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Bills Dominate Early, Beat Miami Going Away

G. Wilson's fumble TD seals win early (AP Photo/David Duprey)

On a wintry day in Western New York, it was a rookie quarterback from the Bay Area dominating the Miami Dolphins in a 38-17 win for the Bills. Trent Edwards, making just his sixth professional start, tossed four touchdowns in the win - and may not have been the most important cog in Buffalo's victory.

The win puts the surprising Bills at 7-6 on the season, and they remain just one game out of the final wild card spot in the AFC playoff chase. The team will travel to Cleveland next Sunday in a match-up that will very likely determine their playoff chances; the 8-5 Browns currently hold that sixth and final playoff spot. This Bills win, however, gives the team a boatload of confidence heading into the biggest game of their young careers.

Offense Explosive in Victory
Edwards was the star of the game; his four touchdown passes mark the first time a Bills QB has accomplished that feat since 2004. Edwards' first two scores went to Robert Royal, and he rounded off his effort with two more scoring passes to Lee Evans (his only two receptions of the day). It was an outstanding performance for the rookie quarterback, who could not have more clearly out-played fellow rookie John Beck on the day.

It was Buffalo's running game, however, that was the true catalyst of the offensive effort. Behind a second consecutive outstanding effort by the Bills' offensive line, Bills running backs Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson combined for 222 rushing yards (115 for Jackson, 107 for Lynch). Having two runners kept Buffalo's run game fresh, and is something that head coach Dick Jauron plans to continue as the team moves forward. Having two 100-yard rushers in an NFL game is very rare; Miami didn't have an answer for much that the Bills did offensively today.

Bills D Forces 5 Turnovers
Miami's rookie QB, John Beck, did not stay in the lineup through the first quarter. The youngster, after being sacked twice and having a fumble returned by safety George Wilson for a touchdown, was pulled in favor of veteran Cleo Lemon. Lemon did not fare much better, throwing two interceptions and getting sacked three more times in a pedestrian offensive effort for the Dolphins.

After registering just 10 sacks in the team's first 11 games, the Bills have recorded 8 in their last two and seem to have finally found a pass rush. It helped the team's playmaking, as Terrence McGee notched his third INT of the season and Donte Whitner notched the second INT of his career. Despite the success that Samkon Gado had against the team (93 total yards, 2 TD), the Dolphins accomplished little else offensively as they were forced to play from behind early.

Rumblings Game Balls
It was tough to bring this down to just three guys, but it's done.

QB Trent Edwards: He finally had some help offensively and made the most of it with one of the best QB performances in Buffalo in quite some time. As his confidence grows, we should continue to see big plays from this kid.

The O-Line: What else can you say? The unit has avoided injuries this season (knocking on wood right now) and have finally started to gel. Today, they sprung two 100-yard rushers, and Edwards wasn't sacked. Another great performance.

DE Aaron Schobel: We rip on him a lot here, so it's time to give him credit when it's deserved. Schobel was all over the field today - he played the run pretty well as usual, and he was also Buffalo's most consistent pass rusher in that department's best effort of the season. He'll need to keep up that play as the team looks to keep their playoff hopes alive in Cleveland next week.

0 recs | Comment 13 comments

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last time?
when was hte last time the bills threw for 4 tds and also have they ever had 2 guys rush for over 100?

thats the end of a-train eh?  

i was very mad once again this game wasn't on tv, I didn't even get to see the end of the SD/Tenn game because of the pats.  

Do we want the game vs the giants to go prime time?  So far primetime has not been our thing.

by jwest529 on Dec 9, 2007 8:55 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: 4 TDs
2004. Drew Bledsoe. 'Nuff said.
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by Brian Galliford on Dec 9, 2007 9:05 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

2 RB's over 100 yards
I think the last time was way back in 1996 against the Redskins.  Thurman and Darick Holmes both hit the century mark.  That was a fun game to be at I remember.
~K

by Kurupt on Dec 9, 2007 11:12 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

That sounds about right
And in the late '80s, right before the Super Bowl years, I think Thurman and Kenny Davis both cleared 100 in a game once or twice, but I might be misremembering that.

by rexob on Dec 10, 2007 5:30 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Thurman/Kenny
I feel like they did it in a playoff game, but I can't remember....
~K

by Kurupt on Dec 10, 2007 11:09 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

just...
fun to see the Bills winning some games, padding the stat sheets, cuz we haven't done that all season, however we can't seem to play a game w/o losing one starter.  Hope Wilson is ok, but fractured ribs sounds season ending unless he can play with a jacket in a couple weeks.  Jimmy L. is just so damn small out there.  Wilson brings some size.  

The question is how long can they stay in the hunt?  Can they win a game on the road in Cleveland this week with their playoff lives on the line?  If Trent Edwards does that, "oh nilly."

MAN I LOVE WINNING FOOTBALL GAMES!  LIFE IS SO MUCH BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111

MARVelous

by MARVelous on Dec 9, 2007 10:16 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Not one to rain on a parade, but
I was just wondering about Trent's accuracy.  His completion percentage wasn't great.  Could that be chalked up to weather, drops, that kind of thing?

by RabidBuffalo on Dec 10, 2007 12:52 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

All 3
The weather got to Trent a little today. He had some passes that he threw behind guys (I can count three off the top of my head, maybe more) that were tipped for incompletions; he also led Parrish on a dig route too far, resulting in an incompletion at the end of the first half. They were tough conditions, yes, but there were a few throws there he should have had. The more he plays in that kind of weather, the better he'll get; this was a heck of a start.
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by Brian Galliford on Dec 10, 2007 7:01 AM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

No sacks
Also, Edwards was not sacked at all for the second straight game. I'd prefer a few extra incompletions to sacks any day.

The only thing that annoyed me about the incompletions is when the Bills continued to pass on 3rd and short, especially because Lynch and Jackson were averaging 5+ yards per carry most of the game. Checking the game log, the Bills had twelve 3rd downs. Two of them were runs, both of which converted for the first down. On the passing downs, Edwards was just 4 of 10, converting two third downs - one was the 70-yard pass to Evans.

by Krenn on Dec 10, 2007 9:45 AM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Relax guys,
we're talking about the bills destroying miami.  Even though I love the phish rivalry Miami just isnt the same.  Next week, I'd love to see them try and do this to the browns.  Honestly, if they lose I won't be disapointed but rather happy.  Because this team went with as plan and it's working.  they can caryy all the positive with them into next year and be better.  Arent you excited to see Poz and Crowell together or a full year of Edwards.  Trent is starting to open up the field.  Utilizing Reed, Royal, and Evans.  A nice big time reciever and a slight upgrade to the left side and this team offensivly could compete.  Keep your heads up.  Its a great time to be a Bills Fan.

by NYTXFAN on Dec 10, 2007 10:17 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Right side?
i hope you mean right side of the line because the left side is VERY good peters,dockery

but yes I agree, if we get a big number 2 receiver this offense has GREAT potential in years to come.  This is a VERY young team

by jwest529 on Dec 10, 2007 1:53 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

To that end...
... I wouldn't touch the offensive line at all. They've proven that they can stay healthy (again, knocking on wood), and they're really starting to come together as a unit. Let's see how they perform against some pretty stellar defensive lines down the stretch before we decide if the line needs further upgrading - I personally believe that they have a shot at being a truly dominant unit.
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by Brian Galliford on Dec 10, 2007 2:06 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

all i know
is that if we're going to beat the browns we better be prepared to put up points.

this win was a step in the right direction.

by sri on Dec 10, 2007 12:38 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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