Bills Team Report

INSIDE SLANT

There was plenty of hype in the days leading up to Buffalo’s second regular-season game in Toronto surrounding star wide receiver Terrell Owens(notes) taking his act to a foreign country, even though the borders of that foreign country can be measured in yards as opposed to miles from Buffalo.

Owens, as he so often is, was the focus of the Toronto media, but as it turned out, he was rendered invisible by lockdown Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis(notes) and had very little to do with the result.

The matchup that was really going to play a key role in the outcome was how the Bills’ woeful run defense would fare against the Jets’ potent rushing attack, and given what happened in the game, it was easy to understand why the Jets won 19-13.

New York rushed for 249 yards, and coupled with the 318 yards the Jets ran for in the first meeting between these teams in October, that’s 567 yards this year. Thomas Jones(notes) had a career-high 210 yards in the first game, and he went for 109 in the rematch at the Rogers Centre. His 319-yard two-game output was the second-most ever by a Bills opponent in one season, trailing only the 325 yards Ricky Williams(notes) of Miami gained in two games against the Bills in 2002.

“They had a really good scheme,” said Bills coach Perry Fewell. “They did some things a little bit differently than they did the first time and we didn’t tackle well in the first half. We missed some opportunities to get off the field and they got some drives going, which let them continue to run the ball and pound the ball at us.”

Actually, the Jets, who ranked second in the league entering the game with an average of 161.3 yards per game, did nothing different than they did in the first meeting, except for the fact that rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez(notes) didn’t throw five interceptions to ruin a superb rushing performance. The Jets gouged the Bills’ league-worst run defense between the tackles, and on a few plays outside the tackles, as they finished the game with 11 runs of at least 10 yards.

“Anytime we miss a tackle they’re going to get some extra yards and obviously that’s what happened,” said defensive end Ryan Denney(notes). “That’s the first thing you need to do is shut down the run game. When you can’t slow them down in the run there’s not much more you can do.”

It was disappointing that the Bills, after seeing what the Jets had done in the first game, didn’t have any answers. And what made it more galling is that the Bills didn’t have to face Leon Washington(notes), who had gained 99 yards against them in the first game.

“Coach Fewell is doing a great job preparing us for the games, but we have to go out and win,” said linebacker Paul Posluszny(notes). “We fought hard, but not enough to win. They were able to gash us a little bit and we can’t continue to have our run defense getting gashed like that.”

The Jets simply took advantage of a defense that isn’t built to stop the run. The Bills lack size in their front seven, and it doesn’t help that three of the top four linebackers are retread veteran Chris Draft(notes), rookie Ashlee Palmer(notes) and veteran Bryan Scott(notes), who is normally a strong safety. Posluszny is a solid player, but he just doesn’t have enough help against the run, and he’s not helped by a defensive line that isn’t exactly stout in one-on-one matchups with big offensive linemen.

Jets coach Rex Ryan referenced that, saying “Buffalo does a good job rushing the passer. They’re probably built to rush the passer better than they are to stop the run.”

Seeing what happened in two games against the Bills this season, Ryan can be considered someone who knows what he’s talking about.

NOTES, QUOTES

— Terrell Owens’ recent hot streak was cooled off considerably, and it had nothing to do with the frosty Canadian air outside the Rogers Centre in Toronto. For the second time this season Jets CB Darrelle Revis blanketed Owens and made him irrelevant in Buffalo’s loss to New York. Owens had three catches for 31 yards, after getting just three catches for 13 yards in the first meeting in October. “A very physical matchup,” Owens said of playing against Revis. “Obviously he’s a good corner. He’s established himself as one of the best in the league at that position.”

•  RB Marshawn Lynch(notes) did not start against the Jets, ceding to Fred Jackson(notes), but Lynch seems to have gotten interim coach Perry Fewell’s message. Lynch ripped off back-to-back runs of 35 and 15 yards in the second quarter, resulting in the Bills’ only touchdown in two games in Toronto. However, Lynch then left the field for the rest of the first half with an undisclosed injury. He did play in the second half, but the Bills could not get possession of the ball in the third quarter—they had it for less than four minutes—and Lynch wound up with just six carries for 60 yards.

•  For the 10th time in 12 games the Bills’ offense had the ball less than their opponent, and for the sixth time the difference in time of possession was more than 10 minutes. The primary problem has been Buffalo’s inefficiency on third down. The Bills entered the game ranked 31st in third-down success rate, and they are in danger of dropping to last in the league after converting just 1 of 11 against New York.

