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)

8 and Uh-Oh

Bills TE Scott Chandler has become a major weapon in Buffalo's
passing game since joining the team in 2010.
(Source: Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images North America)

The only undefeated team remaining in the NFL this season will have its work cut out this Sunday. Ralph Wilson Stadium will be rocking the whiteout as the (3-5) Buffalo Bills look to upset the (8-0) Kansas City Chiefs. If you think this game is another mark in the loss column, think again. Here are five reasons why the Buffalo Bills will knock off the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs:

1. The possible return of the two-headed monster: The Buffalo Bills will likely get their biggest weapon on offense back for week nine, running back C.J. Spiller. The former Clemson Tiger sat out last week against New Orleans due to a high ankle sprain. Buffalo ranks 7th in NFL this season in rushing yards per game, which is an amazing statistic given the health of their running backs. Team captain and running back Fred Jackson has had to fight all season long through nagging injuries of his own, while leading the team in rushing with 425 yards on 101 attempts (4.2 AVG). If a healthy Spiller gets the nod on Sunday, Kansas City will be playing chase all game long. 

2. Chief's struggling in the passing game- Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith has received a tremendous amount of praise this season for the success of the team, but his stats might tell you otherwise. Kansas City sits 24th overall in passing yards per game this season with just over 200. Let's not forget that their leading receiver is running back Jamaal Charles. Smith likes to play in small blocks, meaning he's comfortable with passes in the 1-10 range and checkdowns. When Smith decides to throw the ball 21 yards down the field or longer this season, the former number one overall pick only completes 3 of 13 balls (23%). The ineffectiveness of wide receiver Dwayne Bowe might have something to do with the absence of a deep threat thus far. Kansas City has relied heavily on the rushing attack this year, averaging 122 yards per contest. Although this is their weapon, Buffalo will have an answer for it in week nine.

3. Mr. Big Stuff and company- Former Buffalo Bills great Bruce Smith, went on record of saying that this year's defensive line is the best in franchise history. Although the numbers haven't quite showed it, Smith might be onto something. The Defensive line consists of Mario Williams (11 SACKS), Kyle Williams (38 TKL) and "Mr. Big Stuff" Marcell Dareus (29 TKL), all strong candidates to the make the Pro Bowl this season. With talent like linebacker Kiko Alonso, cornerback Stephon Gilmore and safety Jairus Byrd behind them, Buffalo has the potential to go off at any time. 

4. Chandler finding the end zone- Since tight end Scott Chandler was picked up by Buffalo at the end of the 2010 season, he's become an absolute nightmare for Kansas City. In the season open in 2011, Chandler caught five balls for 63 yards and two touchdowns. The following season Chandler snagged only two balls but gained 53 yards and put up a score. Even though the Chiefs have had success this year in defending the tight end, look for number 84 to repeat history. 

5. Fandemonium- Orchard Park, NY is has a tremendous atmosphere on gameday, but this week nine matchup will bring the best out of the fans. Expect the 12th man to be in full effect in a game where fans are encouraged to completely whiteout Ralph Wilson stadium. The fans at Arrowhead might be loud, but there is nothing like the hostile environment at the Ralph. Former Bills radio announcer Van Miller might have tell everyone to "fasten their seat belts," because this place will be "fandemonium!"

Byrd to Take Flight?

Bills FS Jairus Byrd has been a trade possibility since signing
his free agent tender in August.
(Source: Paul Connors/AP Photo)

The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, October 29 at 4:00 PM ET and Buffalo might be active. Buffalo Bills' franchise safety Jairus Byrd could be on the move, but there's a catch. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Buffalo is only interested in trading Byrd if they can get a young talent, not a draft pick, for the Pro Bowl safety. Although this move is highly unlikely, Buffalo could use a big wide receiver or even a cornerback in return for Byrd. 

Here are some players around the league that are rumored to be on the trading block: Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew, Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden, Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis, New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon. 

For the latest trade updates around the league, follow me on twitter @TonyMiller716.