NFL FanHouse

Pocket Presence: Bruce Is Loose

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Browns, Raiders, NFL Quarterbacks

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

It was a revelation in Oakland Sunday -- the starting quarterback struggled a bit, but didn't make dumb decisions or do more to beat his team than beat the opponent. Instead, he led his team on a late touchdown drive to tie the score, then got a break to pick up the win.

Oakland Raiders: Bruce Gradkowski and JaMarcus Russell

Gradkowski didn't remind anyone of Brett Favre in his performance against Cincinnati Sunday, but he was good enough to win. He didn't destroy his team with countless inaccurate throws or misreads. Instead, he allowed the Raiders to hang in there against a better team (Cincinnati), and he led a game-tying drive in the final minute to draw the game even.

It was something that it is hard to believe Russell could do at this point. Gradkowski played with confidence and poise, while Russell doesn't inspire much of either trait in his teammates.

It's only one game, but the Raiders appear to at least have a nice stopgap in place until they use another high draft pick and $30 million more to solve their lack of a franchise quarterback.

Status update: Warm

Cleveland Browns: Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson

Yes, this came against the Detroit defense. Quinn threw for over 300 yards, launched some nice deep passes, and led the Browns to five offensive touchdowns. It was something Anderson never came close to doing, and it was easily as good as the Browns have looked.

Of course, Detroit's defense can do that to people.

That said, Quinn threw with poise, he threw long (something he hasn't done much in the NFL), and he looked like an NFL quarterback.

He'll continue to start for the Browns, and maybe they'll win a game or two.

Status update: Warm

Buffalo Bills: Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards

Fitzpatrick nearly led the Bills to a road win Sunday in Jacksonville. He found Terrell Owens nine times, including a 98-yard touchdown, and he used his skill position talent to make plays through the air.

Of course, the Bills scored 15 points and lost by a field goal. So there's that.

Fitzpatrick also threw two interceptions, and he blew three chances to get his team in the end zone from close range in the first half. That is a huge reason Buffalo lost the game late, and Fitzpatrick has to get better at executing his team's offense in the red zone.

It was, overall, a good start to the Perry Fewell era. His team played hard, and there is enough positive there to make one think the Bills can rebound and have a respectable finish. That will likely come with Fitzpatrick under center.

Status update: Lukewarm

Pocket Presence: Bruce Is Loose originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mike Shanahan Talks to the Bills

Michael David Smith — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:54:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors

The 'Mike Shanahan to Buffalo' talk is heating up.

Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan met for seven hours in Denver with Bills chief operating officer Russ Brandon on Monday night and Tuesday morning.

"We had an excellent meeting," Shanahan told Schefter today. "I was really impressed with Russ Brandon and everything he had to say. We're going to stay in touch and see what develops."

According to Schefter, Brandon gave a persuasive pitch to Shanahan to try to convince him that the franchise would be the right place for him to return to the sidelines. Shanahan won't rush into taking the job -- and there are league rules that would prevent the Bills from rushing into giving Shanahan the job -- but the two sides are at least talking.

Shanahan was fired by the Broncos after coaching in Denver from 1995 to 2008. The Bills fired Dick Jauron last week and replaced him with interim head coach Perry Fewell.

Follow me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.

Mike Shanahan Talks to the Bills originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eric Wood Injury Too Brutal for TV Replay

Chris Burke — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, NFL Injuries

Bills rookie offensive lineman Eric Wood suffered an ugly injury in the third quarter of Buffalo's 18-15 loss to Jacksonville. The injury was so bad, in fact, that CBS opted not to show any replays of the play because it was too gruesome.

Wood was rolled up on during a Buffalo pass play, and his left leg bent at an extremely unnatural angle. According to the Bills, Wood fractured both his tibia and fibula, and stayed in Jacksonville to have immediate season-ending surgery. The injury was easily one of the worst in the NFL this season and could wind up keeping Wood out of the lineup for much longer than the final six weeks of 2009.

Jacksonville 18, Buffalo 15: Recap | Box Score | NFL Scoreboard
More From FanHouse: Gruesome Sports Injuries

You can see video of Wood's injury on YouTube, but be warned that the footage is very graphic.

Wood, who was selected with the 28th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, had been one of Buffalo's most consistent offensive linemen for an already-hobbled unit.

"No matter how much you work out, injuries are going to happen," fellow lineman Jonathan Scott said. "Unfortunately for us, we seem to get a lot of them at the same time. It's tough because the guys who went down are good guys, hard-working guys. We just have to persevere and try to get through this as best we can."

Wood's surgery replaced the fractured bones, and he is expected to return to Buffalo as soon as Monday. The Bills will almost certainly place Wood on injured reserve and fill his roster spot once Week 11 ends.

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Eric Wood Injury Too Brutal for TV Replay originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brian Brohm: Your Newest Buffalo Bill

Will Brinson — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:15:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Packers, NFL Quarterbacks

Brian Brohm has left the Packers' practice squad and joined the Buffalo Bills active roster, in a move that seems pretty good for both Brohm and the Bills' organization.

According to the Journal-Sentinel in Milwaukee, the Packers attempted to retain Brohm (he was a second round pick two years ago) to the practice squad, but obviously the former Louisville quarterback preferred the notion of actually having a shot at playing with Buffalo when presented with equal contracts.

The crazy thing is, he's got a pretty good shot -- Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick are obviously not preferred choices when it comes to quarterback, and even though Brohm never got any traction with the Packers, he's still a high upside player; it's not like he had any where he could really go in Green Bay in terms of jumping Aaron Rodgers.

In Buffalo, however, he presents at least some possibility of a chance to earn full-time jobs for both he and interim head coach Perry Fewell.

Brian Brohm: Your Newest Buffalo Bill originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocket Presence: JaMarcus Russell May Keep Starting Job in Oakland

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Browns, Panthers, Raiders, Redskins, Titans, NFL Quarterbacks

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

How would you feel if you were an ineffective starter who may only keep his job one more week because the backup is injured? Worse, what if you were so bad that you lost your job to a guy who was injured? Well, Oakland's JaMarcus Russell may be on the verge of finding out how that feels.

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski

Russell has been nothing short of miserable this season, completing just 46 percent of his throws over his first nine starts. The Raiders are 2-7, have no playoff hope, and they stand just a mathematical chance of finishing even close to .500.

Things are so bad in Oakland that they're considering giving the start Sunday to Gradkowski, who has a career passer rating of 58.7 and threw two picks in just nine passes last week against Kansas City. Oh, and he's injured, battling a hamstring strain.

