Buffalo Sports
Giants crush the Bills 38-21
By Art wander
Dec 23, 2007, 19:24

DON’T GET ME STARTED on a brief moment of compassion for beleaguered offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild. After all, I’ve been a critic of this “play-caller” all season.

After all, how could I jump on the guy after the Bills began the game against the Giants with a nifty, play action pass and kept moving the chains. Lo and behold, the crowd really got into it after Buffalo scored on its first two possession – both on TD passes to Gaines and Lee Evans. It looked as if the Bills were going to pound the Giants back to the Hudson River.

But (yawn) it looked as if the Bills then retreated to the “Let’s play not to lose” type of a game that’s been their M.O. all season. So Fairchild called a couple of plays in the first quarter that had me rubbing my eyes.

The Bills kept the Giants off balance in that first quarter but it’s a shame that the game has to be played in 4 quarters. Imagine Eli Manning fumbling the ball 5 times (losing 2) and throwing a pair of interceptions - and still come up a winner. After three quarters – the Bills held a 21-17 lead and then boom – pow – zowie – zap, the Bills found themselves on the short end of a 38-21 embarrassment in front of courageous Kevin Everett, who made the trip to Buffalo to cheer his teammates on.

The second straight loss found the Buffalo defenders unable to stop the running attack of the Giants –didn’t need much of Eli Manning as they marched toward post-season play. The Giants needed that win since Minnesota and New Orleans were right on their heels. Buffalo let them off the hook in the 4th quarter as New York clinched a playoff berth.

As Jamal Lewis did a week ago in Cleveland…..Brandon Jacobs ripped the run defense apart with his running, scoring twice. He pounded the Bills to the tune of 145 yards. But the Bills were still in it until Ahmad Bradshaw ripped off an 88-yard TD gallop. Kawika Mitchell romped 20 yards following an interception…..those scores erasing the Bills 4-point margin.

Forget Manning, New York thrashed the Bills defenders to the tune of 291 rushing yards.

If anyone wanted to find the turning point in the game, it came on the Giants 3trd possession with Buffalo ahead 14-0. The defense held and the Giants had to punt but wait a minute here. Donte Whitner barreled in and knocked the punter to the turf for a 15-yard penalty that kept the drive alive and the Giants scored to make it 14-7.

After that the life seemed to have been lifted off the inspired first quarter Bills. The weather wasn’t nearly as bad as it was in Cleveland, but Buffalo should have benefited from the wind and the rain that pelted the Ralph. As they did in Cleveland, the Bills simply couldn’t stop the run.

The cameras really focused on Dick Jauron (he of no real facial personality on the sidelines) After the game, Jauron once again referred to the weather. Hey, coach, both teams played in the same weather. In fact, the Giants scored a touchdown on a drive with the worst weather of the afternoon – a heavy rain and piercing winds.

Trent Edwards had a near perfect first quarter – the first two drives that ended with touchdown passes. After that the Bills turned the ball over 4 times including three interceptions including one that went for the score by Mitchell. Actually, Edwards hit Lee Evans on the numbers but the ball bounced off his shoulder into the arms of Mitchell. After the Bills failed – again – Bradshaw ripped off his long TD run.

After Buffalo scored on the first two possessions, they managed only 3 first downs THE NEXT 5 TIMES THEY HAD THE BALL. Hardly a glowing glance at the offensive coordinator.

Both quarterbacks were as sloppy as they come. Edwards was 9 of 26 for 161 yards 2 TDs and 3 picks. Most of his completions came in the first quarter, including a long bomb to Roscoe Parish that led to the first score of the game. After the Bills scored again on the next possession that was it – forget it. As for Manning – take a seat and watch the rushers romp. Manning was 7 of 15 for 11 yards – no TDs and 2 picks.

If there was a bright spot, it was that Matrshawn Lynch finished with 70 yards rushing to go over the thousand-yard mark (1010.)

So it’s on to Philadelphia for the season finale with the Bills needing a victory to finish 8-8 on the season. Wouldn’t it be fitting for Jauron to simply tell Fairchild to leave for Colorado after Xmas and then put the offense in the hands of Schonert or Van Pelt who will be eyeing the OC position next season. I doubt either of them would be ideal but then again – could it be worse than it has for the past two games when a playoff berth was on the line.

OK back to the compassion. The Bills faced another winning team and came up empty. Maybe they should hope to be put in a division with Arizona, St. Louis or the like, etc., etc., etc., on Don’t Get Me Started.


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