Giants 27, Bills 24: Giants Hang On to Beat Bills, 27-24

The coaches shout: It is the fourth quarter now. This is the end. We cannot lose the fourth quarter. We can’t. We have to finish.

“That’s been their thing since back in training camp,” wide receiver Hakeem Nicks said.

Tight end Jake Ballard backed up Nicks. “It’s constant,” Ballard said. “Finish. Finish. Finish. Finish the game. They won’t let us slack off at the end of practice at all. It’s a top priority. And the more we do it, especially in games, the more comfortable we are when things get tight.”

Ballard conceded that fans might not be so at ease with the high-pressure emotional swings, but Giants players, at least, seem to be growing more comfortable in the fourth quarter. Their 27-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday was the Giants’ fifth game this season in which they had a fourth-quarter drive that could tie the score or put them ahead, and their fourth straight game in which the decisive score came with nine minutes or fewer remaining. The Giants (4-2) have won three of the four.

Sunday’s version of the late-game dramatics featured two important interceptions by Giants cornerback Corey Webster, a career day from running back Ahmad Bradshaw and an unflappable performance from Eli Manning, who did not throw an interception against a Bills team that came into the game as the league leader in forcing turnovers.

“We have been striving to finish and win the fourth-quarter battle,” Webster said. “We did just that.”

With the score tied, 24-24, and the Bills driving with four minutes left, a reprisal of last week’s disappointing loss to Seattle seemed more likely. The Bills had a first down at the Giants’ 27, when receiver Stevie Johnson made a quick move at the line of scrimmage and got a step on Webster as he sped down the sideline.

It had been a mostly difficult day for Webster. He had missed an important tackle, been late on several pass coverages and now seemed a step slow on what looked to be a game-winning play for the Bills.

As the ball started to fall toward Johnson, however, Webster accelerated. And as Johnson reached high to pull it in, Webster’s hands went higher. He cradled the ball as he fell to the ground at the Giants’ 5-yard line, holding on even as Johnson pulled his facemask to the side.

It was Webster’s second interception of the game (he also picked off Ryan Fitzpatrick earlier in the quarter), and he pranced to the sideline with glee. Minutes later, he was joined in celebration by the rest of his teammates. Manning led the Giants down the field for the go-ahead score, with Lawrence Tynes’s 23-yard field goal with less than two minutes to go providing the final margin.

It was an important win for the Giants, who, with a bye week, have two weeks to enjoy it. With the sting of last Sunday’s loss lingering and another rash of injuries sidelining their defensive captain Justin Tuck, their Pro Bowl right guard Chris Snee and the backup running back Brandon Jacobs, the Giants could have easily slipped again against the surprising Bills (4-2). Before Webster’s interception, it looked as if they might.

Instead, the Giants escaped with a victory on a day when Bradshaw scored a career-high three touchdowns, Manning passed for 292 yards and the defense rallied from an awful start to stand firm when the Giants needed it most.

Bradshaw was the finisher for much of the game, plunging into the end zone from 1 yard out on three occasions. When Bradshaw broke a 30-yard run to put the Giants into field-goal range on the final drive, it gave the Giants their first 100-yard rusher of the season (he finished with 104) — no small accomplishment considering the offensive line was operating with the backup Kevin Boothe in place of Snee.

“We knew if we kept pushing a little bit harder, we would get there,” left tackle Dave Diehl said. “Today was a total group effort.”

Stopping the run had also been a problem for the Giants, and much had been made of the defensive coordinator Perry Fewell’s connection to the Bills. Fewell spent four years coaching in Buffalo and was the interim head coach for the final seven games of the 2009 season.

Buffalo Coach Chan Gailey had been concerned about Fewell’s familiarity with the Bills, but Fewell’s greatest focus in the buildup was on his own team. The Giants entered having allowed an average of 159.3 rushing yards a game over the previous three weeks, an ominous number because Bills running back Fred Jackson was averaging 96 yards a game on his own.

