From: iqrh_ltd@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Imran Qureshi)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Re: Dallas/Buffalo
Date: 21 Jan 93 15:46:34 GMT
Organization: University of Rochester - Rochester, New York

In <wfLUwRK00aw3AAN0hs@andrew.cmu.edu> mg5c+@andrew.cmu.edu (Michael D. Goettsche) writes:

>What's going on with most of these posters?  I've noticed a trend toward
>the same BS being said about the upcoming Super Bowl as was said about
>the NFC Championship. So, first and foremost, Dallas is not going to
>crumble and fold underneath the Super Bowl hype.  They said that Dallas
>would crumble against Philly, and then they said Dallas would fold
>against SF.  It seems to me that Dallas turned in two of the best games
>a team has played this year -- against two tough opponents they were
>clearly superior.  The SF game was close, but just given the fact that
>they were able to drive at will against the Niners, and then limit the
>Niners to yards, not points, is significant.  Once more, the Cowboys are
>too talented to allow the hype to affect them. 

Two weeks of superbowl hype can't even be compared to any playoff game.


 I have yet to see Emmitt
>Smith have a poor game in the last 2-3 years, and I sincerely doubt that
>Aikman, one of the coolest quarterbacks around under pressure, will play
>so poorly that Dallas' other weapons cannot save them.

>That said, one person wrote earlier regarding matchups, giving just
>about all matchups to the Bills.  Here goes:

>QB -  Edge to Buffalo?  Jim Kelly has been too erratic the past two
>years to really know what type of game he will have.  If he's on, Dallas
>will have some problems, BUT they won't be in trouble.  Aikman has not
>had a bad game since the first Philadelphia loss in week 4 of the season
>-- he has not turned the ball over and directed the offense with great
>poise.  When Aikman is on, he is every much if not more than the equal
>of Kelly.  Edge to Dallas (slight).

Aikman over Kelly?!?!?!?

You've got to be kidding.  First of all, please note that Kelly completed
17 of his 24 passes.  No imcompletions in the second half.  His two INT's
were clear effects of his rustiness (one pass was short by 18 inches and
the other was a miscommunication with the reciver).  If Kelly is on, he'll
kill Dallas and open up holes for Thurman to blow by in...which will open
up the pass and it will feed on itself.  The Bills don't have a powerhouse
offense for no reason!
>RB - Edge to Buffalo?  Not!  Emmitt Smith is the best RB in the game
>now, without a doubt.  Thurman Thomas is a close second.  The other
>poster mentions that the Bills have Kenneth Davis, but I don't see this
>as a factor -- one or the other of them play, and they both play so
>similar styles of games that they can be treated as one RB.  Buffalo
>would have the edge if Smith were the type of running back that wears
>down as the game goes on, but if you've seen any Cowboys games this
>year, you'd know that Emmitt Smith only gets stronger as the game goes
>on.  Edge to Dallas.

Emmitt is good, but he's no Thurman.  TT can catch and run with ball like
no other RB in the game!!  Kenneth Davis provides FRESH legs...note his
2nd half long runs in the last 3 games...he was clearly rested and ready
to blow the tired defense away.

>WR -  Edge to Dallas!!!!  Is there a doubt after last weeks game in SF? 
>Buffalo has slightly better DBs than SF, but they still face the problem
>of being out-sized by Irvin and Harper.  Right now, Irvin, Harper, and
>Martin are the most dangerous wide receivers in the league.  Reed and
>Lofton are very good, and Beebe can hold his own, but they are not in
>the same class as the Cowboy trio RIGHT NOW. (Don't reply that Lofton is
>one of the best ever because I know that -- but right now he isn't
>better than the Cowboy's #2 man, Harper.)

Lofton is one of the best ever.  (I just had to say that).
Your reciever edge is nullified if you count the Bills RB's as receivers...
did you happen to catch the screen passes last week by any chance?

>TE - Edge to Dallas!  Novacek is the best TE in the game, no questions
>asked.  Metzelaars and McKeller are fine, but they are no match for
>Novacek.

No arguments here.  McKeller had a wasted season. Metzelaars isn't a 
Novacek.

>FB - Again, edge to Dallas!  Darryl Johnston can do it all - he is one
>of the top three FB's in the league, IMO, and I believe other people
>would realize this if Dallas used him in their scheme more.  If you saw
>the NFC Championship game, you would see his value.

Going by your previous argument, only one RB runs at a time.
However, since Buffalo doesn't use an FB, do you seriously think you can
compare the two?????
>OL - Even.  Buffalo has an outstanding OL, naming several players to the
>Pro Bowl over the last few seasons.  Dallas' OL RIGHT NOW is just as
>good, having 2 PB players, and in many people's opinions another couple.
> Dallas' OL dominates opposing DLs in the second half through their
>size, whereas Buffalo plays an even keel game throughout.

