Can the Bills topple the Patriots?

[Box_O_Rocks]

7: Can the Bills topple the Patriots?

Can the Bills topple the Patriots?

Chris Brown, Lead Journalist

The New England Patriots did not win the AFC East last year, losing on tiebreaker to Miami as both teams finished 11-5. However, there’s little argument that the Patriots are still the team to beat in the division, especially with Tom Brady set to return at quarterback. New England has also proven to be the toughest team for Buffalo to beat as they have not posted a victory against them since the 2003 opener.

Both teams made key additions to their rosters in the offseason. But regaining Brady as their quarterback is a tough one to top, even with the signing of Terrell Owens.

Are the Bills now in a better position to post a win over their divisional nemesis?

 

[lurker1965]

Actually week #1 is their best chance. Brady may not be a 100% on track and TO will want to show he's good.

I don't think they have a great chance, but better than being struck by lightening.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Let's see, TO unhappy with Tony Romo... but he'll be ecstatic with Terrence Trent Darby? Not since the days of Peerless Price and Eric Moulds have the Bills been so poised to tear through the AFC East...

I think the Bills may be able to topple the Jets or Fins... (interesting that they're asking about "toppling the Patriots" though, given Miami technically won the division.) But then, the lead-in suggests winning 1 of their 2 division games against the Pats counts as a "toppling."

Eh, anybody can take one game on a given Sunday. As to being a real power, if TO has an implosion-free year and Edwards can get him the ball, they might come in second.

 

[lurker1965]

Let's see, TO unhappy with Tony Romo... but he'll be ecstatic with Terrence Trent Darby? Not since the days of Peerless Price and Eric Moulds have the Bills been so poised to tear through the AFC East...

I think the Bills may be able to topple the Jets or Fins... (interesting that they're asking about "toppling the Patriots" though, given Miami technically won the division.) But then, the lead-in suggests winning 1 of their 2 division games against the Pats counts as a "toppling."

Eh, anybody can take one game on a given Sunday. As to being a real power, if TO has an implosion-free year and Edwards can get him the ball, they might come in second.

In week #1?

Hey, I agree with you, but before there is a regular season game TO will be complaining?

I'm not talking about the Bill's winning the division, I talking about a wee #1 surprise - the any given Sunday you reference.

Oh, it's not like I wasted my time reading an article wondering if the Bills can be good.

 

[PatsFan37]

First game, I don't think so. You (meaning anyone) can't say Brady will be rusty in the same breath that you say Aaron Maybin in his first NFL game will be generating pressure against veteran tackles. Plus Lynch will be out.

The Bills are still overmatched talent-wise and coaching-wise. In any one game the odds are against the Bills winning, but the odds are even more against the Pats winning every single time.

 

[PATRIOT64]

The Bills and the Pats usually play close games and many are low scoring and theres no reason why the Bills cannot win at least one of these games this year.

This division should be a lot more challenging that some of you think, but why would that not surprise me here?

 

[stinkypete]

The Bills and the Pats usually play close games and many are low scoring and theres no reason why the Bills cannot win at least one of these games this year.

This division should be a lot more challenging that some of you think, but why would that not surprise me here?

Actually, the Pats have blown out Buffalo almost once annually. The Bills are a last place team. Write it down. They have a crappy QB, no pass protection, no pass rush, and an injured secondary. I don't know what people keep insisting on seeing in this team.

 

[PATRIOT64]

Actually, the Pats have blown out Buffalo almost once annually. The Bills are a last place team. Write it down. They have a crappy QB, no pass protection, no pass rush, and an injured secondary. I don't know what people keep insisting on seeing in this team.

The Bills have no pass rush?

Ask Brady of how much he likes to play across from a guy named Aaron Schoebel who,when healthy is almost as good as Jason Taylor with pressure on Brady. - A healthy Schoebel is a threat for pass pressure anyway you look at it.

I also think that another Aaron on the Bills,Aaron Maybin is going to be a force on the outside and actually Maybin was my binky in the draft as I expect him as a possibility for DROTY - depending if he becomes an early starter.

 

[THE SLAMMER]

Actually, the Pats have blown out Buffalo almost once annually. The Bills are a last place team. Write it down. They have a crappy QB, no pass protection, no pass rush, and an injured secondary. I don't know what people keep insisting on seeing in this team.

Congrades, I don't agree with any of this, and that's not easy

 

[Ryan]

He's right about the blown out at least once annually part. That's for sure.

 

[THE SLAMMER]

He's right about the blown out at least once annually part. That's for sure.

New England may blow Buffalo away twice, who knows....but the rest is pure speculation, which is fine

I believe the Jets will finish last but that's just my opinion

 

[Ryan]

New England may blow Buffalo away twice, who knows....but the rest is pure speculation, which is fine

Yeah. I don't think the Bills will be that bad this year personally. They haven't been that bad the last few years (I think 7-9 three straight years which isn't exactly terrible). I don't see them in last place (Jets are my pick for that spot), and I don't think Miami is going to be that great, so I could see them ending up in 2nd, maybe contending for a wildcard.

 

[PATRIOT64]

Joey Porter will NOT have 17 sacks this season - The Wildcat will NOT work as well as it did last year and Chad Pennington RARILY has two good seasons in a row - The Dolphins are last in this division. - From Worst to First and from First to Worst again.

Miami will win 7 games this season and that is 4th place in this division.