It's entirely conceivable that Russell could actually keep his job only because his backup is dinged up. It would be the perfect way to continue this amazing string of futility by the former No. 1 overall pick.
Status update: White-hot

Cleveland Browns: Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson

Quinn was awful Monday night, but let's face it: He didn't get any help. The Browns can't run the ball, they don't have any great playmakers on the perimeter, and they can't figure out ways to get their best player -- Joshua Cribbs -- the ball more often. Seven touches in 61 offensive plays doesn't seem like enough for Cribbs, especially when only one of those touches came on a reception.

The Browns have to solve that issue (assuming Cribbs is going to play after that nasty shot he took at the end of the game), and they have to convince Quinn that it's okay to throw a 40-yard bomb and give someone a chance to make a play -- even if the odds are against them. One thing should be clear by now, and that is that Anderson will only return if Quinn gets hurt. It would be a huge error for coach Eric Mangini to overreact and go back in that direction, though anything is possible.
Status update: Very warm

Buffalo Bills: Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards

Perhaps a coaching change will turn the Bills around. On the other hand, the quarterback situation there seems to dictate that any coach will fail in Buffalo. Perry Fewell isn't going to magically make either of these guys any good, and he's not going to suddenly revamp a moribund offense into something passable. The Bills, despite their skill-position personnel, are a failure on that side of the ball. Fewell might rescue them from the abyss, but he's not going to get the offense averaging 25 points a game at the snap of a finger.

For now, it appears Fitzpatrick is the starter. That doesn't appear to be a bad call, given the situation and the competition he faces. However, Edwards could very easily end up playing again, as it's not like Fitzpatrick lit the world on fire while Edwards was out.
Status update: Very warm

Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme and Matt Moore
Washington Redskins: Jason Campbell and Todd Collins
Tennessee Titans: Vince Young and Kerry Collins

These guys are listed together because the starters are all playing pretty well right now after having been listed here earlier in the season. It doesn't mean they won't show up in the crosshairs again, but it looks like there are at least some teams who have answered questions at the quarterback position, whether it was by making a change or avoiding the great temptation to do so.

Pocket Presence: JaMarcus Russell May Keep Starting Job in Oakland originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dick Jauron the Latest Example of Damage a Bad Quarterback Can Do

Dan Graziano — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:54:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, NFL Quarterbacks, NFL Analysis

So Dick Jauron is available to paint your house this weekend if you need somebody. The Buffalo Bills have relieved Jauron of his job as their head coach, effective immediately. And while there's nothing on Jauron's resume that's going to cause anybody to mix him up with Vince Lombardi, the other Bills news of the day makes me wonder if the man really ever had a chance.

The news of Jauron's firing comes on the same day the Bills apparently decided to give Ryan Fitzpatrick the starting quarterback job over Trent Edwards (presumably because neither Rob Johnson nor J.P. Losman answered his phone). And while we all certainly wish Fitzpatrick well, let's get real. This quarterback decision is that of a team that has no real quarterback. And when you don't have a real quarterback -- a reliable, stud, franchise-type quarterback -- well, that's when people's careers end.

Again, the Bills had a teetering Jenga tower of reasons to fire Jauron. He was 27-39 overall and 3-6 this year as Buffalo seems well on its way to extending its streak of missed postseasons to 10 in a row. He constantly seemed confused on the sidelines. His personality is not the kind that inspires men to greatness. When he fired his offensive coordinator a week and a half before the season, the guy said the reason he got canned was because Jauron was too simple-minded to understand real NFL schemes. Any of these reasons on its own is enough to heat a coach's seat. All of them together constitute a real good case for firing him.

But don't you wonder what might have been, if Trent Edwards had turned out to be what the Bills believed he would be? And looking at it now, don't we have to take this firing as the latest example of how important the quarterback position is in the NFL?

Put simply, this is the reason Matthew Stafford's agents could walk into the Detroit Lions offices this past April and ask for $41 million guaranteed. Once the Lions decided they wanted Stafford with the No. 1 overall pick, they were effectively telling him and the rest of the world they were betting on him to be a franchise QB. And if they really believe that's what he's going to be, then they should be willing to pay him almost anything he wants.

It's a risky bet, but it carries the price tag it carries because it's the bet that determines the fate of your franchise. This is not an overstatement. If you get the quarterback position right, you are set up for a decade. If you pick Peyton Manning or Eli Manning or Ben Roethlisberger or Tom Brady, you're basically making yourself a playoff team -- or at least a playoff contender -- every year. And if you're in the playoffs, you're making millions of extra gate, concession and TV dollars you wouldn't otherwise be making.

Conversely, if you miss on quarterback, you're more or less doomed. If you pick JaMarcus Russell or Brady Quinn or Tim Couch (that's right -- same team) or Ryan Leaf, you're going to spend that next decade finishing in last place and trying to dig out of that hole.

You think it's because of chance or luck or geography that the Colts thrive in a new stadium in Indianapolis while the Bills wither in Buffalo? Indianapolis isn't L.A. It's not New York. It's not even Dallas. If that team stunk every year, if it gave its town's citizens no reason to go see its games, if it hadn't won the Super Bowl three years ago and looked almost every year for the past seven years like a team that could, it could very well be the one playing most of its home games in a decrepit old money pit and a couple each year in Canada.

But it's not, and that's because this right here is the list of every quarterback who's started a game for the Bills for the past 12 seasons:

Doug Flutie
Rob Johnson
Alex Van Pelt
Drew Bledsoe
J.P. Losman
Kelly Holcomb
Trent Edwards
Ryan Fitzpatrick

And here's the same list for the Colts:

Peyton Manning

Sure, sure, the Colts do a lot of things better than the Bills do. And there's Tony Dungy and Marvin Harrison and Bill Polian and all kinds of other people who deserve credit for what they've built there. But don't you think it helps that, since 1998, they haven't had to worry for one second about the quarterback position? At all? EVER???

People, it is no coincidence that the Bills are tied with the Lions for the longest current streak by an NFL team of years without making the playoffs. It's no coincidence that their last postseason experience was the Music City Miracle. It's all tied to the quarterback position, as it is with every NFL team. And that's why Perry Fewell or Bobby April or whoever the guy is who replaces Jauron had better hope that Ryan Fitzpatrick is the next Tom Brady. Because if he's not, it's going to be real hard to stay head coach for very long.

Dick Jauron the Latest Example of Damage a Bad Quarterback Can Do originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buffalo Bills Fire Dick Jauron

Michael David Smith — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:40:00 EST

Filed under: Bills

The Buffalo Bills have fired head coach Dick Jauron, the team announced on Tuesday, bringing to an end a coaching tenure in Buffalo that yielded nothing but losing seasons.

The firing, which was first reported by Jason La Canfora of NFL Network, comes in the midst of a disappointing season in Buffalo, and two days after the Bills lost 41-17 to the Tennessee Titans, dropping their record to 3-6.

