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Bills Suffer Another Devastating Loss
Defense Collapses: For three plus quarters it was a great day for the Bills. The defense collapsed in the fourth quarter while the offense might as well went have went to the beach after the first quarter because there was no offense after the first quarter. The mailing it in the team did contributed to collasal breakdown and a devastating loss in Miami. Gameday Grades
Bills Choke In Miami 24-23: The Bills scored three times in the first quarter on three touchdown passes from J.P. Losman to Lee Evans. They forgot to play the rest of the game. In one of the biggest chokes in team history they gave up three fourth quarter touchdowns and lost to the Dolphins 24-23 in a game they had totally in hand. Sage Rosenfels, in the game for Gus Ferotte who went out after getting hit in the end zone for a safety in the third quarter, hit Chris Chambers for the winning score with 0:06 left in the game. Complete Review
Villarrial Hurt: . Hamstring injuries were a proble again in this game. Terrence McGee came out of the game late in the first quarter after apparently re-aggravating the hamstring injury that has bothered him the past month. He did stay in the game as a kick returner but didn't play much corner until the final drive in the game. Chris Villarrial left the game in the first quarter with the same type of injury. Jabari Greer replaced McGee and Duke Preston replaced them. Injury Page
Adams Does Not Start: Sam Adams was active this week after missing a game and a half with ankle and knee injuries and a personality conflict with Coach Mularkey. He practiced all week and is healthy but in what may be the latest shot in the battle, he did not start. He entered the game on the Dolphins' second possession. He may take that as another slap in the face. He was used a lot in the defensive line rotation.
McGee, Milloy Active: Terrence McGee and Layer Milloy will dress for today's game. The other two questionable players, Mike Williams and Mark Campbell are inactive. None of the four practiced this week and they were all game time decisions. Bennie Anderson and Tim Euhus should get the start in their places. The other inactive players are: George Wilson, Jonathan Smith, Liam Ezekiel, Lionel Gates and Justin Geisinger. Shane Matthews is the emergency third string QB. Zach Thomas and Marty Booker are among the inactives for the Dolphins.
Heat A Factor: While most of the Northeast digs out from some snow, the Bills have escaped to Southern Florida where they will have to watch out for the heat. It will be Sunny skies for today's game with a gametime temperature of 77°. Light winds will be out of the ESE at 9mph.
Saturday December 3, 2005
Elimination Game: Tomorrow's game down in Southern Florida is an elimination game. The losing team will see their faint playoff hopes totally squashed. There could be no more "we are in this thing" talk. 8 losses puts the loser totally out of the playoff picture.
Friday December 2, 2005
Four Game Time Decisions: The Four starters that are questionable on the injury report will all be game time decisions, Coach Mularkey said today. Lawyer Milloy, Mike Williams, Terrence McGee and Mark Campbell have not practiced all week. The coach was hopeful that McGee would be back on the practice field by today but that did not happen. Injury Report
Taylor Added: The Dolphins added two players to their injury report including star DE Jason Taylor. He is suffering from an illness and is probable. He seemed ok in the locker room yesterday so he should play. The saga on TE Zach Thomas continues. He said on Monday he would play, Coach Saban said he wouldn't. He is listed as doubtful but did some things in practice yesterday that caused Saban to backtrack and said he would consider activating him if he could return to practice today. Injury Report
Thursday December 1, 2005
Four Miss Practice: Lawyer Milloy, Mike Williams, Terrence McGee and Mark Campbell did not practice today. Milloy has taken off his protective boot but still hasn't hit the field. McGee was suppose to do more in practice today but apparently did not. All four are expected to be gametime decisions and are listed as questionable on the injury report. If they don't practice tomorrow it is very likely that they won't play. Injury Report
Losman Rips Media: J.P. Losman talked to the media today and took a shot at the area media. He said regardless of what you read in the newspapers it is a big game for them. He is upset the way certain papers are writing that they need to look at the future and this season is over. He called it ridiculous that the local papers have given up and are turning their backs on the team. They know they need some help but they aren't giving up. They are going with a lion mentality to make things happen. They need to be perfect from here on out and they can't look to the future they need to work hard and win this game to get the winning streak started. On the Dolphins, he says they are getting tougher and have a good, complex defense. It makes it more important to prepare for the blitz as to where to get rid of the ball and pickup the blitz. They have to account for Jason Taylor on every play. He said he feels more comfortable in the offense and he knows he will get better the more he plays.
Wednesday November 30, 2005
Adams Practices; Should Play: Sam Adams practiced today and will play Sunday if he can do the same things tomorrow and Friday that he did today coach Mularkey said. He isn't even on the injury report. There are four players on it for the Bills and they are all questionable. Coach Mularkey said that Terrence McGee will practice a bit more tomorrow and he hopes he can practice fully on Friday. He will wait until Sunday to decide on if he can play, it depends on if he practices or not. Mark Campbell, Lawyer Milloy and Mike Williams are all listed as questionable and will be re-evaluated each day. They are all likely to be gametime decisions. Injury Report
Moorman Honored Again: Brian Moorman has been honored with the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November. He talked to the media and said he can always do better. He wasn't happy with his last punt against Carolina that setup a big return that led to a field goal. While there is always room for improvement he's happy with the honor but he's only as good as his coverage unit is. They cover like crazy and take pride in what they do. He feels it should be a special teams unit of the month award.
