Bills 2009 Season in Review

By BisonBoy  |   Friday, September 11, 2009  |  Comments( 64 )

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Well, the Bills have just finished the 2009 season and a quick synopsis of the team’s games seems in order. Without further adieu…

09/14 @ New England Patriots
It was “wake up and smell the coffee” for Bills fans on national TV. Tom Brady’s rust was off before the end of the Patriots’ first 68 yard scoring drive. Wes Welker’s early TD combined with five more gave the Patriots an easy 48-10 victory. The Bills controlled the clock for less than a third of the game as the no-huddle became a muddle.

09/20 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Fortunately for the Bills, the Bucs this season were even in worse shape than the denizens of One Bills Drive. It was a coming out party for Aaron Maybin as the Bills rolled over Tampa with a 28-10 victory. Maybin’s two sacks and one forced fumble was a welcome addition to a team in desperate need of turnovers. Demetrius Bell gave up one bad sack but otherwise demonstrated promise in his first appearance at left tackle.

09/27 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Although the Bills defense matured this year, they weren’t ready for the high-powered Saints in losing a 35-31 shootout. The Bills offense showed promise but the secondary was torched for nearly 400 yards by Drew Brees.

10/04 @ Miami Dolphins
The temperature typically begins to drop in Buffalo in October but the Bills appeared to be heating up as they traveled to Miami and stole a win against the disappointing 2009 Dolphins. The Bills defense created 4 turnovers while the offense sputtered against the Fin’s defense. The Bills squeaked out a 20-17 win on a last minute field goal.

10/11 CLEVELAND BROWNS
The Stanford vs. Notre Dame QB battle went to Trent Edwards as he had his best outing of the year and the Bills improved to 3-2. Edwards threw for more than 300 yards and 3 touchdowns. The defense was solid and Leodis McKelvin’s 92-yard kick return propelled the Bills to an easy 28-10 victory.

10/18 @ New York Jets
The Bills follow their best outing of the year with their worst as they fall to the New Jersey Jets 35-3. The offense was completely confused by Rex Ryan’s defensive schemes and rookie Mark Sanchez lit up the Bills for 2 TDs and a scrambling score. Worse, the Bills run defense couldn’t seem to stop the Jets ground game as they ran for nearly 200 yards and controlled the clock. A brief skirmish on the sidelines between Trent Edwards and T.O. was a harbinger of things to come.

10/25 @ Carolina Panthers
Demetrius Bell would love to forget this game as he allowed 4 sacks to Trent Edwards’ blind side. Edwards couldn’t finish the game as Ryan Fitzpatrick guided the Bills’ ineptitude to a 20-10 loss. Only the 2 turnovers by the defense were bright spots as the Panthers mauled the Bills’ offense throughout the game. The Bills fell to 3-4 heading to the season midpoint.

11/01 HOUSTON TEXANS
With Trent Edwards out for the game, the Bills offense continued to struggle. Terrell Owens tirade with no one in particular on the sideline made for great TV but the Bills’ play did not. The playoff bound Texans came into the Ralph and handed the Bills their 5th loss of the season, 21-7.

11/08 BYE
Mercifully for Bills’ fans, the Dick Jauron experiment ended during the bye week as interim head coach Bobby April took the reigns heading into the back end of the season.

11/15 @ Tennessee Titans
Although the Bills were clearly over matched on paper in this game, Bobby April had the team inspired and ready to play. Aaron Maybin’s brutal first quarter sack of Kerry Collins forced the Titans to turn to disappointing third year man Vince Young. Young’s 4 picks helped the Bills create their own Music City Miracle and walk away with the 24-10 victory.

11/22 @ Jacksonville Jaguars
The Bills got back to .500 ball with an easy victory over the tumbling Jaguars. Sans Maurice Jones-Drew, the Titans were a shadow of their former selves as the Bills defense continued their stingy ways. The offense provided just enough punch to give the Bills their second road win in as many games, 17-6.

11/29 MIAMI DOLPHINS
With brittle Chad Pennington out for the season, the Bills were able to freeze the Dolphins offense on a cold November day. Memo to Bills’ management: Never play the Dolphins indoors again. The Bills won easily 20-10. The offensive line continued to show improvement as Marshawn Lynch rushed for nearly 150 yards. The Bills improved to 6-5 as Bobby April was named NFL Coach of the Month.

12/03 NEW YORK JETS
The Bills get the split they needed with the Jets in Toronto. Winning their fourth game in a row, the Bills moved to 7-5 and into the playoff hunt. The Bills run game continued to shine as they rambled over the Jets for nearly 200 yards on the ground. Terrell Owens returned after his one game suspension after a post-Jacksonville tirade left him in Bobby April’s doghouse. Owens caught 5 balls for his first 100 yard game and a touchdown as the Bills went on to win 27-17.

12/13 @ Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs continued to be the NFL’s sacrificial lamb as the Bills routed the “rebuilding” Chiefs, 42-10. The Bills defense completely shut down the KC attack as their only touchdown came on a pick six due to an errant toss by Trent Edwards. Edwards made up for that with three TDs to Lee Evans, T.O and rising star TE Shawn Nelson.

12/20 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Home cookin’ wasn’t enough for the Bills in this match-up with the Patriots. The Bills resurgence ended with this 35-28 loss to the Patriots. The offense looked better against the Pats in this one than they did in the season opener and let the Bills faithful know just how far this team has progressed. Unfortunately, the defense was still not a match for Tom Brady’s passing game as the Bills fell to 8-6.

12/27 @ Atlanta Falcons
This was just one road win too far for the young Bills. The playoff bound Falcons and their strong running game kept the improving Bills’ offense off the field long enough to secure a 24-21 victory. The Bills fell to 8-7 and now needed help heading into week 17 if they were going to break their playoff drought. Rookies Aaron Maybin, Shawn Nelson and the young Turks on the Bills offensive line continued to shine. James Hardy’s 4th TD of the season also helped the Bills in their decision to not resign the troublesome Terrell Owens to a new deal.

01/03 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Poor weather exposed the Colts passing game as the Bills run game continued to shine, handing Indy a 21-16 loss. Strong defensive play by the Bills helped give the team their first winning season in 5 years. Unfortunately, the playoff drought continues as the Bills fell just one game short in the playoff race.

Bills fans can take hope from the Bills strong finish to 9-7 and the new attitude of head coach Bobby April and the maturing offense and defense. Bills management should lock up April quickly before somebody willing to pay him the market rate snaps him up.
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