 

[Patjew]

New England may blow Buffalo away twice, who knows....but the rest is pure speculation, which is fine

I believe the Jets will finish last but that's just my opinion

I think Miami finishes last.

 

[PATRIOT64]

I think Miami finishes last.

:agree: to that

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Depends on the OP's definition of "topple."

Could they take a game from the Pats? Sure. It's a divisional rivalry and in the NFL every team lives with the reality of "any given Sunday." I wouldn't bet on it though and I'd especially need very long odds to bet that they would beat them in Foxboro for Tommy's return on Monday night to open the season.

Will the Bills win the Division this year? Well, the Pats went from 5--11 to 11--5 and a Lombardi, so I'm too smart to "never say never," but I think it's highly unlikely. I'm more concerned that Chad puts together a 16 game season and gives them a run for their money.

Will the Bills be in a position in the next couple of years to be considered a serious contender for the Division? It's hard to see with the ownership and coach. And, they're going to have to resolve what will quickly become the TO distraction, clearly a case of subtraction by addition for a squad still trying to find its identity. If he wasn't happy with Romo, I doubt he's going to be happy with his new situation. Should make for some interesting antics and sideline histrionics; you can bet that the NY tabloids will have a TO watch for the Jets' new rival, who makes great copy.

 

[jmt57]

Last year the Bills had a very good shot at ending their losing streak to the Patriots but the schedule did not work in their favor. Buffalo averaged 27 points a game in September while the Pats' offense was held to under twenty points in four of their first five games. Unfortunately for the Bills the two did not meet until week 10; at that point the Pats offensive line was getting healthier and Matt Cassel was better adjusted to the speed of an NFL game. Neither game was a blow out in 2008; the Pats scored only 33 points combined in those two games. I think if the Pats had played the Bills rather than the Dolphins in week three Buffalo would have won; the Pats were flat after the win over the Jets in Cassel's first start.

At some point the streak, up to eleven straight now, will come to an end. The Pats will surely be favored in both games, but upsets happen every week in the NFL. The Bills have an excellent group of receivers with Owens, Evans and Reed, so if the revamped offensive line can give Edwards time to throw the ball - remember, the Pats' pass rush wasn't that impressive last year - then Buffalo could very well pull off the upset. Not that I expect that to happen, but it's certainly feasible.

 

[MarvLevy]

Let's see, TO unhappy with Tony Romo... but he'll be ecstatic with Terrence Trent Darby? Not since the days of Peerless Price and Eric Moulds have the Bills been so poised to tear through the AFC East...

I think the Bills may be able to topple the Jets or Fins... (interesting that they're asking about "toppling the Patriots" though, given Miami technically won the division.) But then, the lead-in suggests winning 1 of their 2 division games against the Pats counts as a "toppling."

Eh, anybody can take one game on a given Sunday. As to being a real power, if TO has an implosion-free year and Edwards can get him the ball, they might come in second.

First of all, as a Bills fans, I just assume 2 losses to the Pats. It makes life easier. However, you're completely off about TO. Jeff Garcia was a CFL lifer before playing with TO. Tony Romo was an undrafted fee agent who never started a game before. TO was a huge reason for their success. Edwards is a very promising 3rd year QB who has had his ups and downs as most young QBs do. He also has had a pretty weak receiver core. Double Evans and try and let the other guys beat you. Well, you can't do that anymore. Edwards (if he's stays healthy and that's been a concern) will have a big year.

TO will be fine. He always is in his 1st year, especially when he's playing for his last major contract.

 

[MarvLevy]

First game, I don't think so. You (meaning anyone) can't say Brady will be rusty in the same breath that you say Aaron Maybin in his first NFL game will be generating pressure against veteran tackles. Plus Lynch will be out.

The Bills are still overmatched talent-wise and coaching-wise. In any one game the odds are against the Bills winning, but the odds are even more against the Pats winning every single time.

Maybin will be a situational pass rusher. Anything he gives us will be a big bonus. Schobel, the leading sacker of Brady & 2 time pro bowler, missed both games last year. Additionally, there is a 3rd round DE from last year, Chris Ellis, that can hopefully add some pressure.

Not saying our pass rush is great but it should be improved. And improving on the 4th worst pass rush on the 14th ranked defense would be huge.

And our backup running back, Fred Jackson, ran for 136 in the alst game of the season. We also signed Dominic Rhodes as probably the best 3rd string rb in football.

Again, I'm not stupid enough to predict any victories against NE but teh Bills will make some noise this season.

 

[THE SLAMMER]

First of all, as a Bills fans, I just assume 2 losses to the Pats. It makes life easier. However, you're completely off about TO. Jeff Garcia was a CFL lifer before playing with TO. Tony Romo was an undrafted fee agent who never started a game before. TO was a huge reason for their success. Edwards is a very promising 3rd year QB who has had his ups and downs as most young QBs do. He also has had a pretty weak receiver core. Double Evans and try and let the other guys beat you. Well, you can't do that anymore. Edwards (if he's stays healthy and that's been a concern) will have a big year.

TO will be fine. He always is in his 1st year, especially when he's playing for his last major contract.

T.O will forever be remembered as a problem in the locker room but believe it or not the players in Buffalo think he is the leadership needed to make it to the playoffs.

T.O. has a one year deal and his main value is to take coverage off Evans and fill a need till James hardy is ready to start.