Let this be a friendly reminder that we all have to be patient when it comes to deciphering whether a guy is ready for the NFL. I'm a broken record with this and sadly I normally tend to not listen to my broken record because I need to give hot takes. Anyway, I have to remember to be patient rather than direct. We should go by the standard that it probably takes 2-3 years to figure out what type of player you have when you draft a player within the first three rounds.
I implore all football fans to compare the last two games between these two teams to really comprehend what it is like to have a young QB under center. It was a complete role reversal for both signal callers. In week 3, EJ looked pretty bad against the Jets while Geno thrived. Over 300 yards passing vs. getting sacked 8 times? Advantage: Geno.
Today EJ looked like he belonged in the NFL with 245 yards passing and 2 TDs while averaging almost 9 yards per pass attempt. Geno? He was 3 of 9 for 44 yards with a QB rating of 10.6 in the first half alone. Normally, you'd think a QB would be able to improve on that in the 2nd half. Whoops. He finished with QB rating of 10.1.
TJ Graham, who a lot of people were begging to be benched or declared a waste of space, had his finest day as a pro. Aaron Williams, who was our whipping boy last year, was 2nd on the team in tackles today. The Bills really put a spanking on the Jets and it was their best complete game of the season. And you know what we learned about the young kids and the young QBs? Nothing. Because this is a marathon. Hopefully, this leads to better days, but with the way young players are these days, we will probably hit a few more ditches and fans/msm will be there to chastise them or try and pick them up. However, at least we know how cool it gets when a younger player gets their day in the sun.
—In their last 7 meetings heading into today's game, the Jets had 18 sacks to the Bills 3. Today, the Bills had 4 sacks and the Jets had 1 (No yards lost on that sack). What a turn around for one game.
—As for EJ, he needed a nice game like this. It was great for two reasons: 1) He rebounded after a terrible game against Pittsburgh and the first time around against the Jets. 2) He did it while playing in the wind. I hope this means we don't get the #hangupandlistencrowd calling in this year about how a Florida QB can't throw in the arctic air of Buffalo. I hate that.
—Our "Kiko is a tackling machine" stat of the week: 7 of his tackles happened when the opposition gained 3 yards or fewer. BJs for everyone!
—If Stephon Gilmore can get his head on straight, the Bills have the makings of a secondary that can really do damage. He was a little better today, although having Geno throw the ball against you will net those results. I'm cool as a cucumber with McKelvin and Robey as my #2 and #3 CBs. Between Byrd, A. Williams and Searcy, the 3 safeties had a sack, 3 INTS, 4 Pass defenses and a TD. Oh, and pay the man! According to PFF, Byrd has given up just 18 yards receiving this season and hasn't allowed a TD pass since week 11 of the 2011 season. PAY THE MAN IF YOU HAVE ALL THIS MONEY TO BUY TICKETS WHEN WE CAN'T SELL A GAME OUT! Don't mess up this secondary, Russ or the Dougs. There's potential there. LOTS OF IT!
—On third down, EJ Manuel was 8-14 for 97 yards and a TD. 5 of those completions resulted in 1st downs or a TD.
—The 37 points were the most the Bills have scored since their home finale in 2011 against Denver (40 points). Also, it was the most they had against the Jets since 1989.
—I love Marquise Goodwin. I mean, wow! His 3 TDs this year have been almost identical. Same yardage it seems like, same overthrown ball that he tends to catch up to somehow, and always on the right sideline. His speed is so fricken scary and he's so tiny which makes it so much fun to watch. Goodwin was targeted 9 times today, which was twice as much as the next guy on the Bills. Seriously..I like our future at WR with Stevie, Woods, Goodwin and Graham. All four guys have at least 1 decent highlighted game this year. And, Please… don't cut Stevie Johnson because he's owed 8.5 million next year. If its not broke, don't fix it.
—The Bills had 8 QB hits today. Better get the ice for Geno.
— I don't know what is up with CJ Spiller and the Bills running game at this point, but I'll honestly take a shitty YPC average if that means teams are loading up against CJ and daring EJ to beat them and he's able to call them on the dare. Hopefully, a game like this will make teams think twice about daring him. As for CJ, look, I knew he wasn't going to average almost 6-yards a carry like he did last year, but he's been all or nothing this year. He's had games in which he's averaged 6.4, 8.3, 5.5 and 9.7 yards a carry. The bad? 2.4, 0.9, 3.3, 1.8, 2.9 and 0.5. Against the Jets this season he's averaged 0.7 yards rushing. In 4 of his last 5 games against NY, he's averaged 0.9, 0.5, 2.9 and 2.5 yards a carry. Woof.
—The Bills have 37 sacks on the year which surpasses last year's total of 36. I've been waiting for that stat to happen!!
—I can't believe the Bills won by 23 points and only averaged 1.8 yards a carry while the Jets averaged 5.8. On top of that, the Bills had only two more 1st downs and 46 yards more in total offense than the Jets. That has to be first in NFL history. Albeit, the Jets had 137 yards on their last two drives (garbage time). So, take away those drives and NY only had 130 yards in total offense.
—The Bills had 14 1st downs and 11 of them came by EJ Manuel throwing (9) or running (2).
—Antonio Cromartie had a vasectomy this week and the Jets blew off team meetings last night to go venture to Dave and Busters. Oh, the New York Post is going to have a field day with this. I may have to frame a few of those and put them above my cube for dumb ass Jets fans to see.
Final word: Well, we are only 2 games out of a wildcard..Oh, shut up Joe! Thank goodness for the bye and for the Bills to play some shitty teams. The next three opponents have a combined record of 5-25. Let's do this! Let's get to 8-7 and lose to the Pats and Ryan Mallet with the playoffs on the line! [Gunshot]
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