More Coverage: Poor QB Play Does Jauron In

Bills owner Ralph Wilson said the following in a statement released by the team:

"I am announcing today that I am relieving Dick Jauron from his duties as our head coach, effective immediately. I have tremendous respect for Dick and thank him for all of his efforts during these past four years. While this was a very difficult decision, I felt that it is one that needed to be made at this time for the best interest of our team. We will now focus on moving forward and preparing for our game this week in Jacksonville."

The Bills announced Thursday night that defensive coordinator Perry Fewell would serve as interim head coach.

Jauron became the Bills' head coach in 2006, and the Bills went 7-9 in each of his first three seasons. Bills owner Ralph Wilson said this year that he was expecting a big turnaround, and he opened up his wallet for some expensive free-agent signings, including wide receiver Terrell Owens. But it hasn't worked, and now Jauron is out of work.

He previously served as the head coach of the Chicago Bears and the interim head coach of the Detroit Lions. His overall record as a coach is 60-82.

Buffalo Bills Fire Dick Jauron originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Titans Owner Shoots Double Birds at Bills

Clay Travis — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Titans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- On Sunday the Tennessee Titans beat the Buffalo Bills 41-17. The win was the Titans' third in a row after beginning 0-6, and the teams' 86-year-old owner, Bud Adams, was watching from his owner's suite with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Halfway through the game, Adams was recognized on the jumbotron. Fans cheered. Adams smiled and waved from his open-air suite. Then, as he celebrated victory, Adams decided to shoot the bird at the opposing sideline. First, Adams went with the right hand bird. Then he went left hand with the bird. Finally, he pulled out the rare, and underrated, double bird.

Presumably, shooting the bird at opposing teams violates one of Roger Goodell's NFL rules. And now Goodell finds himself in the unique position of actually witnessing behavior that he might be required to fine. In the meantime, fans are left to wonder, what longstanding beef does Bud Adams have with the 91-year-old owner of the Buffalo Bills, Ralph Wilson? Or is this simply an old man move, is the double bird an old AFL pat on the back? Video after the jump.

If it's a feud, it's a feud between the two oldest owners in the NFL. Maybe both teams playing in their AFL throwback uniforms brought out the youthful vigor in Adams. Maybe he forget that cell phones can now take video and assumed that he could get away with a profane gesture from the owner's suite. Or maybe when you're 86, a billionaire, and your team just won a game after an awful start to the season, you're just looking to blow off a little steam.

The middle finger salute, by the way, traces its origins as an insult all the way back to the Romans. Referred to back then as the digitus impudicus (impudent finger), nowadays it's a gesture popular in the oil fields of Texas. And everywhere else where insult needs to be expressed.

Given that Terrell Owens was playing on the field, what odds would you have given that Bud Adams would be the one facing a fine from the league for a crude gesture? Regardless, for 50 years Adams and Wilson have been competing against one another at the helm of rival football teams. On Sunday the country got a taste of how testy that relationship can sometimes be.

In 1999, these two teams brought America the Music City Miracle. Ten years later, meet the Music City Salute.

Titans Owner Shoots Double Birds at Bills originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris Johnson, Titans Throttle Bills

Matt Snyder — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:35:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Titans, AFC East, AFC South

The Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans entered the fourth quarter Sunday knotted at 17-all. Considering what happened in the last 15 minutes of the game, Bills head coach Dick Jauron and his team might have been better served to leave early.

When the dust settled, the Bills headed home with a 41-17 loss. They were also likely saddled with nightmares involving Tennessee running back Chris Johnson and the rejuvenated Titans defense.

More: Check Box Score | Jags Dump Jets | Panthers Clip Falcons

The Bills entered the game sporting the worst run defense in the NFL. Considering what kind of stretch Johnson is having, it wasn't difficult to foresee him exploding.

He didn't disappoint. Johnson took the rock 26 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns. But that wasn't all. He also caught nine passes for 100 yards. All told, Johnson accounted for 232 of his team's 378 yards and two of its three offensive touchdowns. You simply can't say enough about how good Johnson is.

He entered the season talking about gaining 2,000 yards on the ground this year -- he's now on pace for 1,940 and has a very realistic shot at the 2K barrier, considering the Titans' have a pretty soft run-defense schedule the rest of the way, and how heavily Tennessee seems content to lean on him. He's presently playing like the best player in football, not just the best running back.

Obviously, there is no shame in not being able to stop Johnson, but the Bills gave away any chance at a comeback with two late turnovers. Trailing by 10 points with just under three minutes left, the Bills still had a glimmer of hope. Instead, Trent Edwards threw an interception to Vincent Fuller -- who proceeded to take the ball 26 yards to the house. A few plays later, with the game already decided, Ryan Fitzpatrick -- as if he didn't want Edwards to feel bad about himself -- decided to throw a pick-six of his own, this one a 31-yarder to Roderick Hood.

Aside from Johnson, the big story emerging from this game was the fact that Vince Young has given the Titans a spark. They were 0-6 with Kerry Collins heading into their bye week. They've come out of the bye a totally different team, and Young is now 3-0 as a starter in 2009 (and 21-11 in his career). His pocket awareness and ability to check down are better than they have ever been, and he's picking his spots to run quite well (he carried the ball five times for 29 yards).

The Titans will look to continue their winning ways next week when they head to Houston. There might also be a bit of a revenge factor as well, as the Titans lost a 34-31 thriller to the Texans in Week 2. An FYI -- Chris Johnson had 197 rushing yards on just 16 carries in that game. Think he'll play a big role next week?

As for the Bills, they played relatively well for three quarters, but that's not good enough. Edwards found Lee Evans and Terrell Owens vertically a few times, but they need to run the football with more frequency (Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch combined for 85 yards on 17 carries), especially when someone like Johnson is doing a number on their defense. They will look to rebound in Jacksonville next week against another stud running back, Maurice Jones-Drew.

Chris Johnson, Titans Throttle Bills originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steve Slaton Pulled in Houston Win

Matt Snyder — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:40:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Texans, AFC South

My high school coach used to say, "no back is worth two fumbles," meaning if a running back lost two fumbles in one game, he should be immediately removed. Sunday in Buffalo, Houston's Steve Slaton didn't even get that chance. After just one carry and one catch, Slaton lost a fumble and was benched for the rest of the game. It was the seventh fumble -- losing five of them -- on the season for the diminutive back from West Virginia.

Even worse news for Slaton, and his fantasy football owners, was what Ryan Moats did in his stead. Moats racked up 126 yards on 23 carries and scored three touchdowns in the Texans' 31-10 victory over the Bills.

