As with their previous four games so far in the 2013 season, the Buffalo Bills’ Thursday night encounter in Cleveland was entertaining, and the team had a chance to win right down to the wire. They entered the game hobbled by injuries to key players, but most of those players – Fred Jackson, C.J. Spiller, Marcell Dareus, Stevie Johnson, Mario Williams – all played and made contributions to the effort. It was a typical workmanlike effort from rookie QB EJ Manuel, as he was efficient and mistake-free, but unfortunately for him and the team his night ended early in the third quarter when he injured his knee while scrambling for a first down. Backup Jeff Tuel, also a rookie, finished the drive Manuel started by drawing an interference penalty on an end zone throw, setting up Jackson for his second short TD run of the night. But Tuel wasn’t up to the task the rest of the way, as the offense sputtered and then self-destructed as Tuel threw a pick-six interception to Browns’ safety T.J. Ward to seal the 37-24 win for Cleveland.
The Bills’ special teams had a rough night. Punter Shawn Powell continually booted line drive punts to speedy Browns’ punt returner Travis Benjamin, who set a team record for punt return yardage and ran one back 79 yards for a back-breaking touchdown. Powell has been inconsistent since he replaced Brian Moorman last season, and the team’s patience with him ran out on Friday as he was released. Buffalo’s defense proved once again that they are an improving unit. They have put together consistently good efforts in every game this year, but in both road games the team has played, that effort was ruined by the secondary giving up huge pass plays that cost the team the game. Against the Jets, Justin Rogers was the pigeon who got toasted. On Thursday, it was Aaron Williams’ turn. In his defense, Williams was switched to safety this year and had to move back to the corner because of injuries to other players. He had a great first game at corner against Joe Flacco and the Ravens, but got burned consistently by Cleveland. Still, the unit has done a good job of stopping the run, generated a decent pass rush and gotten great play from individuals like Dareus, Mario Williams, Manny Lawson and especially rookie Kiko Alonso.
Buffalo now has 10 days to regroup before returning home to face Cincinnati, and when they do they’ll have to do it without Manuel, who is out for at least a couple of weeks. The starting QB in that game may be Tuel, or it may be someone not yet on the roster. They also have to find a new punter and figure out who will be the team’s holder on extra points and field goals, a job Powell held.
louise
October 7, 2013 at 11:55 am
Welcome back Brian Moorman! He may not have the leg he used to have but has to be a more consistent punter than Powell was. Moorman knows how to directionally punt , can coffin corner punt and can also fake a punt and throw if he has to. He also knows the winds at the Ralph and should be a better punter than Powell when the weather gets cold and windy. Should be an upgrade from Powell.