NFL: Week Seven – Buffalo Bills vs. Carolina Panthers
Buffalo Bills (20) vs. Carolina Panthers (9)
On several different levels this had to be the most confounding game of the week. The Panthers outgained the Bills 425 yards to 167 and allowed only 9 first downs and the Bills converted just 3 of 14 third downs. Carolina’s defense played well enough to win the game, yet, they somehow managed to blow this game.
This one starts and ends with Jake Delhomme and inexplicable play-calling. Delhomme had another disaster of a game throwing three interceptions that led to two short toucdhown drives for the Bills. Buffalo two touchdowns on drives that consisted of seven and 27 yards.
As much as everyone wants to hang this one on Delhomme the bigger issue is the play-calling in this game. The Bills are coming off a game where they allowed 318 rushing yards and 8.0 yards per carry against the Jets last weekend. As a team the Bills were allowing 181 yards per game coming into Sunday, they had allowed over 200 yards in three games this year, and had given up 961 yards on the ground over their previous four games.
One wonders if there is anyone in Charlotte who can defend the fact that the Panthers ran the ball only 25 times and dropped back to pass 46 times. Given that Delhomme is a train wreck this season and how awful the Bills are at stopping the run should those numbers not be reversed? One could almost understand the disparity if the Bills were up two or three touchdowns at the half and you needed to throw the ball to get back in the game. But, the reality is this was a 7-2 game going into the third quarter.
The kicker is the Bills went up 14-2 after Delhomme threw an interception that set the Bills up on the Panthers’ 27-yard line. What is worse the interception came on a 2nd and six play. The interception Delhomme threw to set up the Bills’ first touchdown came on a first down.
It would be one thing if the Bills were simply shutting down the Panthers rushing attack Sunday forcing them to throw the ball, but, that simply was not the case either. DeAngelo Williams averaged 5.6 yards per carry and the team averaged 4.6 per attempt for the game. If just boggles the mind how John Fox’s game plan did not revolve around running the ball until the Bills stopped them and only throwing when needing to. If I did not know any better I would think Fox is now trying to get himself fired. That is the only sane explanation one can come up with as to why the Panthers were making an effort to establish the passing attack with the game still on the line. Or, does Fox still think this is pre-season? It would not be hard to make that mistake since the team seems to be unaware the regular season has even started.
News, Notes, and Observations
Trent Edwards has already been ruled out of this weekend’s game against the Texans as he recovers from the concussion he suffered against the Jets. That means Ryan Fitzpatrick gets the nod again which cannot have Bills fans terribly excited. Then again Edwards was not exactly getting it done out there either.
There has been wide speculation since Sunday that Fox is considering benching Delhomme in favor of Matt Moore. Either way the season is over for the Panthers and Forty Niners fans are ecstatic knowing they have the Panthers first round pick in April.
Buffalo rookie corner back Jairus Byrd picked off a pair of passes for the second straight week giving him five total on the season. Byrd has interceptions in the three straight games for the Bills and is building a strong case for defensive rookie of the year.
Since being called out by Jon Beason on a local radio show Julius Peppers has notched sacks in three straight games giving him five over that span.
Lee Evans caught a touchdown pass for the second straight game and had season highs of 5 catches and 75 yards.
DeAngelo Williams scored for the second straight week.
Tight end Gary Barnidge had career highs with 3 catches for 77 yards for Carolina.
Related Posts
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
(4.33 out of 5)