Live Blogging from Bills-49ers

Postgame: Lee Evans did some pretty strong venting in the locker room after that brutal, 10-3, loss to the 49ers. Evans generally makes sure to couch his comments and avoid the direct criticism of teammates or coaches, but after this one he took some direct shots at the playcalling -- and without naming him, offensive coordinator Turk Schonert.

Evans clearly felt the Bills didn't run the ball enough in the red zone. Here's what he had to say when asked what the biggest problem was with the offense Sunday:

"You know what?' Evans siad. "It's really hard to put your finger on one thing. But when you get down there, you got to have a certain attitude that you, you, have to get into the end zone. You let your linemen be your linemen, and you let Marshawn do his thing. So we really didn't have a whole lot of balance down there, and it cost us.''

He was right. The Bills had another terrific running day. Marshawn Lynch was in full beast mode. But when the Bills had a second-and-goal at the 49ers' 2-yard line midway through the second quarter, they called a pass, which was tipped and fell incomplete. Then on third-and-goal, they called another pass. Edwards rolled out and was forced to throw the ball away. So after an 18-play drive of more than eight minutes, they were forced to try a field goal. Incredibly, Rian Lindell missed.

The offensive line was blowing the 49ers off the ball on that drive. So why not keep pounding the ball and keeping things simple -- especially when Edwards was nursing a sore groin?


""That's an example right there,'' Evans said. "I think we had all the momentum running the football. We ran the ball to get down there. The line had a good rhythm, had a good feel, and Marshawn as well. So that's one of the examples."

So one of the leaders is down on the playcalling, and that's never a good thing. But Dick Jauron and Schonert brought this on themselves. They have a full-blown crisis on their hands right now. As I said after the Browns game, Jauron is coaching for his job as far as I'm concerned. --- Jerry Sullivan.

End of third quarter: Bills are still trailing, 10-3, but driving. Bills got the ball after a fumble by San Fran running back Frank Gore. Gore ran for a first down, but lost the ball tripping over one of his one blockers. The officials originally ruled it down by contact, but Dick Jauron challenged -- his second in a matter of minutes -- and the call was overturned. --- Jerry Sullivan.

Gametime: Due to technical difficulties, there is no live chat from the Bills game this afternoon. We'll have to make due with live blogging updates from Ralph Wilson Stadium.

The Bills are down, 7-0, with five minutes to go in the second quarter of a remarkably quick first half. The Bills just drove 18 plays and 85 and got nothing for their trouble. On second-and-goal from the 2-yard line, they decided to throw and Trent Edwards' pass was tipped and fell incomplete. Then on third-and-goal, Edwards rolled out and had to throw the ball away. Then Rian Lindell missed a 20-yard field goal, hitting the left upright.

Unreal. How many times do we have to watch this sort of coaching? The Bills had been blowing the 49ers off the line of scrimmage. The offensive line is having another good day. But on second and goal, they decide to get cute. They made some kind of exotic lineup change -- no doubt involving tight ends -- and barely got the play off in time.

Oh, and the long snapper, Ryan Neill, is hurting them again. Neill's snap was high on the field goal try, though Brian Moorman did get it down. Neill made a high snap on a Moorman punt earlier, causing Moorman to rush the kick and sail it out of bounds short

--- Jerry Sullivan.

Comments

[crazyoldman]

after my post i read what the others are saying. i feel it is only fair to say that the troubles the billsare having from missing a chance to play in the first super bowl, to losing four in a row, is not thier fault. bills, braves, sabers,all have failed in buffalo due to the curse all teams are under even the bisons are under it. i remember going to war memorial to whatch the bills and even then they were cursed. during our super bowl seasons look at how we lost the first game. i have searched over and over to find out what the cause of the curse is, but i know it is there. any help would be accepted

[crazyoldman]

the bills have a very good first team. but as any of them go down they have poor replacements. until the guys get good back up and even third string they will never make the next move up. as it is they have a great second string QB the only thing he is starting (Edwards) they have a great third string GB(JP) he is starting. buffalo has to get another Jim Kelly or even Joe Ferguson they are doomed. we need to get a first string wide out to go with Evans. all and all buffalo is still two or so years away from a sixteen game team. but first we must find a first string quarter back.

[Chad]

You may now return to your regularly scheduled whining...

[Lloyd Marshall, Jr.]

"Ralph Wilson is the ONLY reason the Bills are "irrelevant" as stated two weeks ago by the national media on Monday Night football. I was not surprised how candid the announcers were in insulting the Buffalo Bills Owner but surprised how long it took to finally hear these comments, etc."

