Tag Archives: Buffalo Bills

The Brady Difference-Part 2

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This is one of the most ignorant theories used to discredit Brady’s greatness. Another lazy and tired take. Here’s my rebuttal to the haters who claim Brady’s only good against bad teams.

“Well Brady’s Success is due to the AFC East”

The AFC “Least”- Not quite true

The AFC East is thought to be the worst and most dysfunctional division in the NFL. Believed by many as the reason Brady and the Patriots are any good. My question is, are these teams really that awful and dysfunctional, or do the Patriots make them look that way? Using stats it shows that if you remove each division winner from each division, the AFC “Least” has the highest win percentage in the NFL (.457). Looks like that theory holds no weight.

“But Brady wouldn’t thrive in ANY other division!”

Once again the Tom Brady difference shows otherwise. Brady’s win % in every division proves the haters wrong. Let’s take a look.

Here’s the AFC win percentages. AFCE: 79% AFCN: 81% AFCS: 79% and 65% in the AFCW.

Here’s the NFC win percentages. NFCE: 81% NFCN: 85% NFCS: 75% and the NFCW: 67%

So Brady Vs NFC teams is 76% and 77% against the AFC. Another theory debunked, Tom Brady would be a dominant QB anywhere he played. Case closed.

“Yeah But he Needs to Deflate Footballs to win!”

The proof that Deflategate never happened will be In part 3 of this ‘Brady Difference’ Article. Science, math and evidence will be used, along with studies from the top scientists in the country. They’ve debunked the witch hunt called “Deflategate”

That being said, let’s see what’s happened since the second half of the famous AFC championship game. The footballs were inflated to regulation regarding PSI, and Tom Brady went off on the Colts in route to SB49 against the Seahawks. Two weeks of insanity ensued and the NFL had the game balls under lock and key.

Since The Second half Tom Brady has played the best football of his career, weird huh? With regulation footballs all Brady has done is Win three Super Bowls, two SB MVPs, broke the passing record and then broke his own twice! He was also League MVP, selected to two All Pro’s, 4x Pro Bowl selections, and led the league in passing yards and touchdowns. His record since then is 47-13 with 125 TDs, four SB appearances and three straight trips to the big game. The haters will say he gained an unfair advantage, his stats show he’s only gotten better while being under a microscope.

Ajc.com

How about a couple HOF QBs having Brady’s back. Joe Montana’ “It’s a stupid thing to even be talking about because they shouldn’t have the rule anyway.”

Dan Marino said “Every quarterback that has ever played the position understands that getting the footballs the way you like them before a game is part of the game. I mean I did it for years, Jim Kelly up in Buffalo did it, Tom’s doing it, Peyton Manning did it.” There was no unfair advantage at any point.

“Brady Doesn’t Have Any Individual records”

This is the Strangest thing I’ve seen from Brady Haters, so here’s a short list, just to show how nuts people get when talking about the GOAT.

Don’t forget about the 25 point comeback

“Brady Is the check down king”

There is this misconception that Brady doesn’t throw passes further than 5 yards. The problem with this theory is that Brady is 19th in the NFL throwing short passes. His 35.28% of short pass plays is better than quarterbacks like Big Ben, Luck, Ryan, Mahomes and the “Greatest” ever Aaron Rodgers.

The quarterback with the “most talent” Aaron Rodgers, who’s compared to Brady for reasons I don’t understand, throws short more than Tom.

Part 3 will include “Rodgers is better than Brady”, “The science behind Deflategate”, and much more. Feel free to give me any nonsense you’ve heard about Brady and we can put it on the list for the Haters.

AFC East Update

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When it comes to a formula for achieving the success that the New England Patriots have, it goes like this. Be disciplined and professional. Control all the details that could possibly matter in deciding games. Above all, strive to win the games in your division, then your conference, then the others. They’ll say that each game is just the next one and that they are all equally important. But we know that the games against divisional rivals carry a little extra hot sauce and can mean the difference between winning a title or fighting for a wild card spot.

Since the 2003 season when the divisions realigned the Patriots are 26-4 against the Bills, 21-9 against the Dolphins and 24-6 against the Jets. That translates to a .789 win percentage (71-19). Divided among all the seasons they are averaging nearly 4.75 wins every year out of six total divisional games. How do they do it? By knowing their opponents. You have to know them to beat them. Control all the things that can help win you games, right? So we dive into some of the changes that each of these squads underwent from the last time you saw them and how they have fared in the preseason. When the Patriots see them on the field you will have all the information that you need in order to root your team on for their sixth ring.

Miami Dolphins

 

The Dolphins underwent a season of change after Head Coach Adam Gase’s sophomore season. I’m sure that Patriots players are glad to see Jarvis Landry and Ndamukong Suh gone. An offensive line shuffle that Mike Pouncey leave and Josh Sitton come in. Patriots fan favorite Danny Amendola joined the aquatic mammals along with the league non-kicker old man – Frank Gore. The Dolphins drafted DB Minkah Fitzpatrick and TE Mike Gesicki with their first two picks and Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is back throwing the ball for the 2018 season.

Preseason

The 2018 preseason has gone, uh, not good. Three close losses against the Buccaneers, Panthers and Ravens have fans wondering if they are going to be any good this season. Despite their struggles on 3rd downs they have scored 24, 20, and 10 points in each game. Unfortunately, their opponents have been better and according to my in-depth analysis, have been scoring more points. This team feels like it’s struggling to find its identity. Perhaps too much flux happened in the offseason?

Outlook

The fish squashing in New England happens on September 30th. The Patriots will get a mini-vacation in the Miami sun on December 9th. Despite the historical record the Dolphins have a weird hex on the Patriots. Miami has split the season series in 3 out of the last 5 seasons and last made the playoffs in the 2016 season. There is most certainly a small fire being lit under Tannehill and Gase without greater success this year.

