This is the first time the Bills looked in any way shape or form like the Bills we’ve come to know and pity. For the first three games they have impressed fans and critics alike with a mixture of offensive flair and defensive nerve, holding out against teams with far more experience and, historically at least, mettle.
After prevailing against the might of division rivals and favourites, the new England Patriots, the Bills went down softly to a team they must have expected to turn over.
Despite the Bengals being perceived as a hopeless unit – as usual – it is interesting to note that no team in the AFC North has a losing record at this point. It is perennially a strong group if only for the reason that both the Steelers and Ravens are constituents, but this year, what with the emergence of Colt McCoy as a genuine NFL starter for the Browns and the Bengals surprising glide to 2-2, there is competition to be found in any game featuring one of these four.
To lose by 3 points after the greatest victory the Bills have experience for over ten years, is a real kick in the gut, and who knows how much of a difference it will make come January, when it is likely several teams will be vying for Wild Card spots.
I still regard the Bengals as the likely losers of the AFC North, but by beating a team with more dynamism and cohesion, flying high on success and optimism, they have proven they mean business and deserve to be taken very seriously.
No one wants to suffer the same fate as the Bills, who fall to 3-1 but still lead the AFC East on head-to-head tiebreakers. Fitzpatrick had a really quiet game for the Bills, which says something about his importance to the team. Without him getting the ball into the end zone via receivers, the Bills struggle to grind it out. Avoiding interceptions is always preferable, but 199 yards is not enough for this team so more confidence is needed from Ryan Fitzpatrick. Dalton, on the other hand, was lighting up every category with 1 TD and 2 INTs, 2 sacks conceded and 298 yards through the air. I don’t think the stats speak very highly (they make him seem rash, immature and gung-ho, all of which he may be), but he was the winning Quarterback this week and deserved to be so on effort alone.
Will Dalton progress and become a real threat for the Bengals or will he be the next through the revolving door in Ohio? I’d plump for the latter, but with a bit of time to mature, who knows..?
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