Final
Bills hurry-up offense too much for Bears
Aug 16, 2009 - 3:38 AM By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports WriterORCHARD PARK, N.Y.(AP) -- Trent Edwards has plenty to be happy about with the new-look, no-huddle offense that's working to near perfection for Buffalo.
It's a much different story for Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears.
Those expecting Cutler to immediately transform the Bears into anything resembling a pass-happy offense had better be patient. As Cutler was inconsistent in his Bears preseason debut, the Bills' passing game was nearly unstoppable and got plenty of help from an opportunistic defense in a 27-20 victory Saturday night.
"I'm extremely encouraged because it's pressing the defense," Edwards said of the no-huddle attack the Bills have used exclusively since opening the preseason with a 21-18 loss to Tennessee in the Hall of Fame game last weekend. "We improved from last week's game. And now we have to take another step next week."
Except for settling for field goals in the first half, the Bills offense can't get much more efficient, even without Terrell Owens, who's nursing a sprained toe.
Edwards went 10 of 10 for 79 yards to key an efficient outing for the entire Bills quarterback corps, which went a combined 29 of 34 for 265 yards and a touchdown. Third-stringer Gibran Hamdan's 3-yard pass to Shawn Nelson put the Bills up for good 20-13 a minute into the third quarter.
"Efficiency is certainly a good word to describe it," right tackle Brad Butler said. "I would certainly say we're cautiously optimistic."
The defense did its part, too. Aside from limiting Cutler to 3 points and two first downs in four series, Buffalo (1-1) forced five turnovers, including two interceptions by rookie Ellis Lankster on consecutive drives. Both interceptions were thrown by third-stringer Brett Basanez, and led to Buffalo scoring twice in 34-second span.
Many eyes, though, were on Cutler, who failed to meet the much-anticipated offseason buzz he's generated since Chicago acquired him in a blockbuster offseason trade with Denver.
He went 5 of 10 for 64 yards and an interception on a poorly underthrown pass up the left sideline that was picked off by Leodis McKelvin. Cutler nearly threw another interception, but cornerback Reggie Corner dropped the ball that hit him squarely in the chest.
"It's too early to start to panic. It's preseason," Cutler said. "I feel fine about it."
Cutler also noted that the Bears rested starting running back Matt Forte and starting tight end Greg Olsen.
"We're just calling base stuff and seeing what happens out there right now," Cutler said at the half. "As soon as we start getting into the game plan, really nailing stuff down, that's when it's really going to count."
Cutler keyed mostly on Devin Hester, who caught only two of six passes thrown his way for 22 yards. Cutler's best throw came when he hit Desmond Clark in stride up the right hash mark for a 30-yard completion that set up Robbie Gould's opening 23-yard field goal.
"It's a lot of new guys on the field," Hester said, referring to the rough start. "The preseason games are going to help us see where we're at, so that by when the season starts we'll know what we're working with."
Cutler couldn't take advantage against Buffalo's second-string defense and facing a short field after the drive began at the Bills 43 after Dominic Rhodes muffed a punt.
Rhodes made up for that miscue by scoring on a 3-yard run. Bruce Hall also scored on a 4-yard plunge, one play after Lankster's second interception.
The Bills' defense was encouraged by its strong start after giving up two touchdowns on Tennessee's first two possessions last week.
"It's really a big point of emphasis to start fast and finish fast, because I think our team feeds off it, I think we feed off it," linebacker Kawika Mitchell said. "All in all, I think we just played them tough and that was a part of our success."
The Bills defeated Chicago for only the second time in 14 preseason meetings (2-11-1).
Bears backup Caleb Hanie went 8 of 11 for 87 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to Will Ta'ufo'ou. Basanez bounced back, hitting Juaquin Iglesias for a 10-yard touchdown. Gould hit two field goals, including a 50-yarder.
Notes: Bears LB Nick Roach was hurt in the second half and did not return. Coach Lovie Smith said the injury was not serious. ... Bills starting SS Bryan Scott and reserve CB Drayton Florence both sustained knee injuries. Without going into detail, coach Dick Jauron referred to the injuries as sprains, and added Scott's sprain was "milder" than Florence's.
