Inside The Ralph

Lets get one thing straight….these Bills are bad.  Though their records weren’t too far apart, there was a clear difference in talent between the Bills and the Jets last night.  At a neutral site (sounded as if there were more Jets fans) the Jets beat up on the Bills and exposed their biggest weaknesses.

Look on the bright side though, all the Bills really need to become an NFL caliber team is to fix their offensive line, retool their defensive line/linebackers and find their franchise quarterback.  No problem.

Really thought it was tough to watch this team.  For all those Fitzpatrick lovers out there he looked terrible.  He looked like the QB that helped Cincinnati win all of 4 games last year.  The offensive line was porous to say the least and the defense was EMBARRASING.   Over 2 games vs the Jets they’ve given up close to 600 rushing yards!  And since there are too many people on defense to blame, I’m just going to blame Aaron Maybin.  He has been one of the most useless draft picks I can remember (more useless than Mike Williams) and right now it is hard to imagine he will be anything but a bust.  I know I know it is too early to tell but his one tackle last night doesn’t get me pumped about the possibility.

The Bills play hard but they need a lot more pieces so that their fans aren’t miserable and embarrassed on a weekly basis.  Hopefully I’m wrong and just seeing all the bad because I’m miserable today.  Am I overreacting?

Record on the year 13-16 ATS

I use Danny Sheridan’s lines on USA Today.

Who I like Tonight:

Buffalo Bills +3 vs. New York Jets

- I love this matchup every time I see it on the schedule b/c my boys are Bills fans and my roommates are J-E-T-S fans. Bills D is the difference here I believe. They just create too many turnovers and “Gorgeous” loves turning the ball over. Mr. Chiazza hinted towards this in a post recently, but the Bills are playing with a little more intensity on both sides of the ball since Perry took the helm. I think the Jets are able to move the ball, but costly turnovers will be the key. The points are a nice gift in this one

Prediction: Buffalo 24 – New York 20

POW #1 Green Bay -3 vs. Baltimore

- Both teams need this game. Aaron Rodgers has seemed to have found his comfort zone in the pocket. I don’t have the exact stats, but I know his TD-INT ratio in the last couple games has drastically improved. Monday night under the lights in Lambeau – Packers will get the cover.

Prediction: Green Bay 27 – Baltimore 20

POW #2 San Diego -13 @ Cleveland

- I think Kansas City is better than Cleveland. San Diego D has also decided to play football lately. Rivers is good and LT is back on the map. Cleveland fans have switched to rooting on Le”Bomb”. Safest last man pick on the slate this week. (jinx)

Prediction: San Diego 38 – Cleveland 9

Oh how different it is when the Bills get a win.  I encourage everyone to let that good feeling seep in just a bit, but proceed with caution.

Yes the Bills have shown a more aggressive side the past two weeks but they have one victory and that was against a team that is missing their starting QB for the year and the Bills were playing at home. That reminder is for me just as much as it is for anyone else.

The past two weeks have re-energized me.  I  actually found myself watching Perry’s press conference and not wanting to kill myself.  Heck, I was even a little excited listening to it.  In a game of inches, could a different leader (one that is actually living) help the Bills jump up a few notches?  The answer is definitely, although it is too early to tell with Perry.

For the record, if Dick Jauron is still the coach, there is no way the Bills have Lindell try the 56 yard field goal.  It could have backfired but that is always the case.  Fewell made a gut decision and for a team that has struggled in the fourth quarter and needed a lift, it worked perfectly.

There will probably be some big changes once the season ends but the Bills appear to be in better hands now than they were three weeks ago.

So the always reliable and unbiased (please note the heavy sarcasm) ESPN.com has reported that Bill Cowher is NOT INTERESTED in coaching the Bills.  In fact, that is the headline of their article.  So why even bother reading the article, right?  They have already told you everything you need to know….that Bill Cowher is NOT INTERESTED in coaching the Buffalo Bills. 

But wait…if you actually READ the article, ESPN.com goes on to say that he doesnt want to interview now because he is planning on doing his interviewing after the season.  No where does it say that he is NOT INTERSTED….just that he told the Bills that he wants to wait a couple of months. 

Thanks ESPN…way to poop on the Bills again for no reason.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4683887

This post is strictly to tell Boomer Esiason to F off.  I’m so sick of all these commentators chiming in about who will and will not be the next coach of the Buffalo Bills.  They really don’t know and unless they have something worthwhile to add I would like to put a gag order on giving an opinion on who the Bills will have as their next coach.

For those that missed it, Shannon Sharpe gave an update after speaking with his old coach.  Fine, makes sense.  Nobody asked Boomer to chime in at the end though so I feel the need to say “F U Boomer”…

CBS Sports studio analyst Shannon Sharpe gave his insight on the Buffalo Bills’ pursuit of Mike Shanahan.

“I had a great conversation with Mike Shanahan this morning. He is going to interview this week at some point in time. Having played for Mike Shanahan for seven years, if there is not a total commitment from the organization to win Super Bowls — it is not about winning division titles or beating a particular team in that division — if it is not about winning Super Bowls from players’ standpoints and the coaches around them’s standpoint, you are wasting your time with Mike Shanahan because that is the only thing that matters to him: winning championships.”

Fellow analyst Boomer Esiason chimed in: “He’s not going to Buffalo.”

This week I will try and not focus on the fact that the Bills lost again.  What fun is it to talk about all the problems that plague this team at the moment?

Anyway, there were a lot of things I liked out of Perry Fewell this week.  It was so refreshing to see a coach actually show some excitement on the sideline vs Jauron’s demeanor which was not dissimilar to that of a wax statue.  I loved seeing Perry run down the sideline in jubilation.

