Bills Roll Over for Patriots in 56-10 Laugher

by Brian Galliford on Nov 19, 2007 12:54 AM EST in News Comment 29 comments

Losman, Bills overpowered by Patriots (AP Photo)

NBC, in the first week of the NFL's flex scheduling, moved the Bills/Patriots tilt to prime time not just because the Patriots are a historically dominant team, but because the bigwigs thought that the scrappy Bills could give them an entertaining game in front of a home crowd.

How wrong they were.

The Bills were delayed in getting out of the tunnel for introductions; perhaps they should have stayed in the locker room, because the 56-10 drubbing that the team endured once they did take the field could potentially be a loss that derails what once was a promising season. Behind a porous defense and an offense that isn't built for games like this, this Bills team - scrappy or not - didn't have enough to keep the game interesting for even a quarter.

Boy, Did We Miss Marshawn
Minus their catalyst, rookie RB Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo's offense struggled to make plays to keep the team alive early in the contest. Outside of Buffalo's lone touchdown, a 47-yard strike from J.P. Losman to Roscoe Parrish, the team was unable to do much of anything against a pressure-happy Patriots defense. The team managed just 229 yards and were once again dominated in time of possession, holding onto the ball for just 25 minutes. J.P. Losman finished the contest with 173 passing yards, the touchdown, an interception, and was also the team's leading rusher with 31 yards on four carries. Losman made a few plays here and there, but without Lynch, the Bills were too one-dimensional for Losman to have much of an impact.

The struggles of Buffalo's offense over the last two weeks (23 combined points against the Dolphins and Patriots) has re-opened up the quarterback debate in Buffalo - even if Losman was one of the few playmakers for the Bills in tonight's contest. Make no mistake: the QB controversy will likely rage on more than ever this week; that's reflected in the poll at the top right of this page. Make sure to vote - we'll be discussing quarterbacks more as the week goes on.

Defense Has No Answers for Brady, Moss
And here I was worried about Wes Welker (7 catches, 78 yards). Randy Moss has had a fantastic NFL career - and tonight, he had his best game as a professional, tallying 10 catches for 128 yards and four touchdowns, all scores that came in the first half. Memo to Perry Fewell: next year, when your Bills play the Patriots, #81 is the guy you should stop first.

This Bills defense carried Buffalo through a four-game win streak, but they were also the reason the Bills lost tonight. New England scored touchdowns on seven of eight possessions, Tom Brady completed nearly 80% of his passes for 373 yards and five scores, and the defense didn't make any plays to counter the explosive production of the Patriots. Hell, even the Patriots' fullbacks had a field day in this one - Heath Evans and Kyle Eckel combined for 96 yards on 20 carries and a score. All in all, Buffalo's defense was just overwhelmed by a Patriots attack that has weapons throughout their entire roster. This unit will be looking to rebound in Jacksonville - but again, we'll discuss that as the week goes on.

Rumblings Game Balls
Only because I have to.

WR Roscoe Parrish: The one Bill to make a difference-making play tonight, Roscoe's 47-yard touchdown was one of the few moments where Bills fans could cheer.

LB John DiGiorgio: Hey, he had 11 tackles. He was just as bad as every other defender that got torched tonight, but somebody needed to fill this slot.

TE Kevin Everett: The lone bright spot for the Bills organization tonight. Not only did Everett send a message to the home crowd prior to kickoff (the lone electrifying moment amongst the crowd tonight), but he's also out of the hospital. His rehab will continue, but Kevin's story just keeps getting better and better.

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yikes

rough night. didnt see the defense folding like that. out of a million things that went wrong, i was blown away by schobel and kelsay. we have seen it all year, but tonight was the worst. i have never seen two ends get pushed so far beyond the qb in my life. on almost every play kelsay would just fly by a few yards behind brady. perhaps a single spin move? a swim to the inside? i can't remember seeing anything like that before.

by jmorris0823 on Nov 19, 2007 1:59 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Those guys STINK

Kelsay and Schobel are the biggest wastes of money on this team, and maybe in the NFL. They give us no pass rush, are weak against the run and absolutely cripple this defense. We need speed rushers in the Cover 2, not these two bums. I said it in the offseason that these were two huge mistakes and now we are seeing it. The worst part is their contracts will hamstring this D for a few years. We can't afford to spend money on a pass rusher, nor can we afford to use a high pick on one. We are going to see a mediocre D, at best, for the next 3-5 seasons until we upgrade that position...

by Kurupt on Nov 20, 2007 1:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What I don't understand...

