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| Other Week 14 Game Recaps | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARI at SF | BUF at KC | CAR at NE | CIN at MIN | DEN at IND | DET at BAL | GB at CHI | MIA at JAX |
| NO at ATL | NYJ at TB | PHI at NYG | PIT at CLE | SD at DAL | SEA at HOU | STL at TEN | WAS at OAK |
Week 14 Game Recap: Buffalo Bills 16, Kansas City Chiefs 10
Buffalo Bills
| QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, Pass: 12 - 20 - 86 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 3 - 17 - 0 |
Fitzpatrick made a couple of first downs with his feet and threw the block to spring Marshawn Lynch's long run, but other than that, it's hard to find bright spots in his performance. He threw a horrible INT in the end zone by forcing the ball into triple coverage to Lee Evans. He either took too long to throw downfield, or just didn't throw downfield to take advantage of his talented WR combo against a Chiefs secondary that has given up tons of big plays this year. Fitzpatrick was patient enough to find Terrell Owens on a late crossing route to account for the Bills only TD, but he also missed Josh Reed for another TD, and he had another throw directly to a Chief that should have been picked. The Bills won this one in spite of Fitzpatrick, not because of him.
| RB Fred Jackson, Rush: 20 - 99 - 0, Rec: 3 - 23 - 0 (4 targets) |
Jackson never looks spectacular getting the job done, but his numbers always surprise you at the end of the day. He gobbled up chunks of yards on cutback runs, getting yards after contact and finding yards when it looked like the play was stacked up. Jackson was a rugged runner after the catch, and he was patient picking through holes at the line of scrimmage on rushing plays. He made tacklers miss, and he also run through their weak arm tackles. His efficiency and effort are among the best of any RB in the league even though his tools are not. He has earned a big role for this team in 2010.
| RB Marshawn Lynch, Rush: 12 - 84 - 0, Rec: 3 - 10 - 0 (3 targets) |
Lynch was sometimes too hesitant, like on a 3rd down reception in Chiefs territory that he couldn't turn into a first down, and he also missed a few good cutback lanes. He did find the cutback outside to make a 47-yard run, sprung by a Fitzpatrick block, and he also got yards after contact with strong leg drive, stiff arms, and plain old mean running. His somewhat plodding style has made him second fiddle to Fred Jackson's smart running, but Lynch's best football is still ahead of him.
| WR Terrell Owens, Rec: 2 - 15 - 1 (5 targets) |
Owens scored by extending the ball over the pylon on a late crossing route, but Fitzpatrick didn't get him the ball on time when he was open on other routes, and he barely factored into this game. After one really good game with Fitzpatrick, Owens is back to not mattering because of the Bills anemic pass offense.
| WR Lee Evans, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (4 targets) |
Evans had one catch, but he did also have an end zone target. Too bad he was triple-covered. The ball was picked, of course. Evans is the most talented WR to do just about nothing for his fantasy teams this year.
| WR Josh Reed (1 targets) |
Reed got open in the end zone, but Fitzpatrick missed him. He is an afterthought in this flaccid air attack.
| TE Shawn Nelson, Rec: 2 - 19 - 0 (2 targets) |
Nelson had one real nice juggling catch downfield, but he also surrendered a fumble on a textbook tackle-and-strip by Brandon Carr. He is developing into a quality downfield target for the future.
Kansas City Chiefs
| QB Matt Cassel, Pass: 26 - 43 - 224 - 0 TD / 4 INT, Rush: 1 - 1 - 0 |
Chiefs fans have to be wondering exactly why their team paid a second-round pick and so much money for Cassel. His terrible deep ball accuracy showed on two overthrows to an open Mark Bradley. He was very meek, choosing mainly to throw quick throws close to the line of scrimmage, and Cassel also held the ball too long when he was in the pocket. He was feeble on a bootleg call on fourth-and-goal and took a sack. His interceptions came on a horrible decision to throw on the run as he was hit deep in his own end, a deflection off of Chris Chambers, a deflected fourth-down desperation throw, and a hail mary at the end of the game. He was inconsistent all day, but Cassel still made the plays to give the Chiefs a chance to win. Chris Chambers let him down with a drop on a ball that should have set up a first and goal inside the five with the Chiefs down by only six. The Cassel comparisons to Scott Mitchell seem all too apt right now.
| RB Jamaal Charles, Rush: 20 - 143 - 1, Rec: 7 - 38 - 0 (8 targets) |
Charles is the do-everything back for the Chiefs, and he is taking well to the role. He had a ton of catches out of the backfield and absorbed punishment to get what was there after the reception, and his speed allowed him to run away from the Bills defense and score the Chiefs only TD on the day from 76 yards out. His hard-nosed running between the tackles kept the offense in manageable down and distances. He had three straight carries on goal-to-go to get the Chiefs down to the one, but they decided to go to Cassel on fourth down, and Cassel failed. Charles converted some key short yardage plays, and another big run in the fourth quarter was called back by a penalty. He is a very good RB2 to have for the fantasy playoffs, especially next week against the Browns.
| WR Chris Chambers, Rec: 4 - 50 - 0 (9 targets) |
Chambers had a few catches in the middle of the field for good gains, but his spotty hands accounted for one deflection interception and an unforgivable drop that would have given the Chiefs four shots to go ahead by one in the waning minutes of the game. He is reminded everyone why the Chargers released him.
| WR Bobby Wade, Rec: 4 - 34 - 0 (6 targets) |
Wade was the recipient of a handful of Cassel's throws close to the line of scrimmage that resulted in the meager gains. He also converted a third-and-long in the fourth quarter would-be comeback drive, but his role will shrink with the return of Dwayne Bowe next week.
| WR Mark Bradley, Rec: 3 - 35 - 0 (8 targets) |
Bradley got free deep twice and laid out for the pass, but Cassel overthrew him on both plays. His good hands got a first down in the red zone, and he also had a good gain on a downfield catch in the two-minute drill, but Bradley's chance to have a big impact was squandered by Cassel's deep ball ineptitude.
| TE Leonard Pope, Rec: 4 - 45 - 0 (5 targets) |
Pope converted a key first on the would-be comeback drive with a TE screen catch and run, but he still looks stiff and slow. He has revived his career with the Chiefs, but that says more about their TE corps than his skills.
| TE Brad Cottam, Rec: 1 - 26 - 0 (1 targets) |
Cottam didn't get many looks, but he made a very athletic catch in the middle of the field and looked fast for such a big man.