ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -From early season talk of earning a first-round playoff bye, to the distinct possibility they’ll miss the postseason altogether, the rise and fall of the young Buffalo Bills has been swift.
After starting out 4-0, the Bills (5-4) are in a free fall that’s taken them from the top to the bottom of the AFC East. And with three consecutive losses in the division, Buffalo’s once promising playoff hopes have been replaced by the grim reality that they could miss out for the ninth straight season.
“We have to get our swagger back,” running back Fred Jackson said. “Going into these last couple of weeks, we haven’t had that normal swagger that we usually have. That’s when we were going out and making plays and having fun. That’s something we want to address, because we know we’re better than we’re playing.”
Buffalo is tied with Miami in the divisional race, both teams just a game behind New England and the New York Jets. But while the three other teams in the division seem to be heading up, the Bills are passing by them on their way down.
n easy to spot.
On offense, the running game is nonexistent, and second-year quarterback Trent Edwards has gone from toast of the league to a young and confused signal-caller.
Defensively, the Bills can’t generate a pass rush let alone get a sack, and they haven’t been able to take the ball away. Over the past three games – losses to Miami, the Jets and the Patriots – Buffalo has a minus-6 turnover ratio.
Even when the defense does steal the ball away, the offense can’t capitalize on the gift. With the Bills trailing 13-3 early in the fourth quarter Sunday at New England, Marcus Stroud forced the ball out of Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel’s hands, with safety George Wilson scooping it up to give Buffalo possession at its own 44.
After gaining 20 yards on three consecutive rushes by Marshawn Lynch, the Bills offense shut down. Edwards was sacked for a 6-yard loss, then missed Robert Royal with a pass on third down.
Following Brian Moorman’s 34-yard punt, the Patriots embarked on a 19-play, 92-yard march that was capped by BenJarvus Green-Ellis’ 1-yard plunge. The sealing drive ate up more than 9 minutes, and came a week after the Jets engineered a 14-play drive that chewed up most of the fourth quarter in their win in Buffalo.
point in the season like this where you need to dig deep.”
The Bills’ season could be decided over the next three games – Cleveland, Kansas City and San Francisco, all teams well out of the playoff picture.
“Our football team is just in a slump,” coach Dick Jauron said. “We’ve got to shake it and fight our way out of it.”
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