Buffalo Bills

 

In case you don’t live near the football Mecca of Buffalo, NY; they are quite pleased with themselves. Ending a playoff drought of 17 seasons and getting that monkey off your back will do that to you. Unfortunately, they also fell victim to a snoozer loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the playoffs. Still, you have some success, keep the core in place for your second year head coach and make some incremental changes for improvements next season, right? Not these guys! Wholesale changes! BUY, SELL, TRADE! EVERYTHING MUST GO!! Tyrod Taylor – GONE! Cordy Glenn – GONE! Throw in some Jordan Matthews, Richie Incognito and Preston Brown and you got yourself a DEAL!

Others of note that are no longer on the team include: E.J. Gaines, Eric Wood, and Mike Tolbert. This is a tremendous amount of turnover. Fortunately, they brought in many more players to begin the job of rebuilding. A.J. McCarron, Chris Ivory, Star Lotulelei, Vontae Davis will all get a chance to make a name for themselves under second year head coach Sean McDermott. Joining valuable draft picks Tremaine Edmunds and the polarizing Josh Allen, they may form a core that will be the team that the coaching staff wants.

Preseason

Beating the Browns and losing to the Panthers and Bengals should do nothing but provide you with optimism heading into the regular season. Yet, it seems that there is growing dread for the fans of this team. The team was riding high following the skills competition that Josh Allen put on in week 2 after an injury knocked out veteran starter McCarron. He seemed poised to seize the job in the dress rehearsal of week 3. It went poorly. The offensive line was a sieve. The quarterback looked slow and harassed. The team looked nothing like a squad ready to take it to the next level and challenge the incumbency for glory.

Outlook

The Patriots make a Halloween weekend trip to Buffalo for some tricks and treats on October 28th. The Bills travel to snowy New England for some playoff gifts on December 23rd. This could get ugly this season. If the new personnel and coaching do not coalesce into a cohesive unit they could be in line for a bad campaign. In the last 6 seasons the Bills have 2 victories against the Patriots, including a week 18 meaningless win in Foxboro when New England had already secured their playoff spot.

NY Jets

 

Who starts for the Gangrenes? Veteran signal caller with magnificent hair in Josh McCown? My Boy, Teddy B, trying to regain his shine following his freak and horrific knee injury after nearly 2 years? Or the young upstart apprentice in the hair game in Sam Darnold? The head coach Todd Bowles has some decisions to make. Mike Maccagnan also had some decisions to make in the offseason when he JETtisoned (see what I did there?) Demario Davis, Muhammad Wilkerson and Kony Ealy in favor of some new energy in Isaiah Crowell, Terrelle Pryor and Trumaine Johnson among many others. Will it come together for this team in 2018?

Preseason

Weeeellll, it might? And while the coaching staff has to be encouraged by the growth of Darnold and the resilience of Bridgewater, they have gone 1-2 so far in the preseason. There might just not be enough on offense to improve the scoring output of 17, 15, and 16 points. A win against the Falcons sans their talent, and losses against Washington and cross-stadium rivals the Giants didn’t help their case. These games have the fans hoping for some quick improvements once the contests matter.

Outlook

The Patriots look to work off all that turkey by beating the stuffing out of the Jets on November 25th in New Jersey. And the Jets may be clamoring for a playoff spot on the final week of the regular season in Foxboro. It would be fitting if the Patriots were in the position to not rest their starters and deny this team a playoff spot with an easy win. The Patriots generally have good success against this team in the regular season as they have lost just twice in the last seven seasons. This followed the playoff loss to the Rex Ryan squad led by Mark Sanchez. The Patriots will look to continue the success against whoever the jets have slinging the ball in 2018.

Finishing Them Off

There you have it. The Patriot’s divisional opponents for the 2018 season. I believe it was Sun Tzu who once said, “In order to secure your playoff spot, you must beat your divisional opponents” (Probably). The New England Patriots have been death of dreams and destroyers of worlds for fans with championship aspirations in the division and I hope they continue that for the 2018 season.

 

All photos courtesy of Getty images unless noted otherwise.

Be sure to check out other great articles for all your favorite Boston sports teams on Bostonsportsextra.com

Follow me on Twitter @ALykins32
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2018 NFL Playoffs: AFC Preview

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When the NFL playoffs kick off on January 6th each team will battle to book a ticket to Super Bowl 52. Although everyone has the same goal in mind, not every team is created equally. Let’s take a look at the AFC playoff team’s keys to success and realistic expectations in this year’s playoffs.

New England Patriots (13-3)

Bill Belichick and Tom Brady once again sit atop the AFC ensuring all roads go through New England. Health has proved to be a big issue for the Patriots, especially in their linebacking core. New England has become prone to giving up big chunks of yards on outside runs going back to their bye week. Since the bye week, the Pats have only held one playoff team to under 100 yards rushing. That was in Week 16, a contest that saw LeSean McCoy leave with an injury. If the Patriots can limit the run and keep Brady and the offense on the field then they will continue their historic dominance. Brady must also limit interceptions. It’s fair to say Brady’s short-comings towards the end of the year were over stated, but he’ll need to make better decisions in the playoffs. If the Patriots play perfect football there isn’t a team in the league that can dethrone them. If New England can avoid beating themselves then they should find themselves in Minnesota come February.

New England should be considered the team to beat for this year’s Super Bowl. However, without a succession plan for Brady in place and his play diminishing over the last half of the season, the Patriots may soon be in limbo. Every Super Bowl may be Brady’s last at this point so they must take advantage of the lack of talent in the AFC now while they remain the top dog.

Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3)

In Week 15, Pittsburgh showcased two realities. One in which they could temper the Patriots offense and cause issues with man coverage. The other is that even with their best effort they still find themselves playing little brother to Bill and Brady. Before they face off against New England again, barring a Patriots meltdown, Pittsburgh will need to be healthy.

With Antonio Brown injured, the Steelers’ receiving core looks pretty pedestrian. If Brown is healthy then the Killer B’s have the capability of going to Big Ben’s third Super Bowl. If they find themselves there and get healthy, they have the offense to keep up with anyone in the NFL. Their biggest question will remain whether their defense can make a big stop.

With Ben Roethlisberger’s health deteriorating every year, it is unclear when he will call it quits. When the day comes, a new regime will take over in Pittsburgh and their may be tough times. Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin will surely look to get the monkey off their back that is the Patriots prior to their departure. This may be the best year to do so with an exposed New England defense and injuries on both sides of the ball. Pittsburgh fans should accept nothing less than a conference championship game after this regular season.

Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6)

If the Jaguars want to succeed this post-season they will need to do so behind their ferocious defensive front. The Jaguars house four pro-bowlers on their roster, all of which can be found on defense. If DE Calais Campbell and DT Malik Johnson can continue to terrorize opposing quarterbacks it’s possible the Jaguars can make some noise out of the three seed. Bortles will also need to limit mistakes in the opportunities his defense gives him. The fewer interceptions Bortles produces, the higher the likelihood Jaguars make it to the Super Bowl.

A team like Jacksonville carries a disappointing stigma for being a mediocre organization. Winning a playoff game or two would set a standard for the future of the Jaguars. With such a young roster, the Jags will gain experience regardless of their final outcome. In Jacksonville’s first playoff appearance in 10 years, expectations are low. But with their talent the team has a chance to make great strides going forward.

Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)

Kansas City has all the talent necessary to reach the Super Bowl. It is a similar roster to the one that won their division last year. Similarly to last year, the Chief’s success will rely on a few individual performances. Alex Smith will need to be as efficient as he was when defeating New England all the way back in week one. Beyond that, Travis Kelce will need to be a force in the red zone and avoid personal fouls. And finally, Andy Reid must defeat that dreaded game clock that has bested him so often in the past.

This is an important off-season for the Chiefs. Andy Reid’s team has been inconsistent at best in recent years. He may soon find himself on the chopping block if the Chiefs once again go one-and-done these playoffs. Expect them to get to New England, but don’t expect them leave with a win.

Tennessee Titans (9-7)

Tennessee has been unable to score 25-plus points since the month of September. If that stat didn’t kill the Titan’s playoff hopes in the regular season, then recent news certainly has. DeMarco Murray will likely be inactive for their Wild Card game on Saturday. The saying ‘any given Sunday’ is not foreign to me. I know its unfair to rule out a team before they even play. Tennessee would need to play out of their mind to win. With an average defense and Marcus Mariota’s 13-15 TD-INT ratio, Derrick Henry will need to be uber-effective in Murray’s absence. Mariota will also have to be better than he has been all season if they want to win a game.

The big news circulating Tennessee is Mike Mularkey’s future with the team. Should they win Saturday, Mularkey will certainly return for another year. If they do fall to Kansas City, though, it is reported that Mularkey’s job will be in jeopardy. In the case of a loss, potential head coaching candidates will likely determine Mularkey’s future.

Buffalo Bills (9-7)

After 17 long, cold, unforgiving seasons Buffalo faithful finally returns to the postseason. If they want this magical season to continue they will need some help. Most importantly, RB LeSean McCoy will need to be healthy. Tyrod Taylor has proven to be a capable game manager, but his abilities lack those of a great quarterback. Buffalo’s defensive front will need to get to the quarterback and force Bortles to make mistakes if they want to make it out of wild card weekend. If the Bills can pressure quarterbacks during the playoffs they can succeed. Even if Taylor plays his best football, it all boils down to McCoy in the end. The only way Buffalo takes down he Jaguars will be if Shady is at his best.

By making the playoffs, Buffalo may already consider this season a success. This may have secured head coach Sean McDermott’s job for another year, but the Bills have a long way to go. The Bills will be able to use any experience and success they get from this unlikely playoff run in the future. For now Buffalo should just enjoy the moment and hope for miracles to happen.

Sources

Featured picture by Associated Press/Times Free Press
Statistics by pro-football-reference.com

How the Bills Can Cause an Upset in the Wild Card

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The NFL is full of surprises around every corner. Nothing can be truly expected as the season progresses. The Raiders were predicted to make a deep playoff run, and they fell flat on their faces instead. Carson Wentz was prophesied to be this season’s MVP, and an ACL tear ruined those hopes for this year. More recently, the Baltimore Ravens were slated to make the playoffs. All they had to do was beat the seemingly uninspired Bengals and they would secure a playoff berth in Week 17. But the NFL can be a wicked mistress. The final offensive drive for the Bengals just so happened to be the dagger to secure a late win. The Ravens got knocked out the playoffs after their disappointing loss, and the Buffalo Bills were inserted in their place.

In Week 17 the biggest fans of the Bengals were the Bills. They had just secured a win in Miami, and awaited the conclusion of the game going on in Cincinnati. They did their part to get into the playoffs; the rest fell in the Bengals’ hands. The Bengals were eliminated weeks ago, but like they did with the Lions the week before, they aimed to crush the Ravens’ playoff hopes. A late touchdown from the Bengals sent the Ravens home early, and ushered the Bills into the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

The Bills don’t want to just make a playoff appearance, they want to win a playoff match-up. That’s something the team hasn’t done since 1995. Their odds to make Super Bowl 52 has gotten a lot better from December to now. This Saturday the Bills will play their first game in January in over a decade in Jacksonville, home of the also playoff-starved Jaguars. Here’s how the Bills can upset the best defense and third seed this weekend:

Strike Early, Strike Often

The only way for the Bills to dismantle the Jaguars defense will be through running an up-tempo offense. On all cylinders the offense has to be no less than perfect. Tyrod Taylor needs to do what he does best: keep the defense guessing. He needs the green light to roll out of the pocket as much as he can. Taylor is a huge threat when he leaves the pocket. He can pull linebackers out of the play to become fixated on him and can fire over his head to a receiver left open on a drag route. If the linebacker plays back on the receiver, Tyrod can tuck the ball and punish the defense with a run. Extend the drive and tire out the defense, and in turn pressure Blake Bortles with less time to answer.

This game will come down to which team can cause a defensive breakdown. Both the Bills and Jaguars are defensively minded teams, so scoring early will set the tone of the game. Expect this game to be a low-scoring affair, so the Bills can capitalize by catching the opposing defense off guard early.

