DETROIT - Nothing has been remotely normal for the Bills since a record snowfall buried the Buffalo region last week, canceled their formal preparations for the Jets and left Ralph Wilson Stadium unplayable.
Sunday's scheduled home game was moved 270 miles west to Ford Field and played on Monday night as the Lions opened their suburban team practice facility over the weekend for the Bills to play catchup.
The Jets, meanwhile had a normal week of practice. They had less on the line than the Bills, who aimed to end a two-game slide and keep pace in the A.F.C. wild-card race. The Jets were simply trying to find a semblance of competence in this mess of a season.
Logically, the Jets had a distinct advantage, but when it comes to the Jets, nothing is what it appears, and they were throttled, 38-3.
The best example of the Jets' game-long mess occurred midway during the third quarter. The Jets (2-9) were forced to punt from their end zone after another woefully stalled series. Ray Quigley's protection collapsed, the punt was forcefully blocked by two invading Bills. and defensive end Manny Lawson fell on it for a touchdown to make the score 24-3.
Coach Rex Ryan's response to yet another miscue was a slow, sad headshake of disgust on the sidelines.
Michael Vick was under duress all night. He was sacked five times, threw an interception, was injured trying to prevent a pick-6 and was only 7 of 19 for 76 yards. The former opening-day starter Geno Smith (10 of 12, 89 yards) replaced Vick for the last series of the third quarter but was equally weak under failing protection.
Bills Coach Doug Marrone admitted before the game that he had no idea how his team would respond under a lack of normal preparation. The Bills had not won since defeating the Jets, 43-23, at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 23.
His answer came quickly. The Bills (6-5) were crisp in all phases of the game. Defensive end Mario Williams was particularly devastating, slicing through the saloon-door swinging Jets offensive line for two sacks.
Bills quarterback Kyle Orton was 24 of 32 for 230 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions. Running backs Anthony Dixon and Fred Jackson added rushing touchdowns.
The game atmosphere was decidedly pro-Bills, with 56,044 fans taking advantage of free tickets to fill Ford Field up to 86 percent of capacity. Tickets, made available Friday online to Bills, Lions, and Jets season-ticket holders and then to the public over the weekend, were quickly snapped up.
This is the second time since 2010 that Ford Field has served as an emergency stand-in. The Vikings-Giants game was relocated to Detroit after a section of the Metrodome's roof collapsed under the weight of a Dec. 12 snowfall.
Matt Wojcik, of Chesterfield Township, Mich., arrived in his vintage Doug Flutie Bills jersey and sat close to the end zone, happy to see his beloved team play twice in one season in Detroit. He was among a throng of enthusiastic Bills fans, who filled their sideline from goal post to goal post.
'I am really glad they moved the game here,' Wojcik said, 'because I know there are a ton of Bills fans here. I do miss being outside like at Ralph Wilson, because that is a huge advantage for the Bills usually.'
The Jets season-ticket holder Ira Lieberfarb of Staten Island traveled to Detroit, and felt the atmosphere in Ford Field was more enjoyable than sitting outdoors in Buffalo's usually raw November weather.
'I certainly don't mind sitting indoors,' said Lieberfarb, who attends nearly every Jets game home and away. 'But do I feel bad for the people in Buffalo, they have some big weather problems.'
Another Jets fan, Spencer Goldberg of Chappaqua, N.Y., only had an hourlong car ride to Ford Field, as he is a senior at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
'I don't get to see much good football this season, because I am a Michigan and Jets fan,' Goldberg said, laughing. 'I have a lot of bad football around me, but I still have hope for all of my teams.'
The open seating made for bit of a mad scramble when the gates opened, with fans racing to claim their prime spots. Season ticket holders received preferential treatment, with roped-off reserved sections on the 50-yard lines.
The ongoing weather-induced crisis in Buffalo was not forgotten, with messages displayed on the video boards encouraging donations to the Western New York and Buffalo Red Cross.
A recorded video, from fans shoveling out Ralph Wilson Stadium, also drew a cheer from the Bills' assemblage in Detroit. The Bills tight end Scott Chandler mimicked shoveling show after scoring on a 19-yard catch in the second quarter.
Commissioner Roger Goodell, during an in-game interview on CBS, said he anticipates the Bills and Ralph Wilson Stadium to host Sunday's scheduled game against the Cleveland Browns.
Posted by Unknown on Monday, November 24, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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