Early on, it looked as if nothing had changed. After the Giants went ahead with five minutes remaining in the first quarter on Bradshaw’s first score, Jackson immediately responded with an 80-yard touchdown run. Linebacker Michael Boley did not fill a hole, safety Deon Grant took a poor angle and cornerback Aaron Ross could not make a touchdown-saving tackle.

The Giants’ defense followed that by taking another hit, as Fitzpatrick found receiver Naaman Roosevelt for a 60-yard touchdown catch-and-run just before the end of the first quarter. This time, it was Webster and the backup cornerback Justin Tryon sharing the role of hapless would-be tackler, and Coach Tom Coughlin had a stunned look on his face as the Bills danced in the end zone.

“We could have let those two plays determine the outcome of the game, but we didn’t,” safety Antrel Rolle said. “We played relentless.”

They did. After struggling in the first quarter, the Giants’ defense held Jackson to 39 rushing yards the rest of the game, limited Fitzpatrick to 130 passing yards in the second half and did not allow the Bills to even get a first down on their final drive of the game. When Fitzpatrick’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete with 59 seconds left, the Giants had sealed a victory that will fit nicely alongside their thrilling wins over Philadelphia and Arizona.

“It was about fighting,” Coughlin said. “We knew it was going to be a 60-minute game.”

With these Giants, it seems as if it always is.

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Bills LB Merriman Doubtful for Giants Game

Are all assassinations created equal? The Thread looks at reactions to the targeted drone strike that killed the American-born Islamist cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.

In Room for Debate: Residential programs’ effectiveness is in doubt. Their steep price is not.

A debate about the conservative reaction to Occupy Wall Street.

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Giants’ Manning Will Have Little Room for Error Against Aggressive Bills

Then last Sunday the turnover-prone Manning returned in a 36-25 loss to Seattle. He lost a fumble and threw three interceptions, including one that went for a 94-yard touchdown with a little more than a minute left.

The result could have simply been an aberration. Brandon Browner’s long return, for example, came after the ball bounced off the hands of wide receiver Victor Cruz. Take that away and the Giants might have scored and Manning could have finished with four touchdown passes and two interceptions.

But that did not happen, and now, in the Buffalo Bills, the Giants will face the league’s best ball-hawking defense.

The Bills enter Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium leading the league in takeaways (16), interceptions (12) and turnover margin (11). Their opportunistic defense, which has returned a league-leading three interceptions for touchdowns, picked off both Tom Brady and Michael Vick four times, propelling Buffalo to a 4-1 record and a tie atop the A.F.C. East with the New England Patriots, whom they defeated earlier this season.

Last season, Buffalo was 28th in the N.F.L. with only 11 interceptions. This season, playing out of a base 3-4 defense, the Bills have blitzed only 22 percent of the time. Rather than apply overwhelming pressure, they tend to drop players back into coverage, anticipating mistakes by the offense. The tradeoff is that the Bills give up long drives. They rank 30th in total defense, allowing an average of 421.8 yards per game.

“Pressure teams want to go three-and-out, and these guys are saying, ‘We’ll force a 15-play drive and somewhere in there you’re going to make a mistake,’ ” Giants guard Mitch Petrus said.

According to the Web site Football Outsiders, seven of the Bills’ interceptions have been “unusual circumstance” — deflected passes, passes tipped or bobbled by receivers, or, in one case, a pass thrown in desperation as time expired. In other words, the total could very well be lower.

But the Giants have been susceptible to interceptions off deflections. Coach Tom Coughlin said Friday that it was important that Manning communicate with his receivers.

“It’s got to be decisive,” he said. “So you work very hard to put yourselves in position where you’re not so contested that the ball ends up being tipped.”

The Bills’ defensive philosophy does not pivot on reaching the quarterback. The defense has only four sacks, last in the league. But the Giants maintain that the Bills’ front, led by nose tackle Kyle Williams and the rookie end Marcell Dareus, is tough to handle.

“They may not get the sack, but they get enough pressure on the quarterback and they force quarterbacks into errors,” tackle Kareem McKenzie said.

