For Bills, Monday Night starts brand new season
by Brian Galliford on Nov 17, 2008 9:30 AM EST
in Opinion
50 comments
Are you ready for some football Brady Quinn? If you're not, you might want to brace yourself. ESPN has a new favorite young QB to oogle.
The 5-4 Buffalo Bills, losers of three straight, are set to take on the 3-6 Cleveland Browns this evening in what is the host team's second Monday Night Football appearance in the past two seasons. Once considered one of the most promising teams in the league, Buffalo's fall from 5-1 has dulled some of the press this game could have garnered.
Enter Brady Quinn.
Unless you're heading out to Ralph Wilson Stadium tonight to catch the game live, ESPN's broadcast is sure to be Brady-centric. That's what happens when a desperate team makes a desperate move with a popular young player; if you're watching the game as televised tonight, you might consider just throwing that broadcast on mute.
Don't let the Brady Show distract you from what's really important, however - tonight marks a new dawn of Buffalo Bills football. If it doesn't, this team is sunk for a ninth straight season.
Already chasing all three of its division rivals, the Bills face a make-or-break game tonight. They're the real story. Cleveland isn't going anywhere this season. Buffalo still can. Whether or not the Bills can take care of business on a national stage against a team they should beat - popular, talented quarterback or not - is our focus this evening.
With a win, the Bills would move to 6-4 on the season, launching themselves into a five-way tie for the AFC Wild Card, while remaining just a game out of contention in the ridiculously close AFC East (though they'd still be in last place, thanks to an abysmal 0-3 division record). With a loss, the team would fall to 5-5, placing them at ninth in the conference, just ahead of two uber-disappointing 4-6 teams, San Diego and Jacksonville. That's not where the Bills can afford to be down the stretch.
So let ESPN talk about Brady Quinn. The real story lies in what Buffalo has an opportunity to accomplish tonight. A loss de-rails a once promising season, likely permanently. A win keeps them in the thick of things, ends a dismal losing streak, and depending on how convincing a win it is, could restore a lot of confidence to this shaken fan base of ours.
The 2008 season is at stake, Bills fans. Buffalo knows it. We know it. Get ready for some football.
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Must Win
Brian is right in that this is a MUST win. If we don’t win this one the season is probably over. soo……. LETS DO IT!!!
On a side note – a sad side note:
Not having the bills play yesterday was actually great. I got to watch some good quality football. Teams that execute, play hard. Have good, fun, interesting games with QUALITY play. it was great.
by J2 on Nov 17, 2008 9:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Not having the bills play yesterday was actually great. I got to watch some good quality football. Teams that execute, play hard. Have good, fun, interesting games with QUALITY play. it was great.
I know. Isn’t that depressing? Other than a handful of teams, its fun to watch well-coached teams that play hard 100% of the time. How I long for that here!
~K
by Kurupt on Nov 17, 2008 11:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
grass is greener
The ravens looked pathetic on offense and got stampeded on defense, the Skins and the Cowboys both looked sloppy and poorly coached in a penalty ridden low scoring affair, the Eagles and Bengals probably put on one of the worst professional performances by two teams in the same game I have seen in about a decade, Chargers and Steelers could not pass the ball to save their lives, I do not know what you guys are talking about.
Seriously, just like we complain when he media and other fans don’t notice the good aspects of our teams we freak out when we perceive the negative aspects. When you watch one team as religiously as we do you are going to see the negatives stick out much clearer than normal. Just because you aren’t picking up on terrible coaching calls by the Falcons every week doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Jeesh guys get over it, we have a HUGE game in a few hours!! AND I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO WIN!
McKelvin and Hardy - rookies of the year
by poz on Nov 17, 2008 2:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sloppy and Boring
I’ll take sloppy and winning over boring and losing. But Bills are hitting the f*cking trifecta of sloppy, boring, and losing. Whats not boring? How about complex blitz packages. A decent pass rush. Sacks. Interceptions and forced fumbles. A smash-mouth, beast mode run-game. Unpredictable play calling, play action, slants, screens and deep routes. Aggressiive kick returns. Punt returns. Fake punts and field goals. Going for it on 4th and 1 on the goal line – at mid-field. Why does all that feel like a list of things we haven’t seen from the Bills the last 3 weeks
by Zumone on Nov 17, 2008 2:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Steelers couldnt pass?????
Miss you Kotch......Love you Trent
by norcaliangelsfan on Nov 17, 2008 2:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Whoops.......