...is what in the world the Patriots starters were doing playing so late into the game. And I'm not saying "they ran up the score, they're mean". The defense has to make plays, whether it's scoreless or it's 56-10. The Patriots could have scored 300 points and that wouldn't have angered me.

It's just that I couldn't believe we saw Brady in the fourth quarter (even for one play) after the Wilfork-Losman incident in Foxboro. Belichick was risking his team's season for what seemed like no reason. Chances of anything happening were slim, but it wouldn't have been a giant surprise.

Of course, for someone to injure him, they'd need to be able to hit him.

by thejamootz on Nov 19, 2007 4:04 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

By the way...

I don't want anyone to get the impression I'm advocating trying to injure anybody. I'm happy nobody went after Brady.

I'd rather lose with dignity than win unfairly.

by thejamootz on Nov 19, 2007 5:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't mind

I don't think Brady was in to long, this wasn't like against Washington were Brady was not only still in the game ,at 42-10 but going for and making it on 4th down. I didn't think they left him in to long.
on another note: boy this team needs a good pass rushing end. Schobel and Kelsay did nothing in this game (can't blame them entirely even when the Bills blitzed, Brady went untouched.) but both those guys are lunch-pail, workmen kind of guys. This team needs a fast, flying off the edge pass-rusher who can come in on passing downs (also know as the whole game vs the Pats) and provide a pass rush. Look at the Rams teams when they were in their hay-day, they had Grant Winstrom and Kevin Carter starting on the end , and when in came to a passing down in came Lenard Little and he would get about 15 sacks a year playing just on passing downs. This is the type of dimension this defense needs.

All that said this team just got man-handled last night. I have to put most of the blame on the D but the whole team looked like a high school team taking on a pro bowl squad out there. this doesn't kill the season for this team and I just hope that they can turn their attention to Jacksonville, then Washington because if they don't win at least one of those games then it's over, and they can forget the playoffs.

by sireric on Nov 19, 2007 7:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jauron needs to adjust this rivalry

I'm sorry, but Dick Jauron needs to quit bending over backwards to prop up New England. Before the game in Foxboro, Rich Gannon quoted Jauron as saying "We (The Bills) don't match up well with the Patriots." This week every quote was a varaiation of "we have to play a perfect game just to stay with them." Frankly, it's Jauron's job to match up well with the Patriots and playing a "perfect game" to keep the score close just isn't a plausible game plan. How about coming up with a scheme to slow New England down? I couldn't agree more with the poster above who ripped Schobel and Kelsay for taking routes 10 yards outside the line of scrimmage towards the immobile Brady. What in the world did they think that would accomplish? Perry Fewell absolutely choked in this game; I think a much more reasonable game plan would have been to drop back 8-9 defenders per play and make Moss and Welker pay dearly for every catch. Blitzing Tom Brady plays right into his strengths. But then again, Fewell took his cue from Jauron who simply defers to New England's lofty accomplishments rather than installing a fighting attitude in the team when we play them. Go ahead, Jauron; tell us how great New England is and how they do the same thing to every team they play. Don't come up with a scheme to actually alter their dominance. Until, we have a coach that actually devises a game plan to beat New England, rather than praying to hang in there with them, these bi-annual meetings are pointless. Another year of seeing those conceited, stat-grubbing cheaters have their way with us. Jauron was an embarrassment last night and his defeatist attitude was just as much the reason for the final score as New England's considerable advantage in overall talent.

Nick (Bensalem, PA)

by Nick BensalemPA on Nov 19, 2007 8:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I feel your pain

I understand what you're saying, I'm not sure what Dick was doing with those statements but i know some coaches in both college and pros will talk up the opponent like they are the greatest team ever even though they are playing Akron or some other cream puff. Not saying the Pats are cream puffs or that Jauron thought the Bills would Roll, but maybe he was talking them up to the Media so he didn't look like a schmuck. as for dropping 8-9 defenders, don't you think the Pats would be smart enough to just run the ball if they did that? Lets not get to hard on Perry and DJ, this isn't the only team to get rolled over by the Pats war machine, and they're not going to be the last, just wait till they play the jets again you're going to need all your fingers and toes and maybe an abacus to tally that score.

by sireric on Nov 19, 2007 8:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Coaches

I think you should talk up your opponent when you're a heavy favorite (like Beli-cheat does) so that you're team stays on their toes and doesn't underestimate the underdog. I'm pretty sure Buffalo knew how good New England is coming into this game and by making a home game with them into an attempt to stop a glacier, Jauron's @ss-kissing proves counterproductive. As far as how he looks to the media, the composite score of his last three encounters with New England is enough to paint him a schmuck no matter what he says before the games...I'd have willingly let New England run wild a la Thurman Thomas in Super Bowl XXV. Andre Reed got hit on every play of that Super Bowl and by the time the 2nd half came around, he had a severe case of the drops. Reed was a much tougher athlete than that fruitcake Randy Moss so I'd try that strategy over Fewell's master plan of having the corners let him run free down the sideline so that our converted wideout playing safety gets him one on one deep. What a joke.

