Week Six Preview
By Nick Flickinger, NYC Buffalo Bills Backers Columnist
I think that the best way to describe the Bears game is to recount a
conversation I had with Matt Kabel while watching. We were discussing how
the Bills had done every thing that could possibly go wrong. I then
pointed out that we had not fumbled a kick or punt yet, Terrence McGee
corrected that shortly there after. Unless your name is Lee Evans and you
are currently on the Bills active roster you should be ashamed of your
self. Luckily the Bills will be facing a much less strong Lions team this
week. The Bears are currently undefeated, where as Detroit is still
searching for that allusive first victory. Also before I continue with
this article I would like to apologize to the superstitious of you out
there. I should have known better than to let my brother come to Calico
Jack's on Sunday. It was his first visit back to the city since leaving
for college, so I thought we could forget the bad luck guy. Last year I am
pretty sure he did not witness one win in Calico Jack's, and his most
notable losses were when he came at half time to the Panthers game and he
also came at half time to witness the terrible comeback by the Dolphins,
led by Sage Rosenfels. He will be back in his dorm at Cornell and out of
our way.
The Lions defense does not do much well. They have let up over 25 points
four times this season and over 30 three times. This all starts with a
weak defensive line. It is rare that I can say that our line should push
them around, but they really should. With Villarrial likely out Duke
Preston on Shaun Rogers can present a problem. But with Shaun Cody, their
other starting defensive tackle, out and weak defensive ends, they should
be able to keep Rogers under control. With help from the line Willis can
really explode this weak. Detroit is also missing starting line backer
Paris Lenon. Rookie Ernie Sims and Boss Bailey were both standouts in
college who have not made names for them selves in the pro's. Injured and
already weak front seven really should let Willis gain back the league
lead in rushing. He did not get the ball much last week because of the
very early defecit. He will definitely prove himself this week.
J.P. really set himself back in a lot of fans minds last week. He entered
the game with an over 90 quarter back rating and had really not made many
costly mistakes all year. After his three interception fiasco that rating
has dropped to 78 and he now has more turnovers than touchdowns. He still
has been pretty promising this year and we should not let one game against
arguably the best defense in the league color our thoughts of him too
much. Detroit's corner backs are the strong point of there defense. Lee
Evans is really coming into his own lately. He has gotten at least 90
yards and 7 catches in each of his last three games. No other receiver has
really stepped up as the number two. Both Josh Reed and Peerless Price
have been okay. With the combination of those three and Roscoe Parrish the
Bills should be able to get past Dre Bly and Fernando Bryant, Detroits 1st
two corners, and get to their weak safeties. Detroit's defense has played
really poorly this year and should help spark a Bills offense that has not
done too much this year. They should be able to run all over them.
Takeo Spikes has been questionable for too long now. The D can't keep
waiting for him. They have to take the players they have and put out their
best effort. The defensive line is where the success has to start. The
pressure displayed in the first two games of the season has been no where
to be found in the last three games. The defensive line really should have
a big game this year. Detroit's offensive line is reeling with injuries.
Tackle Rex Tucker and guards Damien Woody and Ross Verba all seem unlikely
to play this year. The Bills have rotated starting Tim Anderson and rookie
Kyle Williams. One of them needs to and can easily step up this game.
Denney and Schobel need to find a way to get past this hurting line and
help the secondary out with some pressure this week. They should be able
to do this, and the secondary will need it.
With Nate Clements's being questionable Kiwaukee Thomas and Terrence
McGee really need to play better than past weeks. Roy Williams is having a
break out year, and Mike Furrey has also been good this year. Ko Simpson
and Donte Whitner have been good this year, but they definitely need the
corners to play well. Whether Clements is or is not playing, the other
corners are going to be the most important players on the field for the
defense.
Even with rookie Keith Ellison, the linebacking corps is really strong.
Fletcher and Crowell are both playing really well this year. Since
Detroit's line is so banged up and because Kevin Jones, their starting
running back, is only averaging 50 yards a game, the line backers should
be dropping back and helping out the secondary. Jon Kitna is showing that
he is better than a back up, but has not fully shown that he is an above
average starter yet. With strong receivers, the linebackers will need to
help make Kitna look like a back up and let the Bills rest Spikes and
Clements.
As for this game I can not recommend any one but Willis McGahee. Not that
other players won't have big games, but his will be so good he gets every
pick. As for the rest of the league, the quarter back you want is Donovan
McNabb. He is going against New Orleans and has just been fantastic this
year. Running back is Willis, huge game. Coming off his big game against
the Bills, Bernard Berrian will put up similar numbers against the
Cardinals. San Diego's defense going against San Francisco will be the
best defense to play this week. The spread on the game is Lions -1, I
definitely recommend taking the Bills this week. The over/under is 39.5,
like most Bills games, I would take the under. The lock of the week is
Eagles Saints over 46.
E-mail feedback and comments to Nick at
sattt34 at aol.com
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