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Last Sunday’s rousing overtime win over the Chicago Bears got the Buffalo Bills off to a surprise start in their season opener. That win, combined with the news that legendary quarterback Jim Kelly is cancer-free, and that the Ralph Wilson estate has agreed to sell the team to Buffalo Sabres’ owners Terry and Kim Pegula, created a tremendous positive atmosphere among Bills’ fans going into the home opener against division rival Miami. Adding to the anticipation was the plan by the Bills to honor their late founder and owner, Wilson, in a pre-game ceremony. Being a relatively young team, there was a concern that the Bills might go into the game a little too hyped up and come out flat, but instead they put together a workmanlike 29-10 win that resembled the opener in Chicago in that it was another great “team” win, with contributions coming from all over the roster. Buffalo followed the same formula that got them the win over the Bears – they played solid defense, got numerous big plays from their special teams and played just well enough on offense to win. Quarterback EJ Manuel, once again, had pedestrian numbers but, as coach Doug Marrone stated last week, he “played winning football”. He didn’t make any mistakes, and the lone touchdown drive he engineered came right after the Dolphins scored their only TD of the game. Rookie Sammy Watkins was a key target in the game plan, and he responded with 8 catches for 117 yards and his first NFL touchdown. The special teams, without a doubt, played “winning football” also. Their contributions included a blocked punt by Anthony Dixon, a recovered muffed punt by Randell Johnson, solid punting by newcomer Colton Schmidt, a 102 yard kickoff return by C.J. Spiller and five successful field goals by Dan Carpenter. Defensively, Buffalo harassed Miami QB Ryan Tannehill all day, sacking him 4 times and batting down several of his passes. The Dolphins were also held to 80 yards rushing, although they lost their top back, Knowshon Moreno, to a dislocated elbow in the first quarter. For the second straight week, the Bills did not surrender any big plays, and even though the defense was a bright spot in the Bills’ 6-10 season a year ago, new coordinator Jim Schwartz’s unit looks to be improved.

So the Bills, who appeared lost and looking like they were going nowhere coming out of preseason, are now 2-0 and stand alone atop the AFC East standings. Next up is a home date with the San Diego Chargers, who will provide a tough test for Buffalo. The Chargers, whose offensive coordinator is former Bill Frank Reich, opened their home season on Sunday with an even more impressive display – knocking off the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

The Buffalo Bills’ opening game of the 2014 season solidified the golden rule of trying to figure out the NFL – never put any stock in what goes on in the preseason. Yes, apparently the Bills didn’t show their hand at all in the exhibition games, and came out of the gate in Chicago ready to play. In my season preview of the team I answered the question of what the Bills needed to do to end their long playoff drought  – go on the road, fight through adversity and put together a signature game that they could build on. What better time to go ahead and find that “signature” win than on opening day? That’s exactly what Buffalo did. They fell behind early 7-0 as the Bears scored quickly on a four play drive that probably had most fans thinking it was going to be a long day. To his credit, EJ Manuel engineered a great drive to counter Chicago’s score, mixing in his team’s strong running game with timely completions. He then finished off the drive with a rushing TD of his own on a nifty read-option play, accomplishing what the team couldn’t do at all in preseason – score a TD on a first string defense.

Buffalo went ahead at the half 17-7 then saw the Bears come back to tie the game. The teams traded field goals to end regulation in a 20-20 tie. In the overtime, the Bills’ defense held, then Manuel led another drive, again with timely passes and finished with a tough Fred Jackson run to set up Dan Carpenter for the winning field goal as Buffalo prevailed 23-20. It was an ultimate “team” win, with valuable contributions coming from everywhere on the roster.  For starters, kudos have to go out to general manager Doug Whaley for his off-season moves. Free agent signees Brandon Spikes at linebacker, Anthony Dixon with a couple of terrific runs and Corey Graham filling in for the injured Stephon Gilmore at cornerback, all did amazing work. Jackson ran for 61 yards and C.J. Spiller for another 53 to go along with a receiving touchdown. Manuel was mostly workmanlike – his stats weren’t overwhelming but he was efficient and made the throws when he needed to – which should be the Bills’ formula for winning games for the rest of the year until Manuel is comfortable enough to really open up. Manuel’s receivers made terrific plays all day. Sammy Watkins and Mike Williams made 5 grabs for 66 yards between them to help keep drives alive, and Robert Woods had an amazing day, leading the team with 78 receiving yards. One of his 4 receptions was a real highlight reel catch. Rookie linebacker Preston Brown had a fumble recovery, Kyle Williams an interception, Mario Williams got a sack, new punter Colton Schmidt was an unsung hero with some nice punts and also was flawless holding for field goals and extra points for the first time with the Bills. The newly reconfigured offensive line had a couple of penalties go against them, but overall they were solid. Manuel was only sacked once and the running game produced a total of 193 yards.

