Watching with the Enemy

Watched yesterday�s game with 3 self-described �big Bills fans.�� By way of explanation, they can�t be that �big,� �cause none of them has the Sunday Ticket (�one of the 3 is 11 years old; we�ll give him a pass), nor is willing to go to a sports bar to see their team.� Additionally, one of the three didn�t show up until halftime.� By definition, one that lives away from their team�s area, doesn�t have Sunday Ticket, and doesn�t see every game in a bar is not a �big fan.�� Yeah�they have their excuses: �A lot of their games are on this year,��..�I follow along on the computer.�� Bullshit!!� If you�re a �big fan,� you do whatever it takes to never miss a game.

The first guy called me on New Year�s night, pleading his case.� �You�re the only guy I know that will have Steelers-Bills on tomorrow.�� I allowed that it would be okay for him to come over, only �cause the Steelers had wrapped up homefield; otherwise I would not be watching the game with people rooting against my team.� Anyway, he vows to bring beer and plenty of snacks.� I don�t make my kids lunch, �cause �plenty of snacks� are on their way.� Cheap ass shows up with a bottle of root beer and a bag of pretzels!!� Good thing I had my own beer.� Next very good thing�.all the Bills fans left my house very upset.

Anyway�my Monday morning game thoughts, good and bad. I liked:

1.� Obviously, the effort put forth by all of the subs on the roster.� It was great pointing out on a Kriewaldt sack, �This guy never plays from scrimmage.�� After the Parker 58-yard scamper, the 11-year old says, �That guy�s a starter..right?�� �Uh�.no, Liam; he�s 4^th string.�� Pointing out that the QB that presided over the 4^th quarter comeback had never stepped foot on an NFL regular season field.

2.�� Good pass protection for what was expected to be a ferocious Buffalo rush.

3.�� Seemed to me like Chad Scott did alright.

4.�� Love the depth of our linebacking corps.

5.�� Good pass rush, better than it�s been in awhile

Didn�t like:

1. Play of Tommy Maddox (I had predicted that he would play well).� Missed a wide open Randle El, followed the next play by throwing to Krieder in the flat about 5 minutes too late, almost resulting in a pick.� The pick for a TD was horrible.� The fade to Mays looked bad off of Maddox�s hand, but it seemed to go right through Mays� hands.� Yeah�it was windy, but.�� Can�t blame Maddox for this, but who the hell thought it was a good idea to call a QB draw from the 7.� Who�s more immobile; Maddox or Bledsoe?� Maddox continues to be consistent in that if it looks like he�ll be sacked, he is sacked.
2. Another Randle El fumble (�though he had been cured of this ill; now he puts the ball on the ground in consecutive weeks.
3. Three FG�s on goal-to-gos inside the 10, including two false starts inside the 5.� We�ll go ballistic if this happens in a playoff game.� Hope some of this can be attributed to Maddox and a different voice�probably not.� The culprits were Starks & Krieder�.two guys that will be in there on the goal line.

Looking ahead:

1. Would love to see Denver upset Indy, but assuming this won�t happen, I would rather face the Jets again and their candy-armed, thin-skinned QB.
2. I know that the Chargers are tough, but I�m still glad that we�re likely facing them rather than Indy.� I�ve still got to believe that the Achilles heel of our team lies in our pass defense, and while the Indy defense is week, I would be awful damn concerned going against Peyton Manning, and his fleet of receivers.� The Chargers seem to be cast in the Steelers mold, and we can usually grind out wins against our mirror image.
3. Assuming that we draw the SD-Jets winner, I think it�s now reasonable to assume that we�ll also be placed in the Saturday slot for the Div. playoff.
4. Have I told you before that I hate the Patriots???� More on this in an upcoming piece