Buffalo Billittled Again

The Buffalo Bills offense was non-existent last week versus the Dolphins in the season opener and in week two they were no better. First three offensive possessions versus the Green Bay Packers amounted to a total of -12 yards, including two sacks on Bills QB Trent Edwards. The easy thing to do would be to pin the blame on the Quarterback but the Buffalo offensive line has not been giving the quarterback time to react. Whether the quarterback is Edwards, Favre, Vick or John Elway, he is not going to do much when there’s constant pressure. Opponent defences are daring the Bills to run and the current Bills running game is amongst the statistically worst in the league. The Packers converted on two field goals in the first quarter, held to field goals because of Buffalos’ adequate defence as Bills Defensive co-ordinator George Edwards has moulded this group into potential overachievers. Packers RB Brandon Jackson sneaked into the end zone late in the first quarter to give the Lambeau crowd something to leap about; a 13-0 lead. The Bills offense totalled negative yardage for most of the quarter, 7 offensive plays and barely 3 minutes of possession. The casual NFL observer would probably switch the channel at this point, as the score would be a sign of things to come. Or would it be?

Early in the second quarter the Bills running game warmed up, the running combo of Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson and rookie CJ Spiller had Buffalo fans thinking that this could be a formidable trio. Fred Jackson punched one in and the Bills were competing like it was 1998 again. The Bills seemed determined to perform in the second after an 8 play 80 yard drive, capped off by a Jackson red zone TD. Edwards looked like a CFL QB, three attempted passes for 20 yards halfway through the second quarter. As horrible as Edwards has looked this season, he is head and shoulders above ex-Bills QB J.P. Losman and current back-up QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was held to a less than stellar first half, barely completing half his pass attempts as his Packers held a six point game at the break.

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On paper the Bills had no business competing with a playoff team like Green Bay yet here they were in the 3 rd quarter with a chance to take the lead. The Bills offence put together a decent string of plays before WR Steven Johnson lets a ball he should have had slip. The stats credit Edwards with an Interception but the fault was not his own. The Bills defence start on a short field again and cannot resist the offensive explosion of Rodgers and company in the third quarter. Next thing you know the Pack have the ball inside the Bills 5 yard line and Rodgers completes a pass to Old man Donald Driver for the TD. The Bills seemed like they lost all hope after that turnover and the Green Bay faithful pushed their squad to a level that Buffalo couldn’t counterbalance. Late in the third Rodgers rushes in for a TD pushing their lead to 27-7.

The Bills fared no better in the fourth quarter after another early turnover, GB dominated possession and cakewalked their way to an impressive win. GB defensive player of the year nominee, Clay Matthews had 4 sacks and made Edwards uncomfortable in the pocket all afternoon. Bills RB Lynch had some impressive stats today and the Bills had more than twice the number of rushing yards this week compared to last. The fact of the matter is that the Bills offence needs a potency increase. This is where a threat like Terrell Owens gives the offence some credibility; Trent Edwards had 11 yards passing through 3 quarters. He ended the game with 100 plus passing yards and 2 interceptions, but most of those numbers were when the game was out of doubt. The Bills could not protect the QB, a story the Bills have repeated for at least the past 5 years. The Packers sacked Trent six plus times and pressured him almost each time he had the football. The lead ballooned to 27 after 21 unanswered points by the Packers. The season is early and a lot can happen to any team, I mean who would have expected the Vikings to start 0-2? CJ Spiller showed speed, versatility and a lot of potential. Trent Edwards is not a 300 yard passer and he received only a little help this afternoon, many dropped passes, receivers that can’t seem to get open and turnovers that should not have occurred contributed to this dismal result. The Bills haven’t made the playoffs in ten years and this is a proud franchise. 320 yards of offence in two weeks isn’t going to beat a lot of CFL teams and in the NFL it’s not nearly enough, a 34-7 loss this afternoon and early season MVP Tom Brady and the Pats next week.

By Ranhvir Samra
ProFootball-fans.com Buffalo Bills Correspondent