Bills 33 Tampa 20

-Coast

The game wasn't as close as the score indicates. The Bills man handled the Buccaneers on both sides of the line of scrimmage all day...probably more impressively than I have seen a Bills team dominate in the trenches this decade.

The offensive and defensive lines played outstanding. The Bills outrushed the Bucs 218-57. This is the same Tampa Bay offense who rushed for 174 yards on 31 attempts for an average yards per carry of 5.6 against the Dallas Cowboys a week ago. Tampa could only manage a meager 3.0 yards per rush against Buffalo while the Bills averaged 6.2.

Fred Jackson had a career game...he had 28 carries for 163 yards. Yeah, I will be one of the first people to say that Jackson is playing great right now. He had over 140 all purpose yards against the Patriots as well. But, I will also be the first one to say that I have never seen this offensive line run block like they are this season. Also, the effect of having both T.O. and Evans on the outside making it tough for a defense to crowd the line of scrimmage with their safeties cannot be ignored. The burning question in Buffalo now is what to do when Marshawn Lynch comes off suspension. My opinion is that Marshawn Lynch is the starting running back of this football team. He is a better runner than Jackson...as is illustrated by their respective careers. Jackson may be a better receiver and the Bills will without a doubt use both players extensively-but to say that Lynch should get the amount of work Omon is getting right now is foolish. Who knows what kind of numbers Lynch would be putting up if he wasn't suspended. Yeah, Jackson has been a stud for three straight games...however, he has 0 rushing touchdowns during this stretch. Marshawn Lynch has rushed for 0ver 1,000 yards in both of his seasons and has had 15 touchdowns. Fred Jackson should get carries and should be in there in passing situations but the majority of the touches should still go to Lynch.

Trent Edwards had his 2nd straight solid performance. He was 21-31 for 230 yards 2 tds and 1 int. His interception was ugly, but he also threw a perfect bomb to Owens which he dropped. He took shots down field on multiple occasions. He threw three deep balls to Evans and two deep balls to TO, two of which resulted in touchdowns. I am happy to see Trent take some shots, however, I still think the Bills need to find a way to get the ball to TO and Lee more. Evans had 1 catch yesterday, TO had only 3. Evans had 3 in week one and TO had only 2. The Bills aren't even targeting their outside receivers more than 5 times per game and I would like to see that number increase.

The Bills had a tough day on the injury front and the news didn't improve today. Brad Butler went down with a knee injury, and it has been confirmed that it will need surgery. He is out for the year. Jonathan Scott stepped in at right tackle and it didn't seem like the Bills offensive line missed a beat. However, losing Butler really makes me think that the Bills should show some serious interest in Jon Runyan. Leodis McKelvin hurt his ankle, Shoumann hurt his knee (Shoumann was having a solid game with 6 catches for 62 yards) and Shaun Nelson hurt his shoulder...there has been no word on these injuries as of now.

The Bills are 1-1 and should be 2-0...this NE loss still is killing me. The Bills will have their 2nd chance in three weeks to make a huge statement around the league with the Saints and their 46.5 points per game average making the trip to Orchard Park.