Week 2 – The Jags – Part Two

So now we get into the really fun stuff, defense and special teams. Oh yeah, and those people standing on the sidelines with headsets.Last week I said that there were a lot of unknowns about the Bills defensive line, but those unknowns turned into huge positives in my book. Marcus Stroud looked like a beast, Kyle Williams played like his first name was Pat, and our ends stunted time and time again to get pressure on Matt Hasselback. The Bills had pressure on every play and accounted for 5 sacks. Now I didn’t see the Jags game but I know they only had 1 sack against a quarterback known for holding the ball too long. And if Marcus Stroud needed any more motivation to play like an all star…this is the team that said they didn’t want him anymore.
EDGE: Bills

The Bills linebackers were gangbusters last week, and with a beat up offensive line for the Jags, this could get ugly. The Jags defense is always good and their linebackers are fast and young, but I still have to give the edge to the Bills because Poz and Mitchell both looked really good and I don’t see a reason that they won’t back up their opening day dominance with another great showing.
EDGE: Bills

The Bills cornerbacks and safeties were impressive last week versus a very good quarterback. The Jags on the other hand let up some big plays to Vince Young and the Titans. Donte Whitner looked scary and Terrence McGee was playing smothering defense and was rewarded with an interception late in the game.
EDGE: Bills

Do I really have to go over special teams? Fake Field goal=touchdown, any punt return to Roscoe Parrish=suicide, any time the Bills have a special teams play=dominance
EDGE: Bills

Dick Jauron is going to have an edge here against Jack Delrio, but not by much. His experience and his aggressive decision making last week helps get him some more credibility with me, and it doesn’t hurt that his assistant coaches all look like guniusses right now.
EDGE: Bills

I have the positional battles being at 8-1 in favor of the Bills, and looking back that might seem a little off but the Bills won their first game and the Jags lost a sloppily played game against the Titans. I don’t think the Bills have a huge edge in any of these categories except special teams so I still think this will be a close game.

With that in mind, I am going to call for the Bills to upset the Jags here by a score of 28-17, with a little more help from good special teams. Now this could easily swing the other way if Garrard has his usual no-turnover performance but I see the Bills getting enough pressure to cause some mistakes. So LETS GO BILLS!!!!