Long Overdue, a Goodwin for Buffalo

Bills WR Marquise Goodwin celebrates a 43-yard TD reception with
his trademark dance.
(Source: Timothy T. Ludwig/USA TODAY Sports)

The New York Jets came into Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday in search of a divisional victory against the Buffalo Bills. Instead, the Jets walked away with a only a few tickets from Dave & Buster's the night before. This 1:00 PM start called for warm temperatures mixed with strong winds throughout the duration of the contest.

After New York received the opening kickoff, the first possession would just about summarize the remainder of the game for the away team, trouble. Jets quarterback Geno Smith dropped back to pass on 2nd-and-8, completing a short pass to wide receiver Greg Salas. While finishing his motion, Smith took a shot to the ribs from Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus. Smith was noticeably in pain after the hit, remaining on the ground for medical treatment. Smith was eventually helped to this sideline walking off on his own power. By rule, the rookie would have to miss one play before reentering the action. If the Jets knew what was about to come, they probably would've left Smith on the sideline. After a long, scoreless first quarter, there would be some fireworks ahead.

An early 40-yard kick from Bills kicker Dan Carpenter (3-0) in the second quarter got the momentum swinging in Buffalo's favor. With 4:14 left in the first half, Bills quarterback E.J. Manuel took the snap from under center on a 3rd-and-11 in Jets territory. Feeling the casino blitz, Manuel hustled back and quickly lofted up a bomb towards the left sideline. Wide receiver T.J. Graham found himself one on one in the area of the throw and alertly turned back for the ball. Graham shook his man and caught the ball, jogging in for a 34-yard touchdown (10-0). That just got the party started. After Buffalo's ensuing kickoff, the Jets took over with time to work. On the second play of the drive, Smith lined up in the gun. With the rush of Buffalo closing quickly, Smith moved up in the pocket to buy some time, instead Smith was sacked and stripped by tackle Kyle Williams. linebacker Manny Lawson fell on the ball, giving Buffalo an outstanding field position, taking over inside the Jets 5. A few plays later Buffalo cashed in on the turnover with a 3-yard burst from fullback Frank Summers (17-0). The fun did not end there. With just over 2:30 left in the half, Smith and the Jets found themselves in a second and long situation. Out of the gun, an aggressive Smith locked onto tight end Jeff Cumberland. The ball was released and picked off by Bills safety Jairus Byrd. Byrd read Smith's eyes the whole way, thinking he had Cumberland alone with safety Aaron Williams. Buffalo would take over but were unable to get much going, settling for a 42-yard field goal from Carpenter (20-0) to end the half.

The first two quarters were an absolute nightmare for head coach Rex Ryan and the Jets as they couldn't seem to wake up from agony. Smith went 3 of 9 for 44 yards, 1 interception and 1 fumble lost. Running backs Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell rushed for a combined 31 yards. On the other side, Buffalo could do no wrong. Manuel went 11 of 15 for 114 yards and 1 touchdown and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine was manhandling his former team.

The second half would show more of the same from both teams. After a failed first drive by Buffalo, punter Brian Moorman was forced to send it away. Moorman muffed the snap and took off to his right, barely getting away a rugby style boot. The ball traveled 15 yards but was brought back even further after a Buffalo penalty, with the end result being a two yard punt. The Jets would take over in Buffalo territory. A 38-yard toss and catch from Smith to wide receiver Santonio Holmes would put Gang Green in good position to cut into the deficit. Four plays later Ivory punched in a 1-yard score (20-7). Both teams were unable to do anything with the pigskin on the next two drives. Buffalo found themselves with the ball with just over 5:00 to play in the quarter. Starting from their own 17, Manuel and company the field with some swagger in their steps. The first snap saw Manuel throw a 40-yard rope to speedster Graham along the sideline. The play was challenged by Ryan, but was upheld by the officiating crew. Moving the chains to the 43 of the Jets, Buffalo was looking for more. On the very next play, Manuel put up a 43-yard rainbow to USA olympian and wide receiver Marquise Goodwin for the score (27-7). To get the points, Goodwin flew by one of the best defenders in the game, Antonio Chromartie with ease. The drive lasted 0:27 in just two plays for 83 yards. Buffalo kicked off to wide receiver and return specialist Josh Cribbs for a touchback. Smith and the Jets would have to get something going on this series to make any kind of comeback. The first play was a rush by Ivory that was blown up for a 3-yard loss by Bills linebacker Kiko Alonso. On the next play Smith was surveying the field and threw a pass intended for Holmes that was intercepted by Byrd. Buffalo could not get points out of the gift, but the confidence of Smith was officially shot. On the following Jets series, Smith and the offense seemed as though they were getting something going. A throw to tight end Kellen Winslow and a Buffalo penalty, New York lined up on their own 47. On 2nd-and-10, a screen was set up for Holmes, but was sniffed out by virtually the entire Bills defense, resulting in a 32-yard pick-six from safety Da'Norris Searcy (34-7). The quarter would eventually end and so would Smith's day.

