As game-time approached last night, I was feeling relaxed. Not because I thought the Bills would win the game against the Bengals but because it seemed so likely that they wouldn't. And they didn't disappoint the pundits, did they? Jason Garrett, who, as someone pointed out earlier in the season, looks like he's in love with Maria Taylor (and why wouldn't he be although she is clearly pregnant and there is no evidence I have seen that Garrett had anything to do with it), was the only one of the cast of studio analysts, NFL "insiders", pundits, wagering experts and other hangers-on who form part of Sunday Night Football (the highest-rated television program in the US), who picked the Bills to win the game. So I decided to forego my usual superstitious rituals of where and how I sit to watch the game and I was actually quite relaxed during most of the evening and had a better sleep than I usually would have because of it. It's called "managing expectations" and I executed my game plan perfectly.
In baseball, the old saying is "at home, play for the tie; on the road, play for the win". I guess that's what Sean McDermott was thinking when the Bills finally got their second touchdown of the game with less than four minutes to go and then they gambled and were successful on their two point attempt to come to within six points of the Bengals. Stefon Diggs scored all eight points on the touchdown and convert and did a great job getting both feet down on the convert. As he went to the ground and rolled, he took the legs from under an obese security official wearing a powder blue jacket whose back was turned to the play. It looked like the fat man might have landed on Diggs who got up slowly afterward. I clearly remember a game in Orchard Park in 2005 where a touchdown was scored at the back of the endzone and the receiver and defender both landed at full speed and rolled toward the wall, taking out the legs of a large security guard whose back was also turned away from the play. The blind-side crash broke both of the security guy's legs (quite gruesome to see - sort of the like the Joe Theismann break but times two) which delayed the game for a few minutes. These security guys are always large and they fall hard, especially when they don't see it coming. I have no injury update on the powder blue jacket guy. Maybe Diggs can tell us more about what happened.
Speaking of injuries, I don't know how many more the Bills defence can withstand. Terrel Bernard left the game with a head injury (and will probably be in the concussion protocol this week) and Christian Benford left with a hamstring injury. Neither played at all in the second half. Newcomers Rasul Douglas and Linval Joseph were used sparingly but both made contributions. Joseph stuffed Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow on a sneak play by grabbing Burrow's buttocks and crotch and lifting him about three yards behind the line of scrimmage. Douglas looked fine but was burned by Ja'Marr Chase for 32 yards to help set up the Bengals final field goal to put them up 14.
Looking over the boxscore, statistically, the Bills fared ok in terms of total yards gained and first downs but the Bengals did not turn the ball over and the Bills did twice. The first, a Josh Allen interception ended up not costing them but Dalton Kinkaid's fumble in the fourth quarter was a killer as the Bills were driving to make it a one score game with about 13 minutes remaining. As the crack NBC camera crew were able to isolate so clearly, the ball was perfectly punched from his hand while in mid-air. Not many players would be able to hang on to the ball in that situation and I don't blame Kincaid at all for it. he had another nice game and is starting to show why he was their top pick in April's draft.
Saturday brought another slate of lopsided college games. Michigan was unable to cover the 32 point spread in a 41-13 win over Purdue at the Big House but next Saturday at noon brings - finally - a meaningful game against a ranked opponent as they travel to State College, PA to face the 9th ranked Nittany Lions. Ridiculous as it is but this will be the first real test for the Wolverines this season. They are 4.5 point road favourites.
So, at 5-4 now, the Bills have a tough road ahead. Their remaining schedule is the toughest in the league but with two winnable home games coming up, there is still a long way to go and I have not lost hope. The way I look at it, that's part of what being a fan is. Up next, the Denver Broncos, who are coming off their bye week, come to Orchard Park for yet another prime time game - the Bills second appearance on Monday Night Football this season (to go along with their two Sunday Nighters). Then the Jets come to town for a Sunday afternoon game in the 4.25pm time slot. If they can get to 7-4 before they go to Philadelphia the following week, who knows what their fate night be.
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