Nick (Bensalem, PA)

by Nick BensalemPA on Nov 19, 2007 9:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

so what are you saying?

do you want the Bills to fire DJ? I think over all he does a good job and i don't think that he should be fired because his teams get whooped by the Pats.If that was reason to get coaches fired there would be a lot of open head coach positions.

I do know how you feel though, it would be nice to have a good showing against those guys or even a laugher, when was the last time the bills blew someone's doors off? I'm tired of sweating out every victory, I would love just once to be able to have that safe feeling that the Bills were going to win, in say the middle of the second quarter. That too much to ask?

by sireric on Nov 19, 2007 10:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No love lost between Mangini and Belichick

Nice message from Everett. Here's to a speedy recovery for a great athlete.

NYJ beating Pitt in a shocker will certainly play into the "humble pie" Belichick hands the team before the NYJ game. The fact that Mangini was the whistle blower on "spy-gate" may play into it too (and I'm sure if NE wins against NY the media will be all over that), but you'd never hear that from the team.

by MaPatsFan on Nov 19, 2007 9:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

That was the best team I've ever seen live in my life, in any sport.

Was there anything positive to come out of this game? Can we take solace that at least no one was injured?

I also thought the crowd was very well behaved, at least in comparison to the Monday nighter.

I'm going to opine that they ran it up a little. I know the Bills said they had no problem with it. Somewhere, maybe soon, maybe down the line, karma is gonna catch up with the Pats.

Is there going to be a QB controversy?

When Losman is in, why don't they play to his strengths more? Why am I so convinced that he should be rolling out or boot legging on every play? He's not a pocket guy.

by krytime on Nov 19, 2007 11:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

anything positive?

I don't think so, i would almost trade a few ijuries for 14 more points. (easy for me say it's not my groin getting injured.) But seriously,please lets not talk about a qb switch lets just leave Losman in for the rest of the year unless they get eliminated before the last game. let J.p. show what he can do and try to get his trade value up then just plan on Trent to start next year.

by sireric on Nov 19, 2007 11:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh boy

Here you and I go again...

The subject of the switch will come up, even if we don't want it to. Myself, I can't even figure out what side of the fence I sit on.

On my side, I say I've seen enough of Losman already. And as much as this hurts to say, you have to be pragmatic, and realize they are not a playoff team. So with that being said, it makes all the sense in the world to give Trent as many reps as possible for the rest of the year.

Then the other side of my brain kicks in, and I say keep Losman in, let him try and make a run at the playoffs, and drive his trade value up. I really think he'd be a least a day one pick. Looking around the league, you'd have to agree he has worth.

How about the middle of the fence now? Again, looking around the league, it almost makes sense to keep both. Granted, JP only has one more year after this, but I think you need to have two decent QBs on your roster.

There, I hope I solved that.

by krytime on Nov 19, 2007 11:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pushing 'em hard

As a Pats fan, there were a few times when I had to wince (ex: going for it on 4th when the game was pretty much over). However, towards the end of the game I'm not sure there was much that could've been done to lessen the blow. Eckel, a 4th string back, was running plays while Brady and Moss were pulled with 10:57 left in the 4th quarter.

Part of me says Belichick is training his team to play at the highest level possible, the "play for 60 minutes" mentality or play like every point matters because it may (as witnessed with Indy, a 24-20 nail biter of a win for NE). The other part of me says it's sour grapes and BB's got a chip on his shoulder and has something to prove.

