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Buffalo Bills vs Pittsburgh Steelers: Open Game Thread

03 at 26

FINAL SCORE
Game Preview :: Behind the Steel Curtain

Update [2007-9-16 15:57:35 by Brian Galliford]: The Bills fall to 0-2 after getting thoroughly dominated by the Steelers. The loss falls on the shoulders of blitz pickup, J.P. Losman and the inability to get off the field on third down. It doesn't get easier next week either, as the Bills travel to New England to take on the Cheaters Patriots.

Update [2007-9-16 15:33:41 by Brian Galliford]: The flood gates have opened, helped out by the refs missing a blatant hold on the Steelers' latest drive. Willie Parker takes it to the house, and the blowout commences.

Update [2007-9-16 15:14:48 by Brian Galliford]: Turnover on downs, as two effective blitzes keep the Bills off the scoreboard. Now, all is bleak. About 14 minutes remain in this thing; let's see if the Bills can at least make a few plays to keep things semi-interesting.

Update [2007-9-16 15:10:54 by Brian Galliford]: End of the third quarter. All is not bleak quite yet; Losman has the offense moving and deep into Steelers territory. If we can get one in the end zone here, we've got a fighting chance. Can't settle for field goals anymore.

Update [2007-9-16 15:0:17 by Brian Galliford]: Roethlisberger to Spaeth on third and goal from the one. With a 2 TD+ deficit to face, it's time for Losman to start making some plays. It's now or never for the young man.

Update [2007-9-16 14:46:47 by Brian Galliford]: A 63-yard kickoff return by Terrence McGee (that, luckily, wasn't challenged) sets up a field goal and Buffalo's first points of the day. Thank you, Marshawn Lynch - he ran hard on the drive. Losman's one pass, on third and goal from the 5, was a good 2 yards out of bounds. Just one more negative play for our "offensive leader".

Update [2007-9-16 14:38:12 by Brian Galliford]: The second half is now underway. Let's go, Losman.

Update [2007-9-16 14:19:56 by Brian Galliford]: Yet another field goal for the Steelers. Jabari Greer nets two pass breakups in the red zone playing place of the injured Ashton Youboty; 15 seconds remain in the half.

Update [2007-9-16 14:3:21 by Brian Galliford]: Another Jeff Reed field goal as the Bills' defense makes a couple of nice plays in the red zone to keep the Steelers out of the end zone. 3 minutes remain in the half; let's see what Losman can do in what will essentially be a 2-minute drill.

Update [2007-9-16 13:46:32 by Brian Galliford]: The Bills' defense bends but doesn't break again, though it took a terrible pass from Ben Roethlisberger to achieve it. Jeff Reed's second field goal is good; the Bills need to sustain a nice offensive drive here just to give the defense a blow.

Update [2007-9-16 13:35:17 by Brian Galliford]: End of the first quarter. Good on the defense, forcing a turnover and thwarting a nice opening drive. Bad on the offense - other than a couple of nice Lynch runs, we're putrid once again this week.

Update [2007-9-16 13:12:59 by Brian Galliford]: The Steelers' opening drive nets them a field goal. Buffalo bends but does not break.

Update [2007-9-16 13:3:1 by Brian Galliford]: We have kickoff! For live comments and in-game updates, refresh this page and check out the comments section as well.

The Buffalo Bills look to earn their first victory of the season when they square off against the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1:00 PM this afternoon at Heinz Field. While the game is aired on CBS, the best place for you to get in-game updates is right here at the official Buffalo Rumblings Open Game Thread. Got a question or a comment to make about the game, during the game? This is the spot for it. Don't have a free account to do this? Create one. I look forward to chatting with you folks as the game unfolds this afternoon!

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Go Bills
Get it together and shock the NFL today!

It can be done, but we need more consistent and better offensive movement and production, as well as, improved DE play, Safety play and just a stronger overall defensive performance. It could be tough, but it's doable.