It’s Always Shady in Buffalo

There’s no question that the Bills would not be the same on offensive without their workhorse running back. Shady McCoy is a difference-maker in the Bills’ offense, and could make a splash against the Jags. McCoy is making progress with coming back early from an ankle injury he suffered in Week 17. Dr. David Chao claims McCoy can play through his injury, but worries about his production level:

If LeSean McCoy is active this week, it will be a huge plus for the Bills to have him in the backfield. It not only opens up room for Tyrod Taylor to operate, but it alleviates the need for the Bills to use their 23rd-ranked air attack. On the other end of the field, the Jaguars may be 1st in pass defense, but are 26th in stopping the run. McCoy is the team’s leading rusher at 1,138 yards. He is also Tyrod Taylor’s favorite passing target. If LeSean McCoy plays on Sunday, the Bills’ chances to trounce the Jaguars’ playoff run early increases.

Stop the Run

On defense, the Bills have to run rampant on Blake Bortles and the Jaguars. If the big guys up front can keep Leonard Fournette from having his usual productive game, then the Jags’ offense will waiver. The one thing that the Jaguars’ offense cannot afford is to become one-dimensional. Blake Bortles has not proven to be clutch whatsoever. He is one of the most important cogs of the offense, but is also one of the most inconsistent.

If the Bills can keep the ball is his hands and force Bortles to throw, they will be in great shape. Their secondary of Tre’Davious White, Jordan Poyer, E.J. Gaines, and Micah Hyde is a scary ball-hawking group. Bortles can get into some trouble against this group, and if he throws a few interceptions that only helps the Bills gain advantage. Against the Bills’ back line throw across the middle if you dare, and throw deep if you can.

 

Media Credit:

www.sportingnews.com

www.buffalorumblings.com

Eric Lee

Eric Lee Turning Heads

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Background on Eric Lee

Patriots head Coach Bill Belichick has a talent for finding hidden talents. It appears this season he may have done it again.

Last month the Patriots claimed Eric Lee off waivers from the Buffalo Bills practice team. In New England Lee has already made a name for himself.  In his second year in the NFL, Lee has bounced around a bit. Before the Patriots claimed him, Lee spent a season on the Houston Texans practice squad and began this season on the Buffalo Bills practice squad. So far in New England, he’s surpassed expectations and filled a void the Patriots badly needed to close.

Eric Lee

Photo Credit: AP Photo

Early Impact

Lee has only played two games with the Patriots and he’s made his presence felt. The defensive end made his debut with the Patriots two weeks ago against the Miami Dolphins. He recorded four tackles and a sack. Lee even got the attention of Tom Brady.  He didn’t even know Lee before the game. Lee was an even bigger factor last week. In the Patriots win against the Buffalo Bills, he had four tackles, a sack, and a key interception. In the first quarter with the Bills driving, Lee picked off Tyrod Taylor at the goal line. This not only gave the Patriots momentum, but took away the opportunity for the Bills to get a key touchdown. Making plays like that are what will get Lee playing time. So far in New England he’s played like he has a chip on his shoulder.

 

Eric lee

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Adrian Kraus

 

Outlook for Remainder of Season

This season the Patriots have faced a lot of adversity at the defensive end position. The Patriots drafted Derek Rivers in the third round of the NFL draft in the spring, but he tore his ACL in August. The Pats then traded for Cassius Marsh from the Seattle Seahawks. He struggled in New England and the Patriots cut him after nine games. Lee has given the Patriots consistency when they’ve needed it the most. If he can continue this,  he will soon become a household name in Foxborough.

 

Eric Lee

Photo Credit: AP Photo/ Steve Cannon

Five Forgotten Classics of Bills-Patriots Rivalry

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The Bills and Patriots have been playing each other since 1960. There have been some very memorable match ups between the two ball clubs. The Patriots’ epic Monday Night comeback in the 2009 season-opener, Roland Hooks’ “Hail Mary” reception in 1981 and the teams’ respective 31-0 wins in 2003 are among those. However, these teams have played so many times, it is easy to forget some of the other great moments of this rivalry. Let’s look at five such games.

1963

The very first time that the Bills and the Patriots made it to the playoffs… they played each other. The teams finished the season tied atop the AFL East division with identical 7-6-1 records.

The playoff game was held in ancient War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo under a constant snowfall. Right off the bat, it was obvious which team showed up to play on this day. Bills’ star Elbert Dubenion fumbled on the opening kickoff, which led to a quick field goal by legend Gino Cappalletti. Moments later, Babe Parilli hit underrated Larry Garron for a long strike and it was 10-0 right off the bat.

Buffalo’s lone score came on a gorgeous pass play from Daryle Lamonica to Dubenion. “Golden Wheels” took the throw in stride and raced the rest of an AFL playoff record 93 yards for the score. The Bills faked the PAT and went for two as Lamonica rolled out and hit linebacker John Tracey to cut Boston’s lead to 16-8. 

New England dominated the 4th quarter with Parilli, Garron and Cappelletti hitting on two more big plays. Cappalletti added four field goals in the harsh conditions to give Boston the 26-8 win.

The Patriots went on to get crushed in the AFL championship game one week later. Sid Gillman’s San Diego Chargers carved them up to the tune of 610 total yards.

Buffalo won the next two AFL titles, defeating San Diego both times. The Bills’ defense stifled the high-powered Chargers attack in those games.

The Bills and Patriots have been in the same division since those AFL days, yet have not faced off in the playoffs since!

1973

A new era of Patriots’ football dawned in 1973 as Chuck Fairbanks coached his first game on the sidelines of Schaefer Stadium. This game became classic because of the individual greatness of one OJ Simpson. Simpson was not even supposed to be integral to Lou Saban’s game plan on this day. He wanted to use Simpson as a decoy while his new back Larry Watkins would shock the Patriots handling the ball frequently.

Well, the game plan worked, and Simpson still ran wild. In the first quarter, Simpson swept right and exploded down the sidelines for an 80-yard score. This type of dash became second nature for Simpson over the next four seasons.

OJ added another score in the fourth against a gassed Patriots’ defense. He ended up with a then-record 250 yards. Watkins added 105 of his own. Buffalo won 31-13 as a side note.

Later in the season, when New England traveled to snowy Buffalo, Simpson rushed for another 219 yards in a 37-13 Bills’ win.

