Due to computer problems, I haven’t been able to review the last 2 Bills’ games. Those games included a heartening and much-needed road win over the Cleveland Browns and an epic second half collapse against New England in which they gave up 45 points and wound up on the wrong end of a 52-28 final score, after blowing a 21-7 lead. I have to believe most Bills’ fans figured it couldn’t get any worse than that effort, but Sunday in San Francisco, amazingly, it did. For the second straight week, the Bills were victimized on defense by a quarterback throwing for 300+ yards, 2 running backs rushing for over 100 yards, and 2 receivers with 100+ receiving yards. It’s the first time this has ever happened in the NFL, yes, the first time ever. Which makes the demoralizing 45-3 loss to the 49ers not only negatively epic but a failure of historic proportions. This is a defense that is supposed to put the club in position to contend for the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. The unit has 3 high-profile free agents in Mario Williams, Mark Anderson and Nick Barnett. There are 2 high first round draft picks in Marcell Dareus and Stephon Gilmore, and other high picks in Jairus Byrd, Aaron Williams, Alex Carrington and Kelvin Sheppard, plus a returning Pro Bowler in Kyle Williams. It is now being “coordinated”, allegedly, by a guy who once guided a Super Bowl-winning defense in Dave Wannstedt. So why are they suddenly the worst defense the franchise has fielded in its’ history? They have been put in some tough spots by turnovers, mostly terrible Ryan Fitzpatrick passes, but in their opener against the Jets, in the second half against the Patriots and for most of the San Francisco game, they have tackled poorly, not pressured the opposing quarterback at all, not stopped or even slowed down the other teams’ running game, and have been blowing coverages all over the field. The team decided to stay out west for the week since they play at Arizona next Sunday, and that may be a good thing. They’ll avoid having to hear how awful they are all week, and maybe can focus and do something to get on the same page and salvage something out of this season.
The offense should use the extra time to try and get Fitzpatrick and his receivers on the same page also. Fitzpatrick has been a turnover machine this year, and one of the most disheartening things about the first 5 games is the number of times he’s been intercepted due to underthrowing wide open receivers, and overthrowing wide open receivers. The Bills so far have laid 3 gigantic eggs in 5 games this year, and the types of losses they’ve had are ones that get coaching staffs and front offices cleaned out completely. They certainly aren’t selling any tickets for all those December home games they have on the schedule with the efforts they’ve put forth so far.
Louise
October 9, 2012 at 11:59 am
Sad state of affairs with the Bills. They have too much talent on the roster to look this bad. Just shows they are not ready for prime time yet and can’t play with the elite teams.