Jets quarterback Matt Sims took over the offensive commands for the final fifteen. Sims looked solid, under strict orders from the coaching staff to play smart and turnover free. Sims would eventually hook up with Cumberland on a curl route for a 13-yard touchdown (34-14). Buffalo would run out a chunk of the clock, eventually adding a late 43-yard kick from Carpenter (37-14). After a failed 4th-and-5 from Buffalo's 5, Manuel would line up behind center Eric Wood in the victory formation.

Jets 14 Bills 37 FINAL

This was by far Buffalo's best all around team victory this season. The defense held Smith to 8 of 23 completions for just 103 yards, 3 interceptions and 1 lost fumble, the special teams added 3 field goals of 40 plus yards and the offense combined for 317 net yards.

Although Buffalo looked extremely impressive in the win, there was one major concern, the effectiveness of the run game. Star running back C.J. Spiller had 13 carries for just 6 yards, an average of 0.5 yards per carry. The team combined for a total of 38 carries for 68 yards, an average of a pathetic 1.8 yards per carry. 

With the win Buffalo moves to 4-7 with the victory (2-2 in the AFC East), while the Jets crash to 5-5 (2-2 in the AFC East). 

Three stars for Buffalo in week eleven: 

1. E.J. Manuel- 20 of 28, 245 YDS, 2 TD

2. Jairus Byrd- 3 TKL, 1 SACK, 1 TFL, 2 PD, 2 INT

3. Marquise Goodwin- 6 REC, 81 YDS, 1 TD, 1 CAR, 17 YDS

Smith, Manuel Back at it

Just like the title and picture depict, Smith and Manuel will go back at it in
week eleven at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
(Source: Richard Schultz/Getty Images)

Week three was one the Buffalo Bills would like to have back, falling 27-20 to the New York Jets. The first meeting in East Rutherford, NJ, showcased the top two quarterbacks taken in the 2013 NFL Draft, Geno Smith of the West Virginia Mountaineers and E.J. Manuel of the Florida State Seminoles. In their first meeting, Smith looked like a superstar due to a beat up Buffalo secondary, as a result, Manuel had to play catchup all game long. The rematch will be held this Sunday, as Buffalo looks to crash the Jets' dream of a playoff birth. 

The 3-7 Buffalo Bills come into this week eleven matchup extremely thin at the wide receiver position. Top two receivers, Robert Woods (ankle) and Stevie Johnson (groin) are banged up and were unable to practice all week. Head coach Doug Marrone announced earlier in the week that Woods is still not ready to play, while the team is prepared to face the Jets with four wide receivers. This meaning along with Woods, Johnson will most likely be watching this game from the sideline as well. Buffalo's speed receivers T.J. Graham and Marquise Goodwin will have to step up big, along with their physical tight ends Scott Chandler and Chris Gragg. Manuel will have to play smart, yet be aggressive at the same time with his receiving core quickly dwindling. In the previous meeting against New York, Buffalo was down to the bottom of their depth chart, searching for a healthy cornerback. Players were playing out of position and former 7th-round pick Justin Rogers was placed in an unfair situation. Rogers was absolutely embarrassed on two long touchdown passes that game, which resulted in the benching of Rogers in the games that followed. This time Buffalo is healthy and sound in the secondary, so don't expect Smith and company to have a repeat performance.