OJ Simpson’s 1973 season is among the greatest individual efforts in NFL history. He annihilated Jim Browns’ single-season rushing record. His mark stood for eleven seasons with the Rams’ Eric Dickerson eclipsing his mark in 1984.

1991

The Bills and Patriots were in completely different worlds by week 12 of the 1991 season. The Patriots were coming off their worst season ever in 1990. They finished at 1-15, were involved in the Victor Kiam fiasco, and hired Dick MacPherson as head coach.

The Bills, on the other hand, had an offense which was firing on all cylinders led by all-world and eventual NFL MVP, Thurman Thomas. Buffalo came into this game at 10-1 and looked like they would roll early. Thomas made an incredible catch across the middle and darted to the goal putting Buffalo up 10-0.

Late in the half, though, Jim Kelly started to have issues in the passing game. He got picked off four times by the strength of this Patriots’ team, their defensive backfield. Maurice Hurst jumped two in-routes and New England just kept hanging around.

Right before halftime, Hugh Millen connected with Irving Fryar for a 50-yarder cutting the lead to 10-9.

The Pats finally went ahead late in the fourth when Millen ran it in himself. The TD put the Patriots up 16-13. Kelly uncharacteristically struggled in the two-minute offense which culminated in an errant fourth-and-9 throw and a New England victory.

This would be the high point of the two-year MacPherson-Millen project. The good news for the Patriots was this nightmarish era paved the way to the hiring of Bill Parcells and the drafting of Drew Bledsoe. Better days were ahead!

For Buffalo, they did not lose a meaningful game again until Super Bowl XXVI, when they were beat up by Washington. This was their second of four straight Super Bowl seasons.

This was indeed the “Golden Era” of Bills football.

1994

The 1994 Patriots were a thrilling team to watch. Bledsoe was as advertised and Parcells was doing what he did with the Giants; building a tough, defensive-minded team that won more than it lost. In its way was the AFC’s Goliath of the previous four season, the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills came into their week 15 game against New England at just 7-7, but still would make the playoffs by winning out. They were short-handed, however, as Jim Kelly suffered a brutal knee injury one week earlier in their game vs. the Vikings.

Surprisingly, Buffalo jumped all over New England in the first half. Frank Reich hit little-used fullback Nate Turner on a beautifully designed wheel route and tough Carwell Gardner scored from the three, giving Buffalo a 17-3 lead. Then, the roof caved in.

In a game eerily reminiscent of their Super Bowl XXVII loss to the Cowboys, once the Bills got unnerved, they self-destructed. Reich threw two interceptions and Andre Reed added two fumbles. To their credit, New England jumped on the Bills’ throat scoring an incredible thirty-eight straight points. Bledsoe was on point all second half and Ricky Reynolds added a pick six.

The Patriots were on their way to the playoffs for the first time since 1986, while Buffalo would fail to qualify for the first time since 1987.

The Parcells’ era reach its crescendo after the 1996 season with an appearance in the Super Bowl. Buffalo made the playoffs four of the next 5 seasons but would never reach the success of their teams from the early-1990’s.

2000 

In 2000, the Patriots were in their first season under Bill Belichick and the Bills were in their last season under Wade Phillips. New England came into the game with a 2-6 record, while Buffalo was 4-4.

Buffalo starter Rob Johnson was injured so the popular Doug Flutie got the start and since he was beloved in the Boston area, nobody seemed to mind. As he did much of the 2000 season, Flutie struggled, however, going only 18 of 37 in the passing game.

The 2000 Bills were very strong defensively. They knocked out Drew Bledsoe and tormented back up John Friesz the rest of the afternoon. New England finally tied the game with nine minutes left on a fourth down run by JR Redmond. The score was 10-10 at that point.

New England Patriots

With two minutes left, Adam Vinatieri nailed a clutch 43-yarder. Steve Christie answered with a 49-yarder for the Bills at the buzzer. And, in overtime, after a long Shawn Bryson run, Christie nailed the winner giving the Bills a 16-13 victory.

While this game was not beautiful by any measure, it does serve as a significant historical barometer. Nobody was throwing around “genius” when talking about Bill Belichick as a head coach. And nobody could have watched this 2000 Patriots’ team and guessed this would be a World Championship team just one season later.

At the same time, nobody could have guessed that the proud Bills’ franchise would be in their first of now 17 consecutive non-playoff seasons. For those who covered the Bills and Patriots in 2000, it seems like forever ago that these two teams have stood on equal ground.

Buffalo hopes a win this week helps them get back to the playoffs. New England, of course, would prefer its dominance continue.

 

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

Jardine’s Means : How We Will Beat the Bills

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Fresh off a lovely victory over the very sad, chippy Miami Dolphins and we are “on to the Bills”. I have a question for everyone: how is Suh still allowed to play in the NFL? Sorry I digress, and back to the matter at hand. The Patriots play this coming Sunday against the Buffalo Bills and their multiple personalities. Will the Patriots be facing the scrappy Bills team that just defeated the Chiefs? Or will they be facing the squad that looked like a bad high school team and were passing out interceptions like Santa passes out presents? Either way, it will require a solid game plan to take this Bills team down. Let me tell you what I feel are the keys to defeating the Bills and keeping our winning streak alive.

AS USUAL IT STARTS WITH BRADY

The key for the Patriots to beat any team is to rely on Tom Brady. That is not exacting rocket science to come up with that little tidbit. Basically the Patriots will be as good as Brady is, which is stellar most days. Tom Brady’s success may also be predicated on the running game being efficient. Against the chippy Dolphins, RB Dion Lewis ran for 112 yards and opened up the passing game. By controlling the ball with the run, the passing game and the play action will shred the Bills.

Once the run is established, expect the Patriots to pick apart the Bills with their passing game. The Bills tend to play a huge amount of basic zone coverages such as Cover 2, and Cover 3 in their defense. This defense is key if the Bills are able to get some pressure on Brady. If the Bills are not able to put pressure on Brady then this game will be an air show and the Bills will get whooped.

