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Game Thread W1 - Buffalo V New England (1 Viewer)
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Musesboy
Footballguy
The way the Patriots look through one game, I am wondering if they will rely on the running game more with two good threats there. Their defense looked better. I could see Brady falling back to the 450 pass attempts range, and finishing around 10th as he has done every year before the last one. The Bills do have good corners, but the Patriots did not look to have much threat at receiver with Branch and Givens gone. Maybe Gabriel will help?
they always come out funky in week 1. IIRC When they had Dillon, for his first game, they threw a ton and surprised folks. Running went so well, I think ya just keep pounding it then
Tommy Collins
Footballguy
Glad they made the right decision to stick with Losman as their QB. I've been on his bandwagon for a while and it's finally paying off. The Bills lost everything after that 4th & 1 attempt on the Pats 7 yard line. The Pats ended up winning by 2, they could've kicked a field goal to put them up by 2 anyways. But after that missed 4th down conversion, they lost the momentum and the Pats built on it. If they had kicked the field goal, it may have turned out differently. Of course it doesn't help when Whitner gets an interception and great return and there is a block in the back. Then on that drive it's 3rd & 2, Price makes a good play for a first down and after he got it, my most-hated Bill EVER, Josh Reed, blocked a guy in the back right when Price was going out of bounds. Result? 3rd and 2 and they don't get it. That was another opportunity for them. Every game I watch Reed ####s up somehow, I do NOT understand why he's on the starting roster, or even the team for that matter. Bring back Martin Nance please. Would've been a great way to show up the critics by beating NE the first game of the year on the road.
GroveDiesel
Footballguy
I'm really disappointed that the difference ended up being a safety. I haven't seen the play yet, but that's either a breakdown in the offensive line or a poor decision by Losman. Pretty disappointing to lose a game based on that. Kind of more of the same from last year really.
And the run defense seems pretty putrid. They gave up 4.5 per carry and couldn't stop the run on short yardage situations at all. That's not going to get it done.
The Patriots are a good team, but the Bills should have won that game.
And the run defense seems pretty putrid. They gave up 4.5 per carry and couldn't stop the run on short yardage situations at all. That's not going to get it done.
The Patriots are a good team, but the Bills should have won that game.
Tommy Collins
Footballguy
Their run defense was absolutely terrible.
As for the safety, it wasn't Losman's fault, they were backed up against their own endzone. Pass play was called and he got a ton of pressure, play didn't develop, and all of a sudden he was getting hit, tried to get away but couldn't.
As for the safety, it wasn't Losman's fault, they were backed up against their own endzone. Pass play was called and he got a ton of pressure, play didn't develop, and all of a sudden he was getting hit, tried to get away but couldn't.
IvanKaramazov
Footballguy
I very strongly support the decision to go for it on 4th and 1. You're on the road against a much better team, and you have the chance to deliver a KO blow early in the 2nd half. Kicking the FG would have been pathetic.If we had kicked the FG, we still would have lost; NE could easily have scored on their final drive of the game.
IvanKaramazov
Footballguy
Agreed on all counts. It doesn't show in the statistics, but Losman played quite well and looked like a totally different player than last year. He actually did a good job of avoiding sacks, and when he did get sacked, he did a good job holding onto the ball. All that was missing was a good scramble or two. The run defense picked up right where they left off last season.
IvanKaramazov
Footballguy
On a different note, did they change the rules about roughing the kicker? It seemed like Moorman got completely laid out TWICE, and it wasn't called either time. They didn't show any replays, so it's possible that one of his own guys got blocked into him, but it didn't seem that way in the brief glimpses I saw.
IvanKaramazov
Footballguy
Workhorse
Footballguy
Agreed.But I didn't like the playcall itself. The Pats D was selling out against the run on that play. The whole world knew that Willis was getting the rock...
IvanKaramazov
Footballguy
Maroney was sensational. Our run defense is pretty bad, but he was clearly better than Dillon (who was plenty effective too) and ran with total authority. Maroney owners should be ecstatic about his performance this week despite no TDs.
GroveDiesel
Footballguy
Agreed. Kicking the FG there instead of going for it on 4th and 1 would have been cowardly and shown no confidence in the offense and the defense. Going for it was the right call. The playcalling in general seemed much better.
Workhorse
Footballguy
Yep. And the deployment of the two backs was a telling sign: Opened with both backs equally, used Maroney mostly when the offense needed a lift and the team was trailing, kept Dillon rested to take the air out of the ball when the Pats got the lead at the end...
Tommy Collins
Footballguy
But after they missed that 4th down attempt, the entire team went down hill. Sure they had a chance to end it pretty much after Whitner's interception if it weren't for Reed's block in the back, but that was their only opportunity after that play.
To be fair it Robert Royal with the senseless, needless block in the back on Price's 3rd down catch. Refs wrongly called Reed's #. Reed did have a couple clutch catches early on - one on that great play by Losman one the bad snap.
Bad weekend for play calling in upstate NY. First, SU can't score from the 1 on 7 plays and then Bills blow game on the missed 4th down. Neither of them tried a QB sneak like Brady effectively converted.
Bad weekend for play calling in upstate NY. First, SU can't score from the 1 on 7 plays and then Bills blow game on the missed 4th down. Neither of them tried a QB sneak like Brady effectively converted.
Musesboy
Footballguy
"It's a mild hamstring (strain)," said Spikes. "When I was making a break running it just kind of grabbed on me. I'll be fine by next week."
It seems like every Belichick club starts out of the gate slowly and then hits its stride as the playoffs get closer.
