Mandatory Class for the Buffalo Bills: Playoff Fundamentals 101

They say you can learn something everyday. In your daily life, that seems reasonable. With football, you can learn something every "Sunday." Usually.

For Bills fans who watched Wild Card weekend disheartened over Buffalo's decade long playoff draught, we weren't thinking about the positive message that adage carries.

I'll admit, at first, it was bittersweet watching football again, constantly being reminded of the Bills failure to reach the postseason.

But instantly my optimism pushed through like a Fred Jackson run. I told myself that I had to find something positive from the games. (As you can tell, the Bills are on my mind a lot. Probably too much.)

The teams who triumphed to the postseason must have facets to their game that Buffalo's lacking right? I paid close attention to what the winners did to secure victory. And what the losers did too. (I'm not one of those guys that just wants the Bills to make the playoffs to get blown out in the first round, but they've got to get there first.)

To my surprise, it put my game-watching experience at ease. I visualized the pieces the Bills must to put together to become a playoff franchise.

Run, Run, Run

We'll remember Wild Card Weekend by the aerial show the Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals put on in the desert. However, Arizona ran for an un-Cardinal-like 158 yards, and averaged nearly six yards per rush. My guess is the Packers were scheming for continual drop-backs from Kurt Warner, but it's obvious the Cardinals coaching staff understands the importance of establishing the run. Took them long enough.

That, and the fact that a legitimate runner stands in their backfield in Beanie Wells.

Even the Packers, who did score 45 points, which seems like 100 to Bills fans, averaged 4.5 yards per carry.

The Jets rode the thunderous scampering of Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene to a very impressive road playoff victory. Not exactly something that's easy. They proved that your quarterback doesn't need the experience of Brett Favre, the poise of Peyton Manning, or the accuracy of Kurt Warner to win even in the toughest conditions.

Mark Sanchez's QB rating was 139.4, which at first glance is eye-popping, but he only threw the ball 15 times. Very reminiscent of what the Steelers did with Ben Roethlisberger in his playoff run as a rookie. They ran for 171 clock-munching yards and scored twice on 41 carries. Sure, a 4.2 yards per run average isn't anything extraordinary but it kept the Bengals offense on the sidelines.

The Ravens, a team with a great combination of youth and veteran leadership came in to Foxboro with a plan and executed it to the enth degree. Sure, Ray Rice's opening TD bolt of 83 yards taints the numbers a bit, and they did have the lead most of the game, but they carried the ball 52 times and scored four touchdowns on the ground.

Joe Flacco's passer rating was 10. What does that tell you?

As for the 'Boys, it was more of the same. Again, playing with a lead, Dallas ran the ball 35 times for nearly 200 yards with two scores and boasted a 5.7 yard average. Romo was good, accounting for two scores of his own, but the Dallas run game drove fear into the Eagles' defense, allowing Miles Austin and Co. to run free in Jerry-Land.

I'm not insinuating that these teams pounding the rock was the lone key to their progression to the second round. Don't get me wrong. But in a time when we see more spread, shotgun, and five-wide sets, it's obvious that a sound running attack is the main ingredient to playoff accomplishment.

The Bills abandoned the run more this season than I expected they would. They were often playing from behind, but were rarely blown out. These teams ran on first down, second down, and even on third and long. Buffalo's backs are as talented as any in the NFL, and with the quarterback position in flux, the coaching staff must revert to fundamentals and run the football.

Receivers galore

Never have I watched so many outstanding "groups" of wide receivers. The Packers and Cardinals made me, along with the rest of the NFL franchises a little jealous. Come on, you were envious too.

Which got me thinking. Of late, Buffalo's thought with their wide receivers has been: one type of wide-out for different occasions during a game. Lee Evans, the speedster, master of the deep ball. James Hardy, the bullseye in the red zone. Josh Reed, the chain-advancing slot guy. It seems logical on paper, but after this weekend I've totally changed my mind.

Why wouldn't it be great to have two Lee Evans? How about a few Josh Reeds? I may be going out on a limb here, and nothing against James Hardy and his ten career grabs, but I'm sure the Bills wouldn't mind DeSean Jackson on their roster today. He was too much like Lee Evans to draft him in '08, remember?

The Eagles drafted Jeremy Maclin, a small receiver with track speed like Jackson, and that worked out in Philly. After Anquan Boldin, the Cardinals didn't pass on Larry Fitzgerald. Even then, with the most dynamic duo in the NFL, they didn't blow the opportunity to draft Steve Breaston or Early Doucet. Ever heard of best player available, Buffalo? Bills brass may want to start leaning in that direction.

When in doubt... throw to your Tight End

I had to dig a little deeper on this one. Nearly all the Wild Card competitors featured a big, yet swift tight end with great hands (don't forget Antonio Gates in San Diego, Dallas Clark in Indianapolis, or Jeremy Shockey in New Orleans next week), but Dustin Keller pushed my jealousy to a new level.

He blocked extremely well, caught only three passes, but flashed his amazing yards after the catch ability. He made Mark Sanchez's life a warm and relaxing paradise, even in the Cincinnati's frigid and noisy atmosphere. That easy, play-action bootleg the Bills run for two yards every game? Keller took 43 yards.

Even in a losing effort, Jermichael Finley's game can't be ignored. I wouldn't be surprised if he become's Aaron Rodger's most cherished target next season because he's so big and athletically gifted.

Now this one should be easy for the Bills. No, they don't have a specimen like Finley on the roster, he's a freak, but Shawn Nelson is more than capable of stretching any NFL defense. The sole difference is that these teams aren't timid in placing their big guys in positions to make plays.

Buffalo utilized Nelson's skills on occasional eight yard come-back routes. Yawwwwn.

There were certainly other, more glaring parts of each team's success: brick-wall offensive line, a shut-down corner, and ability to create turnovers. We know that leads to wins. But in my extensive research of 2010 post-season round one, I found the above as the quickest and easiest ways to reach the playoffs and beyond.

Will we see these changes in scheme, personnel, or play-calling in Buffalo next season, or better yet, for years to come? Will we stick to the run, load up on receivers, and feature our tight end? Let's hope that the clean slate brings new imagination to a Bills offense that's lacked creativity for a very long time. 

Class is in session, Bills. It's time to pay attention. Tune in next weekend.