KEEP THE BILLS’ D LINE IN CHECK

The Bills are going to try desperately to get to Tom Brady and disrupt his rhythm. This also sounds like a broken record, but it is the key to the Bills’ defensive success. Being a little vulnerable in the defensive secondary, the Bills need to get pressure on Brady.  The Bills also need to stack the box and stay close to the line to control any running game.

It goes without saying, Brady and friends should be well prepared for the Bills and what they may bring. Brady has more weapons on offence then some nations have in their armouries to defend a country. Picking just the right weapon to go to is what Brady does so well and has for about a hundred years.

If Brady is getting a lot of pressure then expect to see a lot of screen passes and a lot of short crossing patterns. This allows Brady to get rid of the ball quickly and gain positive yards. Having the blocking of our O-line on point, then expect some of these Bills’ line rushes to be met with gashing running plays. Having Brady keep the Buffalo’s D line off-balance should allow for another Patriots’ victory.

For the Patriots want to wear out an opponent’s D line, then there is only one answer. All that would be required to wear out the Buffalo defense is up tempo no huddle. This mantra of mine seems to wear out defenses, limit substitutions, and allow the Pats to get the lead.  Let’s hope the Pats just do this and do not require me screaming at my TV.

STOPPING MCCOY AND CONTAINING TAYLOR

When drawing up a game plan to face an opponent, the Patriots’ staff tend to focus on one or two players to stop. The theory is that it would be harder for the other players to beat them then it would be for the stars. In the case of Buffalo, the Patriots will have to stop Shady McCoy and all of the aspects that he brings to the Bills’ offence. McCoy is a great runner and also one of the better backs in the NFL at pass catching. I would expect McCoy to be the personal assignment of Patrick Chung who will try to disrupt McCoy’s day. I also expect that McCoy will see a lot of Devin McCourty as well depending on the play.

The Bills’ starting QB Tyrod Taylor can be a dangerous weapon for their offence. If Taylor is allowed to scramble around and keep the Patriots’ defense off-balance then he will be quite effective.  Lessening Taylor’s impact on the game is key. Taylor must be forced to be a passer first. Also by keeping contain on Taylor, the Patriots limit the damage he can do with his legs. Taylor is better passer then he was when he first started in the league, but it is still his weakest aspect.

CLOSING WITH A VICTORY

If the Patriots’ coaching staff prepares their team like they always do then I like their chances. Taking what the defense gives you and executing is the key to Brady’s game. Controlling the tempo of the game with the up tempo, no huddle should allow the Pats to come away this Sunday with another victory. I guess we will all just have to tune in and find out for sure, but I like our chances.

 

 

 

Week 11 Winners and Losers

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As I was writing this article I realized that this week’s winners and losers are oddly similar to last week’s. Quite interesting if you ask me, it seems that many teams across the league are trending rapidly up or down. Down the stretch it will be interesting to see which struggling teams can turn it around and which contenders will turn into pretenders. Let’s get to it.

WEEK 11 WINNERS

ATLANTA FALCONS, 34-31 WIN AT SEATTLE

Don’t look now but it looks like Atlanta is turning into Hotlanta. With back-to-back impressive wins, the Falcons have found themselves back in the NFC playoff picture. Their win over Seattle moved them up to the sixth seed in the NFC. The key to Atlanta’s recent resurgence? Their relentless pass rush. Adrian Clayborn and Grady Jarrett were chasing Russell Wilson out of the pocket all night, not allowing him to get comfortable. Also, Matt Ryan was efficient as he completed over 70% of his passes for 195 yards and two TD’s. Well done Atlanta, welcome back to NFC-relevancy. five of Atlanta’s last six games are against division opponents, including four home games. Up next: a very winnable game at home vs Tampa Bay.

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NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, 34-31 OT WIN VS WASHINGTON

Beginning to wonder if anyone can beat this team. They just won their eighth straight game in a dramatic fourth quarter comeback lead by two perfect drives from Brees. It was vintage Drew, which is something we have not seen much this year because Mark Ingram, Alvin Kamara and the defense have been so good. How perfect was Brees on the last two comeback drives? 11-11 for 164 yards, two TD’s and a two-point conversion. Yup, he can still carry the team when necessary. The Saints are the first team in the modern era to start a season 0-2 and then win eight straight. Also, can we start acknowledging that Alvin Kamara is the best rookie running back in the league? He had another 116 scrimmage yards and a TD on just 14 touches.

Side note: I really feel for the Redskins. They might be the most injured team in the league and have had an absolutely brutal schedule. So far the ‘Skins have faced the Eagles twice, the Rams, Saints, Vikings, 49ers, Raiders, Cowboys, Seahawks and Chiefs. Washington is one of the best 4-6 teams I have ever seen, along with this years Chargers.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS, 24-7 WIN VS LA RAMS

Dominant win versus the red-hot Rams. The Vikings are legit and another impressive win has them in my “Winners” column for consecutive weeks. Did anyone think Minnesota would be 8-2 considering their injuries to key players and relatively tough schedule? I sure didn’t. I feel like I owe these guys an apology for picking them to lose almost every week. They have proved me wrong week in and week out and it is time I accept the fact that this team is for real. Holding the NFL’s highest scoring offense to a measly seven points was very impressive. Equally impressive is their 11th ranked offense in terms of point per game, sans Bradford, Bridgewater and Dalvin Cook. Who would have thought that Case Keenum would carry this offense so well. Up next: At Lions then at Falcons, two more tough tests.

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 WEEK 11 LOSERS

BUFFALO BILLS, 54-24 LOSS AT LA CHARGERS

Oh man, just when it could not have gotten uglier, it did. Another blow out loss for Buffalo makes it three straight losses. They have lost their last two games by a total of 67 points *cringe*. I am going to be conservative here and throw 90% of the blame on Head Coach Sean McDermott. “Mr. McDermott, if you don’t mind me asking, what the hell are you doing?”. My brain short fuses every time I try to understand why he benched Tyrod Taylor for rookie Nathan Peterman. Sure, they had lost two games straight, so what? It happens. The correct way to respond to back to back losses is to practice hard, get back to the basics, study your opponent and show up to play. Not bench your starting QB, who was absolutely not the problem.