2005: opened 4-4, finished 6-2 (and didn't even try to win in the week 17 loss)
2004: club went 14-2, didn't really have a bad stretch to begin with.
2003: opened 2-2, didn't lose again.
2002: opened 3-4, finished 6-3, missed playoffs.
2001: opened 1-3, won 8 of their last 9 and the super bowl.
For the Patriots, winning a game like this early in the season could be more of a positive than it is for other clubs.
2005: opened 4-4, finished 6-2 (and didn't even try to win in the week 17 loss)
2004: club went 14-2, didn't really have a bad stretch to begin with.
2003: opened 2-2, didn't lose again.
2002: opened 3-4, finished 6-3, missed playoffs.
2001: opened 1-3, won 8 of their last 9 and the super bowl.
For the Patriots, winning a game like this early in the season could be more of a positive than it is for other clubs.
conan2
Footballguy
What I saw:- Pats passing game did not look good. A lack of receivers and horrible pass protection meant Brady had no time and no one to throw to. It's easy to point to Branch's absence, but I think the horrible play by the o-line in pass protection was largely to blame for the problems here. Hopefully that problem can be fixed and Gabriel can give a boost to the receiving core, which absolutely needs it.- Pats running game. Wow. Maroney looked great. Dillon looked great. Faulk looked great. That 1-2-3 combo is going to do a lot of damage this season. I was very impressed with Maroney. His speed both to the hole and to the outside was outstanding. As far as who ends up with the most carries this year, I think it's going to continue to be a pretty even split, especially if they both continue to play well. - Harrison. Had a decent game, although there wasn't that big hit that he's famous for. I general, the defense looked ok. The notable 4-and-1 stop was the obvious turning point of the game and a big play.- Bills O. Not outstanding, but decent. MacGahee looked good as well as the A-Train when he came in for a bit. Losman looked fine. I think my questions were answered. The Bills offense will be decent. So, not the best start in the world, and definitely lots of room for improvement, but a win anyway. Another big game next week against a hot Jets team which will be a challenge, particularly if they don't do a better job protecting Brady.
GroveDiesel
Footballguy
I didn't get to see the game and am just finding out this morning that it was Nate Clements that got called for the block in the back on Whitner's INT. From what I understand, Whitner had a pretty easy TD if not for the inadvertent whistle made when the penalty occured. Obviously if that had been returned for a TD, the Bills would have won the game. So that's two opening day games that Clements has cost the Bills. First he costs them the game against the Jaguars in 2004, now this one. Way to go Nate. I guess he just wants to insure that the Bills won't franchise him again.
I'm hoping that the Bills vs. Pats is the 4th Replay game on the NFL Network this week. Something tells me that it will be one of the Monday night games, but I'd love to see this game. I'm particularly interested in the spot on the failed 4th and 1 and the contact with Moorman on two of his punts.
For anyone that watched the game, did the Bills challenge the spot on the failed 4th and 1? It doesn't look like they did according to the NFL.com Play by Play. That doesn't make sense IMO.
I'm hoping that the Bills vs. Pats is the 4th Replay game on the NFL Network this week. Something tells me that it will be one of the Monday night games, but I'd love to see this game. I'm particularly interested in the spot on the failed 4th and 1 and the contact with Moorman on two of his punts.
For anyone that watched the game, did the Bills challenge the spot on the failed 4th and 1? It doesn't look like they did according to the NFL.com Play by Play. That doesn't make sense IMO.
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Ghost Rider
Footballguy
I disagree. How was going for it showing confidence in their defense? To me, that is like saying, "we need to score a touchdown because you guys cannot stop NE's offense." Their defense had played very well up until that point, the FG would have given them a 20-7 lead and they still would have had some momentum. Going for it and not getting it killed all of their momentum.GroveDiesel said:
GroveDiesel
Footballguy
I just don't see how kicking the FG is the right call at that point. A TD puts them up 3 scores compared to 2 scores. A FG keeps the Patriots within 2 TDs. They were inside the Patriots' 10 yard line with just a yard to go. You're on the road against a very good team. Getting a TD there would have more than likely put the game away. I like the aggressiveness. They were playing to win instead of playing not to lose. There were a few small things that didn't go the Bills way and they lost a close game on the road to a good team. They showed a lot of good things though that are a change from how things worked last season. I have no doubt that the Bills would have kicked the FG last year.
Grigs Allmoon
Footballguy
I agree. Before the play, both my brother and I said... Put in A-Train and go for it. Damn, I wish McGahee would hit holes? How did he not get that to the inside?IvanKaramazov said:
Grigs Allmoon
Footballguy
I can't believe it took this long for someone to bring this up. It's the same thing every game for the Pats...Two ticky tack block in the back calls.At least 3 holds not called on the Bills DEs.Moorman getting pounced on by defenders.Witner's INT being blown dead for NO reason. (Granted one of the ticky-tack blocking penalties would have brought it back.)An illegal fair-catch by Faulk that didn't get called.I'm sure there was more.
Grigs Allmoon
Footballguy
He 'acted' the defender to totally flop on him after he was knocked down by someone else?
Grigs Allmoon
Footballguy
No, they didn't, and it was the right spot. McGahee's knee was down before he stretched out the ball.
Whizzinator
Footballguy
They execute better and have to listen to whiny fans from other teams fabricate excuses about the referees, you mean?I initially thought that spot on McGahee's run was bad, but on the replay it actually was more favorable than it should have been---his knee was down before he began to stretch forward, costing him about a yard.
Grigs Allmoon
Footballguy
Grigs Allmoon
Footballguy
One last bump for the night crew...