Karma is definitely something to consider. NYJ beating Pitt - holy crap!! Any team in the remaining 6 regular season games has a chance to ruin the streak. Or, even worse, NE sustaining injuries (you'll here the collective GASP from NE if Brady, Moss, Welker or Stallworth is put out for an extended period of time).

by MaPatsFan on Nov 19, 2007 12:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

don't give up hope

we can't quit yet. right now j.p. gives us the best chance to win, the Bills toughest opposition for the last playoff spot is the browns (who the Bills still have to play this year) At 5-5 I'm not ready to give up on the season which means you have to keep J.P. in there.

by sireric on Nov 19, 2007 12:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not giving up

Not giving up any hope. And I'm not getting into a JP/TE argument now either, although this gentlemen will do it for me:

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=307237

by krytime on Nov 19, 2007 8:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I can't argue with anything he says. thats why I think Edwards is next years QB, mainly because the coaching staff waters down the play book for Edwards, until he has a better grasp of the O you've got to leave the better guy in and right now that is JP

by sireric on Nov 19, 2007 9:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Let me ask this

At what point, and under which scenario would you start the Stanford kid?

I think Losman got a free pass against the Pats. No one has played very well against them this year, so it's not very fair to judge him on this last game.

He's probably on a one/two strike you're out leash. And he'll definitely be out the moment they are realistically no longer in playoff contention.

My point about getting Edwards playing time this year is as follows: one of the goals of this rebuilding season (and yes, it has become a rebuilding season no matter what the record is) is to figure out if Losman is/was going to be the future, especially given his contract status. That's fact.

Edwards threw a loop in this plan by being available in the draft. Now, you know and I know the Bills management wants this kid to succeed. But, we do need to see more progress from him to be sure he could be the right one. The QB situation has to be squared away going into the offseason. That's why Edwards needs as much playing time in relevant game conditions as soon as possible.

George Wilson got lit up this week, as did everyone else. I'm high on Ko Simpson still, and I like the freak Wendling. Love Wilson, love his story. Think there's a chance he fills a Troy Brown kind of role next year?

This is the best mock draft site I've seen the last two years: http://walterfootball.com/ Got anything better? If so, please post it.

Also, does anyone ave any sites listing FAs for next year?

Does anyone want to start the "how bad the Bills screwed up Poz's rookie season" argument with me? Seriously, the kid is ready to play in another week or two. But he can't, because they have roster spots wasting away on Copeland Bryan (who?) and Leon Joe (Who?).

How do you go in to a game with only 7 OL?

I think Lynch is missing the Jax game too. Am I the only one hoping to see more of F. Jackson?

by krytime on Nov 19, 2007 10:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll reply in reverse

I agree if Lynch isn't in the game I'd rather see D.Wright and F.Jack. I know A-Train is probably the better blocker but I'd like to know what the younger kids have.
7 OL seems a little lite, your right.
This point I won't argue with you because I would love to see Poz on the feild right now. I know they did it because of all the injuries, and they needed the roster space. Still sucks though.
I think the biggest sticking point for us here is that you want to throw in the towel already and I don't. If the Bills record was 3-7 I would agree and say lets play Trent. But at 5-5 and the playoffs still in the picture, J.P. needs to get the call. When I watch Trent play the O looks watered down and "pop-gunish" J.P. adds the big play threat and has a better grasp of the O. Trent will get there but just remember he is a rookie and has a lot to pick up still. I bet he'll be ready to go as #1 starting next year, till then I'll go with J.P.

by sireric on Nov 20, 2007 7:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

checked out that site

Wow I'm not sure what i like better about that site, The fact that I like every pick he has the Bills making or the fact that he has them picking 20th. He seems to have more faith in this team than some of the fans in here. one thing I will say is that he justifies the Bills taking a WR in the first round by claiming that there will be plenty of cover 2 tackles in the 2nd and 3rd round, but then he doesn't have them selecting one.

by sireric on Nov 20, 2007 8:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Walter

I check the site out almost once a day. I like the fact that there are links to 59 different mock drafts.

I will scream to the high heavens, and cancel my season ticket if they draft a WR in the first round. It is a position of need, but not through the draft.

by krytime on Nov 20, 2007 9:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

wow

than you'd better not check out Matt Mcguire's mock-up he has the Bills taking a wide out in both the first and second round. He does have the Bills picking 21 though. This team needs a good WR, I don't care if it's a first rounder or not, just as long as they don't count on him to be a major producer right away, because that never seems to work out. This team will have a lot of picks this year so if they use a first rounder (notice i said A first rounder meaning there might be more then one) on a wide out don't go to crazy just wait for the whole draft to be over, and soak it all in.

by sireric on Nov 20, 2007 9:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Let me address

One comment first. I haven't given up on this season yet. I am however, always looking ahead. I believe that in football, and business, you have to always look ahead. This is a rebuilding season no matter what; a playoff birth would just be a cherry on top of the Sunday.