Tyrod is no Tom Brady but he has proven to be a viable starting QB. Also, this bonehead move sends a message to the players from the coach saying “Well we have lost two straight games, I think I am going to give up on my 5-4 team and start thinking about next year”. Let’s see how Nathan Peterman fared in his first NFL start, shall we? He completed 11 passes, unfortunately five of them were completed to the wrong team. Peterman’s stat line was: 6-14, 5 interceptions for 66 yards. Tyrod came in for the second half and went 15-25 for 158 yards, four carries for 38 yards and 2 total TD’s. Yeah, I wonder who the better QB is? Smooth move Mr. McDermott.

Luckily for Buffalo, the AFC wildcard race is wide open. The Bills have two very winnable games vs the Dolphins and a home game vs Indy remaining. If they can win those three as well as steal one of their two remaining games against the Pats or win in Kansas City then I like their chances of getting a wildcard spot.

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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, 12-9 LOSS AT NY GIANTS

Uh oh, the team that seemed like it was on top of the NFL after five weeks has now lost four of its last five. That’s right, the Chiefs are now just 6-4 after starting 5-0. Their previous three losses were not so concerning considering they came against quality teams (Pittsburgh, Oakland and Dallas). However, this loss is very concerning considering that the Giants entered the contest with a record of 1-8. Also, the Chiefs’ offense that has been a powerhouse almost all season only managed nine points against a team that is allowing 24.7 points per game. That kind of effort is not going to cut it. Luckily for Kansas City, the entire AFC West is underachieving and they lead both the Raiders and Chargers by two games. Up next: A home game vs the ailing Bills.

DALLAS COWBOYS, 37-9 LOSS VS PHILADELPHIA

Congratulations Dallas, you have earned yourself a spot under in the losers column for the second consecutive week. Back-to-back blowout losses for the ‘Boys. Two weeks ago they lost 27-7 at Atlanta and then they got embarrassed in a prime time game at home against a division rival. Yes, I agree that they were out-matched and I did not expect them to win this one. However, I expected it to be close, but they could not even keep it a three possession game.

The main concern for Dallas is how bad their offense is without Zeke. Dak looks like a different player out there sans his best weapon. Dallas is averaging just eight points without their superstar RB and boy do they need him back. Unfortunately for the Cowboys there are a surplus of playoff-caliber teams in the NFC and at 5-5, it may be time for Dallas to start thinking about next year. Up next: LA Chargers in big D.

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*Follow me on Twitter: @MLBfromNH (Kevin Civiello)*

Week 10 Winners and Losers

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For a football nerd like me, it is easy to open with a generic statement like “Wow what an eventful week!”. Well, week 10 was truly deserving of the cliche. It featured 13 games (thus far), seven of which resulted in a one-possession game. Road teams experienced mild success this week, going 6-7 collectively. We saw an OT thriller, a game-winning field goal  and a winless team notch its first W. Other headlines include the persistent dominance by the Saints and Rams while the Vikings and Titans keep finding ways to win and the Browns and Giants still suck.

We are a little over half way through the regular season and playoff races are starting to heat up. It feels as though we are beginning to grasp which teams are contenders and which teams are pretenders.  Alright, let’s get to it. Presented below are the week 10 teams that shined bright and the teams feeling up tight.

WEEK 10 WINNERS

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, 47-10 WIN AT BUFFALO

The sun keeps on rising and the Saints keep on winning. Their dominant week 10 win against a good Buffalo team further supports the notion that this team is legit. Make it seven straight for Sean Payton and company. There is something different about this team than we have seen in recent years. They actually look like a complete football team. It is no longer Drew Brees miraculously willing his team to victory by throwing for 400 yards and 4 TD’s over and over again. It is a much more balanced attack as the Saints backfield has established itself as one of the league’s best.

Mark Ingram has been phenomenal and rookie Alvin Kamara is playing so well that he should be in the conversation with Kareem Hunt and Leonard Fournette for offensive rookie of the year. This duo is an absolute two-headed monster.  It reminds me of the 2016 version of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. On Sunday the Saints backs ran all over Buffalo. Ingram logged 21 carries for 131 yards and three TD’s while Kamara added none carries for 106 yards and a TD. Even Trey Edmunds had nne rushes for 48 yards and a score. Who? Exactly.

Also, something has to be said about the defense. The Saints defense has been atrocious recently but they have really turned it around this season. Since starting the season 0-2 and allowing 29 and then 36 points, they have held six of their last seven opponents to 17 points or less. They rank fifth in the league in points allowed per game this year at 18.3. Week 10 in Buffalo was a tough task and they made light work of it. They will face a real tough test in two weeks when they travel to Los Angeles to face the 7-2 Rams.

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ATLANTA FALCONS, 27-7 WIN VS DALLAS

Statement made in week 10 by Atlanta. They proved that they can still play like the team they were last year. Atlanta dominated on both sides of the ball and in the trenches. The offensive line held up nicely as Ryan was only sacked once. The defense looked hungry and angry just like they did last year. Dan Quinn’s defense recorded eight sacks, including six from Adrian Clayborn. Prior to Sunday, only three other players in NFL history had recorded six sacks in a single game.

The only bummer about Sunday’s game was that star running back Devonta Freeman left the game with a concussion and is unlikely to play next week at Seattle. Luckily, they still have Tevin Coleman in the backfield, who has proven in the past he can handle a significant workload. Atlanta looks to build off of their impressive week 10 win when they fly out west to take on the 6-3 Seahawks.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS, 38-30 WIN AT WASHINGTON

Minnesota never really does anything flashy but they just know how to win football games. They are very quietly riding a five-game win streak and stand at 7-2 on the season. I think many worried about Dalvin Cook going down with a torn ACL. However, Minnesota has done just fine without him. The defense has dominated all year as they are fifth in the league in points allowed per game.

It seems as though a different offensive player comes to the rescue each week, whether it be Case Keenum, Jerrick McKinnon or Stefon Diggs. This week it was Adam Thielen who had eight catches for 166 yards and a TD. It sure seems like the Vikings have a stranglehold on the NFC North title this year as they lead both Detroit and Green Bay by two games. Next up a tough match up against another 7-2 division leader: vs the Los Angeles Rams.

