant leg – Inside The Bills
"Ryan Fitzpatrick injured his right ankle in the game Sunday and that’s important that it’s his right ankle. For a quarterback when your plant leg is compromised by injury it can compromise throwing mechanics."

McGee hoping to be ready for Sunday – Inside The Bills
"Putting on deodorant this morning was hard, so jamming a receiver is definitely not an option right now," Terrence McGee said.

Bryan Scott injury update – Inside The Bills
Scott has a concussion according to Perry Fewell. "Under the new NFL guidelines for concussions Scott will not be allowed to return-to-football activities until he is fully asymptomatic, both at rest and after exertion, has a normal neurological examination, normal neuropsychological testing, and has been cleared to return by both his team physician(s) and the independent neurological consultant."

Brian Brohm may start
Bills QB situation up in the air - BuffaloBills.com
"There could be a quarterback change for the Bills for their Week 16 matchup against the Falcons in Atlanta, and it won’t be due to performance. Both Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick suffered ankle injuries in Sunday’s loss to New England. Their status is day-to-day, as the coaching staff waits to see how the two signal callers recover between now and the middle of the week."

QB injuries will force Brohm under center : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"Interim coach Perry Fewell offered few details Monday on the severity of the injuries to Fitzpatrick and Edwards, but the source said Edwards suffered a high ankle sprain. Such an injury takes several weeks to heal."

Buffalo Bills may give QB Brian Brohm a start | Democrat and Chronicle
"If neither can practice Wednesday, that will hinder their chances of playing at the Georgia Dome. It also would open the door for Fewell to go with Brohm, a move many fans would like to see because it could determine whether Brohm is a player the Bills can look to as a potential starter in 2010."

Interesting twist...Brohm to START in week 16 - Acme Packing Company
The guys at Acme Packing Company got wind of their old QB starting and wondered how he is going to do. Go give your opinion.

Injuries might open door for Brohm - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Brian Brohm may have to start on Sunday and Perry Fewell is understandably apprehensive. "To put him in that position might be a recipe for failure for him," Fewell said Wednesday. "It might not give him the best opportunity. It might not show us what he really can do."

Patriots' game recaps

Bills replay: Pats' unique defensive scheme led to sacks : The Buffalo News
"The Patriots used mostly linebackers and defensive backs on passing downs. Often times, they had only one or two players on the line of scrimmage, while the rest of the defenders milled around a few yards off the ball. The Patriots called the scheme "organized chaos," and it successfully created confusion because the Bills didn't know who to block."

That was Pretty Typical | Democrat and Chronicle | Three-Point Stance
Sal Maiorana uses the same start to his post-game blog that Brian did a day before and harps on penalties, inept offense, and everything else that has been plaguing the Bills this year and every other year this decade.

Game Recap: Patriots defeat Bills, 17-10 - Pats Pulpit
MaPatsFan looks back at the game that was, obviously from the Patriots' perspective.

Patriots ‘good enough’ to beat Bills | Olean Times Herald
Chuck Pollack gives his thoughts from the game Sunday beginning with, "It wasn’t much of a game."

Bills Daily - "Bills Daily Game Recap"
The Bills' blog's final recap of the Patriots game.

Scott Pitoniak: A forgettable Bills decade is coming to a sad conclusion
An unhappy recount of the last game and the last decade.

Bills Notebook: Poz’s pick adds to Bills’ league-leading total | Olean Times Herald
Bullet points from the Bills’ 17-10 loss to the Patriots on Sunday afternoon at "The Ralph".

Poz presses forward | BuffaloBills.com
Dan Bates spoke with Paul Posluszny yesterday about the linebacker's interception and the rest of the game against the Patriots.

Team in Transition
WGR 550 SportsRadio - Thurman Thomas Expecting a Big Splash From Bills
"I'm into it," said the Hall of Famer. "I'm not like Jim (Kelly) and want to be an owner but, I want to be a part of the turn-around. They know that. I've had some conversations with Russ Brandon. They're well aware of my situation and what I want to do over there. I want to be a part of this big splash that they're going to make."

Buffalo Bills have a long Christmas list | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
Bill beat writers Sal Maiorana and Leo Roth wonder: What will Santa leave under the tree for these Bills?

POLLOCK: QB just one problem Bills must address | Olean Times Herald
"Here’s the problem with the Buffalo Bills ... and you’ve known it all along. They’re just not good enough."