Big Ben went like 31/41 for over 300 yards………if thats not being able to pass….then Hell….the Bills havent been able to pass since 2002.
Miss you Kotch......Love you Trent
by norcaliangelsfan on Nov 17, 2008 2:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
still
couldn’t make big plays when it mattered. I would take 126 yards and 21 pts any day over 300 yards and 11 pts. I guess I see your point in regards to yardage and statistics but when watching the game the Steelers offense simply wasnt effective.
McKelvin and Hardy - rookies of the year
by poz on Nov 17, 2008 3:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Poz
I know what your saying. But have you ever thought about it this way: come on? i mean……come on…..come on
i rest my case….fyi family guy reference
plus the Giants showed what a good team looks like. they are good. then Indy running their show looked good. just sick of bad team after bad team coming out of buffalo….i don’t think this is going to change anytime soon. All i was saying is that finally there was good enjoyable consistent aggressive football i was able to watch. not the crap product i’m forced to watch. even though their my team….it is a crap product year in and year out
by J2 on Nov 17, 2008 3:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
first off
I thought you were referencing Jimmy from South Park
second, I understand that feeling, how could i not being a Bills fan, my point is that we are hours away from a monumental game in regards to geting over that crap product feeling. We win, which we will, and our season starts all over again.
McKelvin and Hardy - rookies of the year
by poz on Nov 17, 2008 4:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
was it south park?
i thought for sure it was family guy. thanks tho. it was funny
by J2 on Nov 17, 2008 5:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
of course
there could have been similar jokes in both, who knows. I must confess, I took the day off work because I was so excited about this game. I am definitely starting to feel the booze just a bit.
Anyone who is actually going to be at the game, make us proud. I think we were given this Monday nighter because the NFL was impressed by how electric the crowd was when Dallas came to town last year. As a nationally televised game, everyone who was watching that game could feel the emotion and intensity coming through their television. Lets do it again and put the Browns away.
McKelvin and Hardy - rookies of the year
by poz on Nov 17, 2008 5:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
the Giants aren't good
they are great
~K
by Kurupt on Nov 17, 2008 4:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Are your points supposed to make me feel better?
The Cowboys, Chargers, and Bengals are poorly coached. The Ravens and Falcons have a rookie head coach and QB and are still playing better than the Bills. The Skins have a rookie head coach. The Steelers lost a ProBowl center and can still run the ball and know how to call a screen pass, which makes them much better than us. Also, you forgot the Dolphins who were 1-15 just last season, have a rookie head coach, and are leading our division.
With that said…..I am starting to drink thr case of Winter variety pack of Sam Adams I have on ice. Also, I have a bunch of mugs in the freezer. I like the beer so cold it hurts your teeth when you drink it!!! I have some chili in the crock pot, chips, salsa, and queso. I am feeling strangely optimistic about this game, although the Bills winning it will probably just cost them a better draft pick and prolong our agony another few weeks. But, we are Bills fans.
My prediction for the game…….If I drink a beer every time the coaches screw up, I won’t remember the game. If I am wrong, I am DVRing the game and can watch it again later. Almost time to change into #78….I can feel the pass rush getting better already!!!!
by Joe P. on Nov 17, 2008 5:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
is that a drinking game?
if you drink a beer everytime the coaches screw up I will. But then we won’t be drinking enough. Like you said, starngley optimistic. Okay…I’m getting drunk and amped right now. How about a beer every time Quinn gets hit like a little girl? I have a feeling we are going to get after him.
McKelvin and Hardy - rookies of the year
by poz on Nov 17, 2008 6:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Shouldn't look ahead....
Chiefs and niners follow the browns… This game is so huge for us.
by GhostDogg47 on Nov 17, 2008 9:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
After the 9ers we have Miami "at home"
We have a good shot at getting on a roll against some bad teams and the average phins. We won four in a row once this year and we can do it again. If we get to 9-4 and can win one of the last 3 against broncos, jets and pats then we’re pretty much in the wild card.
by jj24 on Nov 17, 2008 2:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
New Season, new draft?
If tonight starts a new season for the Bills, does that mean we get a new draft? I still want Dustin Keller (TE), he was amazing against New England on Thursday.
And as it stands right now, if this was the end of the season, now that San Diego lost yesterday, the Bills have not beat a team winning record this year (or last year too, right?)
by south123 on Nov 17, 2008 9:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
except for that whole.....dropping a wide open pass in the end zone.......which made the Jets settle for a FG..