~K

by Kurupt on Sep 16, 2007 10:36 AM EDT   0 recs

Losman agrees
Just saw on ESPNews - Losman says the team had a great week of practice and will "come out smoking". Hope he's right...
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 10:51 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Looks like no Josh Reed today....
From Chris Brown

I wonder if he got the bruise from when Champ Bailey chopped him down last week?

Assuming he'll be out, this is a tough injury for us. Reed could have really helped against Pittsburgh's blitz being a factor underneath out of the slot. Our run game also takes a slight hit here. I'm wondering who we put in the slot now in 4 WR sets? Maybe Lynch? I can't see Aiken getting put in on the inside. Maybe Peerless?

~K

by Kurupt on Sep 16, 2007 10:53 AM EDT   0 recs

Dang...
That is unfortunate. He's not officially out yet, but it's not looking good - we needed him to be a "move the chains" guy today. Guess that's down to Roscoe, Marshawn and maybe even Robert Royal now.
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 11:37 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Bills Inactives
WR Josh Reed, LB Coy Wire, S John Wendling, LB Keith Ellison, OG Duke Preston, DE Ryan Denney, DE Copeland Bryan.

Incredible - the Bills go into the Steelers game with 2 starting defensive ends (Schobel, Kelsay) and Ryan Neill, a long snapper, in reserve. Two defensive ends?!

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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 11:55 AM EDT   0 recs

Unreal
What's the point of signing that Bryan guy and then not making him active?  So now we're stuck with this Neill dude playing snaps defensively?  Lovely.

Why in the world would we cut Powell to sign a guy to be inactive?  The guy is obviously not ready to go for us.  

~K

by Kurupt on Sep 16, 2007 12:02 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Steelers throwbacks.
Pittsburgh is donning their throwback uniforms today (yellow helmets... yuck). Some of the nastiest uniforms I've seen - and that's saying something, considering that the road uniforms the Bills will wear today look more like pajamas than football uniforms.
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 12:48 PM EDT   0 recs

1 carry, 21 yards
for Willie Parker. Crowell gets blown up and Parker gains the edge on 3rd and 1.
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 1:06 PM EDT   0 recs

Another first down
Roethlisberger beats a blitz with his legs, picks up 8 yards for the first. Ball on the BUF 31.
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 1:08 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Parker is good
5 carries, 35 yards and he just picked up 4 on a 3rd and 3. John McCargo did just have a nice blow-up of a run play.
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 1:10 PM EDT   0 recs

Bend but Don't Break
Bills defense holds. John McCargo looks like an animal in the run game thus far.
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 1:12 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Exactly what we need!
Terrence McGee returns the kickoff past the 40 yard line. J.P. Losman has to take advantage of opportunities such as this.
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 1:16 PM EDT   0 recs

One dropback, one sack
Way to take advantage, J.P. Just FYI, you gotta throw the ball within the 7 seconds you had to throw.
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 1:20 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Turnover on Downs
Going for it on 4th and 2, Losman misses Evans. Turnover on downs. The Bills ran five offensive plays; we have to keep our defense on the sidelines far longer than that.

Lone bright spot: Marshawn Lynch's 12-yard run.

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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 1:21 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Nice D!
One-play drive for the Steelers, as a deep attempt to Santonio Holmes is PICKED OFF by Jimmy Leonhard!
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 1:23 PM EDT   0 recs

Nice play, Jim!
Ben thinks he can just bomb it up on our D just because we have some guys out.  Horrible decision there Benny.
bravescorner.blogspot.com

by nickfeely8 on Sep 16, 2007 1:25 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

All for naught
Despite 9 yards on first down, we're three and out. Start taking advantage, Buffalo, or you're not lasting much longer...
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 1:28 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

New Steelers Drive
Third down conversion shouldn't have happened - refs missed a delay on Big Ben.
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 1:32 PM EDT   0 recs

Easy, easy for Pittsburgh
Third and 4, Hines Ward doesn't have a Bill within 10 yards of him as the Steelers convert yet another third down. It is becoming ever more important for our offense to sustain a freaking drive the next time we get the ball.
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 1:39 PM EDT   0 recs

