OK, short column this week, so let’s get right to it. Here are five legitimately good things about today’s Arizona game:

1) We don’t have to suffer through another quarterback controversy

2) Next week’s our bye week, giving Edwards an extra week to recover (and an extra week for the authorities to track down the bus that hit him)

3) It was a non-conference loss. Sure, I prefer non-conference wins to non-conference losses, but as categories of loss go, this isn’t so bad

4) Pre-season, most of us would have signed up for 4-1 at the break. I’d predicted 3-2

5) Best of all…the game’s over

So, what does this all mean? The game exposed some of the Bills’ lingering weaknesses: vulnerability against truly diverse passing games; inconsistent O-Line performance; questionable first-half game planning; JP’s grooming habits. But the team’s young, and I would think that all but this last weakness are correctable.

Seriously, take this final point into consideration: as a result of beginning the season 4-0, the Bills need to play .500 ball over their last 12 games to go 10-6, which gives us a legitimate playoff shot. It’s going to be an interesting, exciting season.

E-mail feedback and comments to Phil Mann at
pjmann at nyc.rr.com