Miss you Kotch......Love you Trent
by norcaliangelsfan on Nov 17, 2008 2:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If only
my remote had a “mute Tony Kornheiser” button.
by Zumone on Nov 17, 2008 9:56 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Blaspheme!
Mr. Tony is fantastic in his awfulness. I only want him off MNF so that he can get back to his Radio Show.
I hope “Phil’s Mom” gets a shout out.
by Frank L on Nov 17, 2008 12:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
ESPN strives to assemble to most annoying booth combos possible. They are very good at what they do.
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
by sireric on Nov 17, 2008 6:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe when the Bills move to Canada, Tony K will become a Bills fan!!!
Goodnight Canada!!!!
by Joe P. on Nov 17, 2008 6:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sullivan
Sullivan was just on WGR550 and he was so negative and sick of the annoying typical Bills football. I actually hope the Bills players listened to it because it would be the exact thing they need to motivate them! He ripped everyone…and even mentioned Brian’s article about the predictablilty of Schonert’s 91% predictiability of run/pass in undercenter and shotugun.
I don’t forsee me doing anything at work today!!!!!!!! LETS GO BUFFALO! KILL THE BROWNS AND ALL YOU FANS REPRESENT THAT CITY WITH PRIDE!
MARVelous
by MARVelous on Nov 17, 2008 10:15 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
He mentioned Brian’s article? Pretty sweet. Well done, Brian.
by thatguy34 on Nov 17, 2008 10:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Whoa, wait… did Sullivan seriously mention it? Because that would be, like, the best news ever. Ever.
Buffalo Rumblings - all you care to know about the Buffalo Bills and more
by Brian Galliford on Nov 17, 2008 1:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Anyone need tickets?
I’ve got three extras since my friends from DC couldn’t make it at the last moment. Just want to get face back for them. $55 and you get to sit with me! That’s worth $100 right there.
by twoeightnine on Nov 17, 2008 10:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Let's put the wood to these B*tches
Today is a day to take initiative rather than be reactionary. Cleveland has a young team and they don’t have any stability yet. Buffalo needs to jump on them on both sides of the ball and then wear them down.
On offense we need a big play or two from the likes of Evans, Lynch, or anyone for that matter. But we also need to find some consistency on converting third downs without Josh Reed. Schouman, Fine, and Freddy should be used more in those situations tonight. Being able to run for a first down on third and short needs to not seem impossible, too. Third downs haven’t been as big of a problem as finishing drives, though. The turnovers and ineffectiveness in scoring situations has provided drastic momentum swings in recent games and Buffalo(especially Trent) needs to cut that out. I’d like to see a nice wrinkle in our red zone passing game, and I’ll go out on a semi-limb and predict a Steve Johnson touchdown catch tonight We also need to run the ball very well, of course..
On defense, we need to confuse Quinn tonight. Force him to make some quick decisions and hopefully he’ll make the wrong ones. The death by a thousand cuts in the passing game needs to stop. Seeing some Bills in the backfield on defense is a must tonight. Send Poz, Mitchell, Ellison, Whitner, Barnes, hell, even Greer out of the slot. Mix up the blitz looks and make them count, Buffalo. We have to give Quinn a lot to worry about. Mixing up the looks and being effective with our pass rush will be a back breaker for Cleveland. I’m expecting/hoping the d-line will have their “Haley’s Comet-like” solid pass rush performance tonight. I’m also counting on a solid game against the run. That needs to be a given against a team with an unproven QB. We need to put it all on Quinn’s shoulders. Hopefully, he’ll have a hard time carrying the team while scraping himself off the field-turf.
A big play on special teams, or even a good job shutting down theirs, will be a huge advantage for Buffalo.
We can, and will, win this game
by jj24 on Nov 17, 2008 10:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Counting on the Bills "D" tonight
In my fantacy game this week I’m up by 23 points going into tonights game. My opponet has Brady Quinn and Kellen Winslow going. Our league scores 1 point for 25 passing yards, 6 points for a TD and 1 point for 10 yards recieving. Will the Bills “D” come through? Go Bills!!!!!!!
by gjv on Nov 17, 2008 11:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
This game decides the season. Get back to winning and we have a chance down the stretch. Lose another home game and fall even further behind our division foes, and the season is all but another disappointment. This team HAS to play with the sense of urgency that we know they need. I will be thoroughly disappointed if they play the same way they have been.
~K
by Kurupt on Nov 17, 2008 11:45 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
right on
This is the barometer. We need to respond to the growing pressure with urgency and confidence. Trent needs to smart and effective and the o-line and Turk need to make that easy for him. The running game needs to get it on track as you said earlier. It’s time to see if we can play with energy AND focus.
by jj24 on Nov 17, 2008 11:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I am going to watch the game standing on a chair with a noose around my neck. Win and I’ll be back here tomorrow, otherwise… nice knowing you. Just kidding, but a win would sure be nice. I think the Bills put up 30 tonight.
Also, what happened to Bobby April. I miss him.
Craig.
by taskersd on Nov 17, 2008 11:59 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I WILL
not accept a loss. It is that simple. It is UNACCEPTABLE. It is unacceptable to run the offense like the SAME OLD CRAP. You HEAR ME TURK? YOU HEAR ME DICK? Fewell, it is UNACCEPTABLE TO NOT BUMP and out-physical these receivers.
PLAY TO WIN THE GAME….go watch Hoosiers before the game and COME OUT WITH SOME FIRE!
I really hope we see this OL get a mean-streak. The 1st quarter is so critical to this game cuz if we get a lead, the Browns are going to quit much easier if things start going negative for them
MARVelous
by MARVelous on Nov 17, 2008 12:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
One good thing about facing the Browns tonight….,they don’t exactly have a possession WR. Edwards is a deep threat more than anything and just loves dropping passes. Stallworth is a speed guy, again not the underneath type of threat. I think Quinn will be looking for Winslow early and very often. This is where Fewell needs to key his pass D.
Go watch Rudy!!!
~K
by Kurupt on Nov 17, 2008 1:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
if the Bills D watches Rudy......they may feel sorry for Quinn and let him win...........
I like the Hoosier Idea better………
Or maybe they need some team unifying experience……which means….maybe some Denzel and Remember the Titans?
Miss you Kotch......Love you Trent
by norcaliangelsfan on Nov 17, 2008 2:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
How about the Burt Reynolds version of "The Longest Yard"
Get their mean streak going…..
by syrbillsfan on Nov 17, 2008 2:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I say...
the Bills could use some “Replacements”!
by thefourwinds on Nov 17, 2008 3:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
They should watch The Program
Because it’s a good movie.
by jj24 on Nov 17, 2008 3:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The Program!
definately the best football movie
by J2 on Nov 17, 2008 3:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
There is only one football movie with
Cathy Ireland in it!!!
by Joe P. on Nov 17, 2008 6:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah but it also has Sinbad, so that kinda off-sets the lovely miss Ireland.
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
by sireric on Nov 17, 2008 6:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Still have to love when the shower scene
and when she she kicks the guy in the cookies and he screams like a “little girl” to borrow a page from poz.
by Joe P. on Nov 17, 2008 7:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It was on last night
and was AWESOME
~K
by Kurupt on Nov 18, 2008 12:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Unleash The Beast!
If we get less than 140 total rushing yards between the two of them, I will come away very disappointed. 25 carries for Lynch (should) translate to at least 100-120. I need a big night out of Poz and most importantly Lee Evans to stay in the fantasy playoff hunt. Maybe one of Evans’ patented 10+ catches for an obscene amount of yardage and TDs that he’s good for a couple games a year. There’s no excuse for us not to score at least 28 points tonight. I think Leodis and/or Roscoe, who has looked apprehensive on punt returns since returning, will make at least one game changing play.
I think in recent weeks all those Josh Reed bashers are eating their spiteful words when they see the impact his loss has had on the offense and sustaining drives. I am going to be looking for both the Dereks to have productive receiving days to help supplement some of that lost production. I can sign off on a Steve Johnson TD prediction this week. I have a feeling he will develop more quickly than Hardy given the opportunity, and I base that on absolutely nothing.
by live6453 on Nov 17, 2008 5:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
are you ready for some football!!!
a monday night paaarrrrtttayyyyy
Bills make me wanna SHOUT!
by silverstreak3k on Nov 17, 2008 5:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Talking about ESPN favorites
and they certainly have them, we have an announcer on tonight’s game that is WAY biased for us…..and admits it! Ron Jaworski, of course, who was practically a Buffalo Jills cheerleader on last year’s MNF telecast. So, don’t worry about the Quinn love affair, Jaws will pumping up Buffalo tonight!
by ccthemovieman on Nov 17, 2008 6:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
For me
this game is needed for the morale of all Bills’ fans across the globe. This game is time for us to feel good about our team as they need to produce in front of a national audience.
Come on Bills. Come on….Let’s start circling the wagons
MARVelous
by MARVelous on Nov 17, 2008 6:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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