ZERO pass rush
We can't lay a finger on Big Ben, and he's making us pay. The Steelers are using the short passing game, screens and third down conversions as an extension of their running game. Our defense will wear down, and it could be shortly.
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 1:41 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Living dangerously
can't keep "bending" or else they will eventually get it in there.  We are living on the edge here.
bravescorner.blogspot.com

by nickfeely8 on Sep 16, 2007 1:48 PM EDT   0 recs

So much for sustained drives
Three and out for the Bills. J.P. Losman looks, for lack of a better phrase, freaking awful. Antsy, overwhelmed and desperate also work.
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 1:52 PM EDT   0 recs

Let the gashing begin
Pittsburgh is starting to pick up larger chunks of yardage. That's what happens when the Bills have seemingly had the football for 4 minutes. This defense is playing about as well as we can expect, they're just on the field far too long.
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 1:59 PM EDT   0 recs

Not....
real pleased right now.  The offense looks awful and  the defense seems to stop touchdowns but can't get off the field until they let them march down the field.  They are keeping the game close but maybe just once they could get a three and out instead of letting the Steelers march down the field.
Die by the Blade www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Sep 16, 2007 2:09 PM EDT   0 recs

Yep
The defense is doing enough to win, and the special teams - especially Moorman - aren't playing bad either. Losman and the play-calling are losing this football game.
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 2:12 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

You can't be serious Brian?
Doing enough to win? Not even close. They can't get off the field. When our offense constantly gets the ball every 20 minutes or so around the 25 yard line, what good is that going to do for us?

They're still on pace for giving up 24 points and once Pittsburgh starts punching in those FG's for TD's we're done.

~K

by Kurupt on Sep 16, 2007 2:30 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

When do we stop blitzing?
Our blitz has a 50/50 chance at getting to Ben, and when it doesn't Roethlisberger is hitting big plays. Case in point: two big passes have Pittsburgh down to the Bills' 30 yard-line with 53 seconds remaining; this should be a double-digit lead at halftime.
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 2:14 PM EDT   0 recs

Blitz, don't blitz...doesn't matter
we still cant' put pressure on him. And if we do he just avoids it pretty easily. This is infuriating to watch
~K

by Kurupt on Sep 16, 2007 2:28 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

3-step success for J.P.
This message goes out to J.P. Losman as he prepares for the second half:

Step One: Locate head.
Step Two: Remove from arse.
Step Three: Throw ball to 83/81/84/11/23.

It's not hard, buddy. Lead this team, don't let them carry you. This 12-0 lead is your fault. Make up for it. Fast.

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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 2:23 PM EDT   0 recs

Wow, we are terrible
Our OL is playing like garbage. Apparently Jason Peters let all the offseason hype go straight to his head because he's playing like poop getting beat routinely.  

JP hasn't even had a chance to get the ball downfield at all. The OL just won't allow it.

Per usual, our D is giving up huge chunks of yards and letting the opposition look amazing. I really can't stand Kelsay and Schobel at this point. Both are just getting manhandled in all facets of the game. That was probably the worst $70M that could be spent. They SUCK and I don't care what anyone says, Schobel is not a great pass rusher. He's average at best and I'm going to continue sticking with that.

So much for playing with emotion

~K

by Kurupt on Sep 16, 2007 2:27 PM EDT   0 recs

Disagree on the O-Line
When the Steelers are sending 6 guys, I think they're giving Losman enough time to get the ball out - JP is just hanging and hanging trying to make the perfect play rather than the one his team needs. This is more Losman's fault than the line's, in my opinion.

But as usual you're spot on about our ends. Schobel is getting handled by one guy routinely - that speaks volumes about his true abilities.