More: Check Box Score | Eagles Smoke Giants, Take First Place

Chris Brown also saw action out of the backfield, garnering 22 yards on seven carries, giving the Texans 186 yards rushing and 4.7 yards per carry. They entered the game averaging just 79 yards per game and 3.0 yards per carry on the ground. With all this in mind, it's definitely plausible that there might be some sort of shakeup in the Texans' backfield.

With the win, the Texans are now 5-3 and a legitimate threat in the AFC for the first time in franchise history. They will test their mettle next week when they visit the undefeated Indianapolis Colts.

Steve Slaton Pulled in Houston Win originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Terrell Owens Sets Goal: To Outperform Roy Williams

Knox Bardeen — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:25:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Cowboys, AFC East, NFC East

After entering the National Football League in 1996 as a third-round selection, Terrell Owens has put up some big-time numbers in his 14-year career.

He's the NFL's active touchdown leader with 142 scores. He's second among active receivers to Isaac Bruce with 14,364 career receiving yards. He's also been a six-time Pro-Bowler. But, when asked what his goal for 2009 entailed, Owens didn't shoot for the moon like you would expect a player with his accolades to do. In fact, all Owens wants to do is outperform Dallas wide receiver Roy Williams.

Owens opened his media briefing with a laugh and said: "I've been looking at my stats compared to Roy E. Williams' stats over there in Dallas, and my goal is to have better stats than him at the end of the season."

Asked if he regrets signing with Buffalo, Owens said:

"No, not at all. Everything happens for a reason. There are times, I'm human, and it's frustrating. I never want to go back and rethink things. But that's the nature of it."

As it stands right now, Owens has 242 yards receiving on 18 catches and one touchdown. He's played in all seven of the Bills' games thus far and averages 13.4 yards per reception.

Williams, on the other hand, has only played in five of Dallas' six games and has 12 receptions for 230 yards and a touchdown. Williams averages 19.2 yards per reception.

The first glaring detail upon looking at the schedules for both teams shows that Dallas has 10 games remaining -- Buffalo only nine. If both receivers play in all of their remaining games, it would seem that Williams has an advantage. But remaining games don't paint the full picture.

By taking a look at the strength of schedule for both teams' remaining games in reference to receiving yards allowed, you'll see that Buffalo has a much easier time. In the nine games left for Buffalo, they only face three defenses in the top-10 in receiving yards allowed. The average rank of the defenses left to face is 18.4. Dallas, unfortunately for Williams in this competition he didn't ask to compete in, faces seven top-10 receiving defenses with an average rank of 8.5.

Owens definitely has an easier road to travel and should be able to easily win this "bet", even though he has one less game to play. He also probably knew that the schedule favored him before he opened his mouth. Because you wouldn't think that Terrell Owens would stir up trouble aimlessly, without thinking about the consequences of his actions -- would you?

Terrell Owens Sets Goal: To Outperform Roy Williams originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocket Presence: Derek Anderson Plays Better, Still Stinks

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Browns, Panthers, Raiders, Redskins, NFL Quarterbacks

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

Give Derek Anderson credit. He got better. He put that "15 incompletions in 17 attempts" disaster behind him with a much more quarterback-like effort against Pittsburgh Sunday. It wasn't enough to take the Browns off this list for the first time this season, but there are indications that Cleveland has settled on their guy, no matter how many of his passes bounce off the grass.

Cleveland Browns: Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn

Anderson hit nine of 24 passes against Pittsburgh, even topping 100 yards and managing a touchdown pass. However, the Browns scored one offensive touchdown, relied way too much on the wildcat, and lost convincingly to Pittsburgh. While it is starting to sound like this is Anderson's job to completely screw up, the Browns would be delusional to think he deserves that kind of consideration.

Quinn, it could be argued, hasn't gotten nearly a fair shake in this battle. He faced elite defenses in each of his three starts, two of them on the road. Anderson is hitting 44 percent of his throws, averaging less than five yards per attempt (despite his "big arm" reputation), and has thrown three picks for every touchdown he has so far.

At this point, however, it probably doesn't matter who the quarterback is. This team is a lost cause at 1-5.

Status update: Very warm

Buffalo Bills: Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick

It wouldn't take much to outplay Mark Sanchez on this day, and Fitzpatrick got it done. Filling in for an injured Edwards, who had started the day by hitting his first five throws, Fitzpatrick was erratic but still a winner. The Terrell Owens failure continues, and the insertion of rookie Jamon Meredith at right tackle didn't solve much up front. But a win is a win, and now the Bills have a decision to make.

It's been said that you can't lose your job over an injury. However, Edwards seemed well on his way to losing the job before he was injured. Not only that, but while it wasn't at all pretty, Fitzpatrick at least found a way to win a game. Of course, they needed Sanchez to throw five picks to make it happen, but Fitzpatrick did have his good moments. At the very least, this should give Dick Jauron something to think about.

Status update: Very warm

Washington Redskins: Jason Campbell and Todd Collins

Campbell got the hook in the Redskins' disastrous loss to Kansas City Sunday, but it is likely not the end of him. It's not like Collins lit up the Chiefs. Actually, he was statistically worse than Campbell. Collins pulled an Aaron Rodgers on a late snap deep in Redskin territory, as he held the ball entirely too long and took a sack for a safety that ended whatever minuscule chance the Redskins had to win the game.

Coach Jim Zorn has said Campbell is likely to start Monday night, and perhaps the offense will get a jump-start with consultant Sherm Lewis taking over as the play-caller for Zorn. Campbell has shown some real upside in his short career as a starter, but the reality is that he may not be best-suited as an every-down starting quarterback in the NFL.

Status update: Very warm

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski

Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme and Matt Moore

Yes, their teams won Sunday. However, it's hard to feel good about how the starting quarterbacks played. Neither Delhomme nor Russell were effective, and both have to continue to be on thin ice with their respective teams.

The Panthers can't count on the running game to carry them to victory every week, and while the Raiders' defense put on a bit of an eye-opening performance, it's hard to imagine them repeating it given how inconsistent their effort and level of play have been in recent years.

Status updates: Warm

Pocket Presence: Derek Anderson Plays Better, Still Stinks originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jets' Trust in Mark Sanchez Backfires

Thomas George — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:53:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Jets, NFL Analysis

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- In a game the Jets were so sure throughout that they had won, they lost. In a game where the Bills refused to fold, they won.

In a comical, error-filled, misguided dance with futility, both teams often looked a mess.

But the beauty was in the fight.

An eyeball-to-eyeball brand of football surfaced -- as it often does when divisional rivals who long ago grew sick of each other jostle for four quarters, and just for good measure, decide to tangle for an extra one.

Buffalo grabbed the final cookie from the jar, claiming a 16-13 victory that took nearly 12 minutes of the overtime.

