Bills Dominate Early, Beat Miami Going Away
![]() |
|
|
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 |
13 comments
Comments
last time?
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
actions
0 recs
Re: 4 TDs
by Brian Galliford on
Dec 9, 2007 9:05 PM EST
up
reply
actions
0 recs
2 RB's over 100 yards
by Kurupt on
Dec 9, 2007 11:12 PM EST
up
reply
actions
0 recs
That sounds about right
by rexob on
Dec 10, 2007 5:30 PM EST
up
reply
actions
0 recs
Thurman/Kenny
by Kurupt on
Dec 10, 2007 11:09 PM EST
up
reply
actions
0 recs
just...
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
by MARVelous on
Dec 9, 2007 10:16 PM EST
reply
actions
0 recs
Not one to rain on a parade, but
by RabidBuffalo on
Dec 10, 2007 12:52 AM EST
reply
actions
0 recs
All 3
by Brian Galliford on
Dec 10, 2007 7:01 AM EST
up
reply
actions
0 recs
No sacks
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
up
reply
actions
0 recs
Relax guys,
by NYTXFAN on
Dec 10, 2007 10:17 AM EST
reply
actions
0 recs
Right side?
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
up
reply
actions
0 recs
To that end...
by Brian Galliford on
Dec 10, 2007 2:06 PM EST
up
reply
actions
0 recs
all i know
this win was a step in the right direction.
by sri on
Dec 10, 2007 12:38 PM EST
reply
actions
0 recs
