“I think the one thing you can point to for sure is third downs,” quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick(notes) said, referring to Buffalo’s lame 194-yard total offense output. “They had our number on third downs with the different pressures they were bringing and still getting doubles on our receivers. We had a hard time with it.”

•  If ever there’s a team that can benefit from a little extra rest, it’s the Bills. They currently have 14 players on the season-ending injured reserve list, and against the Jets right tackle Kirk Chambers(notes) (ankle) and linebacker Chris Draft (shoulder) went down, further depleting a squad that is starting backup players at several positions, not all by choice. On the positive side, cornerback Terrence McGee(notes) was active and did play a little when Reggie Corner(notes) had to sit out a few plays. McGee is trying to recover from knee surgery that was performed during the Bills’ bye week the first week of November.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Player Notes  

•  P Brian Moorman(notes) is once again having a solid year, though it won’t be rewarded with a nod for the Pro Bowl. He averaged 42.7 yards net on seven punts and had four of them downed inside the 20.

•  QB Ryan Fitzpatrick did not make a strong bid to maintain his starting role as he was just 9 of 23 for 98 yards with an interception.

•  RB Fred Jackson got his second straight start, but didn’t have a good night with 13 carries for 31 yards. He also had a 35-yard kickoff return among his six attempts, and averaged 22.8 yards.

•  WR Lee Evans(notes) continues to have a miserable season. He made a 38-yard reception on the third play of the game and was blanked the rest of the night despite six other balls being thrown his way.

•  SS George Wilson(notes) led the Bills with 10 tackles, never a good sign when a DB is the top tackler.

Report Card Vs  . JETS

Passing Offense:   D-minus—The Jets entered the game ranked second in the NFL in pass defense, and it was pretty obvious why. The Bills could get nothing established, especially with Darrell Revis locking up Terrell Owens, and Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for just 98 yards, 71 net counting three sacks for 27 yards. After a 38-yard hook-up with Lee Evans on the third play of the game, Evans never caught another a pass and Fitzparick threw for just 60 yards. Part of the problem was also Buffalo’s woeful offensive line which couldn’t handle New York’s blitzing and Fitzpatrick was forced to scramble or throw too quickly.

Rushing Offense:   C—Fred Jackson started ahead of Marshawn Lynch for the second week in a row, but he couldn’t get on track and finished with just 31 yards on 13 carries. Lynch carried just six times for 60 yards, but he made two of the attempts count as he went for 35 and 15 yards on back-to-back runs in the second quarter which resulted in a touchdown. But Lynch also missed some time with an undisclosed injury and had 60 yards on just six carries because the Bills couldn’t maintain possession of the ball long enough to get anything established on the ground.

Pass Defense:   C—The Bills defensive backs had a tough time covering the Jets wideouts, and they were fortunate that Braylon Edwards(notes) dropped a sure TD pass and David Clowney(notes) couldn’t control the ball in the end zone on what would have been another TD because of a blown coverage. The Bills limited the Jets to 118 yards, 82 net, but that had more to do with New York’s mistakes and its powerful running game which rendered Mark Sanchez and Kellen Clemens(notes) as simply game managers much of the night. George Wilson led the Bills with 10 tackles, and there were five sacks including a pair by DT Kyle Williams.

Rush Defense:   F—It wasn’t quite as bad as the first game these teams played when the Jets rushed for an NFL season-high 318 yards, but it wasn’t all that much better. The Jets piled up another 249 yards including 109 by Thomas Jones, and they had 11 runs of at least 10 yards, averaging 5.8 yards per attempt. The Bills were getting pushed out of the way by the Jets’ sturdy offensive line, and the Jets made 12 rushing first downs. Jones now has 319 yards in two games against the Bills, who will remain firmly entrenched in last place in the NFL in rush defense. That’s the second-most yards ever gained by one player in a season against the Bills.

Special Teams:   B-minus—Rian Lindell(notes) made both of his field-goal attempts and Brian Moorman had a 42.7 net average and had four of his punts downed inside the 20, a solid effort that was wasted in the loss. The coverage units did a good job limiting the Jets’ return men, while Fred Jackson had a 35-yard kickoff return and averaged 22.8 yards on his six attempts. Roscoe Parrish(notes) used to be the league’s best punt returner. Now he just calls for fair catches.

Coaching:   D—For the second time this season the Bills had no answers for the Jets’ potent run game. The Jets did nothing different, they just pounded the rock and the Bills couldn’t stop them. On offense, there needed to be a way to get Evans more involved because it was clear very early that Darrelle Revis was going to lock down Terrell Owens. And where were the tight ends in the game plan. To win division games you often have to out-coach the opponent, and the Bills didn’t do that.