NOT!!!!!
The Bills clearly have the best line in the NFL!!! What's more is that they
are playint their best bal of the year! Huge edge to Buffalo!!!
>DEFENSE

>Dallas -  There's a reason they are number one - their DB coverage is
>outstanding and their tackling is impeccable.  They rarely miss tackles,
>thus preventing opposing wide receivers from breaking open short passes
>for long gains.  Since this is one of the keys to the Buffalo passing
>attack is the run after the reception, I don't foresee Buffalo gaining
>much through the air.  Dallas' DL is one of the best in the game - they
>generate a lot of pressure on the opposing QB and are also quite
>excellent at stopping the run. 

Buffalo DL is the best.  Number 1 rushing yards/carry allowed, sacking
opposing QB's like crazy lately.  BILLS HAVE 32 SACKS IN LAST EIGHT GAMES,
15 IN THE LAST 10 QUARTERS!!!!!!!!!
That's one scary line playing awesome.


Dallas' team speed on defense is
>everything.  Their linebacker corps is solid.  Their one weak spot which
>has proven to be exploited is the zone between the LBs and the DBs -- I
>feel SF could have won the game if they exploited this more.  Instead,
>Dallas proved susceptible to the short dump pass to the RBs, which makes
>them extremely susceptible to Thurman Thomas out of the backfield.  If
>Buffalo is going to remain competitive, they must make their mark in the
>first quarter (score at least two touchdowns), because Dallas' defense
>has proved to be very stingy after the first quarter.  They make
>defensive adjustments that grind the opposing offenses down to very
>short drives.  Dallas' strength, going into this game, will be their
>nickel defense.  If they can get Buffalo into second and long, the Bills
>will be out of the game by the middle of the third quarter.  Conversely,
>if Buffalo can avoid 3rd and >3 situations, it will be competitive.

>Buffalo - They have a slightly better defense than the Niners, but only
>slightly.  I really don't foresee Dallas having any problems with it. 
>The key once again will be the offensive line - they must open up holes
>for Smith.  Bruce Smith will be the x-factor - he has had an
>inconsistant year - at times he has looked unstoppable, at other times,
>he has looked very ordinary. 

Uh. Ok.
Smith had his best year of his career.  Despite 14 sacks, he was awesome
against the run.  Hmmmm, maybe that's why Buffalo has the best run D in the
league.  This was Smith's most consistent and overall productive season in
his life.
 If he can get into situations where he is
>double teamed, things will look very good for the Bills.  I think a lot
>also depends on the play of Bennett and Conlan -- Dallas really hasn't
>faced outstanding LBs with the exception of the Eagles.  If Buffalo can
>stop Smith with their front seven, Dallas' offense will rely on Aikman
>getting the ball to Novacek, Irvin, and Harper.  There is no way on
>earth that Buffalo will be able to stop these three if the ball is
>thrown somewhat well to them, thus for Buffalo to stand a chance to win,
>they must pressure Aikman into throwing bad passes.

Apparently you missed the last 10 QTrs of the Bills...allowing only 16 pts!
The last two games have been Odomes and Williams best of their careers.
Henry Jones is the best SS in the leage, Kelso probably the smartest.
This unit is really peaking and as a result the Bills are getting a lot
of coverage sacks.
   Once more, they
>must stop both Smith and Aikman to win. (Limit Smith to <80 yards,
>Aikman to <200 yards and 2-4 INTs.

>Dallas' task is much simpler in this game -- they merely need to get one
>facet of their offense in gear to win.  Their defense will limit the
>Bills to about 350 yards total offense, with about 14-17 points.  
>I believe the final score will be Cowboys 27, Bills 17.

You don't win SB's with only one facet of the game working!!!!
         
The Bills have peaked at the right time, everyone is playing awesome and ther
are on a 91-16 scoring run with 15 sacks and 6 INTs in the last 10 quarters.
This is a team possessed.  They shut down the pass and the run=> victory.
Also the intangibles:
1.  Bills experience in SB (it does matter)
2.  Bills have much more to win for
3.  Levy has lately been coaching like a genius
4.  In case of injury AT ANY KEY SPOT the Bills have a suitable backup.
5.  Bills will be healthier than at any time in the playoffs--they have more
    to gain from the two week layoff.
6.  Grass field hurts the Team Speed on Defense factor for Dallas
7.  Dallas already getting cocky with dances, celebs, assuming victory
8.  Bills are in a zone
9.  Bills Kicking game is one of the best in the league along with coverage


Bills 37, Dallas 17

Imran Qureshi

>DA FLAV