Blow Up This Roster - 13WHAM.com
Mike Catalana goes position by position explaining who can stay but more of who needs to go.

Sunday at the Post | National Football Post
"3. The Buffalo Bills have been very quiet in their search for a head coach and general manager. They seem inclined to go after a "name" head coach first, then allow him to have a say in the formation of the front office. But one thing is for sure: Russ Brandon will be leading the search and will be in the organization, no matter whom they hire."

Other Bills news and notes

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
"It doesn't look like the Bills will make a concerted effort to get young, inexperienced players like WRs Steve Johnson and James Hardy on the field these last two weeks. 'My objective is to put the best 45 out on Sunday to get a win,' interim coach Perry Fewell said."

Wilson: T.O.'s season of frustration continues | National Football Post
"You try to stay patient," Terrell Owens said. "It's just disappointing to be in this offense and know you can play and not really being utilized the way you can to help the team."

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Home of the Buffalo Sabres - Moment No. 7 (tie)
The seventh-biggest moment in the Buffalo sports scene during the 2000s was trading the Bills' 2003 first round pick to the Patriots for QB Drew Bledsoe.

Bills salute high school football - BuffaloBills.com
"At the Bills vs. Patriots game on December 20th, Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly handed out awards and congratulated the 2009 Buffalo Bills high school coaches of the week winners. Eric Jantzi, head football coach of the Class AA State Champion North Tonawanda Lumberjacks, and Jay Sirianni, head football coach of the Class "C" State Champion Southwestern Trojans were also announced as the 2009 Bills High School Football Co-Coaches of the Year."

Bills unlikely to see ‘Burner’ Turner Sunday – Inside The Bills
Michael Turner reinjured his ankle (putting several fantasy owners in a hole after one carry might I add) and will likely not play this weekend against Buffalo.

Law.com - Former NFL Player Henry Appeals Child-Support Ruling
Travis Henry must make child support payments and establish a trust fund of 250,000 dollars according to a judge. Henry's lawyer says this is a "double payment".

Bills Tweets
terrellowens | TweetPhoto
T.O. isn't cold anymore. :-) Check it out.

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

Game Recap: Patriots defeat Bills, 17-10

MaPatsFan — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:43:20 -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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A win is a win. There were some ugly bits and there were some good bits. It was ugly because our overall yardage was abysmal and 4th quarter third down conversions were almost non existent. It was good because despite a number of absent key starters, our backups stepped up and made plays when they needed to. That's encouraging. Just think what we could've done had the starters been in.

First, let me get this out of the way: I do not believe Randy Moss is "Back". For that to be true, he'd have to have "Left". As I've said before, when Moss's production droops below superhuman, MSM pundits declare him dogging it and begin hammering him senseless. When faced with real evidence, they retreat into "Well, what can be seen on the game tape that I can't see on TV?" Well, that answer alone proves how pathetic these guys are. Asking that question means you have no clue, Mr. MSM Pundit, and are summarily dismissed.

Moving on...

There were a slew of positives, one of the more important ones being a phenomenal tip toe catch by Mr. Moss. It was extremely important because it was a touchdown, but even more importantly it likely gave Randy an emotional boost, a boost he so sorely needed. It was key to get his head back in the game and I'm glad Belichick and Brady worked to insure he was relevant to the win.

On defense we were missing a number of key starters: Ty Warren, Vince Wilfork, and Myron Pryor. This put us in scramble mode. How did Belichick handle it?

Around the locker room yesterday, no defenisve players would divulge the name of the defense they used on third and long yesterday, when the Patriots used six defensive backs, no defensive linemen, and five standing linebackers strewn around the line of scrimmage. "I'll pass on that one," linebacker Ron Ninkovich said, which was representative. Adalius Thomas offered "organized chaos," but that is a description more than a name.

Bill Belichick didn't have an answer today, either. But he did have an idea.

"We can do a fan poll," he said. "See what you can come with."

If you remember, we commented during the game threads that it looked like the 5 linebackers were milling around, not sure where they were supposed to be. In reality, that was defensive genius. On more than a few occasions, Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick looked at bit confused. Once it was too late to make any offensive adjustments, the Patriots defense settled into its formation. I love it!! Keep that up. This from Rob Ninkovich:

"We had more speed out there, more confusion – Who’s coming? Who’s going? Who’s rushing? Who’s dropping?" another rush linebacker, Rob Ninkovich, said. "It worked out for us. Hard for them to figure out who’s the Mike, where they’re sliding to, basically. It worked well for us."