Expecting opposing quarterbacks to make mistakes is a high-risk strategy. If the offensive line can handle the pressure, the quarterback should have time to pick apart the defense. But two of the league’s best — Brady and Vick — had trouble doing so against a secondary led by safety George Wilson. Now it’s Manning’s turn.

“They’re just aggressive,” Cruz said. “They get to the ball well, they hunt the ball down, they’re trying to strip it, they’re trying to disrupt routes, they’re trying to disrupt timing. When you’re aggressive as much as they are, a lot of big plays will fall into your hands.”

EXTRA POINT

Defensive end Justin Tuck (groin/neck), running back Brandon Jacobs (knee), guard Chris Snee (concussion) and fullback Henry Hynoski (neck) have been ruled out for Sunday. Snee had played in 108 consecutive games, including seven in the playoffs. ... Center David Baas (neck) and long-snapper Zak DeOssie (concussion) are questionable.

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Tale of the Tape: Are the Bills Giant-killers?

When the Buffalo Bills sought to remake their franchise this offseason, they didn’t make a splash like the free-spending Philadelphia Eagles.

A defense that couldn’t stop the run paired the draft’s best defensive tackle with their only Pro Bowler and proceeded to surround them with an army of journeymen linebackers. An offense that couldn’t score committed to a quarterback from Harvard and a collection of undrafted free agents at wide receiver, pegging their lone remaining draft pick, a seventh-rounder from Kentucky, as their go-to-guy.

And can anyone name a soul on their offensive line, outside of when they are called for a penalty? Well, it’s tough to remember them, because they’ve only been called for eight penalties in five games -– and have only allowed four sacks.

Just a week ago, the Bills beat the media’s favorite “Dream Team,” the Eagles, and now sit atop the AFC East.

At 4-1, do the Bills have what it takes to be a contender this year? A lot of questions can be answered after Sunday’s game with the New York Giants.

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick: Can he throw the deep ball?

On tape, we have seen Fitzpatrick be every bit the game manager the Bills expect out of him. He is poised in the pocket, quick in his reads and gets the ball out fast.

Against the Eagles last week, he completed just less than 78 percent of his passes, but his longest pass play was a 49-yard screen throw to Fred Jackson. This week, we are wondering if Fitzpatrick has the ability to stretch the Giants’ defense with the vertical passing game.

The Giants are tied for 26th in 20-plus pass plays allowed during their last eight games. If their pass rush doesn’t get home, this Terrell Thomas-less secondary has its holes. Fitzpatrick isn’t going to throw a deep ball like Jim Kelly, but he can be on-time and accurate if kept clean by his offensive line …

Offensive line: Can they continue to keep their QB clean?

The Bills’ offensive line has been a revelation this year, allowing a league-low in sacks (four) after allowing 16 in the same time span last year. This week, they face a Giants team that has a league-leading 18 sacks, including 6.5 for second year defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.

At center, we enjoy watching former first-round pick Eric Wood, who has become a force on double-teams with fellow ’09 draftee Andy Levitre and Kraig Urbik. But the outside will be tested vs. New York and their pass rushers, especially left tackle Chris Hairston.

Hairston, a fourth-round pick out of Clemson in April, replaces an injured starter in Demetrius Bell. While he did not embarrass himself against Philly’s Darryl Tapp last week, Hairston stops his feet when punching with his hands, which could get him beat around the corner by Pierre-Paul or Osi Umenyiora.

But Chan Gailey’s system is offensive-line friendly, using screens, shovel passes and quick passes to neutralize an opposing team’s pass rush.  Getting the ball out quickly is a part of their protection.

Only if the Bills try to go deep will their offensive line will really be stressed.

Fred Jackson: Can he handle the workload?

In his first season as a bonafide starter, Jackson, once an undrafted free agent out of Coe College in Iowa, has turned into an elite running back in the NFL. He is 3rd in the league in touches (109) and scrimmage yards (712) and accounts for 38 percent of the Bills’ offensive production.