Gang Green is currently 5-4, sitting in the final wildcard spot in the AFC. The team is coming off a bye week, with their previous game being a shocking victory over NFC powerhouse New Orleans Saints. Led by head coach Rex Ryan, the New York Jets have been on a nine game roller coaster ride. One game the Jets look like contenders and the next they look like pretenders. Regardless of how they do it, the Jets have put themselves in a place to make a late season playoff push. Majority of the credit has been given to the first ranked rush defense, who just got better with the acquisition of future Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed. Even though Reed practiced throughout the week, it's not clear as to how much Reed will play on Sunday. With his talent and experience, Reed will add much needed leadership to the Jets secondary. This week also marks the return of former Bills wide receiver David Nelson. Nelson was a fan favorite in Buffalo with his ability to find ways to get open, especially on third downs. With a wounded Jeremy Kerley, look for Nelson to get an extended amount of targets.  

In order to steal a victory, Buffalo will have to extend their time of possession on offense by running the ball effectively. Big plays early by running backs C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson will be key to get the offense going and the crowd of Ralph Wilson Stadium into it. While the defense needs to put pressure on Smith and the Jets offense. Smith has looked like a deer in headlights while under duress, making poor decisions and turning the football over.

Here's how the two teams rank in the NFL heading into week eleven:

Passing Yards: Bills 192.2 YPG (29th) vs. Jets 202.2 YPG (26th)

Rushing Yards: Bills 140.7 YPG (7th) vs. Jets 129.0 YPG (9th)

Passing Yards Allowed: Bills 238.6 YPG (17th) vs. Jets 251.4 YPG (24th)

Rushing Yards Allowed: Bills 117.3 YPG (22nd) vs. Jets 73.8 YPG (1st)

Buffalo's Offense Did Not Fit the Bill

Bills RB Fred Jackson and the offense couldn't find any answers
against the Steelers on Sunday.
(Source: Justin A. Keller)

Quarterback E.J. Manuel and the Buffalo Bills came into Heinz Field with high expectations. The Pittsburgh Steelers were looking for redemption after a humiliating loss to New England last week. Pre game warmups showed quarterbacks, punters and kickers struggle due to winds gusting up to 25 MPH. The team that would run the ball successfully and convert third downs would have the edge, Pittsburgh did just that.

The First drive of the game came from the Steelers. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and company quickly drove down the field and found themselves in Buffalo territory. With 10:33 in the first, Roethlisberger lined up in the shotgun with running back Le'Veon Bell to his left. Roethlisberger took the snap and saw a one on one matchup between Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin and wide receiver Markus Wheaton. Roethlisberger pulled the trigger with a lob pass, but was picked off by ball hawk Bills safety Jairus Byrd. Byrd flew in from the middle of the field to intercept and run back the pass all the way down to Pittsburgh's 29-yard line. Unfortunately Buffalo couldn't take advantage of the big play. Unable to capitalize in the red zone, the away team settled for a 20-yard Dan Carpenter field goal. The media has blasted Buffalo for their inability to get six points in the red zone, ranking in the top three worst in the NFL. Sadly, that was the highlight of the day for Buffalo, as they were completed dominated in all phases of game after that.

The Pittsburgh Steelers started to find their pulse in the second quarter, starting it off with a 36-yard kick from Shaun Suisham. The home team was just getting started. Right before the half a 34-yard shovel pass to Bell and a 24-yard reception by wide receiver Antonio Brown, landed Pittsburgh inside Buffalo's five. From the five, Roethlisberger hit wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery on a fade route to beat Buffalo corner back Stephon Gilmore. The score was 10-3 going into halftime, in favor of the team wearing black and yellow. This was by far the ugliest first 30 minutes for the Bills this season. After the lone score, Buffalo punted on every offensive possession in the first half. To make things worse, Buffalo combined for a total of 82 net yards on offense, while giving up 213 yards on defense. This was a sign of bad things to come for Buffalo.