 

WEEK 10 LOSERS

BUFFALO BILLS, 47-10 LOSS VS NEW ORLEANS

Buffalo looked great through its first seven games, but they are beginning to fall off. In week eight, the Bills welcomed Oakland to Buffalo in the rudest way possible by embarrassing them 34-14. At that point in the season, Buffalo looked real solid. Some were saying that they would be battling the Patriots for the division title all year long. It felt as though they had finally put it all together and were ready to play like the great team they had shown flashes of in the recent past.

However, back-to-back ugly losses have ensued since they walloped Oakland in week eight. In week nine they lost to the Jets 34-21,  but that game was not as close as the score indicates. Buffalo scored two touchdowns in garbage time after trailing 34-7 with a little over four minutes to play. Then this week they got trounced by the Saints. Sure, the Saints are playing as well as anyone right now, but still. If Buffalo considers themselves a playoff team then they can not lose by 37 points at home. It is not panic time yet, but it certainly seems like they are in a rapid downward spiral. Next up for Buffalo is the one of the best 3-6 teams you will ever see: At Los Angeles Chargers.

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DALLAS COWBOYS, 27-7 LOSS AT ATLANTA

Ugly loss for the Cowboys but I do not want to take anything away from Atlanta.  They played exceptionally welll. Dallas had a few odds stacked against them in this one. They were on the road and without their best offensive weapon in Ezekiel Elliott. However, they simply have to be better than they were on Sunday. The offensive line, which typically dominates, looked awful. Prescott had no time to throw and was sacked eight times. The main reason why Dallas made the losers list this week is the incompetence of the offense without Zeke. Zeke faces a six-game suspension. If the Cowboys can not move the ball without him then they will quickly fall out of the playoff race.

The run game looked awful without Zeke. Alfred Morris had two quality runs on the day, one for 20 yards and another for 14 yards. However, the game was pretty much out of reach at the time of those two carries. Aside from those two plays he had nine carries for 19 yards — not good enough. Up next, Dallas hosts the 8-1 Eagles. They will need more out of Morris, Smith and McFadden against the league’s best rushing defense (66.4 yards allowed per game) if they want a shot to win this one. Good luck.

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*Follow me on twitter @MLBfromNH (Kevin Civiello)*

Breaking Down Potential Wild Card Weekend

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Potential Wild Card Weekend

Despite many NFL Sundays still ahead, it’s intriguing to ponder the potential matchups for the 2017-18 NFL Playoffs. With many surprises in the playoff picture, wild card weekend could in fact “be wild.” At the start of the season I did not anticipate Jacksonville to ever hold the AFC wild card lead. Yet here we are, just past the halfway point of the season, and the 5-3 Jags are even threatening for first in their division. With that said, if the playoffs started today, here’s what we would have to look forward to wild card weekend.

(5)Jacksonville @ (4)Tennessee

This inner divisional matchup would be a great way to kick off the NFL playoffs.  Having two teams play each other three times in one season presents so much drama. Especially when considering these two close out the regular season against each other in Tennessee. If these two squared up in back to back weeks, the tension would be hot, leading to a brutal battle on the gridiron. The Jacksonville defense gave up a horrifying 37 points to the Titans in week two of the season. Since then, however, their defense has been rock solid, leading the league in opponent points per game average at just 14.6 (TeamRankings.com). The Jaguars are clawing for a rematch with Tennessee, and getting that chance twice in two weeks presents a fun watch for all football fans.

(6)Buffalo @ (3)Kansas City

The Chiefs came out the gate this season with a dominating first five weeks. It wasn’t until hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers, that things went south in Kansas City. The Chiefs have dropped three of their last four games, as they head into a desperately needed bye week. The Buffalo Bills have had some impressive wins of their own, but have a tough schedule up ahead.  One of those games happens to be in Kansas City.  What makes this such an exciting matchup, is Buffalo leads the league in turnover differential, and Kansas City falls one spot behind them at number two (ESPN.com). Because both teams protect the ball and like to cause turnovers, this game could come down to a single fault. Every play will matter, and everyone will have to play to perfection. Luckily, we don’t have to wait long to see this potential wildcard matchup. Buffalo’s regular season trip to Kansas City is just three weeks away.

(5)Carolina @ (4)Los Angeles (Rams)

Perhaps the most entertaining team to watch, the Rams, bring to the table a dominating offensive scheme. Los Angeles has put up absurd numbers this season, while Carolina’s strong defensive efforts have kept scores low. Carolina has definitely had the tougher schedule through this point of the season, having played New England, Philadelphia and Buffalo. Los Angeles, on the other hand, has faced an easier group of teams including Indianapolis, San Francisco and the New York Giants. Their win in Dallas was definitely impressive, but the game was a shootout, and that simply won’t happen against the Panthers. In order for the Rams to advance past wildcard weekend, they will need to wear down Carolina’s defense early and often. If the Rams are going to fall to Carolina, it will be because the Panthers control the tempo throughout the game, and that tempo will be very slow.

(6)Dallas @ (3)Minnesota

The funny thing about this matchup is it’s almost exactly like the Carolina-Los Angeles matchup. At this point in the season, Dallas is fourth in the NFL in points per game (TeamRankings.com). Minnesota, on the other hand, is third in the NFL in opponent points per game (Team Rankings.com). Both teams have won some games in impressive fashion, but the upper-hand definitely goes to the Vikings. Despite losing their starting quarterback at the start of the season, the Vikings have been able to craft a solid string of wins over the past few weeks. In two weeks Minnesota will host the Rams, which will be a strong indicator of how this potential matchup could unfold. Similarly, the Cowboys will host Seattle, who is a defensive powerhouse, thus allowing a “scrimmage” for what they could see against the Vikings. A final factor to ponder, who will be under center for the Vikings come January…?

Much will change in the playoff race between now and January.  Some teams will drop the ball, while others will snag a spot in the playoffs. When I first heard these were the eight teams currently slated for wild card weekend, I was a bit shocked. After breaking down the matchups, I think wild card weekend will set the stage for an extremely entertaining playoffs.