JT... if you, or anyone else you know, has these comments on YouTube, please tell us where to find them so we can see. I didn't watch the game at all, only listening to the last part of the 1st Half before going to bed.

Thanks.

[Frank Brutus]

For the real deal behind what actually happened to the Bills check out buffaloruse.com

[Chad]

Lloydie, next time you want to disguise yourself as another poster to say "listen to Lloyd, he's right," you might want to remember two things:

1) Don't post two minutes after you posted under your real name at 626am.

2) Change up your posting style. For months you've responded to posts with "_____ begins:" and put in your own conclusion. The poster (The 4:30 Movie) two mins after you did the same thing. Amazing.

Good try, Lloydie.

[JT]

Ralph Wilson is the ONLY reason the Bills are "irrelevant" as stated two weeks ago by the national media on Monday Night football. I was not surprised how candid the announcers were in insulting the Buffalo Bills Owner but surprised how long it took to finally hear these comments from them. The MNF announcers stated the Buffalo Bills have been irrelevant over the past DECADE and named the poor choices of three previous coaches ie. Phillips, Williams, Mallarchy, all with sub .500 records). This National media slap in the face was directed at the Bills owner and his choices over the past 10 years!! The Buffalo team has talent and the devoted fans deserve better. Save your ticket money and listen on the radio.

[LT]

On paper the Bills have some talent - SOME.....

Why is everyone so MAD -

You knew the Bills have had GARBAGE coaching for years and they will NEVER NEVER win a title as Ralph will not put in a top notch management team. We had that with Levy and Polian and a load of talent - we will NEVER see that again ....

Stop being mad - quit F@#ing dreaming - with this easy schedule it's almost funny.

And as usual - Parcells has Miami looking good - The Steelers are ALWAYS better than us.... were looking at last place in the AFC for a long time.

SELL this team to Toronto - DUMB @$$es - how can you play a division rival like Miami in Toronto giving away home field avantage.

The Bills have some talent -some won't cut it in the NFL.

We need a QB, TE , kicker and some TOUGHNESS......oh yea - a coach with a good management team.

The ILLS - I like it !

[Gerald]

Late in the game on 2 occasions the camera focused on Jauron, he had a smirk on his face...What's with that?

[Glen]

after 30 plus years of being a dedicated Bills fan, I've finally had enough and I'm finished! when the old greedly b@#*@#d sells this team to Jim Kelly or Tom Gallisano, call me. This is the only way we will ever see the playoffs

[BARFalo]

40 years as a fan.

I stopped caring after loss to the Dolphins.

JAURON SHOULD BE FORCED TO READ ALL COMMENTS HERE.

[Vegas Sabre Fan]

The Bills fans are taken again as "dumb marks" pouring their hearts and money into this team year after year and get a team that is less than mediocre.
Enough is enough!!
Stop going to the games, do not spend a penny on merchandise.
Support is a two-way street.

[Don H]

The coaches have turned a 9-3 playoff contender into a 6-6 hopeless also-ran. With a soft schedule, they threw 3 games into the trash barrel: Miami-start an injured corner playng with a knee brace and allow him to get burned for over 200 yards; Cleveland-run the ball into the line 3 times for a net 6 yard gain and then miss a long game winning field goal; Frisco-gain 350 total yards and still manage not to score a TD against a second-rate defense. This was the year that the AFC East was up for the taking and the Bills coaches threw it away. Time to clean house!

[WPS]

Nick Setta is available from the Hamilton Tiger Cats. SIGN him NOWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!

[TC]

Ralphie spend some of your bucks for a new coach etc.. u can't take it u...

[Dave]

I find myself unable to get upset about the Bills, considering I completely gave up on them after their 4th Superbowl loss. Not sure why the rest of you opted to stick with them. Look where it's gotten you....

[The 4:30 Movie]

Chad begins: "I love Lloyd's mandates, they're classic, etc."

And you what else his mandates are, Chad? They're RIGHT.

[Lloyd Marshall, Jr.]

Time to get a REAL coach, Ralph! All the coupons for this position are expired and cannot be redeemed.

HOP to it!

[Joe]

Let Toronto have this team fulltime.
I'm out! Even when the ills were 5-1, I knew they were not long for this season. I've been a fan for years and even went to road games back in the 80s and 90s. I almost got beat up in Philly once just for wearing an ills jersey. But enough's enough. I can't root for this team anymore. Here's some of why:

I hate their new historical fusion uniforms. They're hideous and inspired by Generation Hip Hop. I wish they'd wear their retros more (or exclusively).

I HATE their non-difference maker head coach. He's a corpse. He's the computer setting on Madden.