One of the highlights for me was the makings of a pass rush. Tully Banta-Cain showed up HUGE for this game:

"We knew they had some changes on the O-line and a different quarterback," linebacker Tully Banta-Cain said after posting three sacks. "So we knew if we gave them some different looks and mixed up the pressures, it could cause some confusion. I think we were able to try it out early in the game and we got some success on it and it carried through the rest of the game."

Yeah, 3 sacks and a lot of pressure. I have a feeling Tully will have a spot on the 2010 roster if he wants one. I thought the defensive play calling was pretty good up front. We still need a TON of work wrapping up during tackles as Brandon Meriweather continues to go after the big hit, but overall we're a better unit than in previous outings.

The offensive story of the game was, for once, NOT Tom Brady and Wes Welker. Sure, the QB/WR duo came up huge on a third down conversion to essentially ice the game, but this was a game won on the ground. Despite an abysmal third down conversion rate in the 4th quarter, we managed to mix it up in the air and on the ground; not abandoning the run game was crucial and Laurence Maroney has stepped up nicely as the feature back in this backfield-by-committee. 23 for 81 yards and a TD will never get you "elite status" labels, but it certainly was just what we needed when we needed it. LoMo was turning his upper body and slicing through holes - very cool. He was also pounding into defenders and making them pay for daring to tackle him; maybe he has a headset wired to Fred Taylor.

Most importantly, this is a division win. With both Miami and NE at 4-2 in the division, that potential tie breaker is eliminated, moving us to common games. In essence, we clinch the division with any NE win or any Miami loss. Seeding gets a bit more complicated and is explained here. Both the Jaguars and Texans could be tough games for us, but we take on Jacksonville at home - the more likely win. Miami closes the season with the Texans and Steelers, both in Miami.

It's close...again.

Bills miss out on golden opportunity to upset Patriots

Brian Galliford — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:24:01 -0000

More photos » by Mike Groll - AP

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I mentioned in yesterday's post-game recap that the Buffalo Bills' 17-10 home loss to the New England Patriots was very typical of a Bills loss. Playing a Patriots team that is a far, far cry from their glory year teams, Buffalo could only manage a sloppy 10 points in finding a way to fall just short, squandering one of their best chances yet of ending a six-year losing streak to this team.

On Saturday, I filled in for Kurupt in penning this week's "Keys to Victory" column. As such, you get to listen to me prattle on about how Buffalo lost because they didn't satisfy all of the criteria outlined in that particular post. Yes, K doesn't subject you to this type of post, which probably makes him a better person than me, but for one day, you'll have to deal with it. I don't vent very often.

Key 1: Find a way to get off the field defensively. The Bills fared well in this department for much of the game. Tom Brady and the Patriots converted just 5 of 12 third down opportunities on the day, limiting the Patriots' offensive exploits and holding Brady to a Fitzpatrick-esque stat line (11 of 23, 115 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT). In fact, the Bills did particularly well in this department in the fourth quarter, allowing only one Patriots first down in the final stanza.

Unfortunately, that first down came with two minutes remaining, on an eight-yard Brady-to-Wes Welker connection that put the game on ice for New England. Of course it happened then.

Key 2: Limit the big play. If I had to choose one game in the pre-season in which I would have guessed the Bills would not allow an opponent to gain 20 yards on a single play in said game, I certainly would not have chosen Week 15 against New England. That's exactly what happened on Sunday, however - the Bills did not allow their opponent to gain more than 20 yards on a single offensive play in the entire game. That's the first time that's happened this year, folks. New England's offense looked quite dysfunctional, obviously, but Buffalo deserves credit for at least giving themselves a chance to win at the end of the game by not allowing the Patriots any big plays offensively.

Key 3: Play mistake-free football offensively. After a thoroughly dominant opening drive in which the Bills did just about whatever they wanted offensively - how often have we said that in recent years? - a false start on the part of Andre Ramsey negated a Fred Jackson touchdown. Suddenly, that thoroughly dominant drive was a mere 3-0 lead, and all of Buffalo's momentum was gone.

Ryan Fitzpatrick can't go a full game without throwing a hideous interception directly to a defender; Jonathan Wilhite was the beneficiary of Fitzpatrick's terrible play this week. I also understand that not all of the Bills' 11 penalties (that yielded 124 yards) were not on offense, but the idea of "mistake-free football" was not present offensively or defensively on Sunday. Add in six sacks and two quarterbacks with ankle injuries, and yeah - Buffalo whiffed badly on this key, and it, more than any other factor, cost them the game.