The most encouraging thing about the win was the determination each and every player showed in refusing to lose. That’s a trait Buffalo has been lacking in recent seasons, really for over a decade.  The players who came here from winning organizations – Spikes, Graham and Dixon – all rose to the occasion during times of adversity and made plays, as did players who’ve been here for awhile and are tired of losing, like Kyle Williams and Jackson. Despite the mediocrity of past years, this effort gives the fans, and the players themselves, a reason to believe better days are ahead this season.

2014 will mark the second season of the Doug Marrone coaching regime in Buffalo, and after he managed to only match the two previous seasons under Chan Gailey, with a 6-10 won/loss record, the pressure will be on this year for the club to improve and at least show some moderate progress. In fact, the passing of owner Ralph Wilson, and the prospect of a new owner possibly wanting to get a clean, fresh start, may mean that “moderate” progress won’t be enough for the present staff to keep their jobs. Here is my Bills’ season preview for 2014:

Front Office / Coaching

Perhaps due to the added pressure of the impending ownership change, GM Doug Whaley made a bold move in trading up in the first round of the draft to pick a potential playmaker in receiver Sammy Watkins, considered one of the jewels of this draft.  All of the 2014 draft class made the final roster, and all of those players, to varying degrees, show the potential to be “keepers” going into the future, so it seems Whaley has done his job. Now it’s up to Marrone and his re-shuffled coaching staff to do its’ part and change the losing culture that this team has been mired in for almost 15 years. Frankly, I haven’t seen any signs that he’s going to have the ability to do that. Bringing in Jim Schwartz to coordinate the defense, after losing Mike Pettine to Cleveland, was a good move, as the defense, judging from the preseason, looks like it may be better than what was a solid unit in 2013. It is, however, sometimes a mistake to make judgments from the preseason. But after finishing with a pair of lackluster exhibition performances, Marrone, at his post-game press conferences, was sounding some familiar themes that echoed, sometimes word for word, what past coaches like Gailey and Dick Jauron used to say. In explaining mistake-prone, penalty-filled games, for example: “We have to do a better job of coaching them”. Is it too much to ask to get a coaching staff in Buffalo that identifies and corrects these mistakes in a pro-active fashion, before they cost the team losses and more losing seasons?

It was a busy three days for Buffalo Bills’ general manager Doug Whaley as the NFL conducted its’ annual draft of college players this past weekend. The team’s new GM pulled off a number of trades, the biggest one being the deal that allowed the Bills to move up in the first round to grab one of the players considered to be the “Elite Six” among NFL scouts at the top of the draft – wide receiver Sammy Watkins. There were also a couple of deals in later rounds where the Bills moved down, and added an extra seventh round pick and extra picks next year. Whaley also made trades involving players, picking up a promising young running back from the Eagles – Bryce Brown, and trading the club’s top receiver, Stevie Johnson, to the 49ers almost immediately after drafting Watkins. I’m not sure I understand this deal. Johnson was supposedly dealt to remove the distraction of his negative attitude from the locker room. Although you could make an argument that Johnson was a diva, and had a drop for every great play during his stay here, his attitude surely wasn’t a big deal. His biggest transgression was lifting up his jersey to reveal “Why so serious?” and “Happy New Year” messages on his undershirt after scoring touchdowns. So you ship him out the door, but add Mike Williams to take his place, a guy who trashed his apartment complex in a gated community and broke down the door of his girlfriend’s apartment in a domestic dispute? It doesn’t make sense to me, and it’s disheartening that instead of stockpiling good, productive players to build depth on their roster, Buffalo always seems to feel the need to dump good players when they think they’ve found their replacements. Their track record for those “finds” isn’t very impressive. The acquisition of Brown, and free agent signee Ricky Dixon, worries me, since it seems to imply they may have plans to move Fred Jackson and/or C.J. Spiller.

RB Bryce Brown

Anyway, the Bills’ draft filled some of their pressing needs, especially along the offensive line and linebacking corps. Here are the players they picked up:

WR Sammy Watkins

1. Sammy Watkins (WR – Clemson) – Whaley mortgaged part of the team’s future to move up and draft Watkins, but he is easily the best offensive player available this year, and the team is in desperate need of dynamic playmakers. All signs point to him being a difference-maker in his first season, and a major weapon for QB EJ Manuel for years to come. Whaley showed guts in making this move – the Bills needed to do something to break the pattern of mediocrity they’ve been stuck in for over a decade.

OT Cyrus Kuoandjio

2. Cyrus Kuoandjio (OT – Alabama) – the Bills started a much-needed revamping of their offensive line with this pick. Kuandjio, born in the African nation of Cameroon, should immediately take over the starting right tackle spot currently held by Erik Pears. A standout tackle at ‘Bama, he fell this far in the draft because of concerns over arthritis in his knee. He’s a first round talent if he stays healthy.

LB Preston Brown

3. Preston Brown (LB – Louisville) – he’s a good run stuffer, which the Bills need badly, and projects as an inside linebacker. He’ll be on the depth chart as a backup to newly-signed free agent Brandon Spikes, who only signed a one year pact, so the opportunity will be there for Brown to crack the starting lineup eventually if he’s motivated.

