Remember The Good Old Days When You Could Hit Quarterbacks In The NFL?

Not to sound like a meathead, your grandfather or most of the clueless commentators on CBS, FOX, ESPN, NFL Network who spout the same thing every week, but do you remember when the NFL actually allowed quarterbacks to get hit?

This may seem silly to say as a New England Patriots fan because I will admit that quarterback Tom Brady has benefitted from preferential treatment since he became a star, however the amount of fines and penalties that occur every week for borderline hits and plays is ridiculous.

The latest Patriot to get fined was linebacker Rob Ninkovich, who is short $15,000 after his helmet grazed Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick last Sunday in their game. At the time, I thought the penalty was a bit harsh and now with the fine, I have to say for the millionth time that the NFL is being a little too reactionary.

Brutal launching hits like the ones Brandon Meriweather always tries are despicable and they don't have a place in the NFL or football in general. Players, coaches and fans no doubt would almost unanimously want those out of the game. Yet the force field that seems to exist around quarterbacks and the distinct disadvantage the defensive players are at in the NFL (hello defensive backs) is why as Mike Felger says, "it's turned into Arena Football."

Defenses are no longer dominant and as a result, a few stops and or turnovers is what amounts to a good defensive game these days. Seeing a million touchdowns in a game (akin to an endless loop of Sportscenter) gets old fast. Bring back the violence in football, just leave the reckless shots out of it.

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Turnovers, Poor Defense Give Buffalo First Win Vs. Pats Since 2003

It was bound to happen sooner or later.

The Buffalo Bills won their first game against the Patriots since 2003 yesterday, erasing a 21-0 deficit and starting the season 3-0.

Ryan Fitzpatrick passed for 369 yards and two Touchdowns, leading the furious comeback that was probably the biggest Bills win in years. Buffalo took advantage of four interceptions of Tom Brady and were able to make big plays down the stretch. Brady had some great numbers as usual, but his turnovers were costly and set the stage for the Bills to pull off the upset.

The Patriots jumped out to a 21-point lead in the middle of the second quarter after two Rob Gronkowski touchdowns and one Welker score. After Stevie Johnson caught a TD pass from Fitzpatrick, the Bills got the ball back and got into field goal position. The Bills capitalized on a tip drill interception, after a Brady swing pass bounced off Danny Woodhead's hands and into Bryan Scott's hands. Rian Lindell delivered, booming a 42-yard field goal, cutting the Patriots' lead to 21-10 going into halftime.

The Patriots forced a Buffalo 3-and-out but Brady's next throw, a pass intended for Chad Ochocinco, was picked off by Leodis Mckelvin (great name). Brady spotted Ochocinco in man coverage and forced the ball into a tight area. Ochocinco seemed like he ran the wrong route, as he was out of position to try and break up the interception.

The Bills had a nice drive down the field, getting into the Patriots' red zone when it looked like their drive was going to stall. On 3rd-and-Goal, the Patriots were caught napping, as tight end Scott Chandler ran a 3-yard hitch route and was wide open when Fitzpatrick found him. The defensive breakdown was a running theme throughout the day but this was the most egregious.

Gostkowki added another field goal on the next possession extending the Patriots' lead to 24-17. The two teams traded possessions until a deep Fitzpatrick pass was picked off by Barrett. A dumb pass interference penalty by Sergio Brown negated the turnover and put the ball on the Patriots' 1-yard line. Fred Jackson scored on a 1-yard TD plunge to tie the game at 24.

Brady was intercepted again on the next drive, as Bills CB Drayton Florence took Brady's fourth INT 27 yards for the go-ahead score.

The Patriots marched down the field on the next possession and then on 4th-and-6, Brady connected with Wes Welker for his fourth TD pass of the day, knotting the score at 31. The Bills then got the ball back and went 79 yards in three plays, before bleeding the clock so that Lindell could deliver the game-winning kick with no time remaining.

There is more than enough blame to go around in this one and hopefully the Patriots coaching staff and personnel can learn from this comeback loss. The Patriots will take on Oakland next week and have to clean up their act before playing the Jets the following week.

Game Notes

*Wes Welker is a machine. With Aaron Hernandez out, most people thought that Gronkowski would benefit the most or Ochocinco. While Gronk did have a great game, Welker was nothing short of dominant, racking up 217 yards (breaking a franchise record) on 16 receptions (tying Troy Brown's mark). His first catch in the game gave him sole possession of the Patriots franchise record for consecutive games with a reception. He has now caught a pass in 64 straight games, beating Ben Coates' old record of 63. If anyone is above criticism in regards to yesterday's result, it's Welker.