Key 4: Get Lee Evans involved. Evans entered Sunday with 28 receptions for 397 yards in 11 career games against the Patriots. Although he did end up scoring his first career touchdown against the Patriots late in the fourth quarter in a last-ditch comeback attempt, Evans caught just three passes for 35 yards on the day. He did fare better than Terrell Owens, who caught just 2 passes for 20 yards in yet another awful showing from Buffalo's passing game.

Key 5: Give these Pats your best shot. Well, not so much. As mentioned, Buffalo got off to a really quick and dominant start in this game, running the ball down the Patriots' throats to the tune of an early field goal and netting a Paul Posluszny interception off of Brady on New England's first drive of the day. From that point on, however, it was the Buffalo Bills we've all come to know and ~~love~~ be completely apathetic towards. Jackson and Marshawn Lynch carried nine times on that opening drive; they'd only log 14 more carries in the remainder of the game. The penalties piled up, and so did New England's early lead (the Pats led 14-3 at halftime). When bad teams get down, they rarely find a way to reclaim a lead, and Buffalo's performance was par for the course. Effort? Sure. Urgency to win? I didn't see it.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/21

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

More photos » by Mike Groll - AP

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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.

Post-Game Thread: Defense Holds, Falcons Edge Jets 10-7

Dave the Falconer — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:04:43 -0000

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

YOU CALL THIS OFFENSE?! (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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The Falcons have elevated winning ugly to an art form.

It doesn't get much uglier than a game where your highly touted offense is outdone throughout by your supposedly lackluster defense, who deserve better than 75% of the credit for this game. Holding the Jets to 7 points is an impressive accomplishment, and pulling out the win despite their excellent defense is nothing to sneeze at. Now the Falcons are at 7-7 and have only the lowly Bucs and Bills left on their schedule, so that winning season is still a very tantalizing possibility.

Please consider this your open thread to talk about the game and anything else you'd like to as the holidays approach. A few notes from my end:

Brent Grimes gets a lot of up-and-down reviews, but that man knows how to pick a pass. Two today against Mark Sanchez. With Josh Freeman and Ryan Fitzpatrick up next, he could add to his season total of four pretty easily.
John Abraham returned to the magical land of sacking the quarterback. What a delight.
The team made a big show of Michael Turner being active, and then he only got one carry. Matt Ryan at least played the entire game, even if it wasn't his finest hour.That strike to Gonzo saved our butts, though.

Bills drop No. 13 in a row to New England

Brian Galliford — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:20:14 -0000

More photos » by Mike Groll - AP

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Well, that was typical.

Trailing 17-10 in the fourth quarter after Lee Evans caught his first career touchdown pass against the New England Patriots, the Buffalo Bills recovered an onside kick with three minutes remaining. The potential game-changing play was negated, however, by the fact that rookie defensive end Aaron Maybin crossed the 30-yard line prior to the ball being kicked. Offsides; no play; ball goes back to New England.

But that's not the end of the world - not when the Bills' defense has completely shut down the Patriots for the entire second half, holding them to three points in just under two quarters. On a third down, Tom Brady his Wes Welker for a first down - the Pats' only first down of the final quarter. Game, set, match.

The loss is Buffalo's thirteenth straight against Bill Belichick and the Patriots. It came in a pretty unique way; Ryan Fitzpatrick was benched, then Trent Edwards hurt his ankle and carted off the field, so Fitzpatrick came back in and hurt his own ankle, and then gave the Bills at least some semblance of a chance at winning the game late in regulation with his touchdown pass. Buffalo lost linebacker Bryan Scott late, too, as he joined Edwards as Bills carted off the field of play.

Buffalo lost this game well before Maybin's miscue, commiting 11 penalties for 124 yards and giving up six sacks on Fitzpatrick and Edwards. That's 165 free yards for a New England club that only gained 224 yards offensively - Buffalo actually out-gained the Patriots offensively, if you'll believe it, gaining 241 yards themselves. Penalties - the most critical of which were defensive holding or pass interference calls - absolutely killed the Bills in this game, particularly in the first half.