For Buffalo (2-4), a three-game losing streak was snapped. For the Jets (3-3), a three-game losing streak was created.

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Bills coach Dick Jauron finally gained a reprieve, a chance to live another week without the sniffing, the digging, the drivel over whether and when he will be fired. Jets coach Rex Ryan, meanwhile, looked bamboozled, much like he did after his team's losses at New Orleans and Miami. His prized defense was pushed around, and his rookie quarterback crashed with a bumbling five interceptions.

It was enough to make a grown man moan.

"This was a rough one,'' Ryan mumbled, adding that he thought about pulling Mark Sanchez.

Actually, what Ryan should have done is tugged the tails of his offensive coordinator, Brian Schottenheimer, and reminded him, "Uh, Brian, Thomas Jones is rushing for more yards than any running back in the history of the Jets EVER has. Can we have more of Jones and less of Sanchez?''

The Jets, infatuated with their snappy new quarterback, tried to win this game by dancing into the night with Sanchez, even though his feet kept getting tangled.

It was a horrible decision. Sanchez threw the ball 29 times in the game. Jones rushed 22 times.

Sanchez completed just 10 of those passes for 119 yards, tossed the five picks, was sacked twice and finished with a quarterback rating of 8.3 -- that's right, 8.3. A perfect quarterback rating, folks, is 158.3. And Sanchez played every snap.

Jones rushed for 210 yards. He averaged 9.5 yards a pop. He broke his previous career-best run of 61 yards with a 64-yarder in the second quarter, and then followed that with a 71-yard touchdown run moments later.

There is simply no way that Sanchez should have thrown the ball more times than Jones ran it. But that was what the Jets went with, and it played right into the Bills' hands. Actually, into five different Bills' hands -- five different Bills made interceptions and rookie cornerback Jarius Byrd had two. There was a sixth Jets pick, an extra one thrown by holder Steve Weatherford on a failed field-goal attempt in overtime.

Bills safety George Wilson was one of those that picked Sanchez.

"We decided we would boil this game down to a backyard brawl, the kind you have in your backyard growing up,'' Wilson said. "When you play it like that, there is no quit. We really got after them more and more as the game continued.''

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Latest NFL Photos

New York Jets Thomas Jones runs past Buffalo Bills' Jairus Byrd (31) and Donte Whitner (20) for a touchdown in the second quarter at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, October 18, 2009. The Bills defeated the Jets 16-13. (Kathy Kmonicek/Newsday/MCT)

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Chicago Bears Johnny Knox celebrates his touchdown with Devin Hester in the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, Sunday, October 16, 2009. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune/MCT)

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New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss hands the ball to a fan after catching a touchdown pass against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter of a NFL football game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

ATLANTA - OCTOBER 18: Running back Jerious Norwood #32 of the Atlanta Falcons tries to out run center back Zack Bowman #35 of the Chicago Bears during the second quarter of the game at the Georgia Dome on October 18, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zack Bowman;Jerious Norwood

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New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez looks to throw in the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, October 18, 2009. The Bills defeated the Jets 16-13 in overtime. (Kathy Kmonicek/Newsday/MCT)

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The New York Jets defense tackles Buffalo Bills Fred Jackson during second quarter action at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, October 18, 2009. The Bills defeated the Jets 16-13 in overtime. (Kathy Kmonicek/Newsday/MCT)

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Buffalo Bills Brian Moorman (8) celebrates with teammate Rian Lindell (9) after he hit the game winning field goal during overtime of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Bills won the game 16-13. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Buffalo Bills Brian Moorman (8) celebrates with teammate Rian Lindell (9) after Lindell kicked the game winning field goal during overtime of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Bills won the game 16-13. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) leaps over teammate Corey McIntyre (38) during overtime of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Bills won the game 16-13. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

ATLANTA - OCTOBER 18: Head coach Mike Smith of the Atlanta Falcons watches the first quarter of the game against the Chicago Bears at the Georgia Dome on October 18, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) ) *** Local Caption *** Mike Smith

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 18: Quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons looks to pass the ball in the second quarter of the game against the Chicago Bears at the Georgia Dome on October 18, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Matt Ryan

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He is right. The longer the game went, the better the Bills played -- and the more the Jets outsmarted themselves and began to be outslugged.

Bills kicker Rian Lindell ended it with a 47-yard field goal after both teams had two overtime possessions. Lindell had missed a 46-yarder as regulation expired that would have won it for the Bills.

"I've had some experience playing on the other side with that team and being in that locker room,'' Jets safety Jim Leonhard said. "That was definitely a crazy game. Those guys have lost their share but they are proud. They are sick of it. They were going to claw back. And we let them.''

The Jets led 13-3 midway through the third quarter, but a Lindell field goal and 37-yard TD pass from backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to Lee Evans tied the game at 13 entering the fourth quarter.

And though the Jets knocked out Bills starting quarterback Trent Edwards early in the second quarter, Fitzpatrick managed to throw for just 3 fewer yards -- and four fewer interceptions -- than Sanchez the rest of the way.

"I've got some serious work to do,'' Sanchez said as he dressed in the Jets locker room, discouraged and disgusted. Despite a side-by-side, seated chat with new Jets receiver Braylon Edwards in the locker room, Sanchez looked demoralized.

"That's about the worst I've played,'' Sanchez said. "I really messed up.''

Embarrassing, he called it.

His coaches did him no favors. The more he struggled, the more they asked him to do.

"He's young, I'm new,'' Edwards said. He added something about the Jets needing to take advantage of what teams give them and not put so much pressure on themselves.

I think I know what he was thinking.

"I know you need balance, and they couldn't just run me all the time; I think they we were trying to be balanced,'' Jones said in one of the most gracious postgame interviews you will ever find. "It was a big day for the rushing yards and all, but in the end, it means nothing because we lost.''

The Jets lost both on the field and in the headsets. They toyed with the Bills, letting them hang around after going up 13-3, then made it worse by throwing it around with a rookie quarterback while their beast of a running back wound up tamed by his own team.

And the Jets are also fretting over a possibly serious knee injury to nose tackle Kris Jenkins. New York, wobbly, seeks a cure at Oakland next Sunday.

The Bills, hoping to build something that lasts, travel to Carolina.

"That sure was a great win for our football team'' Jauron said. "There are no ways around that one and we certainly needed it.''

Jauron certainly needed it -- he bolted away from the heat.

And suddenly, it is feeling awfully warm for the big-talking Jets.

