Watching these wild Buffalo Bills games at home can be very stressful - especially if you're alone. Yesterday, I was with 73,000 Bills fans at Orchard Park, and, in particular, the group of long time season ticket holders in my section. Being at the game - even a roller coaster game like yesterday's - gives fans a sense of community and sharing and is really much less nerve racking than pacing around at home, waiting through the endless TV commercials and hoping for good things to happen on the field. That's why we go to these games. That's why we invest 12 hours in the experience. As Marv Levy used to say to his team before kick-off: "Where else would you rather be than right here, right now?"
Yesterday's big win over the Patriots was truly something to behold. Down 21-0 in the second quarter, the Bills, with the help of 4 interceptions of Tom Brady, some crucial favourable penalty calls, good luck and a loss of composure on the part of the Patriots and their coaching staff, Buffalo fans got the monkey off their back and shook off 15 straight losses as their team finally beat New England. In so doing, the Bills became the first team in NFL history to overcome 18 point deficits in 2 consecutive weeks. The Jets also lost to Oakland and the Bills, at 3-0, now find themselves alone atop the AFC East.
All of last season, Tom Brady was intercepted 4 times, equalling yesterday's total. The Bills produced 24 points from those turnovers, making all of the difference in this game. For the first quarter and a half, it looked like we would we would be heading for the exits after the third quarter, getting a jump on the traffic and getting home in time to watch the second half of the 4pm games. The Patriots took the opening kick-off and scored what looked like an easy touchdown. They intercepted Fitzpatrick on the Bills first drive and scored again. Then again. The Bills did not look ready to answer last week's Jim Rome challenge: "Buffalo, we know you're better but are you ready now to be good? Are you ready to make a statement and beat the Patriots?" I guess they had to think about it before answering but, as Fitzpatrick kneeled down allowing the last seconds of the 4th quarter to tick away before Rian Lindell's game winning kick, the answer was clear: Just barely, but "yes".
After the game, Chan Gailey said that the team's next challenge is going to be how they handle prosperity. Next week, the Bills travel to Cincinnati, a place where they have done well in recent years. Let's see if they can keep it going and move to 4-0 before returning home to play the Eagles.
We saw quite a few Tim Hudak billboards around the Niagara area yesterday. He is from Fort Erie and it did occur to me that he could be - and probably is - a Bills fan. There had to something to like about him and, for me, that would be it.
Monday, 26 September 2011
Sunday, 18 September 2011
Bills 38, Raiders 35
Watched the whole game at the cottage with my dad. He's not a big football fan but was a CFL fan, particularly in the 1950's and 60's. He has always said that the NFL produces far too many unwatchable games - usually either blowouts or punting competetions between offensively inept teams. He stuck through the whole game and was the first to say that it was exciting, thoroughly entertaining and deeply satisfying for the home fans. I went for a 15km mountain bike ride right afterward and felt almost a glow about the game, the team and my trip to Orchard Park next week.
Down 18 points in the third quarter, the Bills scored 21 straight and then answered two more Raider scores with touchdowns of their own to pull it out in thrilling fashion. The very last play of the game was a bit of an optical illusion for me as I was sure that I saw the Raider receiver make the catch but the Hail Mary was intercepted (and confirned by replay after I left for my ride) and Buffalo is 2-0 with the Patriots coming to town next weekend. It's fun, isn't it? To at least be in the hunt for something early on is a confidence booster for the team and its fans. It's been long enough without it. Let's enjoy it.
It was the kind of game that fans love and the kind that leaves defensive coordinators on both sides pulling their hair out as both offenses racked up the yards and points. The Bills showed great resilience in coming back from 18 down and twice more as well to take the lead for good. I haven't seen that for a long time. I saw something from CJ Spiller today which I haven't seen before - an explosive quickness on a couple of plays which shows me that maybe he's turned the corner. Great call by Chan Gailey when he lined up Spiller on the winning touchdown as a decoy for the play to Nelson. That's smart and creative play calling. We didn't see that kind of call during the Jauron years. The Bills front 7 looks like an NFL defence now. Dareus is a force. Kyle Williams is still a force and the linebackers look much better than last year. Merriman looks solid. Barnett looks solid too. And I think our quarterbacking is pretty good. Fitz is a free agent after this season and, based on the first 2 weeks, when he signs a new deal for next season, he may finally find himself out-earning some of his Harvard classmates. He seems like an easy player to like.
I will have some commentary on the Ontario election coming up soon but this week the football is what I'm excited about. The next game against the Patriots is the biggest home game the Bills have had since at least the 2008 game against the Chargers (which the Bills won to go to 5-1) and maybe since the Steelers game at the end of the 2004 season. We all know that it's going to be extremely difficult to beat them but let's, for now, just try to imagine that they could. It would have to be by a score of something like 28-24 or maybe 20-19 in rainy, windy conditions. Whatever. If they can somehow pull it out, get to Brady just enough, protect the ball, earn a turnover, outwork them, get a big special teams play - and shed the burden of 15 straight losses to this one team, then my dream and the dream of Bills fans everywhere of a 19-0 season will remain unblemished. And I should be able to sell those Christmas Eve Broncos tickets.
Down 18 points in the third quarter, the Bills scored 21 straight and then answered two more Raider scores with touchdowns of their own to pull it out in thrilling fashion. The very last play of the game was a bit of an optical illusion for me as I was sure that I saw the Raider receiver make the catch but the Hail Mary was intercepted (and confirned by replay after I left for my ride) and Buffalo is 2-0 with the Patriots coming to town next weekend. It's fun, isn't it? To at least be in the hunt for something early on is a confidence booster for the team and its fans. It's been long enough without it. Let's enjoy it.
