by Gary Sacco

Created on: December 29, 2008

NFL week 5 changed everything for the Buffalo Bills. Yet, maybe the crushing 41-14 road defeat, to the Arizona Cardinals was a blessing to the team's fans. Like a false prophet, the young team's 4-0 start attracted a legion of misguided believers. NFL experts, and commentators excitedly, and authoritatively, pointed out that over 80% percent of teams that win their first 4 games are playoff bound. Sorry Chris Berman, it's not going to work out this year, either. For the 9th straight season One Bills Drive will be dark after another miserable finale defeat by New England, 13-0. Coaches will be conducting exit interviews instead of installing game plans.

On a warm September afternoon, hope emphatically arrived at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bills thrashed the Seattle Seahawks 34-10. Trent Edwards looked like a well-oiled machine, throwing darts to open receivers and making few mistakes. When the Seahawks appeared finally able to grab into the Bills' lead, Roscoe Parrish cast that hand aside with a spectacular punt return for six. Most ecstatically, the defense played menacingly for the first time in years. With the offseason signings of Defensive Tackle Marcus Stroud and Linebacker Kawicka Mitchell, the unit roughed up a proud, and well coached, Seahawks' offensive squad. The next week, the team, thanks to an improbable leaping catch by rookie receiver James Hardy, out-dueled the Jacksonville Jaguars for an impressive road victory. Western New York jubilantly celebrated two quality wins over playoff clubs from last season. We'd finally arrived.

Problem is the NFL is a very fluid league, unlike the English Premier Soccer League where 3 clubs have monopolized that league's championship over the last ten years. This year's editions of the Seahawks and Jaguars are both very weak products on the field. The once mighty Seahawks have 3 measly wins this season. The feeling, at the time, that the Bills vanquished two good teams proved illusory. More to the point, the Bills are a futile 0-6 vs. AFC East teams. An ugly loss to the Jets officially extinguished playoff aspirations.

The disintegration started during that Cardinals game. This one began well enough. Buffalo's offense took the field immediately and steadily moved the football. The Bills crossed midfield after Trent Edwards skillfully left his feet, to create an angle, and completed a short pass to move the chains. Pounded by Cardinals Safety Adrian Wilson on that same play, Edwards didn't get up. Our staggering Quarterback,

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