Bledsoe didn't throw the ball deep all day long, but he completed 65% of his passes and was not picked off. His yardage totals were not impressive, but he has shown an improved ability to check down and hit the short pass.
I was getting frustrated about now. Was it special teams? No, they were solid. I can't blame the whole game on Ryan Lindell for missing a 42-yard field goal into a stiff Ralph Wilson-stadium wind.
Was it penalties? Only one stood out and that was a pass interference that set up one of Jacksonville's field goals. Significant, yes, but penalties weren't a problem throughout the game and some went the Bills' way.
The defense? No way! Although these guys are blaming themselves, there is not a chance I can fault a defense that forced 2 turnovers and held the Jaguars to six points until that freakish last drive. Jacksonville's receivers made two plays that they may never repeat in their NFL tenure. Buffalo's defense finished the day at number-two overall in the league.
That's when it dawned on me. While looking for a game goat, I was inadvertently discovering positive signs that the Bills are improving. Most importantly, the offensive line looked good and Bledsoe was getting rid of the ball. It also occurred to me that it wasn't a single huge deficiency that spelled Buffalo's doom on Sunday. It was a combination of little things. All those little things kept the Bills from finishing drives.
So that was it. Red-zone efficiency. They need to put at least something on the board at the end of these clock-eating drives that they are executing.
In short, the Jaguars and Bills played a tough, gut wrenching, defensive battle that came down to the team who had the ball last. Unfortunately for the Bills, that team was the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Week Two Preview
If the they want to beat the Raiders in Oaktown next week, the Bills must put points on the board every time they're in the red zone. In order to play an endurance, ball control game, red zone efficiency has to be above average. This past weekend, it was not.
Look for Bledsoe to put it in the air a few more times next week as the Bills' run-up-the-gut strategy is slowed by Warren Sapp, Ted Washington and company. They aren't invincible though, as shown by the Steelers' RB Deuce Staley in week one.
Gannon's arm looks more like it was in 2002, but the Oakland offense still lacks a consistent run game and is mistake prone. If the Bills can win the turnover battle, and the interior of the offensive line can hold up, they should put themselves in the win column.
