The Bills Can't Win In The Trenches
Paul Hamilton - Wednesday, November 2, 2005 - 12:52 AM

As I left Gillette stadium Monday morning I was in the elevator with seven or eight New England writers. They were laughing and in amazement. Why? They couldn't understand how the Patriots were 1-for-7 on 3rd down, had the ball for just under 21 minutes, gave up a 136 yard rusher and a 125 yard receiver still won the game. The answer, they were playing a bad football team. A team that has gone quite a ways backwards instead of forward in just one season. I have defended a lot of Tom Donahoe's decisions over the years, but I just can't any more. There is no excuse for this and the man at the top must be held responsible. The offensive and defensive lines are a shambles. They let Pat Williams go without a suitable replacement. Ron Edwards was average and Tim Anderson and Justin Bannan are average back-ups at best. Lauvale Sape does not even belong in the NFL, yet there he is playing football and committing penalties on Sunday Night Football. Sam Adams has plain and simply stunk this year. He was finally benched in New England. After he was benched last year, he turned into an All Pro. It's too bad he doesn't have enough pride in himself to play well without a kick in the pants. London Fletcher has been operating all season with offensive linemen on him. That points to Adams and the defensive tackles. -NFL Football-

As far as the offensive line goes, Donahoe couldn't stand an independent thinker and a man that spoke the truth in his lockerroom. Ross Tucker couldn't be controlled so he was released. Bennie Anderson is a complete bust. He's adequate on the run, but he's going to get Kelly Holcomb or J.P. Losman killed one of these Sunday's. Tucker was twice the football player Anderson is and Tucker is just an average offensive lineman. Jason Peters got his first NFL start at RT Sunday Night and seemed to play well. With two weeks to heel, Mike Williams should be able to return. Mike Gandy has been average at best at LT. During these two weeks I would move Peters to LT and move Gandy to LG sending Anderson to the bench. It can't be any worse than what we've seen. -NFL Football-

For 3.5 quarters in New England I saw the Mike Mularkey offense that I liked and admired last season. Willis McGahee was running well, Holcomb was throwing well, the play calling was superb. With 7:50 left in the game the Bills held a 16-7 lead. That's when Corey Dillon made it 16-14. Josh Reed gets the kickoff out to the 29. McGahee runs it to the 32 and then Anderson whiffs on Roosevelt Colvin. Holcomb gets hammered, fumbles and the Pats take the lead two plays later. -NFL Football-

Buffalo's still in it and then the play calling that has gone so well all game falls apart on 4th down at the New England 40. It's 4th-and-8 and Mularkey calls a play to Roscoe Parrish who's playing in his second NFL game. Holcomb says Parrish was doubled and it would've been a sure interception so he dumped it off to Eric Moulds hoping he'd break a tackle. He didn't, it went down as no gain and the game was over. What???? Maybe send Moulds into the double coverage and throw it anyway. Let your highest paid receiver go up and try to make a play on the ball. Let Parrish, who's elusive be the outlet guy. It was another example of the Bills coaching staff trying to proof how clever they are. I guess they were thinking that New England will expect a pass to Moulds or Lee Evans so lets trick them. It worked like a lead balloon. Parrish was double covered. -NFL Football-

The Bills are now 3-and-5 and are 1.5 behind the Pats. If the Colts walk into Foxborough and win next Monday, the Bills will trail by one. Let's say that's great, but let's also be realistic and look at the games left. Kansas City comes to Orchard Park before a trip to San Diego. Carolina, New England and Denver still have to come to Wilson Stadium while the Bills travel to Cincinnati. That doesn't look like a schedule that will allow a bad football team win the AFC East. -NFL Football-