The second half was practically a mirror image of the first half. Bell scored on a rushing touchdown, in which he was supposed to be on the sideline. Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus jumped too early on fourth down, giving Pittsburgh a new set of downs. Later, Manuel threw a pick and two field goals were added to the Pittsburgh lead. Buffalo finally found the end zone one the last offensive play of the game when Manuel found tight end Chris Gragg for a 2-yard toss and catch for the rookie connection. In a week where the NFL sautes the service, I'm sure Buffalo would've been happy to raise the white flag. But there's good news, the flight from Pittsburgh to Buffalo is only 37 minutes.

Steelers 23 Bills 10 FINAL

This was by far the worst outing for the Buffalo Bills this season. Here are five reasons why the Bills could not get the job done today:

1. Grim performance from Manuel- Manuel's first game back from injury was one he'd like to forget. Manuel went 22 of 39 for 155 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Before the last series, Manuel only had 64 yards passing to go with an interception. The rookie misfired badly on a fade to wide receiver Stevie Johnson in the end zone on the first drive, was frantic and unaware in the pocket, looking completely rattled all day long.

2. Inability to run the ball- running backs C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson combined for a miserable 78 yards on the ground. With Manuel struggling and the wind gusting, Buffalo needed to run the ball efficiently to come away with a victory. 

3. Third down efficiency- Buffalo struggled on third downs to say the least. The team went 3 of 14 on third down conversions (21%). That's a formula for disaster on the road. 

4. No big plays- Buffalo's longest run came on the last series when Jackson scampered for an 11-yard gain. The three longest passing plays were 23 and 20 yards to Johnson and 16 yards to Hogan. Those were the only three successful passes that went over 10 yards. 

5. Special Teams- When Buffalo was forced to punt, punter Brian Moorman and coverage did not deliver. Moorman punted nine times with an average of 36.9 yards per punt, with a 24.2 yard net. 

The Buffalo Bills (3-7) will try to bounce back when they take on AFC East foe New York Jets (5-4) at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Three stars for Buffalo in week ten:

1. Kyle Williams- 4 TKL, 1 SACK, 3 TFL

2. Jerry Hughes- 4 TLK, 2 SACK, 2 TFL

3. Jairus Byrd- 4 TKL, 1 INT, 1 PD

Not Too Late to Billieve

Bills WR Stevie Johnson dropped the game winning pass in OT
 against the Steelers in 2010.
(Source: Karl Walter/Getty Images)

A mix between Terrible Towels and paper bag heads will be the scene at Heinz Field for this week ten matchup. The 3-6 Buffalo Bills will be charging into the steel city, as they take on the 2-6 Pittsburgh Steelers. Both teams have undoubtedly  underachieved this season, given the outrageous amount of talent and weaponry on their rosters. But with a victory this weekend, all could be forgotten.

The Buffalo Bills have been in the news all week with numerous reports coming from One Bills Drive. On Monday, the team announced that rookie quarterback E.J. Manuel was cleared to return from injury. Hours later, the Bills decided to go separate ways with quarterback Matt Flynn. With a spot now open on the roster, the team picked up hybrid fullback Evan Rodriguez. Head coach Doug Marrone described the new addition as, "very athletic," believing that Rodriguez will help out in the backfield and on special teams. On Wednesday, Bills president Russ Brandon told WGR 550, "unless he (Manuel) has any type of setback through the course of practice he should be ready to go on Sunday." Fortunately there were no setbacks, which led to Marrone giving Manuel the nod against the Steelers. Two days later, reports confirmed that the team decided to release wide receiver and return specialist Brad Smith. Smith has been on IR all season, but with the release, the dual threat now has the ability to sign with any team in the NFL, except Buffalo.

The Pittsburgh Steelers come into this matchup with a laundry list of injury reports on the offensive line. Tackle Mike Adams is questionable (ribs) and opposite tackle Marcus Gilbert is also questionable (ankle). Guards Kevin Beachum and David DeCastro are also nursing injuries, but believe they'll be ready to play. Steelers' center Maurkice Pouncey has been on IR since early September, meaning he will not be on the field to anchor the dwindling offensive line. As a result, Buffalo's defensive line led by Mario Williams could have a field day. Look for defensive coordinator Mike Pettine to draw up some exotic blitz packages for this AFC showdown.