A tall but physical runner at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, it is yet to be seen if Jackson can sustain this kind of workload over a full season. And the Giants are one those teams that will definitely hit Jackson from the first snap to the last.

The rap on Jackson has always been that he is good at everything -– a good center of gravity, good agility and good power -– but he is not thought to be great at anything. He can dispel that notion with a great season and a great game vs. the Giants (who rank 21st versus the run).

Stevie Johnson, David Nelson and Naaman Roosevelt: Can they get deep?

While the Bills pass offense is based on short, quick passes, Donald Jones was the one Buffalo receiver who could threaten a defense vertically. Despite being asked to work off of a foundation of slants, comebacks and shallow crossing routes, Jones possessed the speed to get behind defensive backs on double moves.

But Jones is out this week with an injury. So that leaves the Bills with a collection of underneath wide receivers heading into this game. Nelson, an oversized wideout out of Florida, runs predominantly shorter routes; he’s a big target (6-5, 215 pounds) who catches almost everything, coming down with 72 percent of his targets.

With their efficient underneath passing, New York’s secondary will either have to play tighter coverage or play off and squat on routes. Out of Johnson, Roosevelt, or even Brad Smith, someone will have to threaten the Giants’ defense over the top.

Shawne Merriman and Arthur Moats: Can you get home?

Buffalo has been able disrupt quarterbacks this year by applying pressure and tipping balls, but the Bills are still last in the league in sacks (four).

Last week, Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus applied instant heat up the gut on Michael Vick, but he escaped and other Bills defenders had to finish him off. This week, Buffalo faces a pure pocket passer in Eli Manning, and if they can sack him, they can set back the Giants’ offense and cut short any shootout.

Stunts by their defensive tackles, including Alex Carrington, have generated most of Buffalo’s pressure, but the strength of the Giants line lies with guards Chris Snee and David Diehl and center David Baas. Luckily for the Bills, Snee is out with a concussion, but if the Bills want to add to Manning’s 14 sacks, they still have to generate more from the edge, with Merriman and Moats.

Moats, a second-year player from James Madison, has added a bit of a spark to the Bills outside rush, but Merriman and Chris Kelsay (out this Sunday) are two energy players who are aging and don’t show much burst at this point. Their legs are churning, but they don’t get much push.

Nick Barnett and Kelvin Sheppard: Can you make plays in space?

Thrown alongside an instinctive veteran in Barnett, Sheppard has really started to contribute at linebacker for the Bills. He is more athletic than the rest of the Bills’ corps yet sometimes fails to pull the trigger downhill consistently.

Sheppard will have to make his share of plays this weekend vs. a shifty ’back in Ahmad Bradshaw, especially in the screen game.  While Bradshaw only has one run over 16 yards this year, he is a vital piece of the Giants passing game and can explode at any given moment.

Leodis McKelvin: Can you make a play on the ball?

Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham are three capable weapons for Manning and are all capable of creating plays down the field with acrobatic catches.

On the other hand, Manningham has struggled lately, with zero receptions of 15-plus yards in his last two games (on six targets). That bodes well for the Bills’ secondary, which actually leads the league in interceptions (12) and rank fifth in passes defensed (29).

Although McKelvin has been burned once or twice, he has greatly improved since being selected in the first round in 2008, and Drayton Florence has shown on tape to be a very physical corner in press, man-to-man coverage. In this game, McKelvin and Florence could both throw off the timing of the Giants’ passing game with press coverage and help their pass rush get home.

Buffalo: Can they win this game?

Absolutely. We see the Bills establishing their running game, protecting Fitzpatrick and getting just enough pressure on Manning to slow down the Giants’ offense.

And if the Bills get to 5-1 -– they might just be a playoff contender.

“Playbook” -— the ultimate football Xs and Os show -— airs Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Check the NFL Network broadcast schedule for further details. Follow “Playbook” on Twitter @NFLN_Playbook

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Giants' Fewell Downplays Game Against the Bills

Forget that Fewell was the Bills' interim coach for the final seven games of the 2009 season, or that they passed him over and chose Chan Gailey to become the coach the following season.