*I know it's only been three games now but Devin McCourty's lackluster play is looking more and more like a trend. After allowing bigger recievers like Brandon Marshall and Vincent Jackson to have big games, McCourty was abused by Johnson time and again yesterday, including his first TD catch in the corner of the end zone. The worst part about it is that he's not getting burned on any routes. He's there. It just seems like he is having a hard time turning his head around toward the ball and making a play on it. No one seems to be afraid to throw at him. I don't know if it's because of the new secondary around him or what but if that's the way its going to be from McCourty all year, this defense is going to be in big trouble.

*Speaking of the DBs, holy shit they were playing like them yesterday. Leigh Bidden got absolutely toasted on the first play of the game and didn't have a good afternoon. Brown had that inexcusable pass interference penalty on the Barrett interception that should've ended the game. He may not have interfered with the intended reciever, but that was just a dumb penalty to take.

*Has anyone ever seen a DB take worse angles than Barrett? I'm serious. He has looked awful in all three games, especially when it comes to making open-field tackles. He looks like that one kid in Pop Warner who runs alongside the play and then when the whistle blows, he's on top of the pile. I think he's going for the NFL record for half tackles set by Junior Seau and Ray Lewis. I mean, did you see him and Brown trying to wrap up Jackson near the end of the game? Unreal. It almost makes me miss the Big Bang Clock. Let's all hope that Patrick Chung comes back sooner than later.

*Did you know that in the NFL you can actually hand the ball off to a running back and try to gain yards on the ground? It seems to be news to the Patriots, who kept Danny Woodhead on the sidelines for stretches of time, and only used BenJarvus Green-Ellis and rookie Stevan Ridley in obvious running downs. It seemed like every drive started with Brady in the shotgun, virtually eliminating the chance that they would run the ball. When defensive linemen are swatting down passes left and right, maybe it's because they are prepared and ready for the pass and nothing else. The Pats did the majority of their running late in the game when they had to score quicker shi h doesn't make sense to me. Not nurturing the running game is going to end up killing this team later on in the season.

*Ochocinco continues to dissapoint me and I'm starting to wonder how long his leash is heading into Week 4. He had two catches but also played a role in one of Brady's interceptions. McKelvin started on Ocho's outside shoulder but Chad looked like he broke off from his route a bit, which led McKelvin to undercut the route and make the play. Brady was pissed on the sideline and rightfully so. Chad also dropped an easy TD catch late in the game but was bailed out by Welker's fourth down TD catch. Not the best way to endear yourselves to Pats fans.

*As usual, there were a few sketchy penalties to say the least. Kyle Love got flagged for unnecessary roughness when he barely touched Fitzpatrick but was outdone by the worst call I think I've ever seen. Welker caught a ball and turned upfield and was flattened by Byrd. He was flagged for "hitting a defenseless reciever" even though he had control of the ball and was running upfield. Just a bullshit call on the Bills right there.

*Injuries suck. But at the same time I think that the Pats would still have these problems on defense even with Ras-I Dowling, Chung and Albert Haynesworth on the field. All in all, the Pats defense is dead last in the league in yards allowed. Is Bill Belichick still a defensive genius? We shall see.

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Stop The Presses: The Buffalo Bills Might Actually Be Good in 2011

When you've beaten a divisional rival 15 straight times, you are basically working on borrowed time in the NFL. No sport has the same level of parity (which is what makes it the best professional league) so in that sense, today's 34-31 win by the Buffalo Bills (3-0) over the New England Patriots (2-1) at Ralph Wilson Stadium shouldn't come as much of a surprise.

However, New England was up 21-0 early in the second quarter and seemed headed to a laugher in Upstate New York. However, just like a week earlier against Oakland (down 21-3), Buffalo rallied to get it within 21-10 at halftime and then they proceeded to outscore the Pats 24-10 in the second half.

Led by quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's (my favorite Harvard alum) big game (27 of 40, 369 passing yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs), the host Bills vaulted to one of the most important victories in franchise history over the past forgettable decade.

It also put Buffalo atop the AFC East, ahead of New England and the New York Jets (2-1), who lost later in the day in Oakland. The Miami Dolphins (0-3) are already on the clock for Stanford QB Andrew Luck as far as I'm concerned.

It's easy to make fun of the Bills and their fans for celebrating their September Super Bowl like the Jets always do but in many ways, that fan base more than almost any other in the NFL deserves success. They're so loyal and year after year, they've had to watch a terrible onfield product.

No Patriots game would be complete without the usual video game numbers from quarterback Tom Brady (30 of 45, 387 yards, 4 TDs) but a wrench was thrown in the standard plot as TB12 was picked off four times. Those interceptions, coupled with the lack of desire to run the ball and the defense's inability to get off the field equaled a win that could turn around things for Buffalo.

No Aaron Hernandez but Wes Welker (career-high 16 catches and 217 yards, 2 TDs) and Rob Gronkowski (7 catches, 109 yards, 2 TDs) were still unstoppable. The problem was that without Hernandez, the Patriots lacked a viable third option. Deion Branch was held without a catch and Chad Ochocinco (2 catches, 28 yards) failed to capitalize on way more playing time. He dropped an easy touchdown that didn't come back to bite the Patriots but it would have been a big boost for his fragile confidence.

