Eye on the Enemy Week 3 - Bills, Jets, Dolphins, Giants, Ravens, Broncos


1. Buffalo Bills

Best news in quite some time for Bills fans. HOF QB Jim Kelly has finished his chemotheraphy and radiation treatments for cancer. His doctor says that Jim is cancer free. Tee shirts for Kelly Tough are a big hit with the fans. Jim's son, Hunter died of Krabbe's disease at age 8. I am happy that the family is getting some good news.

Brian Galliford, SB Nation:
For 24 hours, Bills fans were forced to contemplate the idea that Jim Kelly and Jon Bon Jovi might join forces to buy the team. That won't be happening.

Bills head coach, Doug Marrone had to halt practice on Thursday due to a number of fights.

Home game against Tampa Buccaneers brought bad news for the Bills. 27-14 loss was a poor showing in Week 3. DT Alan Branch sat out due to a drunk driving arrest. Branch was a top free-agent signing in the offseason.

Tim Graham, Buffalo News:

"A Bills source told The Buffalo News the arrest was for drunken driving, but no location or time was provided."

As for the play on the field on kid's day, QB E.J. Manuel had a tough time against the Bucs defense. He was sacked four times, and fumbled once. He did complete 19 of 28 for 198 yards and a touchdown, but the game was over at halftime with the Bucs ahead, 24-7. RB C.J. Spiller, who has been the subject of trade talks, rushed for 36 yards on 9 carries, and fumbled once.

2. New York Jets

A.J.Perez, N.J.com

The Vick-related news before the game came via MMQB feature written Jenny Vrentas that reported Jets coach "have privately expressed disappointment that Vick didn’t show up more hell-bent on winning the starting job.

The third preseason game against the New York Giants ended in a loss, 35-23. The most entertaining play was the TD pass from Matt Simms who did the "Salsa Shuffle" after the completion. The referee was laughing so hard there was no flag on the play. The waltz was a poor effort to mimic Giants WR Victor Cruz' endzone dance.

The starting QB decision was an easy one for Rex Ryan. Geno Smith earned the job with a solid performance against the Giants. He threw for 137 yards and mixed in the run with close to 100 yards by halftime. Geno could be the newer version of Michael Vick.

CB Antonio Allen had a much better performance this week. He played well against Victor Cruz and Reuben Randle. Antonio and Darrin Walls should be the starters in the Week 1 home opener against the Oakland Raiders with CB Dee Milliner still out with an ankle sprain. The defensive line forced two Eli Manning fumbles that each went out of bounds. DT Muhammad Wilkerson and Jason Babin forced the fumbles.

3. Miami Dolphins


Barry Jackson, Miami Herald:
### The Dolphins and Dan Marino continue to talk about a potential role in the organization, and Marino has been visible recently.
Adam Beasley, Miami Herald:

They call the third exhibition game a dress rehearsal. Talk about a wardrobe malfunction.

In the course of six perplexing drives in Saturday’s 25-20 win over the Cowboys, the Dolphins’ first-string offense churned out 233 yards, gained 14 first downs — and had just 3 points to show for it.

The reason: An ugly fumble by Dion Sims and an uglier interception by Ryan Tannehill — both deep in Dallas territory.

K John Potter suffered a hip injury on his 26 yard first quarter field goal. The Dolphins have no healthy kickers on their roster. No heavy lifting. Nice weather. That should bring in some applicants.

The Dolphins lost to the Dallas Cowboys, 25-20. Thursday night against the St. Louis Rams will complete the exhibition season. The New England Patriots visit Miami for the home opener.

4. New York Giants


Seth Walder, New York Daily News:

Rex Ryan doesn’t discriminate: Take a shot at the Jets and the coach will fire back — even at a rookie running back.

The Giants’ Andre Williams recently dived right into the Jets-Giants rivalry before ever facing Gang Green. “I think the Giants are the real New York team,” Williams said in a local report.

Ryan responded with his favorite two-for-one combination: a jab at an opponent while praising his son’s college team, Clemson.

“Last time I saw (Williams), he was getting smoked by Clemson,” Ryan said.
Ebenezer Samuel, New York Daily News:

Finally. For three preseason games, and most of a fourth, the Giants’ rebuilt West Coast offense was a cause for concern, a statistical nightmare. But for all of 68 seconds on Friday night at MetLife Stadium, against the rival Jets, it all came together.

Under new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, the offense has struggled mightily. The goal for QB Eli Manning was for a 70% completion rate. Would the Giants settle for 50%?

Ebenezer Samuel, New York Daily News:
“He reestablished himself as a tough customer tonight,” Coughlin said of Manning, “because he got drilled a few times and bounced back up and made some plays." Except he was never supposed to get drilled in 2014, not after what happened in 2013 and not after the whole switch to the quick-hitting West Coast system.

The Giants defense was very inconsistent allowing over 400 yards in total offense. Jets QB Geno Smith was 9 for 14 with 137 yards and a TD. Matt Simms was sacked twice, but was effective with 9 for 14 for 106 yards and a TD. The first team defense allowed almost 100 yards to running backs, Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson.

The Giants may have scored 35 points, but lots of mistakes and penalties have to be eliminated soon. Practices this week may be quite loud.

5. Baltimore Ravens

 Jon Meoli, Baltimore Sun:
Ravens fans rated fifth-best in league by Forbes. Four teams were ahead of the Ravens, including the Green Bay Packers (No. 1 overall, and first in hometown crowd rank, attendance, and social media), Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, and New England Patriots.

It is always nice to get some good news. All the arrests have finally taken a back seat, and the focus is back on football.

RB Ray Rice sat out Saturday's 23-17 win over the Washington Redskins. We know the Washington Post no longer will use the term "Redskins". I will wait for the memo on that.

QB Joe Flacco played the first half, finishing 16 for 23 for 180 and one touchdown. The Ravens were stopped twice on 4th down, and Joe was pressured throughout the first half. Running game was nonexistent with 17 yards on 12 carries.RB Bernard Pierce left the game with a concussion.

Jeff Zrebiec, Baltimore Sun:
The Redskins' top two receivers — DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon — combined for just two catches for 4 yards as Griffin was under siege throughout the first two-plus quarters. Elvis Dumervil, Timmy Jernigan and Brooks all had sacks.

Ravens DT Haloti Ngata may have kicked Redskins lineman, Shawn Lauvao. He may be looking at some disciplinary measures from the league.

6. Denver Broncos

Woody Paige, Denver Post:
"I'd walk 10 miles on my hands and knees ... I'd wrestle with a lion and a grizzly bear ... I'd put out a burning building with a shovel and dirt and not even worry about getting hurt. Ain't that tuff enuff." - Fabulous Thunderbirds

The Broncos hosted a familiar opponent on Saturday night. The Houston Texans had practiced against Denver during the week. The Texans prevailed, 18-17.

The first team offense for Denver remained in high gear. The rout of the San Francisco 49ers 34-0 carried over to the first half. QB Peyton Manning was 21 for 27 for 243 yards and two touchdowns. The running game was solid at 5.3 yards per carry. RB Montee Ball returned to the lineup in a limited role with 4 carries for 13 yards.

Denver starters built a 17-3 halftime lead. Houston was able to score in the final minute of the 4th quarter on QB Tom Savage's 31 yard pass to WR Ryan Griffin. The Texans went for the win, and got it on a two point conversion pass from Savage to Travis Labhart.

Denver Post:

Broncos kicker Matt Prater has been notified by the NFL he will be suspended through the first four games of the season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.


Love thy enemy. It will scare the heck out of them. - Mark Twain





Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy

For more of my articles, click here.

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