TMQ previews the AFC

Easterbrook says it well.

Buffalo: Fifteen years after the K-Gun offense, Buffalo is going no-huddle
again. What to call this one? The Cincinnati Chili offense. It comes in two-way
(two backs and a tight end), three-way (remove a back for a wide receiver) and
four-way (four wideouts). Offensive coordinator Turk Schonert was a backup
quarterback for the Bengals in the late 1980s, when Cincinnati went no-huddle;
the Bills under Jim Kelly ended up with credit for the idea, but Cincinnati did
it first in the modern NFL. Using the no-huddle occasionally makes sense, to
throw defenses off. Unless you've got Kelly, Kent Hull and Thurman Thomas, going
no-huddle all the time may just put added pressure on the defense, owing to
snap-the-fingers three-and-outs.

While a Cincinnati Chili no-huddle may sound like aggressive strategy, in 2008, Schonert was hyperconservative. "Football Scientist" K.C. Joyner -- what does his laboratory look like? -- says that in 2008, 75 percent of Buffalo's passing attempts covered 10 yards or less. The Bills threw more than 10 yards the second-lowest amount in the NFL. With Schonert calling endless ultra-short passes, defenses choked up, which made it easier to stop Buffalo's run. The team's embarrassing streak of no-playoff seasons will continue if the offense doesn't stop being so predictable and throw down the field. In 2008, the Bills failed to score a touchdown in three of their final five contests; they scored a total of six points in their final three home games. A reason was hyperconservative play calling. Say what you will about
Terrell Owens, he brings touchdowns on his résumé. In the past two seasons,
Buffalo had 15 touchdown receptions by wide receivers; during the same period,
Owens had 25 touchdown receptions -- almost twice as many as the entire
receiving corps of the team he's joined!

Excellent special teams have become a Buffalo hallmark -- Bobby April is the league's best special teams coach -- but this only proves special teams matter a lot less than offense and defense, or the Bills would be in the playoffs. And if only the head coach were as good as the special teams coach. As the once-proud Bills enter the season the sole AFC club without a playoff appearance in this decade, the coach remains
Dick "Cheerio, Chaps" Jauron, who has just one career winning season. The AFC
East test of manhood is playing the Patriots. Jauron has lost all six of his games against New England while coaching the Bills, his team outscored by a humiliating average of 21 points per game in that span. Against the Patriots under Jauron, Buffalo usually rolls over by the second quarter. Jauron never seems upset, or even to care -- he just jogs off the field, then makes excuses. Until the Bills have a coach who doesn't make excuses, the embarrassing playoff drought will continue.

Highlights of the article:

• Easterbrook calls the Bills playoff draught embarrassing and the offense hyperconservative TWICE each.
• 3 out of every 4 pass plays were under 10 yards.
• 0 touchdowns in 3 out of their final 5 games.
• 6 total points in their final 3 home games, INCLUDING a game versus San Francisco.
• 15 touchdowns by wide receivers in TWO seasons COMBINED.
• Dick "Cheerio Chaps" Jauron - One career winning season OUT OF EIGHT.
• 0-6 vs. New England-outscored by 21 points per game.