Reality Check

-Coast

As soon as Dick Jauron gets you thinking he might actually be a decent head coach...a game like today has to happen. The Bills gave Dick Jauron a contract extension through 2011 as reported by NFL network today. As soon as they do that, Dick Jauron realizes once again that he is Dick Jauron.

Bad coaching decision number one happened before the game even began. Could they not tell during practice all week that Terrance McGee was not even close to read to play football? The dude got torched by Ted Ginn Jr. His 175 yards basically eclipsed his season total. Ted freaking Ginn Jr. lit up our number one corner back. Leodis McKelvin at 100% would be better than McGee today who had no business being on a football field.

Bad coaching move number two happened on the Bills first possession. First off, Marshawn Lynch was on the bench for 3 consecutive plays inside the 10 yard line. I have heard a rumor than he was banged up...I don't know how valid that is because he was out there on the Bills next drive. If he wasn't hurt and wasn't out there, then that is a huge huge mistake...he might be the best running back inside the 10 yard line in the NFL. Secondly, YOU NEVER EVER EVER kick a field goal on 4th down and goal from the 1 yard line in the first quarter EVER. You never do that. It makes zero sense to ever do that. Grow a sack and go for it. If you get stuffed, the Dolphins will get the ball at the 1 yard line. Chances are you will be getting the ball back in great field position anyways and the odds will be in your favor to get at least a field goal on that drive.

Bad coaching move number three happened in the 4th quarter. Miami punted and downed it at the 3 yard line. Dick Jauron, after a commercial break where he had a nice long chance to think about this, decided to challenge whether or not an illegal touching happened. Jauron thought Miami's player was out of bounds when the ball hit him at the 3. If the Bills won this challenge, there would have been a 5 yard penalty and we would have started at the 8 yard line. Is it worth risking a time out to challenge a play that would result in only a 5 yard penalty?

Why did Marshawn Lynch only have 13 carries today? If I was him it would be about the time I would start to get pissed off. The guy is a tank and should be getting at least 20 carries a game. Are they saving him for later in the year? It was evident that the Bills could run the ball today, after all, Lynch was averaging nearly 5 yards per carry and Jackson 4.1...why didn't the Bills utilize the run more? Against the Chargers, the Bills refused to abandon the run...today they didn't use it enough (23 runs vs. 35 passes).

Trent didn't have his best day today but that doesn't make me think any differently about how good of a player he is. The fumble was a bone headed rookie mistake...you can't reach the ball out like that...that was Losman esche. The Bills were marching and that fumble killed them.

Finally, when is enough enough for Robert Bob Royal? The guy is an absolute embarrassment to tight ends everywhere. Seriously, I would be embarrassed to say that I am a tight end, knowing that I play the same position as Robert Bob Royal. This guy is a complete joke. Every single game he either fumbles or takes a stupid penalty. From day 1 this guy has been a complete joke (see Patriots game, block in the back in 2006...). Do the Bills coaches really think he is the answer at tight end? This guy kills us more than he helps us. How does the Bills front office not get that deal done for Gonzalez at the dead line? I don't care if he wanted to go to the Giants or if he didn't want to go to another small market. I am sure he could have been talked into coming to Buffalo rather than staying in KC...how much worse is it here? KC does have an MLS team, I'll give them that.

If we just look the big picture, the Bills are 5-2 tied for first place with the Patriots...This loss brings the Bills back down to earth. Hopefully this week the Bills will spend more time watching film and less time being interviewed by the national media. The Bills will be back to being the third best team in their division in the eyes of the national media this week again and I like it. The line next Sunday opened at 4.5...I would be willing to bet that this will be somewhere around 3.5 or 4 by game time. Bet your mortgage on the Bills...if the Bills lose next week, they will be 5-3 and probably will then turn around and lose to New England making them 5-4. Next Sunday is officially the first must win game of the season.