The second to last pre-season game is generally the most telling as starters get the most playing time of any of the pre-season affairs. The Bills played their second to last pre-season game against the Pittsburgh Steelers last night, and the Bills offensive starters played into the third quarter. The result: a 17-0 snoozefest that wasn’t nearly as close as the score indicates. Dick Jauron’s consecutive seasons of 7-9, 7-9, and 7-9 may be in jeopardy as it’s hard to see how the Bills win 7 games this year. The Las Vegas sports books apparently have the same view as the Bills over/under win total for the 2009 season is set at 7.5 (with the under being the slight favorite).
It would be unfair to say the Bills starting offense did nothing last night; Edwards did throw a touchdown pass to Pittsburgh LB James Farrior. Edwards, who may see two possessions of work in the Bills final pre-season game against Detroit, now has 3 interceptions and 0 touchdowns this pre-season. The Bills surprised many by operating out of a no-huddle offense though it’s hard to see any benefits as the starters still haven’t scored a touchdown in four pre-season games.
With their new no-huddle attack, the Bills were outgained 209-50 in the
first half last night. The time of possession was just as lopsided
with the Steelers holding the ball for almost 22 of 30 minutes.
After the Bills third pre-season game, Jerry Sullivan said it’s time for Edwards to ‘cut loose’ and start throwing the ball down the field. Well, Edwards didn’t throw the ball down the field successfully against the Steelers. And while the Bills are still playing without TO, who is nursing his toe and twittering, they simply don’t seem capable of making enough big plays. Even the normally reliable special teams have gotten in on the mediocrity this pre-season by giving up a fake punt for a touchdown against the Titans and getting a chip shot field goal attempt blocked against the Steelers.
It’s positively frightening to think that the Bills open the regular season in 15 days on national television against the Patriots – a team we’ve beat just twice this century with the last victory coming on September 7, 2003. That’s 2,184 days for those of you keeping track at home.