The loss overshadows strong individual efforts from Fred Jackson (80 rushing yards, 32 receiving yards, 108 return yards), Paul Posluszny (9 tackles, INT) and others. Buffalo held Brady in check; Brady completed just 11 of 23 passes for 115 yards, with one TD and the Posluszny interception. Despite the solid defensive effort, the team couldn't muster enough offensively to pull off the upset.

Buffalo is now 5-9 on the season, including a 2-3 record under interim head coach Perry Fewell. The team has officially been eliminated from playoff contention. Next week, they travel to Atlanta to take on a Falcons team that pulled off a last-minute win over the New York Jets on Sunday, evening their record at 7-7.

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)

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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."

Matching up against the Bills - the Patriots take on another divisional opponent

MaPatsFan — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:04:03 -0000

More photos » by Stephan Savoia - AP

3 months ago: New England Patriots tight end Benjamin Watson (84) is congratulated by teammate Stephen Neal after scoring the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Monday, Sept. 14, 2009, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots beat the Bills 25-24. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

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I love this picture of TE Benjamin Watson. In the pre-season, it was widely rumored that he was in the fight of his life for a job. Nicknamed "Stone Hands" and the potential victim of a team relegating TE's to blocking duties, it didn't look good for Mr. Watson. Then, things changed in our throwback opener against the Bills on Monday Night Football.

Full of controversy about "The Brady Rule", we were behind with a little over 2 minutes left in the 4th quarter. Tom Brady found TE Benjamin Watson who, in that moment, got rid of his "Stone Hands" monicker. The Bills fans in front of me at the game got very quiet. As we kicked off the Buffalo, Patriots fans were hoping for a miracle. And we got one. Leodis McKelvin, pulling down a Stephen Gostkowski boot into the end zone, decided to run the ball out instead of taking a knee for a touchback. As our special teams had practiced time and time again, McKelvin was stood up and the ball stripped from him in Bills territory. The Bills fans around me were now holding their heads. They knew that giving the Patriots the ball that close was not good. They were right. Brady hit Watson for another fantastic catch to win the game 25-24. What an opener for our Patriots and a disappointment for Buffalo. We've been on the other end of one of those this season (Indy anyone), so we're familiar with the feeling.

This has gone by fast, hasn't it? Suddenly we're 3 regular season games away from the end of the season and our Patriots, like last year, are in a race for the division crown. Unlike last year, we have a 1 game lead over the ever dangerous Miami Dolphins. If we win out, we're most certainly in the playoffs. If we don't, our destiny is not in our hands and we're at the mercy of a Dolphins opponent.

That's why this game is so important. That's why we need to take this one to the bank. That's why we can't lose focus. Playing on the road has been tough for us and this one just happens to be at Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of a division rival. Have I mentioned this game is important? All division games are, but a win keeps us ahead of the rivals from FL.

The Buffalo Bills have seen some transition this season. With the firing of Head Coach Dick Jauron, the team has made it clear they want change. And while Trent Edwards nurses an injury, backup Ryan Fitzpatrick has garnered a respectable 4-4 up to this point with the most recent beating of Matt Cassel's Chiefs in a close 16-10 matchup. The brutal ground game of Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson is something for Hoodie to keep track of. Lookout.

For me, the keys to winning this game lie not with shutting down Fitzpatrick. He's not burning up the field with his aerial assault; I feel like our somewhat struggling defensive backfield will do ok against him. No, the key to winning this game is run defense. Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson are, individually, workhorse backs that can carry a running game which is something we've never had. But put them together and they can make up for the lack of an aerial assault to the tune of 216 yards between them against Kansas City. What? Yeah, 216 yards. Can you say 4-3? I knew you could.

Looking at the stats, we're about middle of the road in run defense, so this worries me. Buffalo is middle of the road for run offense, but the Lynch/Jackson duo worries me. I'm sure that's where Buffalo will attempt to gash our defense. Once we've been lulled into worrying about that, There's always Terrell Owens. For all the crap we heap on Owens, the locker room cancer, etc... he's a threat every time he suits up.

On the other side of the ball, Buffalo is 5th in passing defense while New England is 2nd in both total offense and passing offense. This is where the battle might take place. Or one may think. We're 14th in rushing offense, but Buffalo is dead last in rushing defense. Laurence Maroney seems to be having some success of late. He's finally learned to put his shoulder down and slice through those thin holes. He's also learned the difference between patience and dancing, waiting for blocks to develop. This is where I think the Patriots will concentrate.

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. Either way, we need this one.