I HATE Marshawn "thug life" Lynch. He ran a woman over this summer on Chippewa and drove away. Then, the organization shielded him while he hid behind lawyers.

I've wasted too much of my life watching this team. They suck. They'll always suck. They'll never win anything. They don't entertain me. They frustrate me

Did I mention that I despise our coach? He's a steward, a players' coach, a non-difference maker, an old-boys-network hack. AND we just gave him an extension.

This coach should've been fired after last year's Monday Night game against Dallas. He's a fraud.

Our owner only hires these types of coaches. He's always cheaped out on coaches. I know he thinks he got screwed by Saban - that was years ago. By the way, Levy shouldn't be in the Hall of Fame as he was a non-difference-making steward also.

We have the worst #$%ing uniforms in sports. I know you think uniforms don't matter. You're wrong.

I want grass rather than field turf.

Our owner once said we could have Art Still or a new scoreboard. Scoreboards don't count on the salary cap.

Our owner won't commit to keeping the team here and consistently insists it's "HIS" team, not ours. They will leave when he dies, and you will be asking yourself why you continued to support them.

JP Edwards = Trent Losman.

I hate Jason Peters. Come to think of it, I hate most of their roster - brash, bluster-filled losers who've never done a thing to warrant our loyalties or well-wishes.

Josh Reed once referred to the Vince Lombardi trophy as the Vince Carter trophy

Lawyer Milloy once said "you can't feed your family on Super Bowl rings."

Anyone remember back in the 70s and 80s when Pittsburgh was winning any and every sports championship and was known as the “CITY OF CHAMPIONS”. The (b)ills and slug-banana Sabres have given us nothing but the city of loses.

I’m OUT!

[Kevin S.]

OK, I am absolutely fed up with this team, just like many of you. I have been a bills fan since I was born and suffered 42 years of not good enough! I am going to make this short and sweet and concise, so that even an old man can understand it.

1) We need a "real qb" WITH EXPERIENCE- the Trent Pennington, Loserman experiments over. Get a veteran QB, somehow, someway.

2) Fire Jauron, Schonert, Fewell and Kugler and replace them with competant men with PROVEN EXPERIENCE. Schonert was a quick fix on the cheap. O line has been pathetic for the better part of this season. Jauron's proven nothing and is now like .450 as head coach...3 yrs is up,he's proven he's not the man. Defense can't get much of a pass rush and consistently chokes whenever the games on the line. These coaches are horrible, let them go.

3) Get a second receiver threat WITH EXPERIENCE. Hardy's a bust!

4) Put a winning team on the field before you let them get sold off to the highest bidder. You owe us and YOURSELF that Ralph! What legacy do you want to leave?? A guy that hires mediocre coaches and never wins the big one, let alone even put a playoff team here in the last ten years. THE MILKS EXPIRING AND ALL I HAVE LEFT IS A BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH.

[Chad]

I love Lloyd's mandates, they're classic. Can't you just see everyone at One Bills Drive hopping on fan blogs Monday morning and sending inter-office emails to each other like "Do you think our jobs are safe? Lloyd from Lockport is demanding we be fired again. I'm going to purchase some boxes just in case." Hahaha, keep up God's work, Lloyd.

[Rojo10]

No Marv, unless you plan on bringing back Bill Polian and the rest of the Bills who made Marv look like a mastermind. Parcells out coached Marv almost everytime he played him and with a lesser team to boot.

[Lloyd Marshall, Jr.]

An update on a prior post I made... I clicked on the links to the CFL. That kicker's team, Calgary, indeed won the Grey Cup.

[Lloyd Marshall, Jr.]

Dear Proud Bills fan in VA:

You began... "The only reason Ralphie and all his coffers haven't gone under is due to the pride, passion and committment of Bills Fans. How about returning the favor. Hey Ralph, your ignorance is sickening."

I'll conclude... "How you can redeem yourself, Raplhy, is to realize you can't take it with you. So do the fans a pleasure, and SPEND on a top-notch head coach, and SPEND on a GM who KNOWS how to put together a winner. Mortgage your house many times over, and make the Bills a Super Bowl WINNER! It's been too d--- long that the Bills haven't been in the post-season, and now it's incumbent on you. Mr. W., to do right by the fans. You owe the fans BIG, and you owe them NOW. That is, unless you want the fans to stop supporting this team."

We are due.

We are owed.

It is right.

It is TIME.

[Lloyd Marshall, Jr.]

"Fire Jaron immediately and name Bobby April head coach. He wouldn't be the first special teams coach to ascend to head coach, etc."

That would continue the same "cheap" promting from within junk that Wilson has done. April should stay as special teams coach. However, a WINNER is what the Bills need as head coach. Hire Bill Cowher, Raplhie, and HOP to it!

