http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20081006/SPORTS03/810060310/1007/SPORTS
Warner picked apart Buffalo Bills behind a strong offensive line
October 6, 2008
GLENDALE, Ariz. — This much I am absolutely certain of following Buffalo's demoralizing 41-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon: Trent Edwards would not have made a difference in the outcome.
Well, maybe the score would have been a little closer if Edwards hadn't been knocked out of the game on the third play with a concussion. Edwards has proven to be a better protector of the ball than backup J.P. Losman, and Losman had a very J.P.-like fumble in the fourth quarter that set up a Cardinals touchdown.
But ultimately, the Bills weren't going to win this game even with Jim Kelly at quarterback because their defense simply was incapable of making plays against a potent and talented Arizona offense.
You just got the feeling that if the Bills' offense had played better with Losman at the helm, or even if Edwards hadn't been hurt, that Arizona would have had no trouble responding and would have scored as many points as was necessary to win.
After four weeks of pretty solid play, the defense was lit up by Kurt Warner who completed 33 of 42 passes for 250 yards.
The Bills were unable to generate any type of pass rush on the immobile 37-year-old quarterback, and he sat back there all day picking and choosing who he wanted to play catch with.
True, the Bills started the game without top cornerback Terrence McGee, and then lost free safety Ko Simpson to a hamstring injury, which meant Leodis McKelvin and George Wilson were on the field the rest of the game.
It was a tough assignment trying to contain Arizona's passing game — even though the Cardinals were missing star receiver Anquan Boldin. However, if the Bills could have pressured Warner, they would have had a chance.
This is the same guy who turned the ball over six times — three picks and three fumbles — last week in New York. As good as he is, he is prone to turnovers when he has to get rid of the ball quickly.
He never had to worry about that in this debacle. The front line couldn't get to him, and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell didn't send many blitzers because the Cardinals were sending so many guys into the pattern that he needed someone to cover them.
Bottom line: The skill guys for Arizona are terrific, but it was the big boys up front who won this game for the Cardinals because they beat the snot out of the Bills and protected Warner and gave him a chance to utilize all his talent.
Warner picked apart Buffalo Bills behind a strong offensive line
October 6, 2008
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GLENDALE, Ariz. — This much I am absolutely certain of following Buffalo's demoralizing 41-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon: Trent Edwards would not have made a difference in the outcome.
Well, maybe the score would have been a little closer if Edwards hadn't been knocked out of the game on the third play with a concussion. Edwards has proven to be a better protector of the ball than backup J.P. Losman, and Losman had a very J.P.-like fumble in the fourth quarter that set up a Cardinals touchdown.
But ultimately, the Bills weren't going to win this game even with Jim Kelly at quarterback because their defense simply was incapable of making plays against a potent and talented Arizona offense.
You just got the feeling that if the Bills' offense had played better with Losman at the helm, or even if Edwards hadn't been hurt, that Arizona would have had no trouble responding and would have scored as many points as was necessary to win.
After four weeks of pretty solid play, the defense was lit up by Kurt Warner who completed 33 of 42 passes for 250 yards.
The Bills were unable to generate any type of pass rush on the immobile 37-year-old quarterback, and he sat back there all day picking and choosing who he wanted to play catch with.
True, the Bills started the game without top cornerback Terrence McGee, and then lost free safety Ko Simpson to a hamstring injury, which meant Leodis McKelvin and George Wilson were on the field the rest of the game.
It was a tough assignment trying to contain Arizona's passing game — even though the Cardinals were missing star receiver Anquan Boldin. However, if the Bills could have pressured Warner, they would have had a chance.
This is the same guy who turned the ball over six times — three picks and three fumbles — last week in New York. As good as he is, he is prone to turnovers when he has to get rid of the ball quickly.
He never had to worry about that in this debacle. The front line couldn't get to him, and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell didn't send many blitzers because the Cardinals were sending so many guys into the pattern that he needed someone to cover them.
Bottom line: The skill guys for Arizona are terrific, but it was the big boys up front who won this game for the Cardinals because they beat the snot out of the Bills and protected Warner and gave him a chance to utilize all his talent.
