Tuesday Morning Quarterbacking With JJ Goodman
Okay, admittedly this post will be a major departure from anything I've
written here previously. It is also the first piece I've written in two years
as a demanding day job, major health scare, and the craziness of having
two children under the age of six have all taken greater priority than my
musings here on these pages. Thankfully, my health issues have passed, but the
day job and kids are a crazy as ever. I'm finding, though, that I do still need
to find time to write, as it is and remains my truest release for the
pressure that fills my brain on a daily basis. So....
We're going to thy something new. I'm sure I've shared my love for the
NFL's Buffalo Bills here from time to time. I've worn the Bills' red, white,
and blue since I could hold a football: I was at the "Miracle
Comeback" playoff game against Houston. I've endured 2-12 seasons, cried
over four Super Bowls, and am now absolutely reveling in the team's resurgence
with Josh Allen at the helm. Last season I began writing 'Monday Moring
Quarterbacking' posts of Facebook for my friends and family, summarizing my thoughts
on the Bills' immediately preceding game. If I'm doing it anyway, why not do it
here? With that, I bring you...
Tuesday Morning Quarterbacking
Score: Bills 47, Jaguars 10
The Analysis
Yes, it's easy to be excited this morning after Buffalo's obliteration of
the Jags, 47-10.... But let's be realistic - Jacksonville is arguably one of
the worst teams, if not THE worst team in the league. so far. The Bills were
supposed to beat them. Pundits would have been very surprised if the Bills
didn't win. The Bills beating Jacksonville shouldn't be that newsworthy. Still,
there's much to celebrate with this win, and a lot to take from it.
First, Allen and the Bills got a big monkey off their back after losing
to Jacksonville in a game that should never have been played last season.
(Don't get me started on how utterly stupid and detrimental European games
are....) Buffalo needed this win to shake off the stink from last year's loss.
Likewise, the Bills haven't performed to their ability in recent forays into
Monday Night Football, either. But this game also represented a significant
step forward for a team that has always had a tendency to play down to the
level of its competition, often resulting in a lackluster performance, if not
an outright loss. Not so last night - This time the Bills played to the level
of a Super Bowl contender many didn't think they'd be this season. Boy did it
show.
Make no mistake - this team has something to prove. Lose Diggs,
Davis, and Morse? How about 7 passing touchdowns to 6 different players through
3 games and an offensive line that's arguably the best in the league thus far,
helping the Bills to be the highest scoring team in the league 3 games in. Lose
Poyer, Hyde, and White, then also lose Johnson, Milano, and Benford to injury
and have to play with a decimated defense? How about still having one of the
most stifling defenses through 3 games, with the Bills leading the league in
points differential.
The Details
The Bills utterly dismantled the Jaguars in every single aspect of the
game. Despite being one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the league, Trevor
Lawrence looked like a rookie in his first start who still didn't understand
the playbook. At one point in the first quarter the Bills had already scored
two touchdowns while the Jags had advance the ball, I swear I am not making
this up, one single yard.
Despite being voted (by a bunch of cowards hiding behind the shield of
anonymity) the league's most overrated player, Allen went 22 of 28 for 247
yards, 4 passing touchdowns, and added 22 yards on the ground... all in the
first half.
First. Half.
He'd finish 23 of 30 for 263 yards and the aforementioned 4 touchdowns.
The offense continues to churn out points by committee, with scores from Cook,
Kincaid, Coleman (his first NFL score), Shakir, Johnson, and Davis, with a
couple of Tyler Bass field goals thrown in for good measure.
The defense continues to amaze, despite basically losing their entire
secondary to free agency or injury, as well as their best two linebackers.
Yet... Greg Rousseau has been a beast of an edge rusher, Von Miller has shown
flashes of his former self, and the makeshift secondary has been stellar. Damar
Hamlin not only coming back to start for Buffalo after on-field cardiac arrest
in the 2022 season, but notching his first NFL interception, was icing on a
defense cake already sweetened by five sacks and two forced turnovers.
Credit goes to Joe Brady and Sean McDermott for A+ plus coaching so far
this season, proving the Bills' Super Bowl window remains widely open thus far.
What's Next
The Bills face their biggest challenge of the season yet with Baltimore
next week, a team that traditionally plays Buffalo HARD. The Bills have to
continue doing what they're doing, with excellent offensive play calling from
Brady, superb defensive play calling from McDermott, and, as the coach cited
for their success last night, by sticking to the fundamentals. Plus, there's
the outside chance Christian Benford and Taron Johnson might be back on
defense. Benford would be a huge addition, especially if the Bills want to keep
Derrick Henry in check.
The Bills play at Baltimore next Sunday.
Look, I know, as a lifelong Bills fan, it's WAY too early to get too
excited, but I'm liking what I'm seeing so far this season as the Bills remain
the #1 team in the league through 3 games.
Let's go Buff-a-lo!
Comments
Post a Comment