Buffalo Bills Replay: Has team turned corner?
Leo: Wow, who spiked our coffee this morning? The Bills played a nice football game against Miami and finally outplayed a team in the fourth quarter. But it’s one win.
Sal: Yeah, and one win doesn’t make an NFL season, but let’s not apologize for feeling a little giddy. It’s been a looooong year, a loooong decade, and like the 70,000-plus delirious fans at The Ralph on Sunday, I know I was waiting to exhale.
Leo: Exhale? I think I saw you actually smile and say something nice about the Bills in the press box. What’s Ebenezer going to be like if the Bills beat the Jets in Toronto on Thursday?
Sal: Aggravated that they will be blowing their chances for a top-five draft pick, and possibly creeping some doubt into the minds of Ralph Wilson and Russ Brandon regarding the need to blow up the organization and bring in big-name, top-level people.
Leo: You have to admit the Bills have been a lot more palatable the last two weeks under Fewell’s guidance. Maybe it’s the natural jolt that change provides, but the Bills have gone from bad and boring to competitive and entertaining.
Sal: Wait a minute — they weren’t exactly entertaining in Jacksonville, nor were they for three quarters against the Dolphins. They played a terrific fourth quarter, but let’s not jump into a pool of Kool-Aid here.
Leo: Fewell’s got a shot at making it impossible for Wilson to ignore him when it comes time to hiring a coach for 2010.
Sal: Leo, please, spare me. Like I said, nice win thanks to a great quarter of football. That’s as far as I’m going to go. I like Perry, I really do. I just don’t think giving him the job is in the long-term best interest of the franchise because if he stays, who else stays? And haven’t we both been saying that the Bills need a new direction with new people calling the shots?
Leo: I’m just saying don’t dismiss Fewell’s chances out of hand. No coach that took over during the season in Bills history has ever finished with more than two wins. Harvey Johnson was 1-10-1 in 1968, Jim Ringo was 0-9 in 1976, Hank Bullough was 2-10 in 1985 and Marv Levy was 2-5 in 1986. What if Fewell wins three or four?
Sal: So what? Then the Bills might finish 6-10. We’re supposed to be happy? You are letting your heart cloud your judgment. I hope Perry gets a head coaching job somewhere next season, but I really would prefer it was somewhere else.
Leo: The issue is how much do you value a complete house cleaning? Fewell would keep some things in place here where a new coach brings in a whole new approach and staff and starts from ground zero.
Sal: Yes. Thank you.
Leo: But what Fewell needs is a revamped front office and scouting department. With some offensive linemen and linebackers, he could take .500 talent and squeeze out the two or three extra wins needed to make the playoffs. I really believe that.
Sal: You go right ahead believing that, along with the illusion that they have .500 talent, but I’d rather bring in a guy who could get better players, and get five or six more wins a year and turn this team into a Super Bowl contender rather than a wild-card contender. Call me crazy.
Leo: OK, enough about the coaching situation. There’s not much time to savor Sunday’s win over Miami with the Jets game practically upon us. What an effort. A Bills team that was outscored 109-40 in the fourth quarter this year outscored the Dolphins 24-0. That’s impressive.
Sal: It was. And what I liked is that offense, defense and special teams all contributed key plays. We haven’t seen that too often from this team. Good for them, and I was happy Perry got a well-deserved first victory.
Leo: Something we didn’t talk about much was how critical that 13-play TD drive was that tied the game at 14 early in the fourth quarter. Miami had just put together a nine-minute scoring drive, but by responding with a drive that ate up 7:04, Buffalo’s offense gave its defense a chance to rest. That was significant because the defense had some juice left and finally dominated a fourth quarter.
Sal: It was a key segment, but I thought one of the most overlooked plays was Brian Moorman’s punt that went out at the 2 and set the wheels in motion for everything that happened in the final seven minutes.
Leo: Knowing how you love Marshawn Lynch, you had to love Fewell’s move to make Fred Jackson the No. 1 running back.
Sal: Did I ever. Fewell chose Ryan Fitzpatrick to be his quarterback because he felt he gave the Bills the best chance to succeed, and he smartly applied the same logic to choosing Jackson over Lynch.
Leo: I don’t think Dick Jauron makes that move. What’s nice is that Fewell has no loyalty to underachieving offensive players like Lynch and Edwards. Hey, if nothing else, at least December has become interesting again.
Sal: Well, I guess we can agree on that point. A lot of issues have yet to be resolved and the Bills have five games left to find some answers.
Leo: Including what to do with Terrell Owens. If he keeps this pace up, why not offer him a two-year deal to come back? And oh yeah, remember to send T.O. a birthday card next Monday when he turns 36.
Sal: OK, that didn’t last long. I don’t agree with that take either. I’m not buying T.O. for another year, and I’m pretty sure he’s not buying Buffalo for another year. I think he’s seen enough, and he won’t want to be part of a team that may be starting from scratch in 2010.
Leo: Never underestimate the power of attitude. Fewell initiated an attitude change at One Bills Drive with tougher practices and a physical, aggressive identity. Who knows? Maybe Jauron’s greatest contribution to the Bills will be that he was the one who brought Fewell to Buffalo.
Sal: I think Jauron’s greatest contribution is what he did to the careers of Gregg Williams and Mike Mularkey, who suddenly don’t look as bad now as they once did in Buffalo.
