Bills 20 Jacksonville 16

-Coast

I am going to be the biggest Bills homer in the following paragraphs but let's face it, how often do we have a chance to gloat?

The Bills have arrived...this is their best road victory since well I can't come up with one...but I guess I will say the 2004 season at Cincinnatti...yeah we beat the Bengals in 2005, Jets in 2006 and Redskins in 2007, all playoff teams, but in '05 we were playing for nothing, the Jets were overrated, and the Redskins lost a player that week. But Jacksonville, this team almost won at Foxboro in the playoffs last year and we went into their building for their home opener, overcame a disastrous third quarter and somehow won the football game. I couldn't believe it, I was ready to write off the season at 3:00 PM.

What can we take from this game? Well first of all, we have a legitimate NFL quarterback for the first time since Doug Flutie. Trent Edwards was 20-25 for 239 yards and a touchdown. On the season he is 39-55 with 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions...this is a completion percentage of 70.91%. Most importantly, the dude was straight up clutch yesterday. On third and 6, he delivered a dart to Evans and then answered that with a perfectly placed ball to Hardy in the corner of the end zone to give the Bills the lead. Trent has pocket presence, seems like a good leader, makes the big throw when you need it, doesn't get rattled...oh yeah and he is only 23 and in his 2nd season. Does he have a ceiling? I don't see any reason why we can't expect pro bowls in his future.

Nothing crazy from Marshawn yesterday, but a game like yesterday is the floor for him. 59 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries...but how about Fred Jackson? This guy is a player. We haven't had a running back this good out of the backfield since Thurman Thomas. He led the Bills in catches and yards yesterday with 7 receptions for 83 yards. He always seems to be able to turn 10 yard receptions to 30 yard gains. I love this guy...with him and Lynch out there together, the Bills are dangerous. Lynch, Jackson and then Evans, Reed, Parrish and with Hardy contributing yesterday, along with Bob Royal who led the Bills in receiving in week 1, are all viable threats in the passing game.

The Bills Special teams again game up huge. Parrish's long punt return allowed the Bills to get essentially the game iceing field goal. Nothing special from the kick return game although it was nice to see McKelvin back there. We don't need McGee to get hurt.

Again, the defense shined. Marcus Stroud is a straight up beast. What a difference maker. Adding Marcus Stroud has pretty much turned the Bills defense into a force. Just compare last year vs. Jacksonville to this year vs. Jacksonville. Last year the Bills allowed 124 yards rushing and 6.5 yards per carry vs. the Jags...this year they allowed 98 yards and 3.63 yards per carry...(32 of these yards came from Garrard on 6 carries). Garrard never looked comfortable back there. Stroud got a paw on a pass that led to an interception at the end of the first half which was huge. Kyle Williams delivered a decisive sack on the Jags 2nd to last possession. When was the last time the Bills took a lead late in a game and then the defense came out and dominated to ice it? The Bills D just has a completely different look.

Finally, Dick Jauron. Dude stuck to his game plan late when losing. Turk Schonert seems like a major upgrade at Offensive Coordinator. What a call on the 2nd down bootleg Trent to Shouman on our last drive. They are showing confidence in their quarterback and he is delivering. I will say this for the first time ever...I think I like Dick Jauron...although I wish he wouldn't be such a girl at the end of the first half.

There is just a different feeling about this team this year. Yeah, I know we started 2-0 in 2003 and were straight up dominating in those two games...but something about this team feels different. The Bills won a game yesterday when nothing went their way in the third quarter. The Bills had only 4 offensive plays the entire period in 95 degree heat and somehow still managed to overcome that. When looking at the schedule...is there any reason why this team shouldn't/can't win 12 or 13 games? I'd like someone to point out 5 losses they see on the schedule. I watched the first half of the Jets Patriots game. New England is still a solid team, but is anyone scared of them? That game was ugly. Next Sunday the Bills will try and go to 3-0 for the first time since 1992, a year in which they went to the Super Bowl. My only complaint is Jason Peters shows up and practices for more than a week...maybe he won't get blown up by a rookie for a sack and fumble in a critical spot in the game, but I'll let it slide...dude showed up 8 days ago.

Bills vs. Oaktown next sunday-line opened at 9.5. See you there.