The biggest mismatch in this battle will be the strength of Buffalo's rushing attack against Pittsburgh's inability to stop the run. In week nine, the Bills racked up 241 yards on the ground against one of the best defenses in the NFL (Kansas City Chiefs). Buffalo averages just over 145 yards per game rushing (7th in NFL), while the Steelers give up 131 yards per game rushing on defense (31st in NFL). With running backs C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson healthy, and with Manuel being a threat in the run as well, Pittsburgh has the potential to be exposed all day long. If quarterback Ben Rothelisberger and his Steelers can score points early, Buffalo will be forced to shy away from the run, resulting in passes from a rusty Manuel.

Since 2001, Pittsburgh has won all four meetings against Buffalo. On November 28, 2010, the world was introduced to Buffalo wide receiver Stevie Johnson. Ralph Wilson Stadium Orchard Park, NY, a struggling Buffalo Bills team forced overtime against a playoff built dynasty, Pittsburgh Steelers. Former Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick went with a play-action pass with 10:38 in overtime. Johnson played out the fake perfectly and bolted past Pittsburgh cornerback Ike Taylor. Johnson had a large amount of separation from Taylor, finding himself all alone in the end zone. Fitzpatrick chucked the ball 50-yards right into Johnson's hands. Johnson took one step with the ball, bobbled it and dropped the go-ahead win. Buffalo went on to lose after a Pittsburgh field goal. Look on the bright side, because of the drop, Buffalo was slotted at number nine in the 2010 NFL Draft. With that pick, they selected C.J. Spiller out of Clemson. Despite the fact, Jonson and the Buffalo fans still have a bitter taste in their mouths, so look for Johnson to have a strong showing in week ten.

Regardless of Sunday's outcome, all eyes will be on Manuel. Just like the 1985 film, Buffalo will be going Back to the Future. Look for the Virginia Beach native to show football critics what he has to offer after being sidelined the previous four games.

Buffalo Reclaims Vital Part of the Offensive Manuel

Bills QB E.J. Manuel has been cleared to return, playing status
 is still unknown, will be determined by staff.
(Source: Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Multiple reports out of One Bills Drive have confirmed that rookie first round pick E.J. Manuel has been medically cleared to return after missing four games. Manuel has been out of commission since suffering a knee injury on October 3, against the Cleveland Browns. 

Buffalo has been anxiously anticipating Manuel's return after some shaky quarterback play since the absence of number three. In Manuel's first five games, the former FSU Seminole has completed 85 passes for 985 yards and 5 touchdowns, earning a 42.2 quarterback rating. Although the numbers won't jump out at you, there is no statistic that shows his incredible poise and leadership as a rookie quarterback in the National Football League. There is a level of comfort when Manuel is the signal caller, making intelligent decisions that give the Bills a chance to win week after week.

It is still uncertain when Manuel will start, but after critiquing the schedule, don't be surprised if the organization plays it safe and let's the rookie sit through the bye week (11/24).

Bills Unable to Find Winning Tuel in Loss

Chiefs CB Sean Smith picked off the inexperienced Bills QB early
 in the second half for a 100-yard touchdown.
(Source: Gary Weipert/AP Photo)

The Buffalo Bills must have listened to the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 1991 hit, "Give It Away" during Sunday's game, because that's exactly what happened. 

Just hours before gametime, the team announced that starting quarterback Thad Lewis would be listed as inactive (ribs), naming undrafted rookie free agent quarterback Jeff Tuel the starter. Tuel would have his hands full in his first career NFL start, facing one of the leagues best defenses.

On a cold November day, the Bills started off the game hot. Buffalo's defense made Kansas City feel the pressure right away, forcing all punts in the first quarter. Bills cornerback and return specialist Leodis McKelvin got things going early with a punt return for a touchdown. Unfortunately the joystick like effort was negated due to a penalty on the return. Although this did not earn points, it boosted the energy in Ralph Wilson Stadium. Later in the quarter, Buffalo finally used that energy when Tuel found the speedy Marquise Goodwin for a 59-yard touchdown to take the early 7-0 with 1:52 remaining in the first.