The only thing of importance for him is that the Bills (4-1) and their high-powered offense are coming to MetLife Stadium on Sunday to play the Giants (3-2) and Fewell needs to get his inconsistent defense to start communicating better in order to shut them down.

"It's just a game that we have to win," Fewell said Thursday after practice. "I just happen to know those guys on the other side though."

While Fewell didn't admit it outright, he left the impression that he didn't get a fair shot at keeping the head coaching job after posting a 3-4 record in Buffalo.

"It's been two years and whether I did or didn't, I think that's irrelevant," Fewell said. "I'm happy to be where I am now."

Fewell took over as the Giants defensive coordinator last season and the unit rebounded after a dreadful 2009 season, finishing ranked in the top 10 in many categories.

This year has been more of a struggle and injuries have played a big part.

Terrell Thomas, who was the Giants' top cover cornerback, and middle linebacker Jonathan Goff were both lost before the start of the season with knee injuries. Defensive captain Justin Tuck has only played two games because of neck and groin injuries and fellow Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora missed the first three games after having arthroscopic in the preseason.

The results aren't surprising. The defense is ranked 20th overall. The run defense has been horrible the past three games, yielding an average of 160 yards and the pass defense has blown coverage after coverage, including a total bust on Charlie Whitehurst's go-ahead touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 36-25 loss.

On the play, cornerback Aaron Ross and safety Antrel Rolle thought the other was going to take the receiver and no one did.

"It's about communication," Fewell said. "I think we weren't communicating. When you use that form of communication verbally everybody doesn't always get it at the same time. I think I need to do a better job and maybe (put) wristbands on the guys so that everybody knows what the call is. If one person doesn't know then he has to say it to everybody else. I think I can do a better job and help our players if I do that for them."

The Giants had better improve because the Bills have been machinelike on offense. The team is averaging just under 33 points and it has scored at least 20 points in five straight games.

"We're trying to learn how to play together. That's the biggest problem that I think we have right now, learning how to play together," Fewell said. "So yes, my focus is more on us than it is the Buffalo Bills because we have to learn how to complement each other and we don't know how to complement each other at this point in time."

Buffalo has used a balanced offense. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown for 1,233 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions and running back Fred Jackson is third in the NFL with 712 yards from scrimmage.

Fewell has a special feeling for Fitzpatrick. After he took over as coach, he made the Harvard player his starter.

"He looks very comfortable in this offense," Fewell said, noting it's a totally different scheme than he had. "He's making quick decisions. He's getting the ball out extremely fast. His receivers and he are on the same page. He just looks like he's in total control and he knows exactly what they want to do with this offense."

Tuck, who has missed the last two games with neck and groin injuries, was just one of many players who said Fewell has kept an even keel in meetings this week, occasionally offering a little insight into certain Bills players.

"I think it means more to us than it does to him," veteran safety Deon Grant said of Fewell. "He is just going to go out and call his game, but a little better now because we have to get back to playing New York Giants defense.

"We as a defense, we want to get him this victory more than anything."

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Video – CBS Bills vs. Bengals Week Four Preview

The Buffalo Bills are in search of their fourth win as they prepare to travel to Paul Brown Stadium to take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. NFL.com’s Pat Kirwan and Jason Horowitz preview this matchup. Watch the game at 1 PM ET on CBS.

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Davis: Fitzpatrick’s guts, not smarts, leads Bills

Published: September 21st, 2011 | Tags: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills, Charles Davis, NFL Total Access

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Kudos to the Bills for their 2-0 start. But we know two weeks doesn’t make a season. So the question heading into Week 3 is whether this version of the Bills is any different than any of the teams who haven’t come out on the winning end against the Patriots since 2003.

For some perspective, consider George W. Bush was in his first term as President, Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez was 14 years old and Creed was winning music awards.

These Bills are led by Ryan Fitzpatrick. He’s a Harvard grad. He reportedly scored a 48 on his wonderlic exam. We’re convinced he’s pretty smart. And, as Fitzpatrick goes, so generally go the Bills.