"And release Lindell tomorrow and sign Seandro D'Angelis from St. Joe's (and Nebraska) who kicked FIVE field goals for Calgary in the Grey Cup championship. Enough's enough."

One question... did Calgary WIN the Grey Cup?

[Josh from Fayetteville]

So who would win the UB Bulls or the Bills?
I pick the Bulls...at least they have a coach that is worth a dime and knows how to use his players!

[Lloyd Marshall, Jr.]

Dear Ugh...

In response to, "Saying this coaching staff is as dumb as a box of rocks is insulting to rocks everywhere.

PLEASE CALL MARV AND GIVE HIM ANYTHING!!!!!"

-Even the rocks are above that coaching staff; I give you kudos for that.

-Hiring Marv? Nope. He's a Super Bowl LOSER. The Bills need a WINNER as head coach. Bill Cowher fills the bill nicely.

HOP to it, Ralphie!

[Lloyd Marshall, Jr.]

Mike in Fla....

For "will Ralph pay the price (for a good coach)?" The answer is, at this point, he has no other choice BUT to shell out top dollar!

As for "WOW, another game that we got to see what a coach does after he gets a contract extension," here's something interesting: The Bills lost at Miami to go to 5-2. Shortly after that, the contract extension is announced. Since said announcement, the Bills are 1-4.

Goes to show that rewarding a questionable head coach BEFORE the current season finishes out is demented, to say the least.

[Proud Buffalonian in Virginia]

Come on people, do you really want to see this poor excuse for a franchise in Toronto. The reality, for you dreamers out there, is that this team would be worse off up there. Plus, we'd still be subjected to and embarrassed by their ineptness. Send them someplace like LA where it's more important to the community to just have a team than to really care about it. Get a new owner, gm and head coach now or get them the heck out of Western New York/Southern Ontario. This franchise has been the reciprocal of the Western New York area for the past 10+years. I've lived in the West, Florida and now Virginia and I'll take the culture and people of WNY and southern Ontario hands down over all of them. We all know NFL teams are a business. Most businesses fail if not managed correctly. The only reason Ralphie and all his coffers haven't gone under is due to the pride, passion and committment of Bills Fans. How about returning the favor. Hey Ralph, your ignorance is sickening. Get this team far away from Buffalo or let another owner build a respectable franchise. (hint, hint kind of like the team located in Pittsburgh)

[mark7]

i feel with everyone in this forum. been a bills fan forever, and agree that we should lose coaches and gm(oh wait, we don't have a gm). bottom line is that ralph "big ears" wilson will not buy into it. he's making his money, and doesn't want to spend any more to produce a contender. he never has. get used to this bills fans. when old jerk dies, team is gone. problem is, do i want to keep watching them until he croaks

[JDL]

I am a 49ers fan. I live in California. We still suck after today. But why didn't Marshawn Lynch get the ball on 4th and 2? Every person at the bar (hippies included) was in agreement that it was an automatic first if he had gotten it.

[BARFalo]

if you're taking 20 yard field goals, then you need more than a kicker

[WangoTango]

Never heard of this CFL kicker before but I like him,
http://stampeders.com/team/player_roster/career/?id=18
Can a team keep Lindell after his history of blowing kicks=games.
This Dangelis is the CFL most accurate kicker in history.

[No Bull at my table]

Give this local kid Deangelis a shot, someone else in the NFL will!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandro_DeAngelis

CFL leader in FG%, longest FG last two seasons, 5 FG in the Championship game, good under pressure, he's a winner, the Bills could use some of that, even from a kicker.

[BARFalo]

Thank you Dave, Wilson does not care. I would think he would want to "buy" a championship before he dies. Either way, the family is going to make a ton of money when they sell the franchise.
Also, Jauron needs to step down just to save his career. He's a proven loser and although it may already be too late, resigning instead of being fired may prolong his career in the NFL. Before the game, it was a feasible that all the AFC teams could have lost...which the top two did...had we been prepared and won, we would only be a game out with a chance at the division with wins against NYJ, NE and Miami.
However, Jauron cannot beat good teams...and today proved lousy teams either.
I just don't think it is coincidence that our Offensive Coordinators (Fairchild and Schonert) cannot excel under Jauron.
And why are Jauron's teams always the most injured?
But quite possibly, I just think the city of Buffalo and everything associated with it, is cursed.