The Bills lack the marquee names of the Patriots but Steve Johnson (8 catches, 94 yards, TD), Donald Jones (5 catches, 101 yards), David Nelson (6 catches, 84 yards) and running back Fred Jackson (87 yards receiving; 74 yards rushing, 1 TD) are combining to give Fitzpatrick and Buffalo one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL this season.

Rookie running back Stevan Ridley (7 carries, 44 yards; 1 catch, 8 yards) showed some nice burst in his most extensive workday in his pro infancy. He's deserving of some more touches starting next week I say. I love them both but I think at this point, opponents know what to expect from Danny Woodhead (21 yards rushing; 20 yards receiving) and BenJarvus Green-Ellis (16 yards rushing).

Kyle Arrington was the only Patriots defensive player worthy of a mention. He had two interceptions, both in the first half. Fellow cornerback Devin McCourty had 11 tackles (8 solos) but he looks shakier by the week as teams appear to be going right at him all the time now.

New England received the opening kickoff and they proceeded to reel off maybe their most impressive drive of the contest. In nine plays covering 84 yards (5:15 elapsed), Brady found Welker with a short pass that Welker turned into a 14-yard touchdown. Stephen Gostkowski's PAT made it 7-0 and two plays into Buffalo's first drive, the Pats got the ball back when Arrington made his first pick.

Brady used the short field and the omnipresent no-huddle attack to quickly cash in. Brady hit Gronkowski (an Amherst, NY native) for a 1-yard TD pass after a six play, 30-yard drive. Gostskowski's second PAT made it 14-0.

Fitzpatrick and the Bills offense started to click on their next possession but once again, Arrington ended it with an interception (this time in New England's end of the field). The Pats had a cushy 14-0 lead after one misleading quarter.

The teams punted back and forth twice before Brady and Co. put it all together once more. A 26-yard touchdown to Gronk and Gostkowski kick put the Patriots ahead 21-0. For most teams, that would be more than enough but when you don't want to/can't run the ball to bleed the clock and your defense can never get stops in crunch time, no lead is truly safe against a worthy foe.

Fitzpatrick and Johnson got the Bills on the board with an 11-yard touchdown strike. Rian Lindell's PAT cut it to 21-7.

New England looked poised to grab another touchdown (or at least field goal) before halftime but Brady's pass went off Woodhead's hands and it was intercepted by Bryan Scott at the Buffalo 11-yard line. Credit to the Bills as they went 66 yards in 10 plays (1:02 elapsed) to set up Lindell for a 42-yard kick. That gave Buffalo a boost, down a manageable 21-10 at halftime with the second half kickoff coming to them.

It's hard to remember it but New England's beleagured defense actually forced a 3-and-out on Buffalo's first possession of the second half. The problem was that Brady threw his second interception (Leodis McKelvin) on the following play. It was intended for Ochocinco but Brady tried to fit it into too tight of a space for a guy that still doesn't seem comfortable in the system.

After a nice 21-yard return, the Bills used the short field to their advantage as Fitzpatrick found Scott Chandler for a 3-yard touchdown pass after a 7-play, 37-yard drive.

New England's next drive stalled in the red zone and they settled for a 23-yard Gostkowski field goal and a 24-17 lead.

Buffalo punted twice, sandwiched around a New England punt, before George Wilson recorded the Bills' third interception of Brady. A 48-yard pass to Jones and a costly penalty to Sergio Brown (31 yards) placed the ball at the Patriots' 1-yard line and Jackson punched it in for the tying score with help from Lindell's PAT.

For the second time, Brady was intercepted on the first play of a drive (which is killer) but even worse, Drayton Florence returned it for a 27-yard touchdown and the go-ahead score at 31-24.

The crisis was averted as New England went on a nice long drive (15 plays, 74 yards, 6:57) with Welker getting the money catch (6-yard TD on 4th-and-6). Gostkowski's kick tied it at 31. All the Pats needed was a stop and it would get the ball back or worse case, it would go to overtime.

Three long plays later (29-yard catch by Jones, 12-yard catch by Jackson and 39-yard catch by Jackson) and the Bills had the ball down at the 1. At first, it was ruled a TD but it was just semantics since no kicker will ever miss a kick that short. Buffalo did its best to get some dumb penalties and move it back but Lindell split the uprights from 28 yards out with no time left.

Well this was painful to recap and relieve for the second time today. New England travels to Oakland next Sunday afternoon (4:15 p.m.) for a game that promises to be much harder than originally expected. The Raiders (2-1) actually have their act together and they could beat the Patriots if their defense is the same sieve it was today. Brady can't carry them forever, this team needs balance offensively and it needs the defense to show some progress from week to week.

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