After the Bills dismantled a bad Redskins team in Toronto i wrote that in one month, after the Jets and a 3 game road trip we would truly know if the Bills were a contender or pretender. Barring a minor miracle on Sunday in Jersey, I think we have our answer loud and clear. I truly did not see 2008 coming for this year's Buffalo Bills. That was Trent Edwards and Dick Jauron. This was supposed to be different with the smart guy at quarterback and the sharp head coach. But the collapse this season is just as dramatic as it was three seasons ago and the result is the same. Bills fans and yes even reporters were brought to that dangerous place and then dropped like a rock. We were led to believe that while this team might not win the AFC East or might not secure an actual playoff spot, they were in it until the end. Instead, the only way they are not eliminated by Thanksgiving is mathematically.
What is really frightening about how poorly the Bills have played during this losing streak is that the offense is totally shot. They have not scored a meaningful touchdown since that game in Toronto. I will still hold on to the thought that Ryan Fitzpatrick can win in this league. But he is a guy who even on the best of days needs help. Sunday in Miami they dropped passes, missed blocks and most damning of all, looked uninspired. How can that happen with your season on the line? There is a debate about whether Stevie Johnson is a number one or number two receiver in the league.. He barely looked like he belonged on an NFL roster against the Dolphins. David Nelson played like a guy who will only be known for his Youtube girlfriend moment. Chan Gailey took the blame for putting Andy Levitre in a bad spot at center, but they needed to make an earlier adjustment when he struggled getting the ball back to Fitz. Any Bills fan had to be embarrassed by what they saw as this team went South down South, taking the slight bit of hope with them.
The defense is quickly taking its place among the worst to ever put on Bills uniforms. That was a Miami offense that spent most of the season looking like they needed a GPS to find the end zone, yet against the Bills they scored points with ease. The knee jerk reaction is to say fire George Edwards as the defensive coordinator and that could very well happen at the end of the season, but you need some horses too. The pass rush is invisible and schemes can only do so much to mask that. New England can't rush the passer and can't cover anyone but they have Brady and an offense that can make up for it. The Bills offense was able to do just that in september, but right now it is a joke.
Most impressive players vs Dolphins
Dave Rayner: The kicker nailed a 56 yarder. Great. Impressive, but he might not be on the team in a week when Lindell comes back
Least impressive players vs Dolphins
Brad Smith: He is a free agent bust. The guy was supposed to be a Wildcat difference making. The Wildcat is going the way of the Wing T. Smith was supposed to be a prominent kick returner. In 2011 I could return kicks. I think I can catch it in the end zone and take a knee. Smith was supposed to be a valuable receiver off the bench. He can't catch the ball. And then to add insult to the whole mess, he is your key guy on punt coverage as the up back and he runs down the field, letting Brian Moorman get crushed. Inexcusable.
CJ Spiller. He had an early catch and decent run. He had one good return late, Now we have something to put on the NFL Films highlight reel. That tip toe to the end zone where he got stopped at the one shows you all you need to know about a guy that has the word bust hanging over his head.
Ryan Fitzpatrick. You watched the game, you know. I'd say shave the beard, maybe that will help.
Stevie Johnson: You want to get paid at season's end then you need to put it on yourself when your offense and quarterback a=re struggling. Johnson was a non factor all day.
Andy Levitre: As I said earlier, Gailey admitted to putting him in a bad spot, but he had the full week to get up to speed. He was brutal.
Defensive Secondary: That was Matt Moore, not Tom Brady, picking them apart.
Take a look at the standings and you will see that the Bills are not officially dead yet. But after being outscored 106-26 in the last three weeks they have shown us everything we need to know about where they stand at the moment. They are a beaten team, that is beaten up too. Terrance mcGee's Bills career, and maybe his NFL career is over. He joins Eric Wood and Kyle Williams in street clothes. The Bills have labeled the last month the December Charge. That has now become a full fledge spring off the bandwagon and back on to the land of irrelevancy
MCatalana@13wham.com
