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Bills Scratch and Claw, but Jags Have More Bite

Bills can't come back from early deficit (AP Photo)

On a day that the Buffalo Bills - coming off of a 46-point blowout loss just one week ago - weren't supposed to compete with the Jacksonville Jaguars, they did just that. Competed.

For three quarters.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Jaguars, however, who used the time frame to score 17 points and ice a 36-14 victory in Alltel Stadium. The Bills' second consecutive loss leaves the young ball club at 5-6 and two full games out of the AFC Wild Card Playoff race; with the playoffs very likely out of the equation, head coach Dick Jauron will have a lot of tough questions to answer this week.

Turnovers Costly in Loss
J.P. Losman, in his self-appointed "biggest game of his career", turned the ball over three times - one as the Bills were driving for a potential game-tying score in the fourth quarter - to mar what was otherwise a steady performance. Losman finished the game 27/40 for 211 yards, with a touchdown strike to Anthony Thomas, two interceptions and a fumble lost. His QB rating was 67.8; with the Bills out of the playoff chase, it is debatable whether or not Losman will be in next week's starting lineup as the team travels to Washington.

Minus Marshawn Lynch for a second consecutive week, the Bills saw solid production out of veteran Anthony Thomas, who compiled 91 yards to complement his touchdown. Reserve Fred Jackson - he of pre-season fame - also had an impact on the game, with 65 total yards himself. Buffalo's two runners combined for 13 receptions, which were not enough to offset the two that Lee Evans caught (both on the last drive of the game). It was also not enough to come close to controlling the tempo - something they needed to do.

Can't Stop Fred Taylor
Just like tempo, my other key to the game was Buffalo's ability to get off the field on third down. That didn't happen often, as the Jaguars converted 9 of 16 such downs (at one point, they were 8 of 10). Jacksonville was able to convert several third-and-longs as well, utilizing the talents of their big receivers to exploit Buffalo's zone coverages.

Fred Taylor proved too savvy for the Bills' defense to stop; the veteran finished with 104 yards on 14 carries, including a 50-yard touchdown run to open the scoring. Maurice Jones-Drew, stymied for most of the day (10 carries, 10 yards), added a touchdown as well. David Garrard threw for 296 yards on 62% passing; his 59-yard strike to Reggie Williams for a score put the game on ice mid-way through the fourth quarter.

Free safety George Wilson had a tough game - he was mainly responsible for both of Jacksonville's long touchdowns, taking a bad angle on Taylor in the first quarter and following it with an over-run of Williams that gave him the necessary angle to house the clinching score. He was certainly not the only problem defensively, but it was probably his worst afternoon as a starter.

Rumblings Game Balls
WR Roscoe Parrish: Roscoe's 24-yard touchdown run on a reverse in the third quarter gave the Bills temporary life; he was the one non-running back who made a play nearly every time he touched the ball.

RB Fred Jackson: In his first extended NFL action, Jackson was fantastic, giving the Bills' offense some energy when it was struggling to find some. Even when Lynch returns, this guy should be more involved in the offense.

CB Jabari Greer: I feel bad for this kid, because he's a man corner playing zone. When he's able to play close to a receiver at the line, he's very difficult to beat.

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jp
was absolutely awful, brian. it was inexcusable. eventually, this team has to stop over-analyzing the game and call a spade a spade. we will not win with jp as our qb. he is a bad ballplayer that makes poor decisions with the ball, and makes those decisions too slowly.

it has been the same story over and over again at that position for our team for a long time. give trent the ball.

by sri on Nov 25, 2007 7:26 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Hmmm
The worst part is, if Jauron leaves JP in there and he finishes the season strong... he'll give us more false hope for next season. I am personally ready to move on. If a player signs a 5 year deal and doesn't prove himself 3 and 1/2 years into it, it is time to cut them loose.
"I don't agree with a damn thing you say, but I would die for your right to say it."

by ForeignArrow on Nov 26, 2007 12:30 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Re:
Agreed. I was going to write a post today about how this was the right time to make the switch, but Jauron beat me to the punch. That said, I think it's going to be difficult to move Losman this off-season - and if we can't, I'd be happy to bring back a big-armed, young quarterback that knows the offense as the backup.
Create a free account to join in the discussion, Bills fans!

by Brian Galliford on Nov 26, 2007 3:41 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

JP was bad but...
Did anyone notice how bad the offense as a whole  was? maybe it's not just the QB, I think someone needs to sit down and show Steve Fairchild sometape of those rams teams he used to coach. It's difficult for me to beilive that this guy used to be Mike Martz's offensive coordinator. How about some clips of how the Eagles use Brian Westbrook, or how his old team used Marshall Faulk. I know he didn't have Lynch, and I'm not saying Fred Jackson is in the same league as those guys as a player, but he does share some attributes. I guess I'm saying I want to see some creativity out of the offense. I tired of the pop-gun not punch offense. Or maybe I miss the K-gun.
who would have thought I'd miss Pete Metzelaars?

by sireric on Nov 26, 2007 3:41 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Fairchild
I agree -- did Fairchild basically tell JP to just dink and dunk the whole game?

by labill on Nov 26, 2007 1:39 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

awful, just awful
All I got to say is the offense is so bad.  They are just so limited in what they can do you just have a feeling that anything for than 16 pts is out of their reach against good teams.  JP is terribly inaccurate.  I have been saying it all along.  Edwards is more accurate, and I believe that is #1 thing that separates good QB's from garbage QB's.  Can you put the ball on the numbers in a GAME.  Sure having a rocket arm and mobility is nice, but with accuracy and poise it is worth nothing.

I mean did you see some of the tight throws Garrard made yesterday and some of them on the move!  JP could never do that.  

We obviously lack talent at the skill positions, but we also lack a competent, accurate QB.  Time to hand it over to Edwards and let him roll.  JP's time is up.

MARVelous

by MARVelous on Nov 26, 2007 12:28 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

awful, just awful
All I got to say is the offense is so bad.  They are just so limited in what they can do you just have a feeling that if they have to put more than 16 pts they are in trouble.  JP is terribly inaccurate.  I have been saying it all along.  Edwards is more accurate, and I believe that is the #1 thing that separates good QB's from garbage QB's.  Can you put the ball on the numbers of a WR in a GAME.  Sure having a rocket arm and mobility is nice, but without accuracy and poise it is worth nothing.

I mean did you see some of the tight throws Garrard made yesterday and some of them on the move!  JP could never do that.  

We obviously lack talent at the skill positions, but we also lack a competent, accurate QB.  Time to hand it over to Edwards and let him roll.  JP's time is up.

MARVelous

by MARVelous on Nov 26, 2007 12:29 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

you're so right you posted it twice
I must point out however that maybe the Wide outs weren't open. it seemed like J.P. kept looking down field, then checked down. And when he did try to force it down field it got picked. Until I see Trent through it down field better than Losman, I'm noy sure it matters whos at QB.
who would have thought I'd miss Pete Metzelaars?

by sireric on Nov 26, 2007 2:26 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

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