Pats @ Bills (not Colts), Right?

[sieglo]

"The Patriots are very physical, but so are we," Jauron said. "Everyone knows that the model for beating New England is to get early pressure on Tom Brady. The problem is, very few teams can do it."

Why is everyone so sure this is the formula to beat NE? Brady is better at beating the blitz than any QB in history. Maybe you need to play a 3-4, rush 3, do your best to shut down the medium and long passing game, and hope Brady makes mistakes. Meanwhile assume you won't win unless your offense puts up 25+ points.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Schobel is Brady's number 2 nightmare right behind Jason Taylor.

And maybe it's the other way around. I think Schobel gets after him more than Freeney or Taylor. What is it about that guy? He's a nightmare.

Schobel was listed on the injury report as "illness". Even if he has this virus that I've had for the past 5 days he will be ready to play.

 

[Sivy]

Sammule will score a td

Moss will score 2

Welker will score 1.

 

[PatsDeb]

Schoebel missed practice today (yay).

 

[Lee Evans83]

I wouldnt be too worried if i were you about the Bills trying to cheap shot any one theyre just not like that imo

 

[Ring 6]

Why is everyone so sure this is the formula to beat NE? Brady is better at beating the blitz than any QB in history. Maybe you need to play a 3-4, rush 3, do your best to shut down the medium and long passing game, and hope Brady makes mistakes. Meanwhile assume you won't win unless your offense puts up 25+ points.

I think the point is that the only way to beat the Patriots is take the ball out of Bradys hands by sacking him, or making him get rid of it before he wants to.

One way to interpret that statement is that Brady sin't good under pressure, which we all know is wrong.
another way to interpret it is that the only way to beat Brady is to not let him throw the ball, i.e. get to him before he does.

Ultimately you are looking for a dominating pass rush that is all over him all day long, and that isnt realistic.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

Buffalo is decent at home and the night crowd will be noisy (until we get a nice lead, anyway)

The crowd is incredible. My sig other is a Bills fan and I was at the Bills/Cowboys game. They will be noisy and on their feet. Hopefully the coach-quarterback equiptment will be working Sunday night

I am looking forward to the game and have been checking out the weather since I will be there Coming from California, though, I am more worried about me handling the cold weather than the Patriots!

One thing to remember is that the Bills will be down players (12 on IR and Lynch may be out). Losman didn't look that great against Miami but he is playing for his job and the team as a whole is playing to stay in the wild card hunt. Lynch is still a major loss for them if he doesn't play.

What concerns me, along with the retaliation potential, is how we played into the middle of the second quarter our first meeting this year in Foxboro. I don't remember being so dominant at the start of that game. Also, Roscoe is making some great returns for the Bills. Good field postion will help Losman, especially if he doesn't want to give us another safety

Nonetheless, I think it will still be a good outing for the Patriots. It is just that any given Sunday feeling that makes me nervous too.....

Nice comments.

Yeah, the crowd up there is very loud but we should have enough experience after playing at the piped-up Colts stadium, right?

Losman appears to be backing off from his earlier stance (at least in public) and hopefully their defense does not go overzealous trying to attack Brady after the whistle blows.

I just hope we have a resounding W with no injuries to any player.

 

[bdutton]

Lynch is out
Shobel will play

Expect the Bills D to really step it up as the crowd noise will disrupt the offensive play calling.

Wright will get the start at RB instead of Lynch. Fresh legs. I can only hope that he runs better than he has shown thus far this season.

Losman under center. Who know which Losman will show up. The one that throws for nearly 300 yards and a +90 passer rating or the one that throws for 150 and a -50 passer rating.

Special teams advantage is for the Bills but only slightly.

It will all come down to the final drive in my opinion. Hopefully that will be the Bills. Losman has actually shined in the 4th quarter in games this season so I hope that part of his play will remain consistent.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

It will all come down to the final drive in my opinion.

you mean in the first half ........