The second quarter showed very low productivity from both offenses, with each team putting up only one field goal. The first half would come to an end with a 10-3 lead in favor of the home team.

Buffalo received the second half kickoff looking to better their lead. It seemed they'd do just that after running back C.J. Spiller's 61-yard burst on their first play from scrimmage. The long play put Buffalo inside Kansas City's red zone. A few plays later, Tuel targeted tight end Scott Chandler in the end zone, the pass fell incomplete, but the Chiefs were hit with a pass interference penalty, putting Buffalo one yard away from paydirt. After two unsuccessful runs from running back Fred Jackson, Buffalo was faced with a crucial third down form the two. Lined up in the gun, Tuel dropped back and felt the all-out blitz from the defense. Tuel locked onto wide receiver T.J. Graham, threw the ball into double coverage and was picked off by Sean Smith of the Chiefs. It didn't end there, Smith returned Tuel's pass 100-yards for a Kansas City touchdown. Tuel missed a wide open receiver, Stevie Johnson, who was waving for the ball in the middle of the end zone. Instead of being up two scores, the game was now tied with momentum in the visiting teams favor. The quarter ended with both teams trading field goals, making it a 13-13 game going into the final 15 minutes.

The Bills had a chance to regain momentum on their first offensive possession of the fourth quarter. Tuel thew a simple out route to Graham deep in their own territory, Graham caught the ball and made a football move before he was hit and stripped by a Kansas City defender and was scooped and scored by the dangerous defensive end Tamba Hali. The mistake put Buffalo in a 20-13 hole, which they were unable to rebound from. Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop nailed a 39-yard field goal with 2:13 remaining in the game to end Buffalo's hopes at a comeback. 

Chiefs 23 Bills 13 FINAL

Although Buffalo doubled the Chiefs in total yards, they were unable to find a way to get the job done. In fact, the Bills rushed for more yards (241) than the Chiefs earned in total (210). A simple reasoning for Buffalo's loss on Sunday would be the three turnovers. The Bills lost the turnover battle 3-0, with the Chiefs turning the gifts into 17 points. 

The Bills fall to 3-6 (last in the AFC East), while the Chiefs surge to 9-0 (best in the NFL). Buffalo will take on Ben Roethlisberger and the struggling 2-6 Pittsburgh Steelers next Sunday at Heinz Field. 

Three stars for Buffalo in week nine:

1. C.J. Spiller- 12 CAR, 116 YDS, 2 REC, 39 YDS

2. Marquise Goodwin- 2 REC, 64 YDS, TD, 1KR, 24 YDS

3. Buffalo Bills Defense- 9 PA, 210 YDSA

Mandatory Tuel Time

Bills QB Jeff Tuel will be the starter this Sunday against the Chiefs.
(Source: James Brady/SBNation)

When the Buffalo Bills hit the field this Sunday, they'll be without quarterback Thad Lewis. Lewis struggled immensely in his third start against New Orleans, frequently taking brutal shots from the defense led by Rob Ryan. 

Practice reps have been split all week at the quarterback position between Jeff Tuel and Matt Flynn. Most fans would like to see what the Bills have in Flynn, but don't be surprised if you see the team give Tuel the nod against Kansas City. 

Since the season started, Buffalo has gone through three quarterbacks due to injury, as well as making two additions to the quarterback position. These moves were made due to the uncertainty of the  former Washington State signal caller. Buffalo head coach Doug Marrone doesn't seem sold that Tuel is NFL ready just yet, but there might be no other option. The odds that Tuel would actually start a game this season were so strikingly thin, but with three quarterbacks down and the two new additions not familiar enough with the system, it looks to be that this Sunday will in fact be Tuel time.

The undrafted rookie will be tested right out of the gate against one of the best defenses in football. With little knowledge of what the 22-year-old can do at this level, we'll have to take a look back to Tuel's collegiate days. Here's a look at Jeff Tuel's career passing statistics as a member of the Washing State Cougars:

 (Courtesy of Sports-Refrence.com)