But beyond his smarts, NFL Network analyst Charles Davis says it’s Fitzpatrick’s gritty-gutty style not only epitomizes his offense, but the tough, nothing-to-lose approach is part of what has led to the Bills’ recent success.

“His guts are what defines this offense. This is a guy who (the team) wants to follow because of how tough he is in the pocket and the plays that he makes,” Davis said after checking in with Bills offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins. “This team feels pretty good about itself because the guys who we’re talking about scoring touchdowns, these are guys are who were late draft picks and undrafted free agents who have a lot to prove. They’re not going to walk into New England with any fear. They think they can go out and make plays.”

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Bills’ Fitzpatrick reminds Warner of … himself

Published: September 21st, 2011 | Tags: Around the League, Buffalo Bills, Kurt Warner

Most us don’t know what it’s like to get compared to someone likely destined for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Ryan Fitzpatrick, welcome yourself to that exclusive club.

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Fitzpatrick, who is tied with some guy named Tom Brady (as well as Matthew Stafford) for the league lead with seven passing touchdowns, is getting a lot of attention around the NFL Network this week. The latest comes from aforementioned quarterback, Kurt Warner.

“I love the way (Fitzpatrick) is playing right now. He reminds me a lot of me,” Warner told “Around the League” Wednesday. “He’s a gunslinger, he’s a guy who attacks you, throws the ball down the field. Unfortunately, I think there’s going to be times this year where he takes a few too many chances and has one of those games with three or four interceptions. But right now, he’s making all the plays for this team.  He’s been extremely impressive and exactly what that young team needs.”

That’s pretty high praise, to say the least. Many questioned the Bills offseason decision not to acquire a quarterback in a trade or the draft. All Fitzpatrick continues to do is prove them right.

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Fitzpatrick: Bills have bonded over underdog status

Ryan Fitzpatrick has no problems being called a gunslinger by Kurt Warner, who says he sees a bit of himself in the Bills’ quarterback.

Fitzpatrick happens to play the role of likable underdog quite well, because he’s easy to root for. As Charles Davis pointed out, it’s Fitzpatrick’s toughness that makes the rest of the Bills want to follow.

Fitzpatrick, though, has more in common with many of the Bills’ key offensive players than meets the eye. As a former seventh-round pick, he’s one of a core group — along with Fred Jackson, Stevie Johnson, David Martin, Brad Smith, Donald Jones, Marcus Easley, and Scott Chandler, to name more than a few — who were middle- and late-round picks, weren’t picked at all, or were given up on by another team. Fitzpatrick said on “NFL Total Access” on Wednesday that bond has made a difference.

“Most of us were either on teams before that didn’t want us or didn’t get drafted. It’s a unique circumstance,” Fitzpatrick said. “You really don’t get that on a lot of teams, but everybody is so willing to work and put the effort in to go out there and play well on Sunday. We’ve bonded over the fact that maybe we’ve had to work a little bit harder to get to where we are, to get the opportunity we have right now, and we’re looking to take advantage of it.”

Fitzpatrick said he can sense the newfound optimism in Buffalo, and no question the Bills are one of the feel-good stories of the early season. We’ll see how long the momentum lasts.

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McGee ruled out for Bills; Merriman returns

Published: September 11th, 2011 | Tags: Terrence McGee, Buffalo Bills, Shawne Merriman, Week 1 injuries 2011

The Bills got hit with a key injury early in Sunday’s game in Kansas City, as starting CB Terrence McGee has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. Shawne Merriman also left the game briefly but appears to healthy enough to give it a go.

The Bills announced during the first quarter McGee was ruled out for the rest of the afternoon with a hamstring injury. Merriman left the game for the locker room during the second quarter to have his shoulder examined, but returned later during the quarter.

– Frank Tadych

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Four Downs: Bills are NFL’s most improved team

A few items on my mind this week after emerging from the film room, starting with the team that gets my vote as the NFL’s most improved.