Team Practices Well: Coach Mularkey spoke to the media during his usual Wednesday press conference and he spoke about the pride of the special teams unit that is striving to once again be #1 in the NFL. The unit doesn't hold anything back, they have playmakers and they play like their hair is on fire. Mularkey said the team is still a work in progress and the revolving door on the offensive line and a young quarterback has hurt the team. The red zone offense is a big concern and the difference is the inefficiency to convert on third downs in close. He called this game important since it has playoff implications for both teams, even though he admitted it won't have a playoff atmosphere. The team can't let their shortcomings on the road effect their preparation. They have talked about it but will not address it again. The team still has a chance to win the division despite all the chances they have missed. Once you think you have no chance, you will not prepare as well. He thought the team had an outstanding day of practice today.
Everett, Thomas Going On IR: The three week period for activating PUP players is over and the Bills will not activate Kevin Everett or Kevin Thomas both players will be placed on injured reserve. Injury Report
Bills Look For Road Win: The Bills are looking to hold on to 2nd place in the AFC East and for their first road win of the year against their archrival Miami Dolphins on Sunday. It will be a tough game but look for the Bills to get their running game moving as they try to overcome last week's tough loss to the Panthers. Complete Preview
Tuesday November 29, 2005
Losman Is The Undisputed Starter: Coach Mularkey alluded on Sunday that J.P. Losman will have the job pretty much the rest of the way. Losman was asked about that yesterday and said it feels good, although he hadn't heard it. He says he will come out with the same effort whether he is the starter or not. It is time to work even harder and focus on the mistakes he has made so he doesn't make them again. He does see progress and the more he plays the better he will get. There is still a lot of work to be done but the details are little, not major. He said he is accountable for the interception and he needs to learn from it and not make the mistake again. He said the film showed he could have dumped it off to the right side. The running game problems are a combination of things according to Losman. It's just the running backs fault or just the line's fault. As far as the no huddle offense goes, Losman said he calls all the plays in that situation and it was good to see that the right calls were being made as they had success in that offense.
Monday November 28, 2005
More Consistency Needed In Running Game: Coach Mularkey addressed the media today and said there are a combination of problems with the running game the past few games. They haven't been able to run the ball as much as they want to. They haven't been pushing the line consistently. Willis McGahee isn't hitting the holes consistently as well. They would like to get more consistent running the ball since that is what they do best. Going up against some of the top run defenses in the league has also added to the problems. He knows the players, the organization, and the fans are all frustrated and disappointed but everyone in the building takes their share of responsibility for where the team is at this point. He would not say the team is out of it at this time. The coach is still emphasizing a chance at the playoffs. He talked about the Jaguars squad that went to the AFC Championship game in 1996 after starting off 4-7. Until they are mathematically eliminated they will strive to get to the playoffs and still believe they can.
Mularkey Says It's Not Personal: The coach also addressed the escalating situation with Sam Adams. He denied that it is personal in Adams being inactive, strictly medical. He did talk to Adams a bit in passing today and reconfirmed why he wasn't active. Adams was not happy that he didn't dress but he was Ok with him not being on the sidelines for the game. He doesn't think that the Adams situation would become a distraction and said his play has suffered because he's been banged up a lot this year. Factoring into his decision to inactivate him was his desire to dress Lionel Gates for once. His agent said that it is personal and Adams had been benched and the coach supposedly told Adams they are better on the field without him. Mularkey would not comment on his agent's comments.
Tests Negative On Milloy: Coach Mularkey said the tests on the injured right foot of Lawyer Milloy were negative. He wore a protective boot on it today. Mike Williams has his right side taped and iced today. He has a strained muscle in his back. The coach doesn't know if either player will be cleared to practice on Wednesday, their status for this weekend's game in Miami is uncertain at this time. Injury Page
Adams Situation Escalates: Coach Mularkey said Sam Adams did not practice this week and was still bothered by ankle and knee injuries, leading to him being inactive for the Panthers game. Adams' agent, Angelo Wright, paints a different picture. He blasted Coach Mularkey saying it's personal. Adams told his agent he thought he could play and Mularkey supposedly told him they are a better team without him in the lineup and is unhappy with his practice habits. Wright admitted his client isn't a great practice player but plays great on Sundays. He also acknowledged that Adams is a personality and less successful coaches don't know how to manage that. He says he's never seen this kind of treatment of a player when a team is in a playoff hunt they need to play their best guys. Adams left the stadium before the game when he found out he was inactive saying he didn't want to be a distraction. Mularkey said after the game that he wasn't aware that Adams went home.
Finger Pointing Begins: London Fletcher was visibly upset after the latest loss. While acknowledging that the defense needs to do better in getting off the field on third downs he placed the blame on the offense for the loss. He said 13 points allowed should have been enough to get the win. The offense not converting is the reason they lost. The bottom line was the offense had three red zone opportunities and got three field goals while the defense gave up two field goals and a touchdown in their red zone situations.
Late Injury Costly: How many times when a defensive back is hurt, do the opposing quarterbacks pick on their replacement? It happens almost always and that may have been the difference in yesterday's tough loss to the Panthers. Lawyer Milloy left the game with a foot injury on a two yard run that setup the Panthers with a 3rd and 4 at the Bills 9 on their touchdown drive. They got the first down and then another one on a penalty. That's when Jake Delhomme decided to pick on Milloy's replacement. On third and goal from the three he hit third string tight end Michael Gaines for the touchdown beating Coy Wire who was only in the game because Milloy wasn't. London Fletcher admitted after the game that it was one on one coverage and Wire was just beat. Wire said he'd like to have it back, he played him to loose. If Milloy wasn't hurt, would the Panthers have got in the end zone? We don't know, it would have been tougher though, that is for sure.
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