Stats on Pats Weekly - Bills Buffaloed, 38-7
Article by Raleigh Dugal, southcoast247.com correspondent
Bills Buffaloed, 38-7
In just three games, Randy moss has accumulated 400 receiving yards and five touchdowns. September is a little early to predict he'll put up Jerry Rice-like numbers in his inaugural Patriots season, but the hallowed single season TD reception record of 22 doesn't seem insurmountable for this suddenly flashy New England offense. In fact, I wouldn't duck under speculation that Brady and his shiny new toys have a shot to pass the 49 TDs Peyton Manning tossed in 2006.
On the ground, Lawrence Maroney fulfilled my prophecy and finally broke the Benjamin mark while Sammy Morris continued to run like he's got something to prove. But the Bills' Marshawn Lynch posted the ground-game highlight play with a bruising TD run that cost the Pats some first half momentum and let Buffalo fans feel like winners for five minutes. The Pats now have run train at the flat average of 38 points per game, outscoring opposing defenses to the tune of 114-35.
J.P. Losman looks on as Pats trample Bills.
After all the back patting, everyone needs to step back a take a gander at two possible glitches. The first is Stephen Gostkowski. While the sophomore kicker regularly boots kickoffs into opposing end zones, he chumped on a chip shot against the Jets in the season opener. Personally, I think Gostkowksi's got the guts to get it done, but if the Pats keep pummeling clubs the proverbial ice water that should run through this kicker's veins might warm up while he rests on his laurels, waiting for that Vinatieri-esque game winning kick. I don't want to stop seeing touchdowns, but hopefully Gostkowski won't get rusty. Second is the red zone D. Most fans will recall the regular season Indy game a few seasons back, when Willie McGinest, Keith Traylor and Co. put a goal-line hurt on the Colts four downs in a row to preserve a Pats lead and win the game. This year, if opponents actually do get in the red zone, they tend to put up points. That's all well and good while the Patriots are still stripping teams of their defensive dignity, but a close game holds the potential to call out an Achilles' heel.
Around the League
Not to beleaguer the Spy Gate scenario, but kudos to Ravens offensive coordinator Brian Billick. In the post game press conference last week, Billick revealed that the Jets' D-line was illegally calling out Baltimore's own audibles to fudge up the works. Billick noted that the Jets were wrong but stressed that it's his job to make adjustments on the football field. Translation: Mangini broke with decorum by ratting, since most head coaches in the league skirt rules on a regular basis and trust each other to police themselves on football field. That's exactly why Roger Goodell torched all the evidence; to put a non-issue to bed.
Donovan McNabb finally broke out of his slump this week, throwing four TDs in a rout of the renascent Lions amid the fervor of his stupid remarks on racism. Donnie Mac still insists black QBs need to clear more hurdles than whitey to join the NFL elite. Tell me, Donovan, what challenges do white running backs face? Or receivers, for that matter? Or . . . you get the picture. Stop whining and keep playing.
Next week look for a shootout with Cincinnati, whose powerful offense and non-existent defense make them the most cockeyed team in football. I don't think Rudy Johnson will run on New England, but Carson Palmer has too many weapons to be thwarted as handily as New York, San Diego, and Buffalo. Patriots 48, Cincinnati 34, with a defensive or special teams TD by the Pats.
In just three games, Randy moss has accumulated 400 receiving yards and five touchdowns. September is a little early to predict he'll put up Jerry Rice-like numbers in his inaugural Patriots season, but the hallowed single season TD reception record of 22 doesn't seem insurmountable for this suddenly flashy New England offense. In fact, I wouldn't duck under speculation that Brady and his shiny new toys have a shot to pass the 49 TDs Peyton Manning tossed in 2006.