Jets' Trust in Mark Sanchez Backfires originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trent Edwards Leaves With Head Injury

Matt Snyder — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, AFC East, NFL Injuries, NFL Quarterbacks

After beginning the game uncharacteristically hot -- hitting on his first five passes for 43 yards -- Bills starting quarterback Trent Edwards has left the game with an ~~apparent knee~~ head injury (see update). Edwards was hobbled after being sacked by Calvin Pace and David Harris of the Jets. After milling around the sidelines for a bit and discussing things with Bills' trainers, Edwards went to the locker room.

In his stead, Ryan Fitzpatrick is taking snaps. Considering the weather (mid-40s, almost 20 MPH winds) and the opponent (the Jets are eighth against the pass), things aren't going to be easy for Fitzpatrick. He's only 4-10-1 in his 15 career starts and sports a sorry 66.9 rating.

Of course, this sets the stage perfectly for a complete and utter meltdown from Terrell Owens. T.O. is certainly no stranger to the world of the disgruntled, and he's obviously not bad happy thus far in 2009 with the production of the Bills offense -- and, likely, himself. Now, he's going to be attempting to catch passes from a seventh-round pick from out of Harvard who wasn't good enough to hold down a third-string job with the Bengals. Coming from a man who has complained about Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb, it's hard to see him enjoying the work of Fitzpatrick.

Maybe the Bills can summon J.P. Losman to return from the UFL?

Update: Edwards actually suffered a concussion in the game -- the second of his young NFL career. As of now, his status for the game against the Panthers this coming weekend is unknown. Edwards was healthy enough to travel home with the team instead of staying in a hospital, which is a good sign.

Trent Edwards Leaves With Head Injury originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Between the Lines: Keeping the Line Together Pays Off

JJ Cooper — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Chicago Bears, Bills, Buccaneers, Jets, Giants, NFL Analysis

As we have done since the FanHouse began, I'll be taking a look every week at some aspect of line play. You can read more features in the series here. Check back every Thursday for a new Between The Lines.

It probably wouldn't surprise you to know that offensive line continuity is a good thing , but you may not realize just how important it is.

After looking at the first month of the season, it seems pretty clear that if you can keep your offensive line together, there's a pretty good chance you'll be a winner.

Five weeks into the NFL season, only 10 teams have started the same five offensive linemen every week. Of those 10 teams, seven have winning records including the surprising Bears. 49ers and Jets and the undefeated Giants. Combined those 10 teams are 28-18 this year.Of the six teams who have had five or more games missed or played out of position by members of their original starting five, none have a winning record--including the disappointing Packers, Chargers and Seahawks. Together those six teams are 10-18.

Admittedly offensive line shakeups can partly be explained by a team's failure--teams with trouble are much more likely to bench an offensive lineman than a team that keeps on winning. But it's fair to say that the Packers' problems really began the minute that starting left tackle Chad Clifton went down with an ankle injury. What had been an adequate line quickly turned into a disaster when guard Daryn Colledge was moved to tackle, center Jake Spitz was moved to guard and backup Sean Wells came in at center.

Five of the 10 teams who have started the same offensive line all year have allowed less than 10 sacks, including the Falcons (two sacks allowed) and Giants (three sacks allowed). None of the six teams with the most offensive line shakeups have allowed less than 10 sacks, including the league's worst Packers (20 sacks), Lions (17) and Raiders (15).

If you want one more example when a team with its original starting five has faced a team with a shakeup on the offensive line, the team with the original starting five is 16-9 this season.

Here's some other notes from looking at line play around the league.

o. He has some work to do which you would expect for a second-year quarterback but Bucs quarterback Josh Johnson is already one of the best scramblers in the league. Tampa Bay even ran the option with him on Sunday. With 4.4 speed, Johnson also has the ability to dance around in the pocket dodging pass rushers, just like Fran Tarkenton did in the 1960s and early 1970s. It also means that he sometimes holds onto the ball way longer than any quarterback should. Johnson held the ball for 12 seconds on a sack last week (the average sack happens only 2.7 seconds after the snap) and this week he had a sack where he ran around for nine seconds, although this one was nullified by an unnecessary roughness penalty on the Eagles.

o. There have been a lot of questions about Julius Peppers' effort this season, as we noted in a Between The Lines breakdown two weeks ago. But before this week's Redskins game, Panthers linebacker Jon Beason called out Peppers' lack of effort. Peppers seemed to listen as he picked up two sacks and a safety. In rewatching that game Peppers still isn't playing with the all-out fire of a Jared Allen, but he did show significantly better effort against the Redskins than he did against the Panthers.

o. The Bills have to rank as one of the most disappointing teams in the league this year, and if you're looking for a reason you need to look no further than the offensive line. Buffalo traded away Jason Peters and drafted three rookies who were immediately inserted into the offensive line.

The three rookies have been OK, but the Bills have been a complete disaster at offensive tackle. Left tackle Demetrius Bell has allowed four sacks. Right tackle (and fill-in left tackle) Jonathan Scott has allowed 3.5 sacks while fill-in right tackle Kirk Chambers allowed 2.5. Those 10 sacks allowed are as many as half the league have allowed as teams.

Between the Lines: Keeping the Line Together Pays Off originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocket Presence: Beyond Bad

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Browns, Raiders, Redskins, NFL Quarterbacks

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

Yes, he won the game. However, there's no stopping Derek Anderson from showing up high on the list of quarterback controversies every week. Right there with him is the guy Anderson inexplicably beat Sunday despite only completing two of 17 passes -- Trent Edwards. After all, if you can't beat a quarterback who couldn't even complete 12 percent of his throws, who can you beat?

Cleveland Browns: Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn

We'd all love to believe that a win solves everything. Just get something positive on the left-hand side of that won-loss record, and it's looking up from there.

But when you throw 17 passes and only find your teammates successfully with two of them, it masks nothing, except how hopelessly inept your competition must be. Anderson is no safer or more secure in this job now than he was last week, nor should he be.

Anderson had a performance that fits a 35-0 loss perfectly, but instead gave his team a 6-3 win, Anderson knows that his position is likely not stable. In order to show that he deserves to quarterback this team for the rest of the season, Anderson should consider completing at least a higher percentage of throws than JaMarcus Russell. That would be a good start.

Status update: Hot

Buffalo Bills: Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick

Yeah, remember that 6-3 game Sunday? Edwards was on the other end of that one. Turns out Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was right when he said Edwards was no Carson Palmer. Ryan could have said Edwards was no Jordan Palmer and probably been correct.

Edwards gets to throw footballs to Lee Evans and Terrell Owens, and he has Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch available to run. Seriously, how is this offense so bad? You can blame the line all you want, but when you watch this team, you see plenty of instances where Edwards has time to step up and throw, only to see that he takes a checkdown or holds the ball too long.

Fitzpatrick might not be Carson Palmer, either, but on a team with expectations much higher than 1-4, it's time to start looking for immediate help wherever possible. Including the bench.

