Bills-Browns
In the first drive, the Browns just marched down the field for a touchdown, chewing up seven almost half the quarter. It wasn’t a good start for the defense. The appropriate word would be terrible. This isn’t anything like the defense that stopped Cincinati five out of seven drives in the first half of last week’s game with 3-and-outs.
However, Terrence McGee had a nice return to the 40. This is where the Bills consistently need to have their drives start in order to be successful. A couple of decent, but not great runs by McGahee, and some not-so-good play by Losman resulted in the Bills going out after eight plays. There was one dropped pass, an almost fumble, and a delay of game. He can’t keep doing that if we are going to win consitently this season.
The defense showed up for the next series, forcing a three and out with a nice sack by Shoebel. I like this guy, he always shows up to play, and gets sacks. This from a guy that isn’t one of the biggest defensive linemen in the league.
Another nice return was negated by a penalty, but the Bills still started on the 25. Another decent run by McGahee, then three good passes by Losman: six to McGahee, 13 to Evans, and 54 to Price for a touchdown. That was a pass that makes me like Losman. He got some pressure, evaded it and launced one that didn’t hit the receiver until Price was at the seven – some 48 yards in the air, With an arm like that, IF he can be consistent, this team can go places.
The first quarter ended tied at seven, with Losman going 4/5 for 81 yards and a TD.
The second quarter started with the defense shutting down the Browns again, this time for minus four yards. This was with Takeo not playing. He was pulled, bucause he is still recovering from the injury from last year, and it’s not worth playing him and risking a career-ending blowout. Still, I hope he gets healthy soon, because the Bills defense is showing potential to be dominant, and with him, they will be that much better.
Then the offence came up, had a questionable illegal formation call against them, then holding, and then a false start backed Moorman to the goal line. Still, he was able to launch the ball to the Cleveland 31, but the Browns got it to the 43. However, the Bills defense dominated again for another 3-and-out, this time the Browns got only zero yards because of another sack, this time by Denney and Anderson.
Losman had a nice pass to Evans, McGahee had another run, but then Losman took a sack and launched one a little too hard for Evans to catch, resulting in another punt. Special teams showed up again, with Moorman booting another nice one, and the Browns only getting one return yard. Unfortunately, the defense started looking like they took the series off, as Cleveland started marching down the field.
At the two-minute mark, Whittner had another nice play. I like this guy. I wasn’t sure about him in the draft, because I thought there were other pressing needs on the team. Still, this kid makes solid open field tackles, like the one in the first quarter, and this play resulted in Cleveland trying a long field goal that didn’t work.
So Losman got to try the two minute offense. It was going OK, until it self-destructed with penalties and disoprganization towards the end zone. The Bills had to settle for a field goal.
Overall, Losman had a good first half, going 9/13 for 141 yards and a touchdown. The defense was respectable, with three 3-and-outs, two sacks, and limiting Cleveland to 72 yards passing and 49 yards rushing. The special teams were OK for the Bills, or at least what we have come to expect from them over the last few years. Eight penalties hurt them, and Cleveland had the ball five minutes longer. You have to look at the scoreboard, though, and with the Bills finishing up 10-7, the first team is startign to look pretty good.
Surprisingly, the Bills started with Losman for the second half. It was a disappointing three and out. It looks like they are going to go with him as the starter,and get him as many reps as possible. I would like to see Holcomb nad Nall get some reps, though.
Another 3-and-out for the defense and Losman was right back out there. Losman marched the Bills to the Browns’ 37, but on a 3d and 11 play, threw a bad pass that was intercepted. At least it wasn’t ran back for a TD. But the Browns answered with a field goal, tying the game.
Nall came in, so Losman finished up 15/22 for 184 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. Losman’s getting better. Give him a chance I say, and I believe that he will be one of the better QBs in the league. McGahee was only getting 2.6 yards a carry, which has to improve. He needs to average 4-5 yards a carry in order for the Bills to really do anything. He has to break one or two a game for 15+ yards, which didn’t happen today. However, with a 22-16 run to pass ratio, McGahee is not going to have the opportunity to break one. He needs 30 touches a game, and he will have a good game, and therefore, the Bills will have a good game.
Various publications are picking the Bills to mop up the bottom of the league, winning between three and five games on the season. My prediction? A 2-4 start, but winding up the season at 9-7; just missing the playoffs. The defense will dominate teams, and the offense will get better as the season goes on, with the Bills surprising many people. What do I base this on? The way the starting defense is dominating play in the preseason, and the starting offense is slowly improving, playing respectably using vanilla plays. There won’t be a lot of flash this year. It will be a very workmanlike team, and not many trick plays. Just straight-up, grind it out, hard hitting football, peppered with some nice bombs by Losman. It will be the kind of play that builds a team into a playoff contender for years to come.