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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 2:32 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Peters
Jason Peters was getting routinely beaten by Harrison. And even if the Steelers send 6, we still have to hold up for a couple seconds at least.  We bring 6 against Pittsburgh and dont' even sniff Ben.
~K

by Kurupt on Sep 16, 2007 3:21 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Disgusting
Big Ben gets a good 5 seconds in the pocket to pump fake, clutch and then hit Santonio Holmes on a big gainer. First and goal Steelers, and they're looking for the knockout punch right here. A touchdown would all but eliminate the run game from Buffalo's offense.
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 2:56 PM EDT   0 recs

What the hell
Where was the quick-hitting pass offense in the first half?! Notice how it, you know, moves the ball down the field? Steve Fairchild needs to get it together earlier in games.
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 3:16 PM EDT   0 recs

The stats that tell the story
BUF: 59 pass yards
PIT: 11/16 3rd down conversions
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 3:19 PM EDT   0 recs

It's amazing...
...how much easier it is to move the ball when the defense is more concerned with keeping the clock rolling than stopping the Bills from scoring.

Maybe that's the strategy.  Give the opponents a big lead so JP can get into a rhythm.

by thejamootz on Sep 16, 2007 3:42 PM EDT   0 recs

Ha
All it is is the defense sitting back rather than blitzing. Pretty much everything about this fourth quarter has been hideous.
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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 3:45 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Wooo!
I got a first down, trailing by 23 in the fourth quarter!

In your face, sucker!  I'll now spike the ball and draw a 15-yard penalty!

And then I'll draw another 15-yard penalty!  Thanks, Lee.  Thank you.

Dear lord, why did I have to become a Bills fan?

by thejamootz on Sep 16, 2007 3:45 PM EDT   0 recs

Miserable.
Just plain miserable.  Throwing that pass on 4th and 8.

I'm not sure I watch next Sunday - I may just drop heavy stuff on my toes for a few hours instead.

by thejamootz on Sep 16, 2007 3:50 PM EDT   0 recs

Always watch
The Bills are your team... you have to watch them, even if the thought nauseates you.

I suggest the heavy objects be tableside as you watch... you may have to distract yourself.

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by Brian Galliford on Sep 16, 2007 3:55 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I know it...
Hey, if I survived the Todd Collins era, the Rob Johnson era, and the Alex Van Pelt era, I can survive this.  I'm just frustrated.

I'll watch next week and every week I can pretty much forever.  I'm a Bills fan for life.  Which is an awful, awful curse sometimes.  :-)

by thejamootz on Sep 16, 2007 3:58 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

wow.
I hate my life.

I've read back through all the comments here, and I agree with Brian.  I think the blame pretty much falls squarely on Losman (for the offensive troubles, the defense is totally helpless).  

I know he doesn't have a lot of time back there, but he has some. Enough. A sufficient amount to throw an 8-12 yard pass route.  

It seems as though he, as Brian pointed out, always tries to make the perfect play.  As I bounced around to other games after the Bills debacle, I watched how the quarterbacks weren't afraid to throw the ball out there.  J.P. seems to not be able to throw unless

1. he is throwing a route over 35 yards down the field

or

2. there is no defender within 3 yards of the receiver

He is afraid to try and squeeze a ball past any defender, and it really hurts this team.  You can't always have a receiver wide open, you have to be able (or at least willing to try) to throw the ball to a single covered player.  

It could be a symptom of a couple things.

a) he really doesn't have the accuracy needed to be an NFL quarterback

b) his confidence is still shaken from a time when he kept getting pulled for the ageless wonder Kelly Holcomb

c) the coaching staff hasn't worked with him enough or the offensive staff just plain sucks

d) he knows that if he does throw a pick, the defense will give up a score on 85% of the other teams' possessions

Whatever happens to J.P., his play last and (mostly) this week has greatly shaken my confidence in this young man.  

If we get the number 1 pick, which is actually a real possibility, I wouldn't mind seeing a certain Louisville alum roaming our backfield.

That is all, Bills fans.

bravescorner.blogspot.com

by nickfeely8 on Sep 16, 2007 4:49 PM EDT   0 recs

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