Let me ask this: What would we be happier with,a one and out playoff birth this year, or go in to next season much stonger and stable QB spot? This year, this team is not a Super Bowl team - that's what I want. I don't want to be just happy with 9-7, squeaking in on a tie breaker, and losing to Indy in the first round.

Back to the draft. While I hate the Pats, I applaud what they do in the draft. I like to draft lineman, either or. I hated the McGahee pick. Hated Evans pick. Hated Parrish pick. Even today, I'd rather have Ngata that Whitner.

WRs have a high potential to be busts, and like you said, they rarely contribute right away. And, I think you can find them through other avenues (FA).

I still think they need more help on both lines, another LB and/or DB. Then worry about your skill guys. A TE would be nice too.

by krytime on Nov 20, 2007 9:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We might be Brothers

Could not agree more, when Parrish was picked I was literally screaming at the T.V. to take Adam Terry, Big tackle out of S.U. if we had then he would most likely be playing rt and they wouldn't have had to spend big money on Walker. ANYTIME you can draft OL or DL you do it. I like Ngata but i don't think they saw him as a cover two guy, but he still might have been a better pick.

Let me answer this: normally I would agree, however it has been so long since this team has made the playoffs, and when you consider that the last time they were there ended with the "music city meltdown" .I just want to see this team get back to the playoffs, and even if they lose to the colts maybe they can scare the crap out of them.

by sireric on Nov 20, 2007 10:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Here's something else that makes me mad

The Bills were, I believe about 10-12 million under the cap this year. The deadline passed a couple of weeks back where they could have used that money this year.

They could have used some of that cap space to extend a few contracts. In no order, I would have liked to see them extend Kyle Anderson, Greer, Evans, Hargrove, and Ellison. Now if any of these guys are in their future plans, whatever extensions they sign will count in next years cap, instead of using the available space in this years cap. It's maddening how cheap they are some times.

by krytime on Nov 20, 2007 10:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Extensions

Greer got a 2 year deal in the offseason. Don't expect him to get anything more than that. He's a nickel back in over his head right now, but has played pretty well considering.

Williams and Ellison are on their rookies deals, in year 2. I can't imagine they'd be FA's until after the '09 season. And I hope we never extend Ellison. He stinks and needs to be replaced by next season.

Hargrove should get an extension since he's our best pass rusher, but we've wasted so much money at the position that we probably can't afford to spend even more money on a rotational guy.

Evans should get extended this offseason if we are serious about keeping him. He's gone next year if we don't. We need to re-sign him and get a stud opposite him (Malcolm Kelly please).

by Kurupt on Nov 20, 2007 1:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Edwards- Losman

I'd play Losman at least for these next two on the road with the hope of getting a split. If they head into the Miami game 6-6, I'd want the veteran QB in there for a realistic December playoff run (Seriously, at 6-6, they'd probably control their own destiny with Cleveland on the schedule and Tennessee fading fast). If the Bills lose to both Jacksonville and Washington, I'd start Edwards against Miami with an eye on getting him more experience for next season. I maintain that Losman is better than Edwards right now and I will continue to maintain that Edwards played terribly in 4 of the 5 games in which he received the majority of the snaps. I understand everyone's frustrations with Losman as he remains highly inconsistent in his 4th season, but based on his play last season, he's still shown more than Edwards. That's not to say Edwards will never be good because before John Beck played last week, Edwards was the only rookie QB to even take a snap this season. Frankly, Trent Edwards proved in the 5 games he played this season that he is not ready to be an NFL QB yet with his inability to put up points and his terrible game management against Dallas and Baltimore. Losman has proven over the course of his 4 year career that he will be good on several Sundays and terrible on many Sundays as well. Losman needs to play until this team is out of if because if that day comes, Losman won't get another chance to enter the season as the starter in Buffalo coming off of three straight seasons that he did and the team failed to make the playoffs.

Nick (Bensalem, PA)

by Nick BensalemPA on Nov 20, 2007 8:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

amen

couldn't have said it better myself.

by sireric on Nov 20, 2007 8:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

TE vs JP

This is such a hard argument to make. I can defend both sides of it. I do disagree that Edwards played poorly in 4 of 5; that time f posession thing is huge in my book, something we rarely have won inthe past under Losman.

And just for the record, I don't want to come across as a JP basher here. I love the guy; in fact he's one of my favorite Buffalo athletes ever. No one has done more for the city, or represented so well through good words, or charitable acts, since Patty La-La, and Rob Ray. I myself participated in buffalolives.org event that Losman sponsored. That was a great day.

But I still say Edwards may be the answer...

by krytime on Nov 20, 2007 9:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs