Through the first five weeks of the NFL season, we found ourselves wondering if it would really be possible for teams like the Bills, Lions, and 49ers to all make the playoffs. Since then San Francisco has been cruising to a No. 1 seed, the Lions have stumbled but still have a chance, and the Bills have taken the all-important role of 2011’s pretender.
Coming out of the gate, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Fred Jackson surprised the league with their play-making ability. The Bills scored 34 or more points in each of their first three games, and while their defense looked like it could be an issue, their offense looked like one of the best in the NFL. On Sunday, Buffalo dropped its third straight game by way of a 35-8 shellacking in Miami. They have been outscored 106-26 in the three losses.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been through that before, ever,” head coach Chan Gailey said according to Pro Football Talk. “When you’re that bad, you’re having a pitiful day.”
Make that two straight pitiful weeks, as the Cowboys beat the Bills 44-7 a week ago. It’s safe to assume Gailey’s dreams of an undefeated season and a Super Bowl ring have been shattered.
“We’re baffled as to what has happened,” Ryan Fitzpatrick said. “For the past three weeks, it has not been fun to play, and I’m sure it has not been fun to watch.”
We’re not baffled. Simply put, the Bills are no longer surprising teams. When you know that your opponent has a dangerous offense it becomes easier to prepare for. Buffalo’s defense has not been good all year and now teams are able to exploit it right out of the gate, leaving their offense to play catch-up for three quarters. Fitzpartrick and company are effective, but the Bills’ defense has asked them to do too much all season long.
