Game One--Buffalo---The Season Gets Underway & Some Questions Answered
Finally the season is getting underway and Patriot Nation can again get cheer for Brady and the team. Fans have been waiting since that infamous Superbowl day in early 08, having been shelved last year with Brady's injury. The team did exceptionally well, despite his absence, but this year, it's revenge and Brady is leading the charge.
The first game of any season is always a mixture of anticipation, optimism and surprise as in it's the first time a team is playing all out to win for the year. Even though teams have played four previous games, what has happened is not that related to what will happen in a season. The last place New England D of preseason will not mean their D will be like Swiss cheese and the fact that the Buffalo offense was incredibly ineffective does not mean theirs will be that impotent. The season is a completely different animal.
**Patriots**---Brady's arm will get this offense on the move with Moss, Welker and others and the run by committee with added Fred Taylor will help solidify the aerial attack. The defense might be looked at as young, inexperienced but in time it could be strong. A new alignment of the front seven might be just what was needed. Hobbs will be missed on kickoff returns, but other than that, the special teams will be strong.
**Bills**---The offense will be relying on a no huddle and with three strong receivers and tough running backs; it's all in Edwards's hands as to how good it will be. Defensively, they are slowly improving but they will need to take more steps to be one of the elite teams. This unit may keep this team in games, especially with creating turnovers. Both Parrish and McKelvin make return teams strong and something to be feared.
**Not Being There--Patriots**--Welker and Edelman are questionable, but hopefully one will play, otherwise the offense will be modified some. Springs, who has been out a lot of the preseason, will make a nice match up with ex-teammate Owens. Slater will be a big loss on special teams.
**Not Being There--Bills**--RB Lynch being suspended is really a big loss as it will be all up to Jackson for their ground attack. Florence not being active also hurts, especially if the Pats go with three wides.
????--Patriots--With Harrison, Bruschi, Vrabel and now Seymour gone from the team, the D is in transition and not as sure a thing as in past years. There's many new faces and new roles and it remains to be seen how quickly this defense can come together.
????--Bills--Owens has played only a small bit and whether they can get the whole offense on the same page with the no huddle will be interesting. That their offensive coordinator Schonert was fired two weeks ago makes this unit more a real work in progress.
History--The Patriots have humiliated this team at times with 11 straight wins while the Bills have never won a game at Gillette.
With the spotlight of Monday night football, the return of Brady, the AFL's 50th throw back uniforms and the opening game at home, everything points to a big Patriot win. The cloud of the Seymour trade is moving away, but I really doubt this will be anything close to the Milloy situation in 03. Buffalo may hope for that and it might be their only chance of upsetting the Patriots.
If Edwards can get Owens and Evans into the game and put points up and if the defense can do a reasonable job stopping the Patriot passing game, they could keep it close. The Bills need to start like they did in the opening moments of the 06 season here, as Takeo Spikes caused a Brady fumble and London Fletcher took the recovery in for a score. The stunned Patriots fell behind, but squeaked out a win.
With their tallest cornerback Florence out, I think McKelvin, McGee and Corner will have their hands full with Moss and the Patriot passing game, so unless Edwards can answer on the other side, it could be a runaway. Putting up a quick three scores would certainly help this New England defense, because they are going to need time to develop.
It is exciting to finally have Brady back on the field for a real game and hopefully he'll have a big night to start the year.
The first game of any season is always a mixture of anticipation, optimism and surprise as in it's the first time a team is playing all out to win for the year. Even though teams have played four previous games, what has happened is not that related to what will happen in a season. The last place New England D of preseason will not mean their D will be like Swiss cheese and the fact that the Buffalo offense was incredibly ineffective does not mean theirs will be that impotent. The season is a completely different animal.
**Patriots**---Brady's arm will get this offense on the move with Moss, Welker and others and the run by committee with added Fred Taylor will help solidify the aerial attack. The defense might be looked at as young, inexperienced but in time it could be strong. A new alignment of the front seven might be just what was needed. Hobbs will be missed on kickoff returns, but other than that, the special teams will be strong.
**Bills**---The offense will be relying on a no huddle and with three strong receivers and tough running backs; it's all in Edwards's hands as to how good it will be. Defensively, they are slowly improving but they will need to take more steps to be one of the elite teams. This unit may keep this team in games, especially with creating turnovers. Both Parrish and McKelvin make return teams strong and something to be feared.
**Not Being There--Patriots**--Welker and Edelman are questionable, but hopefully one will play, otherwise the offense will be modified some. Springs, who has been out a lot of the preseason, will make a nice match up with ex-teammate Owens. Slater will be a big loss on special teams.
**Not Being There--Bills**--RB Lynch being suspended is really a big loss as it will be all up to Jackson for their ground attack. Florence not being active also hurts, especially if the Pats go with three wides.
????--Patriots--With Harrison, Bruschi, Vrabel and now Seymour gone from the team, the D is in transition and not as sure a thing as in past years. There's many new faces and new roles and it remains to be seen how quickly this defense can come together.
????--Bills--Owens has played only a small bit and whether they can get the whole offense on the same page with the no huddle will be interesting. That their offensive coordinator Schonert was fired two weeks ago makes this unit more a real work in progress.
History--The Patriots have humiliated this team at times with 11 straight wins while the Bills have never won a game at Gillette.
With the spotlight of Monday night football, the return of Brady, the AFL's 50th throw back uniforms and the opening game at home, everything points to a big Patriot win. The cloud of the Seymour trade is moving away, but I really doubt this will be anything close to the Milloy situation in 03. Buffalo may hope for that and it might be their only chance of upsetting the Patriots.
If Edwards can get Owens and Evans into the game and put points up and if the defense can do a reasonable job stopping the Patriot passing game, they could keep it close. The Bills need to start like they did in the opening moments of the 06 season here, as Takeo Spikes caused a Brady fumble and London Fletcher took the recovery in for a score. The stunned Patriots fell behind, but squeaked out a win.
With their tallest cornerback Florence out, I think McKelvin, McGee and Corner will have their hands full with Moss and the Patriot passing game, so unless Edwards can answer on the other side, it could be a runaway. Putting up a quick three scores would certainly help this New England defense, because they are going to need time to develop.
It is exciting to finally have Brady back on the field for a real game and hopefully he'll have a big night to start the year.
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