I also loved one of his comments after the game.  It is easy to forget that the Bills had not one but two TDs called back due to penalties.  Penalties have been a serious problem for this team and really should be controllable.  Fewell was asked about them and had this to say:

“That is a killer.  I don’t know if I can chop any fingers off, but I’m going to chew some ears off.”

Can’t imagine Dick Jauron saying that and to be honest that is one simple thing (there are many more)  that has been missing…hold these guys accountable and let them hear it when they make a stupid, costly play.

What up ya’ll – I went 2-1 last week, thanks to my Redskins, and have slightly improved my gaudy record to 12-14 (down 3.4 units) on the year. We’re back to a full slate of NFL games this week (and a full Saturday of college basketball and football – nice). I’d like to give a little shout out to the Cuse, as they looked awfully impressive in beating down #12 Cal last night playing at the Garden. I’m looking forward to tonight’s match up – I’m not exactly sure what kind of UNC team they have this year, but I like the Orange’s chances and what a way to start off the year by beating the defending National Champions. Let’s go boys!

Week 11 in the NFL gives us a lot of teams that are heavy favorites to beat up on their opponents. In all, 8 of the 15 matchups remaining on the slate have the teams favored by 9 or more points. That’s retarded. Should be an easy week for all you still left in last man standing pools. My favorite game this week (outside Washington @ Dallas) is Indy @ Baltimore. Obviously everyone is aware of Indy’s late magic last week to remain undefeated. Peyton is performing like always and has Indy looking as a threat to get back to the Superbowl. Baltimore is in a must win scenario. The AFC playoff picture (as always) is shaping up to be competitive as advertised. It looks as though it’s going to take at least 10 wins to make the playoffs (and probably someone with 10 wins will be sent home). So for Baltimore, it’s time to defend their home turf and play 60 minutes of football – Should be the best game of the weekend.

Scenario:   Say you meet a girl at a bar one weekend and get her #. You text her the following day and you ask her out to “dinner and drinks” on, lets say a Wednesday, and she says yes. You go out to dinner, have some drinks, then drive back to her place. She invites you in, you oblige and prepare for an exciting evening. You decide to sleepover (on the road) and elect to call in to work the next morning (together) to take the day off. Yes you might work for the same employer. You hang out together all morning, all day and yes, amazingly all night. You’ve already exceeded hanging out for 24 straight hours on your first date, but you decide “hey, I’m having so much fun and I’m in love, let’s do it again.” So you cuddle up, watch a movie and sleep over for a second consecutive night (on the road and you haven’t left to change clothes, underwear or possibly brush teeth). You wake up in the morning, realize you can’t call in to work for a second straight day so you leave, go home, get ready and finally head to work. You feel in love.

My question: Is this acceptable behavior on a first date? If so, why? If not, I agree… but explain.

I’m not saying this happened this to someone that I know this week – But I’m 100% not denying it didn’t.

Moving on… As always, I use Danny Sheridan’s odds from USA today.

POW #1: Arizona @ St. Louis Over 46.5

- I’m just going to throw some stats out: Arizona 22nd overall team D (7th against run/30th against pass) and St. Louis 28th overall team D (28th against run/26th against pass). The Rams give up on average 28 points a game and the Cardinals give up almost 21. I see Kurt Warner having a huge day against his old team, on turf in the Edward Jones Dome. St. Louis as of last has shown they are capable of scoring points. S. Jax looks like the beast of old and has been punishing opposition. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was special teams or defense touchdown in this game (hopefully 2). 4 of the last 5 meetings these two teams have faced each other exceeded the posted total. The key in this game is St. Louis getting “theirs.” Arizona on the road this year has let up 17,3,17, 21 respectively. I think the Rams need to score 14 for this total to go over and I see it happening.

Prediction: Arizona 37 – St. Louis 17

POW #2: Arizona -9 @ St. Louis

- I touched on bunch of stats in the previous POW. I’ll give you this now. Arizona is 4-0 ATS on the road this year. St. Louis (underdog in every game) is 4-5 ATS overall and more importantly 1-3 ATS as home underdog with the one cover coming last week against New Orleans. Like I said earlier, I see Kurt Warner having a big day here. Who wouldn’t love to go back to their old stomping ground and beat up on their ex-team… Brett Farve sure does and so too does Kurt. I think Arizona badly wants to break that trend of losers in Superbowls not making playoffs following year. Fortunately for them, their division is terrible. Cardinals continue winning on the road…

Prediction: Arizona 37 – St. Louis 17

Bills Pick:  Buffalo +9 @ Jacksonville

- Not a ton of insight or thought from me on this one… There will be a lot of yards piled up by both teams. I think the Bills will matchup nicely with the Jags. Obviously the Bills need to stop MJD – And I think they limit him this week (as in he won’t go off for 150+ haha). I just have a feeling the Bills play for their new coach…

Prediction: Buffalo 24 – Jacksonville 23 (What?!?!?)

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Check out this article.  This is EXACTLY what the Bills need.  Change, Fire, PADS ON WEDNESDAY, and a QB Switch.  I love it.  And, apparently, so do the players.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/11/18/fewell.ap/index.html

One day after firing Dick Jauron the Bills have already placed a call to Mike Shanahan.  Let me speak for every Bills fan when I say “WOOOOHOOOOOO!”

Not wasting any time is absolutely the way to go here.  Now I wouldn’t get too excited as no decision is likely to come before the end of the season but it is comforting to know the Bills are taking the appropriate steps and have their sights set high.

I swear if we hire another coordinator my head will explode.

You can read about it here on ESPN:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4667849

Just like the rest of us.

mega-watt smile