[miserable]

5-1...give coach contract extension..1-5 since
contract?? the staff hasn't coached since...another thing that makes me sick is our local sports radio was talking about how a loss in Arizona wouldn't hurt, are you kidding me ? I think the team actually bought into that,including Jauron..we really suck and every time I see CBS post that we are in the hunt I'm convinced that that means we are in the hunt for a new coaching staff. This team belongs in Toronto ..It's not what hard core Buffalo fans deserve. Wake up Ralph!

[PGR88]

Why do the Bills practice in the field house in Nov-Dec?

Get their sorry, Southern California butts outside for practice.

[PGR88]

Lynch has 134 yards, and on 3 Bills' drives to the 49'ers goal line, they do NOT give him the ball even once? Please tell me WHY?

[Al]

I too now live outside NY State. I'm getting sick of "wait 'til next year".
I think it's time to switch
teams after 30 years of rooting for the Bills. Lets
Go Giants!

[Neil]

aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
the play calling has been horrible all year, a whole bunch of times this year 3rd and short, and we go in with a empty backfield, horrible at least show a rb in the back!!!
bobby april would make a good head coach hopefully we go that route
i think trent edwards is the real deal, just need to give him some more time maybe 1 or 2 more years, remember eli manning's 2nd year??? horrible.
our o-line def needs more depth along with our d-line we have good wr's need better play calling!!!

[mark]

I'm f***** hate this team. More and more fans are falling to heart attack every given sunday.

[Dave]

Why do you all keep compaining week after week. Ralph doesn't care about you and if this team wins. As far as Ralph is concerned it's another successful year because the games are sold out. You all are the fools. Ralph just keeps selling it and you fools keep buying it.

Good one Ralph. You da man!

[Mike In Florida]

I am so happy to know that I am not the only person that is unhappy with the coaching situation. Not many coaches in the league would still be around after losing 5 out of 6 after a 5-1 start and now not in the playoffs and sitting fat with a contract extension.

[Peter]

The quick start to the season had me fooled initially...but the loss vs the Browns and now this atrocity vs the 49ers have reaffirmed my diagnosis - this team will never be a serious contender unless and until there is a change in ownership and at the GM position.

[Rojo10]

for all those thinking we need a new QB, ask yourself this; What QB could play in this awful system. Look at the Patriots, Its not an accident that a lifetime backup QB is playing like a league mvp. Its called, good coaching, a good o-line, and receivers that not how to get open and catch the ball.

[Wait until next year]

Last week Buffalo used the play action pass and bootleg and had their second highest scoring game in their history.

Today run run pass punt. Run pass, run punt. No play action to make San Fran try to guess what they would do next. Same old run off left tackle and hope Lynch and Jackson can break a big gain.
I would like to know if the NFL keeps track of wasted time outs because players don't know they are supposed to be on the field, or the one's on the field don't have a play called in from the side line.

I love to watch the Bill's and all I seem to ever hear is "wait till next year".

[Dennis Cummings]

Can someone tell me the reason for not getting the kick off to start the game?
With one of the best kick off return men in the league it didn't make sense. Good coaching I guess!!!!

[gimmeabreak]

I HATE THIS TEAM! I'm glad next week's game is in Toronto. I wouldn't look out my kitchen window if it was being played in my backyard.

Fire Jaron immediately and name Bobby April head coach. He wouldn't be the first special teams coach to ascend to head coach, e.g. Marv Levy. April is the one coach on this team who seems to know what he is doing, gets results and has some fire in the belly.

And release Lindell tomorrow and sign Seandro D'Angelis from St. Joe's (and Nebraska) who kicked FIVE field goals for Calgary in the Grey Cup championship. Enough's enough.

[DIE HARD BILLS FAN]

here is how the bills actually win a game fire the gm fire the coaching staff draft a qb find some receivers that can get open and wont drop a game tying touchdown and for the rest of the players grow a pair and play with some heart

[bills fan]

wow is all i can say about the bills loss to the 3-8... excuse me 4-8 san francisco 49ers all i do every football season is waste my time watching this pathetic excuse for an NFL franchise. If lindell makes two easy field goals and we kick a field goal and not go for it on fourth down (another brilliant decision by dick jauron) we win that game and that would have been playing horrible. Thats my first complaint can jauron coach a game for god's sake? amd lindell who has been our go to guy when we cant get it in the endzone he misses two chipshots. Finally theirs trent edwards he plays a terrible first half and i thought to myself that he will come back and have a good second like usual. Instead he's on the bench for a "groin injury" and my worst nightmare JP is in a quarterback, Trent edwards if you ever read this blog then let me tell you that your worthless to a team on the sidelines you watched your team loose its chances for a playoff birth now if his groin is really hurt then disregard this but if hes playing next week then he lost me as a fan he is pathetric and should be ashamed to play football a talented player who has NO HEART