Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Observations for the Bills Herd
I haven't been so down after a Bills game in quite some time.
Totally spent.
When Ryan Succop's field goal hooked through the goalposts at the end of overtime, I was extremely disheartened, because of all the opportunities the Bills squandered in the loss.
Yet another way to lose a football game in the most excruciating way.
Stop the Run, Please
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The Bills went into the game in Kansas City having switched to a 4-3 alignment in order to shore up the run defense. However, Buffalo's defensive front was mauled all afternoon as the Chiefs ran for 274 yards at 6.1 yards per carry.
The lanes for runners Thomas Jones and Jamal Charles were gaping, and rarely did the Bills front ever get a solid push toward the backfield.
Although, they didn't give up a rushing touchdown, the Bills allowed the Chiefs to limit Matt Cassel's attempts, which for Chiefs' fans is always a good thing.
I'm not sure there's much Buffalo can do at this point.
Its defense simply cannot stop the run, and I doubt we'll see much improvement in the last half of the season.
(I will give the Bills credit for holding KC to 13 points. That 34+ point streak was getting ugly.Hopefully they can return to Perry Fewell's bend-not-break style of play)
Stupid Mistakes
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Chan Gailey preached that his team would not be one to make silly mistakes throughout the course of a game, but in Kansas City, the Bills were back to the old shoot-themselves-in-the-foot ways of the Dick Jauron era.
There were a few false starts and defensive holdings that ultimately were drive killers, and Ryan Fitzpatrick's intentional grounding sent the Bills out of field goal range on their last possession in overtime.
This isn't a huge problem, but when you're in a tight game like the Bills were on Sunday, those untimely penalties will kill you.
The Offensive Line's Day
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After a more than encouraging performance against the ferocious Baltimore Ravens' defense in Week 7, the Bills offensive line basically laid an egg against a team that isn't necessarily known for their pass rush.
Cordaro Howard is the guy who has been singled out, but the entire line had an "off" day. I guess I can call it that.
Kansas City got pressure all afternoon from all angles, and if it wasn't for solid blitz pick-ups and chips from Fred Jackson, Ryan Fitzpatrick would have been sacked much more than three times.
Fitzpatrick is an above-average improviser, but he, just like every other quarterback in the NFL gets a little shaky when he's flustered in the pocket.
Timely Turnover?
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I say this every week.
Why can't the Bills force that timely turnover.
The same secondary that had 28 interceptions last year has one so far in 2010.
They've been bad in coverage, usually not close to the receiver who catches the pass, but are fantastic at dropping sure-fire interceptions.
George Wilson had one go right through his hands yesterday, and you can't forget Donte Whitner's would-have-been pick six from the game in Baltimore.
If Buffalo plays in more close games down the stretch, and I think they will, they desperately need to make that game-altering turnover when it matters most.
It didn't directly lead to the Chiefs victory, but Eric Berry's interception is exactly what I'm talking about it. (Although the pass was gift-wrapped by Fitzpatrick)
Right now, they just aren't doing it.
Running Game?
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I'm starting to believe that Chan Gailey is fine with Ryan Fitzpatrick as his second-string running back.
Buffalo wasn't getting much push from their offensive line, and Fred Jackson only totaled 64 yards rushing, but I'd still like to see the Bills pound the football a little more.
Jackson carried it 20 times, while C.J. Spiller again was under-utilized and was given the ball only six times.
We've found out that running the ball isn't the Bills offensive strength, but it's a must in clock control and tiring out the opposing defense.
Gailey can get pass happy very quickly.
Which leads me to my next point...
Play-Action
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Correct me if I'm wrong in the comments section below, but I don't remember a play-action pass from Sunday's contest.
What's up with that.
Buffalo starting the game with some dedication to the run, but never used the usually-potent play-action to their advantage.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs almost always used play-action to suck in the linebackers and the safeties.
It makes sense, because Kansas City was running all over them, but still, the times they completed passes came after that fake hand-off to the running back.
Buffalo used it with success against the Ravens, but for some reason unbeknown to me, they completely abandoned play-action against KC and the passing game suffered.
The Receivers and Ryan Fitzpatrick
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On a positive note, the Bills receivers had another solid effort on a day when both offenses struggled.
Both Lee Evans and Steve Johnson caught five passes, and Roscoe Parrish added 66 receiving yards.
Ryan Fitzpatrick came back to Earth after his monster game against the Ravens, but he's still making plays with his arm and his legs that were nonexistent when Trent Edwards was under-center.
Fitzpatrick won't throw for 382 yards every game, but I expect him to be serviceable enough to keep Buffalo in nearly all the games for the remainder of the season.
He did however show us many times why he's not the future quarterback in Buffalo. His floated pass that should have put the Bills in prime field-goal range ended in Eric Berry's hands and shifted momentum back to the Chiefs when they were down and out.
He also missed badly on a few more throws, and sometimes threw the ball late on timing routes.
A so-so performance from the Bills passing attack.
Play-Calling in FG Range
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I was calling for the Bills to run on the three occasions that they were very close to field-goal range in the fourth-quarter and overtime, but in hindsight, if Buffalo would have ran three times and gained no yards I would have been enraged with the timid play-calling.
Buffalo threw nearly every time they reached the Chiefs 40-yard-line in the waning moments of the game and the extra session, and couldn't get the yardage they needed.
It's really that simple.
(Also, the idea to punt when the Bills could have attempted a near 60-yard field goal, I believe, was the correct decision by Chan Gailey)
(P.P.S - I'm not faulting Rian Lindell one bit, that kick was insanely tough with the wind/distance combination)
What's Next
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The Bills host the Chicago Bears in Toronto at the Rogers Centre at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
I envision another close game.
Please God let the Bills pull this one out.
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