Status update: Hot

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski

The Raiders need to do something. Yes, they have plenty of other problems besides Russell. However, the organization has to believe that they can put Gradkowski out there and not get as embarrassed as they do by Russell.

At least Russell's quarterback rating is higher than Anderson's. He has that going for him.

Gradkowski is not a star in the making for Oakland. However, every time Russell bounces a pass off the grass, it becomes more and more obvious that he isn't, either.

Unless there is a stunning turnaround on the way, Russell will go down as one of the biggest busts in draft history, despite his enormous physical stature and ability.

Status update: Very Warm

Washington Redskins: Jason Campbell and Todd Collins

Campbell isn't the problem, but the 2-3 Redskins have played far too easy a schedule to only be 2-3. They can't play winless teams forever.

The times that Collins has played, the team has usually responded well. He's a veteran who knows both this offense and his Redskin teammates very well. If Campbell underperforms against Kansas City Sunday, there could be a push to make the switch. After all, Washington hosts Philadelphia in Week 7, and even if they beat Kansas City, there will be tremendous pressure to take care of business at home and get above .500.

Status update: Lukewarm

Pocket Presence: Beyond Bad originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 2009 Buffalo Bills: What Did You Really Expect?

Dan Graziano — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:41:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, NFL Analysis

Fired a week before the start of the season as the Bills' offensive coordinator, an angry and confused Turk Schonert said the problem in Buffalo was that coach Dick Jauron wanted "a Pop Warner offense" -- an offensive playbook as simple and uncreative as possible, and that Schonert's schemes were too complicated to fit in with Jauron's plan.

Now five weeks in to the season, having committed nine (NINE!) false start penalties Sunday in losing one of the worst offensive games in sports history to the previously winless Browns, the Bills are playing as if to prove Schonert right.

More Coverage: Bills Lose 2 Linebackers for Season | Team Schedule

To this point in 2009, Buffalo's has been the kind of offense that makes you contemplate man's inhumanity to man. They are 25th in the league in yards per game, 26th in points per game, 28th in third-down conversions, 29th in first downs and 31st in time of possession. All of this in spite of an array of skill-position talent that includes Terrell Owens, Lee Evans, Fred Jackson and, for the last two games, Marshawn Lynch. A group like that should be able to move the ball and score, but it can't. And while it's easy to lay it all at the feet of the unimaginative Jauron or "Captain Checkdown" QB Trent Edwards, the big problem with the Bills is the five great big guys up front. With an offensive line like this, how can they possibly be good?

"I said it last week and I'll say it again this week -- this is a low point for the organization and for the fan base," Bills GM Russ Brandon said after Sunday's fiasco. "We worked our tails off in the off-season to put us in a position that should be better than where we are now."

But with all due respect to Brandon, his pain and the amusing accuracy of the first part of his quote, we must respectfully disagree with the second. The Bills may well have done some hard offseason work in certain areas, but they obviously ignored the offensive line. The result is a patchwork mess that is costing their offense any chance to operate.

This isn't to let Jauron or Edwards off the hook, as neither is without his flaws. But when you're playing behind an offensive line that still needs to hand out "Hi, my name is..." stickers in its meetings, you're not set up to succeed.

"It's frustrating, because we have guys who know the snap count, we know the cadence and we were trying to use that as a weapon," Edwards said of the Sunday penalty-fest. "Their D-line, we saw on tape, tended to jump offsides a little bit, so we were using some hard counts and some quick counts as well. For some reason or another we weren't set."

It could be because the offensive line, as a group, hasn't played together long enough to get into sync. Of the five starting Bills offensive linemen from Sunday's game, only one -- center Geoff Hangartner -- played a single NFL game in 2008. And he played it for the Carolina Panthers. Starting tackles Demetrius Bell and Jonathan Scott were members of the Bills organization, but neither one suited up for a single 2008 game. And starting guards Eric Wood and Andy Levitre were playing for Louisville and Oregon State, respectively.

Last year's line? Gone. Set out on the curb like fallen leaves. Left tackle Jason Peters, a 13-game starter in 2008, was traded to the Eagles. Langston Walker, who started 16 games at right tackle last year, was cut a couple of days after Schonert was. Left guard Derrick Dockery was released and is a Redskin. Right guard Brad Butler? Out for the year with a knee injury. And last year's center, Duke Preston, is a Dallas Cowboy.

The result is a lack of continuity at a position where continuity matters more than anything. The best counter-example at this point is the New York Giants, who have started the same offensive linemen and quarterback for 37 games in a row and whose offense runs like a Patek Philippe. The Bills are going with an old digital Seiko they put together themselves, and the result is that the Saints get sacks on plays where they rush only three defenders and the Browns get a free win thanks to nine false starts

"I don't know what to tell you about it," Hangartner said. "It's inexcusable and we've got to do something to change it. We are killing ourselves. We are putting ourselves in bad down-and-distance with the negative plays because of the penalties, and we just can't have it."

But they do have it. They have a big old mess in Buffalo, and the biggest reason seems to be that they have obviously ignored the most crucial foundation aspect of their offense. There's nothing that can fix this except the time this offensive line needs to play together and learn each other. And unfortunately for the 2009 Bills and their lame-duck coach, the 11 games left in this season aren't enough time for that.

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Buffalo Bills Photos

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Joshua Cribbs (16) is tackled by Buffalo Bills defenders Reggie Corner (27) and Jairus Byrd (31) during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Buffalo Bills Photos

ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Trent Edwards #5 of the Buffalo Bills throws a pass against the Cleveland Browns at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Trent Edwards

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Eric Wright #24 of the Cleveland Browns intercepts a pass intended for Terrell Owens #81 of the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York.Cleveland won 6-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Eric Wright;Terrell Owens

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Marcus Buggs #53 of the Buffalo Bills sacks Derek Anderson #3 of the Cleveland Browns at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. Theplay was nullified by a penalty. Cleveland won 6-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Marcus Buggs;Derek Anderson

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Marshawn Lynch #23 of the Buffalo Bills runs against the Cleveland Browns at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Marshawn Lynch

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Terrell Owens #81 of the Buffalo Bills looks to run around Mike Adams #20 of the Cleveland Browns at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Terrell Owens;Mike Adams

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Derek Anderson #3 of the Cleveland Browns hands off to Jamal Lewis #31 of the Buffalo Bills against at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. Cleveland won 6-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Derek Anderson;Jamal Lewis

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Jairus Byrd #31 of the Buffalo Bills intercepts a pass as Drayton Florence #29 of the Bills and Mohamed Massaquoi #11 of the Cleveland Browns look on, at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jairus Byrd;Drayton Florence;Mohamed Massaquo

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Terrell Owens #81 of the Buffalo Bills tries to make a case for pass interference with side judge Joe Larew #73 against the Cleveland Browns at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. Cleveland won 6-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Terrell Owens;Joe Larew

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Dick Jauron, head coach of the Buffalo Bills stands on the sidelines against the Cleveland Browns at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. Cleveland won 6-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dick Jauron

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 11: Trent Edwards #5 of the Buffalo Bills readies to pass against the Cleveland Browns at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. Cleveland won 6-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Trent Edwards

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The 2009 Buffalo Bills: What Did You Really Expect? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:41:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Browns Complete 2 Passes, Score 6 Points ... And Win

Chris Burke — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:50:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Browns

Considering that Cleveland and Buffalo entered Sunday a combined 1-7 on the year, no one could have been expecting the two teams to wage an all-time classic. But what resulted instead was so far at the opposite end of the spectrum that it may go down as one of the worst NFL games in recent memory.