It was the kind of game that fans love and the kind that leaves defensive coordinators on both sides pulling their hair out as both offenses racked up the yards and points. The Bills showed great resilience in coming back from 18 down and twice more as well to take the lead for good. I haven't seen that for a long time. I saw something from CJ Spiller today which I haven't seen before - an explosive quickness on a couple of plays which shows me that maybe he's turned the corner. Great call by Chan Gailey when he lined up Spiller on the winning touchdown as a decoy for the play to Nelson. That's smart and creative play calling. We didn't see that kind of call during the Jauron years. The Bills front 7 looks like an NFL defence now. Dareus is a force. Kyle Williams is still a force and the linebackers look much better than last year. Merriman looks solid. Barnett looks solid too. And I think our quarterbacking is pretty good. Fitz is a free agent after this season and, based on the first 2 weeks, when he signs a new deal for next season, he may finally find himself out-earning some of his Harvard classmates. He seems like an easy player to like.
I will have some commentary on the Ontario election coming up soon but this week the football is what I'm excited about. The next game against the Patriots is the biggest home game the Bills have had since at least the 2008 game against the Chargers (which the Bills won to go to 5-1) and maybe since the Steelers game at the end of the 2004 season. We all know that it's going to be extremely difficult to beat them but let's, for now, just try to imagine that they could. It would have to be by a score of something like 28-24 or maybe 20-19 in rainy, windy conditions. Whatever. If they can somehow pull it out, get to Brady just enough, protect the ball, earn a turnover, outwork them, get a big special teams play - and shed the burden of 15 straight losses to this one team, then my dream and the dream of Bills fans everywhere of a 19-0 season will remain unblemished. And I should be able to sell those Christmas Eve Broncos tickets.
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Bills 41, Chiefs 7
The first Sunday of NFL football is always the last day of the dragonboat racing season for me. I spent the day at Marilyn Bell Park on the Toronto waterfront racing in the semi-finals and then the finals. Our Ronin Warriors team was dissapointed to qualify only for D Division for the second consecutive year. We finished third in the division, or 39th overall. I have been paddling since 2005. This year, I missed only one practice and I have decided that if I am going to invest the same time and effort again next year, either our team needs to be stronger or I need to find a stronger team.
During the Bills game at Arrowhead, I received two scores: the first was early - after the Bills had recovered a fumble on the opening kick-off and scored right away to lead 7-0. The second was at halftime as the Bills lead 20-7. I remember thinking that two converted Kansas City touchdowns would give them a one point win. I heard nothing more until well after the game ended. I had to check it twice to make sure that I was reading it correctly: the Bills had won 41-7, handing the Chiefs a devastating home loss and giving Bills fans hope that, even if they end up near .500, the season will not feel like a lost cause from the beginning. As I said to a friend, if you want to go 19-0, you absolutely have to win the first game. So, that is done and now they prepare for Oakland and the home opener on Sunday. If they can win that game, then the week three game against the Patriots will be the biggest game at the Ralph in a few years. It's nice to at least have that to look forward to. I did watch the Patriots on Monday night in Miami and I honestly don't know how they can be stopped. If the Bills can score 50 points against them and control the ball for large chunks of time, that might do it but it will take a mammoth effort, some turnovers and a lot of luck to break the string of 15 consecutive losses to the Patriots.
After I had seen enough of the Patriots having their way in Miami, I watched about 30 minutes of the "Tea Party" Republican Presidential Debate on CNN. The only candidate who could generate any broad appeal with moderates and independents is Mitt Romney. The others are flakes, extreme right wing lunatics or (in the case of Ron Paul) both of those things but with a couple of curious ideas which kept the debate watchable. If I were an advisor to President Obama, I would be promoting and maybe even funding the campaign of Michelle Bachman. My greatest hope is that (1) the Tea Party has their way and she wins the nomination, and (2) she finds a running mate with the last name of Turner (or, even better, someone with the hyphenated name "Turner-Overdrive"). Yes, the Bachman-Turner-Overdrive ticket should be able to take care of business and keep the Democrats in the White House.
During the Bills game at Arrowhead, I received two scores: the first was early - after the Bills had recovered a fumble on the opening kick-off and scored right away to lead 7-0. The second was at halftime as the Bills lead 20-7. I remember thinking that two converted Kansas City touchdowns would give them a one point win. I heard nothing more until well after the game ended. I had to check it twice to make sure that I was reading it correctly: the Bills had won 41-7, handing the Chiefs a devastating home loss and giving Bills fans hope that, even if they end up near .500, the season will not feel like a lost cause from the beginning. As I said to a friend, if you want to go 19-0, you absolutely have to win the first game. So, that is done and now they prepare for Oakland and the home opener on Sunday. If they can win that game, then the week three game against the Patriots will be the biggest game at the Ralph in a few years. It's nice to at least have that to look forward to. I did watch the Patriots on Monday night in Miami and I honestly don't know how they can be stopped. If the Bills can score 50 points against them and control the ball for large chunks of time, that might do it but it will take a mammoth effort, some turnovers and a lot of luck to break the string of 15 consecutive losses to the Patriots.
After I had seen enough of the Patriots having their way in Miami, I watched about 30 minutes of the "Tea Party" Republican Presidential Debate on CNN. The only candidate who could generate any broad appeal with moderates and independents is Mitt Romney. The others are flakes, extreme right wing lunatics or (in the case of Ron Paul) both of those things but with a couple of curious ideas which kept the debate watchable. If I were an advisor to President Obama, I would be promoting and maybe even funding the campaign of Michelle Bachman. My greatest hope is that (1) the Tea Party has their way and she wins the nomination, and (2) she finds a running mate with the last name of Turner (or, even better, someone with the hyphenated name "Turner-Overdrive"). Yes, the Bachman-Turner-Overdrive ticket should be able to take care of business and keep the Democrats in the White House.
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