1. The most improved team in the league right now is the Bills. The Bills are 2-4 over the last six weeks, and three of those losses were in overtime. They also should have easily won in Pittsburgh last week. I see improvement in all areas for the Bills, especially along the offensive line. More specifically, at left guard and left tackle. Demetrius Bell and Andy Levitre are a very, very talented left side we’re going to hear about for a long time. They’re a big reason why Ryan Fitzpatrick is flourishing. They have great technique, don’t get beat and are very physical. They took on the Steelers’ toe to toe and not only didn’t flinch, but outplayed the guys across from them.

2. Very quietly, the Dolphins have become a top 10 defense. They shut down Darren McFadden last week, and I think they’ll do the same to Peyton Hillis this week. Mike Nolan jettisoned OLBs Jason Taylor and Joey Porter when he put this 3-4 defense in, and I’m interested to watch the young and talented Cameron Wake and Koa Misi going forward. Wake can rush with both speed and power. It’s a credit to him that he’s an everydown player at his size, and a credit to his conditioning he’s able to play hard every play. Last week he took Raiders OT Langston Walker, who outweighs him by more than 100 pounds, and lifted him off his feet. That’s tough to do in this league. Misi is very strong and stout against the run. Wake and Misi have 14 sacks between them, and I’m willing to bet they reach 20 before the season is over. That’s what you’re looking for in a 3-4 defense.

3. I don’t know how Finnegan wasn’t penalized for the three plays leading up to the one that prompted the fight with Johnson. Finnegan was taking his right hand and jacking Johnson right in the chin, and I don’t know how it was allowed to go on. If I were Johnson, I would be thinking the whole thing was ridiculous. If it were me, and they weren’t going to call a penalty, I would want to do something about it. I’m all for the league not suspending Johnson, and if they don’t suspend him, they can’t suspend Finnegan. I’m OK with the fines because Johnson has a perfect track record on and off the field, and it was totally out of character. If I were Johnson, I would have done the same thing.

4. I know people in San Diego are wondering if the Chargers will go on their annual late-season run, and I think they will. As much as Philip Rivers is in the MVP discussion for the way he’s playing, I think you have to look at what Ron Rivera is doing with the defense. During their four-game winning streak, teams have converted only 28 percent of third downs, which is last in the league. Last week the Chargers held Peyton Manning to 3-of-12 passing on third down with three of his four interceptions. Watching the Chargers on third downs, they challenge every receiver on the field by jamming and re-routing them off the line. It worked well against Reggie Wayne, and it’s just the start of what they do. The Chargers are coached this way, and I think it’s the way you have to play defense in the NFL right now. Look for more of the same from the Chargers going forward, and I believe their game against the Chiefs in Week 14 will decide the AFC West.

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Buffalo Bills: 1991 Video Yearbook (Includes Super Bowl 26 Highlights) [VHS]

Often overlooked on a colorful college football Saturday or on an action-packed NFL Sunday are the people who have a far deeper passion for the sport than those on the field. These aren't the highly recruited athletes or the high-priced pro stars; these are the everyday people who love the sport. Football America is a 94-minute feature narrated by James Coburn that introduces some of these people and their truly amazing stories.

This video uncovers the unpublicized aspects of football, from a high school team in Juneau, Alaska, that plays on the bed of a mammoth glacier, to a tough-touch all-women's league in Key West, Florida, to a team inside prison walls in Pennsylvania. These stories alone would make this video worthwhile, but the inclusion of three additional pieces makes it exceptional. One is the story of 61-year-old Bob Blechen of Ventura, California, finishing his 46th season in football as a player on a semipro team. Another is of Dot Murphy, an assistant at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi, the only woman to coach on a college team in America. But the best is appropriately the last, a touching piece on the Gallaudet University Bisons in Washington, D.C., the only all-deaf college team in America, and their big bass drum that signals the start of their offensive plays. Football America is not just about the sport or the glorified professional athletes; this is about real people with a real passion. --Gordie Sholtys

Price: $19.99

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