How bad was it? Well, Browns quarterback Derek Anderson completed 2-of-17 passes for 23 yards, threw an interception -- and won.

Cleveland took advantage of a fumbled punt by Buffalo's Roscoe Parrish with three minutes left to boot a game-winning field goal and claim a 6-3 win.

More: Check Box Score | Dallas Wins in OT | Philly Pummels Tampa Bay

If you want to play devil's advocate for a minute, and argue that the Cleveland and Buffalo defenses were simply that good, go ahead, we'll wait.

Done? Ok, now back to the actual facts ...

Buffalo committed three turnovers -- two fumbles and one Trent Edwards interception -- and ran two plays inside Cleveland's red zone. On the first, they committed a false start, backed up to the 22, lost three yards on the next snap, and wound up throwing an interception on 4th-and-24. The second, from the Cleveland 19, came on a Rian Lindell field goal.

The Browns, meanwhile, only got inside the Buffalo 40 on two occasions -- with both trips ending in Billy Cundiff field goals.

And that was enough to win!

Back to Anderson for a minute. His unbelievable miserable stats were good for a mighty 18.2 passer rating. Compare that to Eli Manning's Week 5 effort -- a perfect 158.3 -- and you can about estimate the gap between the Giants and Browns squads in this 2009 season.

Eric Mangini may never forget this contest, his first win as Cleveland's head coach, but everyone else would probably prefer to never think about it again.

Browns Complete 2 Passes, Score 6 Points ... And Win originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Browns' D Coordinator: Trent Edwards Is No Carson Palmer

Chris Burke — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:35:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Browns, NFL Coaching, NFL Quarterbacks

Cleveland's off to an 0-4 start, thanks in no small part to a miserable defense that has allowed more yards per game (403.2) than any team in the league and is No. 31 in points allowed (118).

But the Browns' bumbling hasn't kept defensive coordinator Rob Ryan from flapping his gums prior to this week's game at Buffalo. Friday, Ryan -- twin brother of loud-mouthed (and, thus far, more successful) Jets head coach Rex Ryan) -- called out Bills QB Trent Edwards.

"I don't think that's [Bengals quarterback] Carson Palmer back there by any stretch," Ryan said of Edwards.

"The guy can run and do some things, but we've played Brett Favre, we've played Carson Palmer. Those are two pretty good quarterbacks right there. This guy [Edwards] always seems to have a lot to say, so I'm going to say the same thing: Let's go. Let's get it on, see what he's all about this week.''

Hard to say what exactly brought on Ryan's diatribe against Edwards, but The Buffalo News speculates that it may be an after-effect of a game last season when Edwards' Bills rallied past the Raiders, where Ryan was coaching the defense at the time. After tossing for a career-high 279 yards in that Buffalo victory, Edwards said that the Bills' offense wore down Oakland's D.

Hopefully, there's some other background story that we're not aware of, because that's about the weakest bulletin board material ever.

It's also a bit hard to figure how Ryan could be bad-mouthing anyone at this point, given what his defense has done through four games. No one's going to argue that Edwards is an MVP candidate, but even he might find some openings against a Cleveland defense than ranks 29th against the pass.

Browns' D Coordinator: Trent Edwards Is No Carson Palmer originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocket Presence: Has Derek Anderson Won the Job?

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Browns, Buccaneers, Panthers, Raiders, Redskins, NFL Quarterbacks

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

For the Cleveland Browns, Sunday was at least a respectable performance. Now it's time for them to build on that. But have the 0-4 Browns settled on a starting quarterback?

Cleveland Browns: Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn

Anderson played pretty well in a 23-20 overtime loss to Cincinnati. However, the Browns struggled to move the ball in overtime, and the Bengals made them pay in the end.

This was easily the best Cleveland's offense has looked this season, and perhaps they'll get even better without walking distraction Braylon Edwards around anymore. Anderson seems to have developed a chemistry with young receiver Mohamed Massquoi, who caught eight balls and averaged close to 20 yards per catch Sunday. The winless Browns will stick with Anderson again this weekend, and if he can build off his performance against Cincinnati, Quinn will struggle to see the field again this season.

Status update: Very warm

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Johnson and Josh Freeman

Johnson appears to have a long way to go as an NFL quarterback. He ran well and appeared somewhat comfortable in his first NFL start, but the Buccaneers offense was hampered by a lack of big plays. Johnson struggled to throw the ball deep, and only connected with star receiver Antonio Bryant four times for a paltry 44 yards.

The Philadelphia defense is no easy opponent for Johnson, but he'll try to advance himself this Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. Expect to see more short passes as the Bucs try to make Johnson more and more comfortable with playing at this level.

At 0-4, there might be a temptation to pull the trigger and go with the bigger-armed Freeman, but this is not the time. That move can wait at least a few more weeks.

Status update: Warm

Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme, Matt Moore, and A.J. Feeley

Now that the 0-3 Panthers are off their bye week, we'll watch carefully how Delhomme performs against the Redskins. If he is still a turnover machine, he could be in trouble. However, significant improvement will be expected, since Carolina had a week to lick their wounds and make some corrections.

Moore might not be highly-regarded, but he's been in the system for a while, and there's no reason to hide him on the bench if Delhomme continues to underperform.

Status update: Lukewarm

Washington Redskins: Jason Campbell and Todd Collins
Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski
Buffalo Bills: Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick

These three teams are lumped together because there has been no real indication that they're willing to make a change, but the on-field play by the starters has to improve. If it doesn't, teams really have no choice but to explore other options. The Redskins and Raiders are getting competitive play from their defenses, and the burden of carrying the whole team is too much. Buffalo has quality skill players at running back and wide receiver, yet Edwards can't seem to move the ball consistently.

Status updates: Lukewarm

Pocket Presence: Has Derek Anderson Won the Job? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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