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

I usually don't go to any other sites to get my analysis of the upcoming Pats game. But, this week there are no threads on the Bills game. I am surprised that so many fans are looking past a team that has won 5 (?) straigt games and seem to be playing well. Are the Bills not as good as they have been playing or are the Pats so much better than the Bills that folks think this is not a worthy team to discuss. I have not seen the Bills play this year otherwise I would offer my opinion on this upcoming game. Anyway, if anyone has some insight to this weeks game I would love to hear your take.

I live in Western NY, and am pretty familiar with the Bills. It's a nice feel good story with all the injuries, but Losmen has one play with Lynch out (A-train blows so you'll have ZERO run game). ---> Deep to Evans, and if you think we've giving him that you are nuts.

Plus, Losmen saves his worst games for us it seems. Yeah, the crowd will be in it for a quarter or so, but this game is gonna be ugly for you. Take the loss, move on and lets hope no-one gets hurts (either side).

p.s. I'm not a Bills hater either, and I do think in a year or so, you'll me MARKEDLY improved. You're just not there yet. Losmen HAS TO GO. Edwards & Lynch are your future.

 

[Robdude]

A couple of points

1. I always think this 'earley pressure' on Brady idea is one of the dumbest ideas around. Ofcourse everyone wants earley pressure on the QB. Sacks and hurries are good. If you can get earley pressure on any quarterback you hamper the offense. Every defense wants their pass rushers to get to the QB as quickly as possible. I worry about the team that comes up with the strategy of "Lets rush the QB slowly and give him some time".

The idea of blitzing the QB is a general philosophy and not a strategy against the Pats.

Now I realize that our WRs are too talented to let them run around for a long time but trying to put pressure on Brady instead of dropping everyone into coverage is a lesser of two evils it is not a 'way to beat Brady".


2. I like what the Bills have put together. I find I rout for them against most other teams. I know what the stats say (31st offense 28th defense) but I do think they will be a challenge.

3. I will be curious to see how effective the Pats offense will be under adverse weather conditions. I feel they will be O but it will be nice to see how the passing game goes

 

[patfanken]

Fortunately, while we fans overlook the Bills for ALL the reasons given above, the good news is that the PLAYERS aren't.

Add me to the growing number of fans who appreciate what the Bills are doing in upstate NY. If I were a fans of theirs I would be very proud. They weren't that talented to begin with, and still compete DESPITE the large amount of injuries to key players that they've survived. They are a credit to **** Jauron, who is a much better coach that many who are mentioned ahead of him. I'd like someday to see him lead a team that has some REAL talent. Maybe in a 2 years this Bills team can be a real threat to the Pats.

However one think this Bills team has proven to me, is something I've preached forever, and is well known here. If your OL and DL are solid, then the rest of your team will be able to at least COMPETE with most of the teams you will face. I don't know why bad teams keep drafting or signing skill players when they DON'T have the OL/DL in place, and then when they continue to lose; they are in shock.

The Bills took care of their OL in the off season and because its solid they have been able to compete, and their rookie QB has been able to operate with relative success.

There was a lot of criticism around the league when Marv Levy became GM, but he has been doing it the right way in building his team. He hired the right coach. He is improving his team in the right way. His talented rookie RB and QB would be in bad shape if he hadn't overpaid for some OL talent this off season. I remember people complaining that Levy could have paid Nate Clement with the money he paid for 2 good but not great OLmen. Clearly he made the right choice....something we should keep in mind when it comes time to sign our next top CB

 

[NYCPatsFan]

Count me also among those who admire the Bills. As I mentioned before, I don't care about the 'quality' of the opponents they defeated in the last four games. It is amazing to see how they were crippled by injuries and they fought it keeping quiet unlike other teams that weep.

Considering how hard hitting they are, I am curious to see how Maroney fares. Hopefully he does enough to put a damper on some who doubt him.

 

[patchick]

However one think this Bills team has proven to me, is something I've preached forever, and is well known here. If your OL and DL are solid, then the rest of your team will be able to at least COMPETE with most of the teams you will face.