CB Ross Cockrell

4. Ross Cockrell (CB – Duke) – his biggest positive traits are intelligence and consistent play. Since he’s a cornerback, in my mind the only thing that matters is can he cover anybody, and make plays on the ball when it arrives, or his he just another mediocrity who runs around looking lost in the secondary? Time will tell, but if the kid can play there’s always room on NFL rosters for coverage corners.

OG Cyril Richardson

5. Cyril Richardson (OG – Baylor) – Richardson is a New Orleans native who moved to Texas after Hurricane Katrina, and wound up at Baylor. At one time he was considered one of the top offensive line prospects in the nation, but gained a lot of weight which slowed him down. He did slim down and supposedly looked good at his pro day. If he shows up to training camp in shape and serious about playing pro ball, and somehow regains his top form from his early college days, Richardson can be a road grader at guard who helps the Bills’ run game. If he can show any ability at all as a rookie, he should be a candidate to start immediately at the guard spot currently held by Doug Legursky.

LB Randell Johnson

7a. Randell Johnson (LB – Florida Atlantic) – he projects as an outside backer with good size and speed, and is highly athletic. He’ll likely be a developmental project who either contributes on special teams or winds up on the practice squad.

OT Seantrel Henderson

7b. Seantrel Henderson (OT – Miami of FL) – this pick is kind of a head scratcher. He is massive, with long arms and all the physical tools to be an outstanding tackle in the NFL. At one time, he was the top offensive lineman prospect in all of college football. However, his career was marred by benchings and suspensions, and on his “pro day”, the post-combine day where the prospects at each school are supposed to impress the scouts, Henderson was out of shape and stopped his workout before it was over, announcing that “I’m not doing this anymore.” Not to beat a dead horse, but Doug Marrone figures he can resurrect this guy’s career, but Stevie Johnson’s “attitude” was too much for him to handle?

As of this post, the Bills hadn’t announced any college free agent signings.

Ralph Wilson, Jr. (photo credit – Sports Illustrated)

The recent passing of Buffalo Bills’ owner Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. was covered in depth by the local Buffalo media, and local sports fans showed a genuine outpouring of positive emotions for the man, with a very appropriate tailgate party in his memory, and a good showing at a team-sponsored memorial event at the Bills’ field house. At one time, Wilson’s local image was that of an old tightwad curmudgeon who refused to spend the money it took to make the team a winner, and who at one time threatened to relocate to Seattle if he didn’t get a new stadium. Over time, however, fans came to appreciate the fact that Wilson kept the franchise here, despite being in a small market that seems to get smaller as time goes on. After his death, stories surfaced about what the real man was like – his service in the Navy on a mine-sweeper in World War II, his tremendous generosity in the Buffalo community and beyond, much of which was not publicized. The lease he negotiated with Erie County was a final gift to the community. It includes a huge penalty for any prospective buyers who might want to move the team, and although there are no guarantees, it gives local politicians time to plan the club’s future here without undue pressure. That shouldn’t really be a surprise considering Wilson voted against every relocation of a franchise since he’s been an owner, and always put the betterment of the league ahead of personal goals, going back to the AFL days when he loaned the Oakland franchise owners money to stay afloat when they would have folded. He was a throwback to the days when sports team owners were true sportsmen, and the NFL will surely miss him.

Other thoughts on the NFL off-season:

Following a third consecutive 6-10 season that didn’t show much improvement or development from the Chan Gailey era, I’m still not completely sold on Bills’ coach Doug Marrone, but I’ll give him credit for having guts. After some late season problems with Marcell Dareus, Marrone spoke of having to instill more discipline in the club in 2014. After adding Brandon Spikes through free agency and Mike Williams through trade in the off-season, that challenge will be even greater. Both of those players arrive with baggage that not only makes them appear to be discipline problems, but is pretty disturbing. After acquiring Williams, if the Bills can keep him out of jail, they’ve managed to plug in new players at every position of need from last year, which puts them in a position for the draft where they can pick the best player available when their turn comes.

The NFL has, indeed, announced that they will make an effort to put some sportsmanship back into the game starting next season. Originally, it was announced that the league will instruct referees to penalize a team 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct if any player uses the “N” word on the field, but it appears now that a “point of emphasis” (something the league does every year regarding certain rules) will be put on enforcing an existing rule regarding use of offensive language during games. I’d personally like to see that rule tweaked to include offensive actions, or any language, actions or gyrations meant to taunt or disrespect the opponent. The NFL is slowly deteriorating into the WWE, with selfish, self-promoting players blowing their own horns and attempting to push their own personal agendas ahead of the team. I realize my opinion on this is old-fashioned and very old school, but I really wish there were a few coaches left in the game who had the kahunas to sit their teams down in training camp and lay down some rules that were required to be followed, involving sportsmanship,  decorum on the field and how they represent the team. In general, just get these players, who whether they like it or not are role models, to act like grown-up adults. It’s unfortunate there are no Paul Browns, Vince Lombardis or even Bill Parcells left in the coaching ranks.