Bills 24, Browns 14

As Tashard Choice prepared for the 2012 NFL season, I wonder how many touches he thought he might get during the season. In blowout games, for sure, he would get some carries and, other than that, I would be surprised if he really thought that he would get more than 1 or possibly 2 carries per game. His main focus would be on special teams with the added title of third string running back. With Fred Jackson as the number 1 running back and CJ Spiller a very strong number 2, Choice was probably perfectly happy just to occupy an NFL roster spot. Until yesterday.

With Jackson going down in week 1 against the Jets, CJ Spiller had stepped up for the rest of the Jets game and in last week's game against the Chiefs, perhaps creating a difficult decision for the Bills coaching staff on who would be the number 1 back when Jackson returned. Spiller was fantastic in both of the first 2 games and was off to another excellent afternoon yesterday when he was tackled after a big gain on a screen play. His own weight and the entire weight of his tackler landed squarely on his left shoulder and he left the game on a cart in obvious pain. With the number 1 and number 2 running backs out with injuries, the Choice was an easy one. And he delivered by running strongly for the rest of the game (gaining 92 yards) and, as Chan Gailey pointed out in his post-game press conference, by successfully protecting the ball on a wet afternoon in Cleveland.

When Spiller went down, the Bills were up 14-0 and driving again with a chance to almost put the game out of reach against a demoralized Browns team still looking for its first win. His departure clearly changed the momentum of the game and by the 4th quarter, the Bills found themselves clinging to a 17-14 lead. But, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Stevie Johnson combined for a touchdown to give the Bills a 10 point lead to conclude the scoring and send them to a 2-1 record for the year. It was their first road win since opening day of the 2011 season.

Looking ahead to next week, the challenge seems large indeed. Not just because the Patriots are coming to Orchard Park but because they have lost 2 consecutive games, including a one point loss to Baltimore last night. Could they lose for a 3rd straight time? It seems unlikely.