...

I remember people complaining that Levy could have paid Nate Clement with the money he paid for 2 good but not great OLmen. Clearly he made the right choice....something we should keep in mind when it comes time to sign our next top CB

Great points. Long-term Pats priorities: locking up Wilfork & Mankins.

 

[Patriotic Fervor]

Fortunately, while we fans overlook the Bills for ALL the reasons given above, the good news is that the PLAYERS aren't.

Add me to the growing number of fans who appreciate what the Bills are doing in upstate NY. If I were a fans of theirs I would be very proud. They weren't that talented to begin with, and still compete DESPITE the large amount of injuries to key players that they've survived. They are a credit to **** Jauron, who is a much better coach that many who are mentioned ahead of him. I'd like someday to see him lead a team that has some REAL talent. Maybe in a 2 years this Bills team can be a real threat to the Pats.

However one think this Bills team has proven to me, is something I've preached forever, and is well known here. If your OL and DL are solid, then the rest of your team will be able to at least COMPETE with most of the teams you will face. I don't know why bad teams keep drafting or signing skill players when they DON'T have the OL/DL in place, and then when they continue to lose; they are in shock.

The Bills took care of their OL in the off season and because its solid they have been able to compete, and their rookie QB has been able to operate with relative success.

There was a lot of criticism around the league when Marv Levy became GM, but he has been doing it the right way in building his team. He hired the right coach. He is improving his team in the right way. His talented rookie RB and QB would be in bad shape if he hadn't overpaid for some OL talent this off season. I remember people complaining that Levy could have paid Nate Clement with the money he paid for 2 good but not great OLmen. Clearly he made the right choice....something we should keep in mind when it comes time to sign our next top CB

Yes, it has long been a tenet of professional football that games are invariably won or lost in the trenches.

That's a good point you made for us.

 

[Dagg]

I live in western NY as well but honestly they had a slight punchers chance with Lynch..now without Lynch they have no chance. And they ned to get Edwards back in there Losman is to up and down.

 

[patchick]

Let's talk backup RBs for a minute.

Anthony Thomas was mediocre in a 2nd RB role last year, averaging 3.5 yds on 107 carries. This year he's been completely invisible with just 12 yards on 10 carries.

But the Bills drafted 2 good-looking RBs this year. Their 4th-round pick Dwayne Wright is really their #2 back right now, averaging 3.0 yds on 25 carries. That's not a great average, but it's probably skewed by short yardage situations since Wright is a 5-11, 228 power back. He's a strong, tough (but not speedy) runner whom a lot of Pats fans penciled in as a Heath Evans replacement before the draft, especially since he comes from Fresno State. Not a breakaway threat, but not easy to bring down.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

While the Bills are winning let's keep it in perspective just who the Bills have beaten during this winning streak.

Yeah, I know you have to play the teams that are scheduled but the reality is 2 of the Bills recent wins came against the lowly Dolphins and Jets who combined have won just 1 game this season. The 3rd and 4th wins came against struggling Cinci and Balt teams who are as bad as any team not playing in SF at the moment.

Further, Buffalo's QB's have thrown for all of 3 TD's this season. Brady gets that in half of a quarter in some games. M Lynch accounts for the teams other 7 TD's (6 rushing and 1 throwing) and he's not even playing in this game.

With all the injuries they have suffered thru, Buffalo's defense is chalk full of backups many of whom are rookies, undrafted, late round and UDFA's.

Sorry, but living in the area and seeing them up close, the Bills are a mirage. They've timed things out incredibly well and have been fortunate to win as they have. But this game should not be remotely close to being a competitive contest.

 

[Spirit of '76]

The Bills will be missing Marshawn Lynch. That's about 60% + of their offense. :bricks:

The only true threat the Bills have is their special teams.

That only has an impact on close games.

3 of their wins are against the Jets and Dolphins.

Enough said.