- ** CONFIRMED **
NFL
CHICAGO 20
BUFFALO 27 FINAL
Aug 15 10:39 PM - NFL
END, 4TH QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CHICAGO 3 3 7 7 20
BUFFALO 0 6 7 14 27 END, 4TH QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: CHI - FG, ROBBIE GOULD 23 YD, 11:43. Drive: 5
plays, 37 yards in 2:02. CHICAGO 3-0
2ND QUARTER: BUF - FG, RIAN LINDELL 28 YD, 3:55. Drive: 16
plays, 60 yards in 7:12. BUFFALO 3-3
CHI -
Aug 15 9:57 PM - NFL
TD CHI
JUAQUIN IGLESIAS 10 YD PASS FROM BRETT BASANEZ
(ROBBIE GOULD KICK)
CHICAGO 20
BUFFALO 27 6:23 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Bears 20, Bills 27 4th - 6:23Aug 15 9:38 PM - NFL
TD BUF
BRUCE HALL 4 YD RUN
(RIAN LINDELL KICK)
CHICAGO 13
BUFFALO 27 13:31 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Bears 13, Bills 27 4th - 13:31Aug 15 9:22 PM - NFL
CHICAGO 13
BUFFALO 26 13:31 LEFT, 4TH QTR
BUF BALL ON CHI 4 YD LINE
1ST AND 4
Bears 13, Bills 26 4th - 13:31Aug 15 9:21 PM - NFL
TD BUF
SHAWN NELSON 3 YD PASS FROM GIBRAN HAMDAN
(RIAN LINDELL KICK)
CHICAGO 13
BUFFALO 20 14:05 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Bears 13, Bills 20 4th - 14:05Aug 15 9:15 PM - NFL
CHICAGO 13
BUFFALO 13 15:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR
BUF BALL ON CHI 47 YD LINE
3RD AND 12
Bears 13, Bills 13 4th - 15:00Aug 15 9:12 PM - NFL
END, 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CHICAGO 3 3 7 13
BUFFALO 0 6 7 13 END, 3RD QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: CHI - FG, ROBBIE GOULD 23 YD, 11:43. Drive: 5
plays, 37 yards in 2:02. CHICAGO 3-0
2ND QUARTER: BUF - FG, RIAN LINDELL 28 YD, 3:55. Drive: 16
plays, 60 yards in 7:12. BUFFALO 3-3
CHI -
Bears 6, Bills 6 End of 3rdAug 15 9:12 PM - NFL
TD CHI
W TA'UFO'OU 14 YD PASS FROM CALEB HANIE
(ROBBIE GOULD KICK)
CHICAGO 13
BUFFALO 13 3:44 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Bears 13, Bills 13 3rd - 3:44Aug 15 9:00 PM - NFL
TD BUF
DOMINIC RHODES 3 YD RUN
(RIAN LINDELL KICK)
CHICAGO 6
BUFFALO 13 9:27 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Bears 6, Bills 13 3rd - 9:27Aug 15 8:45 PM - NFL
CHICAGO 6
BUFFALO 6 14:54 LEFT, 3RD QTR
BUF BALL ON BUF 25 YD LINE
1ST AND 10
Bears 6, Bills 6 3rd - 14:54Aug 15 8:38 PM - NFL
HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CHICAGO 3 3 6
BUFFALO 0 6 6 HALFTIME
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: CHI - FG, ROBBIE GOULD 23 YD, 11:43. Drive: 5
plays, 37 yards in 2:02. CHICAGO 3-0
2ND QUARTER: BUF - FG, RIAN LINDELL 28 YD, 3:55. Drive: 16
plays, 60 yards in 7:12. BUFFALO 3-3
CHI - FG,
Bears 3, Bills 0 HalfAug 15 8:38 PM - NFL
FG CHI
ROBBIE GOULD 50 YD
CHICAGO 6
BUFFALO 3 5:54 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Bears 6, Bills 3 2nd - 5:54Aug 15 8:00 PM - NFL
FG BUF
RIAN LINDELL 28 YD
CHICAGO 3
BUFFALO 3 11:05 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Bears 3, Bills 3 2nd - 11:05Aug 15 7:48 PM - NFL
CHICAGO 3
BUFFALO 0 15:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
BUF BALL ON CHI 34 YD LINE
4TH AND 1
Bears 3, Bills 0 2nd - 15:00Aug 15 7:44 PM - NFL
END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CHICAGO 3 3
BUFFALO 0 0 END, 1ST QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: CHI - FG, ROBBIE GOULD 23 YD, 11:43. Drive: 5
plays, 37 yards in 2:02. CHICAGO 3-0
Bears 0, Bills 0 End of 1stAug 15 7:44 PM - NFL
FG CHI
ROBBIE GOULD 23 YD
CHICAGO 3
BUFFALO 0 3:17 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Bears 3, Bills 0 1st - 3:17Aug 15 7:36 PM
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